Vehicle computer system with open platform architecture

• US 20010001319A1
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Published: 05/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wong, William S., Moeller, Mark M., Beckert, Richard D.
• Application Number:
  US09/736,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/027 for Din-sized apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/406 Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

A vehicle computer system has a housing sized to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard or other appropriate location. A computer is mounted within the housing and executes an open platform, multi-tasking operating system. The computer runs multiple applications on the operating system, including both vehicle-related applications (e.g., vehicle security application, vehicle diagnostics application, communications application, etc.) and non-vehicle-related applications (e.g., entertainment application, word processing, etc.). The applications may be supplied by the vehicle manufacturer and/or by the vehicle user.

Claims

1. A vehicle computer system comprising:

a housing of a size suitable to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard;

a computer mounted within the housing;

an open platform operating system executing on the computer; and

multiple vehicle-related applications executing on the operating system to control operation of components in the vehicle.

2. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 1

wherein the housing has a form factor of a single DIN.

3. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 1

wherein the vehicle-related applications are selected from a group comprising a navigational application, a communications application, a vehicle security application, and a vehicle diagnostics application.

4. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 1

further comprising one or more non-vehicle-related applications executing on the operating system.

5. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 4

wherein the non-vehicle-related applications are selected from a group comprising an entertainment application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a database application, and an appointment/schedule application.

6. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 1

further comprising a storage drive to load individual applications from a storage medium onto the computer.

7. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 1

further comprising an Internet wireless link to download individual applications to the computer.

8. A computer network system for an automobile, comprising:

a network;

at least one client computing device connected to the network; and

the vehicle computer as recited in

claim 1

connected to the network to serve content to the client computing device.

9. A vehicle computer system comprising:

a support module having a bus;

a computer module connected to the bus, the computer module having a processor;

a faceplate module connected to the bus;

multiple applications stored on the computer module and executed by the processor.

10. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 9

wherein the applications comprise vehicle-related applications.

11. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 9

wherein the applications comprise both vehicle-related applications and non-vehicle-related applications.

12. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 9

further comprising a multitasking operating system stored and executed on the computer module.

13. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 9

wherein the applications are selected from a group comprising a navigational application, an entertainment application, a communications application, a vehicle security application, a vehicle diagnostics application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a database application, and an appointment/schedule application.

14. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 9

wherein the support module has a form factor of a single DIN.

15. A computer network system for an automobile, comprising:

a network;

at least one client computing device connected to the network; and

the vehicle computer as recited in

claim 9

connected to the network to serve content to the client computing device.

16. A vehicle computer system comprising:

a computer;

an open platform operating system executing on the computer; and

multiple applications executing on the operating system, the multiple applications including at least one vehicle-related application and at least one non-vehicle related application.

17. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 16

further comprising a storage drive to load individual applications from a storage medium onto the computer.

18. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 16

further comprising an Internet wireless link to download individual applications to the computer.

19. A vehicle computer system as recited in

claim 16

wherein the applications are selected from a group comprising a navigational application, an entertainment application, a communications application, a vehicle security application, a vehicle diagnostics application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a database application, and an appointment/schedule application.

20. A computer network system for an automobile, comprising:

a network;

at least one client computing device connected to the network; and

the vehicle computer as recited in

claim 16

connected to the network to serve content to the client computing device.