Multimedia information and control system for automobiles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system in a vehicle for accessing information about the vehicle comprising:
- a display element for displaying a plurality of options and a plurality of items representing different aspects of the vehicle, each option corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of items;
an interface for selecting at least one of the plurality of options;
a mechanism for indicating an association of the selected option with the item corresponding thereto; and
an output for providing information concerning the aspect of the vehicle represented by the item corresponding to the selected option.
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Abstract
In a multimedia information and control system for use in an automobile, at least one interface is employed which enables a user to access information concerning the automobile and control vehicle functions in an efficient manner. The user may select one of a plurality of displayed options on a screen of such an interface. Through audio, video and/or text media, the user is provided with information concerning the selected option and the vehicle function corresponding thereto. Having been so informed, the user may activate the selected option to control the corresponding vehicle function.
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Citations
128 Claims
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1. A system in a vehicle for accessing information about the vehicle comprising:
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a display element for displaying a plurality of options and a plurality of items representing different aspects of the vehicle, each option corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of items;
an interface for selecting at least one of the plurality of options;
a mechanism for indicating an association of the selected option with the item corresponding thereto; and
an output for providing information concerning the aspect of the vehicle represented by the item corresponding to the selected option. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system in a vehicle for accessing information about the vehicle comprising:
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a display element for displaying a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different aspect of the vehicle;
an interface for activating at least one of the plurality of options; and
an output for providing information concerning an aspect of the vehicle corresponding to the activated option, the activated option being distinguished from unactivated options displayed on the display element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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12. A system for use in a vehicle comprising:
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a mechanism for determining whether the vehicle needs a selected service;
a processor for identifying a provider providing the selected service based on a current location of the vehicle relative to a location of the provider when it is determined that the selected service is needed; and
an interface for supplying information concerning at least the location of the provider.
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15. A system for providing messages of varying importance levels in a vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of audio outputs for providing the messages, the audio outputs being disposed in different areas in the vehicle; and
a processor for assigning a plurality of subsets of the audio outputs, each subset of the audio outputs corresponding to a respective one of the importance levels of the messages, a message is provided by a subset of the audio outputs corresponding to an importance level of the message.
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18. A method for use in a system for accessing information about a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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displaying a plurality of options and a plurality of items representing different aspects of the vehicle, each option corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of items;
selecting at least one of the plurality of options;
indicating an association of the selected option with the item corresponding thereto; and
providing information concerning the aspect of the vehicle represented by the item corresponding to the selected option.
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23. A method for use in a system for accessing information about a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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displaying a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different aspect of the vehicle;
activating at least one of the plurality of options; and
providing information concerning an aspect of the vehicle corresponding to the activated option, the activated option being distinguished from unactivated options displayed on the display element.
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25. A method for use in a system in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the vehicle needs a selected service;
identifying a provider providing the selected service based on a current location of the vehicle relative to a location of the provider when it is determined that the selected service is needed; and
supplying information concerning at least the location of the provider.
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28. A method for use in a system for providing messages of varying importance levels in a vehicle, the system including a plurality of audio outputs for providing the messages, the audio outputs being disposed in different areas in the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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assigning a plurality of subsets of the audio outputs, each subset of the audio outputs corresponding to a respective one of the importance levels of the messages; and
providing a message using a subset of the audio outputs corresponding to an importance level of the message.
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29. A system in a vehicle for accessing first information about a given aspect of said vehicle comprising:
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a display element for displaying a plurality of options, each option being associated with a respective one of a plurality of aspects of said vehicle;
an interface for selecting one of said options, the selected option being associated with said given aspect and in a first status; and
an output for providing second information about said selected option, said selected option being activated to access said first information, the activated option being in a second status.
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36. A method for use in a system in a vehicle for accessing first information about a given aspect of said vehicle comprising the steps of:
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displaying a plurality of options, each option being associated with a respective one of a plurality of aspects of said vehicle;
selecting one of said options, the selected option being associated with said given aspect and in a first status; and
providing second information about said selected option, said selected option being activated to access said first information, the activated option being in a second status.
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41. A system for use in a vehicle comprising:
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a control element for issuing a plurality of options, each option being associated with a respective one of a plurality of aspects of the vehicle;
a first interface for selecting at least one of said options;
an output for providing information about the aspect of the vehicle associated with the selected option; and
a second interface for activating the selected option. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method for use in a system in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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issuing a plurality of options, each option being associated with a respective one of a plurality of aspects of the vehicle;
selecting at least one of said options;
providing information about the aspect of the vehicle associated with the selected option; and
activating the selected option. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A system for use in a vehicle comprising:
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an output for issuing at least one option, the option including data on an aspect of the vehicle; and
an interface for showing said aspect of the vehicle, the option also including an indicator associating said option with the aspect of the vehicle shown. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. A method for use in a system in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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issuing at least one option, the option including data on an aspect of the vehicle; and
showing said aspect of the vehicle, the option also including an indicator associating said option with the aspect of the vehicle shown. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 127, 128)
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117. A method for storing a preferred setting of at least one function in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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operating said at least one function based on the preferred setting;
determining whether the current setting in which said at least one function is operated has been changed from the preferred setting; and
issuing an option to store the current setting when the current setting is determined to have been changed from the preferred setting, the stored current setting becoming the preferred setting.
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119. A method for adjusting climate control in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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determining a location of the vehicle;
identifying a climate condition as a function of at least the location; and
adjusting the climate control to meet the predetermined climate condition.
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121. Apparatus for detecting a removal of an object comprising:
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a locator for providing information representing a location of said object;
a processor in said object responsive to said information for determining whether the object has been moved from a predetermined location; and
an output for generating an alert when the processor determines that the object has been moved.
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126. A method for providing information concerning maintenance of an engine in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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measuring a rate at which the engine runs;
detecting whether the rate of the engine exceeds a predetermined rate;
recording a period during which the rate of the engine is detected exceeding the predetermined rate;
adding said period to a cumulative period; and
emitting an alert when said cumulative period exceeds a predetermined period.
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Specification