In-vehicle infotainment control systems and methods

• US 10,369,943 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Melson, Andre Aaron, Ferrer, John Michael Galan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweeney, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US15/621,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20180354433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

Example in-vehicle infotainment control systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a request from a mobile device to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle. The method determines whether a speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold and whether the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle. If the vehicle'"'"'s speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is operated by a passenger, the mobile device is allowed to control the IVI system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request, from a mobile device, to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle;

determining whether a speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold;

determining whether the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle'"'"'s speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is operated by a passenger, allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system;

wherein determining whether the mobile device is operated by the passenger of the vehicle comprises;

sending different audio signals from speakers of the vehicle;

determining, from the audio signals as received by the mobile device, a location of the mobile device; and

determining whether the location of the mobile device corresponds to a passenger seat location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system includes receiving approval from a driver of the vehicle before implementing a proposed control of the IVI system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving an audible approval.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving a physical input to a display screen associated with the IVI system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system includes:

receiving, from the mobile device, a proposed control of the IVI system;

requesting approval of the proposed control of the IVI system from a driver of the vehicle; and

implementing the proposed control of the IVI system responsive to receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold includes receiving a current vehicle speed from a CAN bus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the IVI system of the vehicle includes mirroring the IVI system controls on the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing the mobile device from controlling the IVI system if the mobile device is not operated by a passenger.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a request, from a mobile device, to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle;

determining whether a speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold;

determining a location of the mobile device within the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle'"'"'s speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is located in a passenger seating area of the vehicle;

receiving, from the mobile device, a proposed control of the IVI system;

requesting approval of the proposed control of the IVI system from a driver of the vehicle; and

implementing the proposed control of the IVI system responsive to receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle

wherein determining the location of the mobile device within the vehicle comprises;

sending different audio signals from speakers of the vehicle;

determining, from the audio signals as received by the mobile device, a location of the mobile device; and

determining whether the location of the mobile device corresponds to a passenger seat location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving an audible approval.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving a physical input to a display screen associated with the IVI system.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold includes receiving a current vehicle speed from a CAN bus.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system of the vehicle by mirroring the IVI system controls on the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising preventing the mobile device from controlling the IVI system if the mobile device is not located in a passenger seating area of the vehicle.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a communication manager configured to receive a request, from a mobile device, to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle;

a vehicle data processing module configured to receive data associated with a speed of the vehicle and determine whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold;

a location identification module configured to determine whether the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle by;

sending different audio signals from speakers of the vehicle;

determining, from the audio signals as received by the mobile device, a location of the mobile device; and

determining whether the location of the mobile device corresponds to a passenger seat location; and

a driver approval manager configured to receive, from the mobile device, a proposed control of the IVI system and request approval from a driver of the vehicle if the vehicle'"'"'s speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver approval manager is further configured to receive a response from the driver regarding whether to implement the proposed control of the IVI system.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a data mirroring module configured to mirror the IVI system controls on the mobile device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver approval manager is further configured to prevent the device from controlling the IVI system if the mobile device is not operated by a passenger of the vehicle.