PC-based automobile owner's manual, diagnostics, and auto care

• US 20030236600A1
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Silvester, Kelan C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

A computer built into an automobile displays the owner'"'"'s manual for the car. The user requests more information about the automobile through the computer, and the additional information is displayed to the user. Information may include a description of a specific function or device of the car, service history, and/or real time status of a component of the car.

Claims

1. An automobile, comprising:

a part in the automobile;

a sensor operative to generate real-time data about the part in the automobile;

an owner'"'"'s manual including information about the automobile, the information describing at least the part in the automobile; and

a computer built in to the automobile, the computer connected to the sensor, operative to provide the information from the owner'"'"'s manual, and operative to provide the real-time data generated by the sensor to a user responsive to a user request.

2. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein the user request includes a user request for information about the part from the owner'"'"'s manual.

3. An automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a storage in the computer to store the owner'"'"'s manual.

4. An automobile according to claim 3, further comprising a service history for the automobile stored in the storage in the computer.

5. An automobile according to claim 3, wherein the computer is operative to store the real-time data generated by the sensor in the storage and to retrieved the stored real-time data upon a request from the user.

6. An automobile according to claim 5, further comprising a switch to toggle the computer between storing the real-time data and not storing the real-time data in the storage.

7. An automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a display connected to the computer, the display to provide the information from the owner'"'"'s manual and the real-time generated by the sensor to the user.

8. An automobile according to claim 7, further comprising a device, the device including the display.

9. An automobile according to claim 8, wherein the device includes a second computer.

10. An automobile according to claim 8, further comprising a docking station connecting the computer and the device for communication.

11. An automobile according to claim 8, wherein the connection between the computer and the device is a wireless connection.

12. An automobile according to claim 7, wherein the display includes a touch screen display.

13. An automobile according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting the information from the owner'"'"'s manual and the real-time generated by the sensor to the user.

14. An automobile, comprising:

a part in the automobile;

a sensor operative to generate real-time data about the part in the automobile; and

a computer in the automobile operative to receive the real-time data from the sensor and send a message to a device if the real-time data indicates that the part is operating improperly.

15. An automobile according to claim 14, wherein the device includes a second computer.

16. An automobile according to claim 14, further comprising a docking station to which the device can be connected.

17. An automobile according to claim 14, wherein the computer includes a wireless transmitter operative to transmit the message to the device wirelessly.

18. A method for using a computer built into an automobile, comprising:

presenting an owner'"'"'s manual for the automobile to a user;

receiving a request from the user for information about a part in the automobile; and

presenting the information about the part to the user.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein presenting an owner'"'"'s manual includes displaying the owner'"'"'s manual for the automobile on a display in the automobile.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein presenting the information includes displaying the information about the part to the user on the display in the automobile.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein presenting the information includes:

receiving real-time data about the part from a sensor; and

presenting the real-time data to the user.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein presenting the information includes displaying the information about the part on a display built into the automobile.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein presenting the information includes:

sending the information to a device; and

displaying the information on a display of the device.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein:

sending the information includes sending the information to a second computer; and

displaying the information includes displaying the information on a display of the second computer.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein sending the information to a device includes sending the information to the device connected to the computer using a docking station.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein sending the information to a device includes wirelessly transmitting the information to the device.

27. A method according to claim 18, wherein receiving a request includes:

receiving a request for a service history of the automobile; and

accessing the service history of the automobile from a storage in the computer.

28. A method according to claim 18, wherein presenting the information includes:

storing real-time data generated by a sensor in a storage of the computer when a switch is in an enabled setting;

retrieving the real-time data from the storage; and

presenting the retrieved real-time data.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein storing real-time data includes:

receiving a request to disable storing the real-time data; and

toggling the switch to a disabled setting.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein storing real-time data further includes:

receiving a request to re-enable storing the real-time data; and

toggling the switch to the enabled setting.

31. A method for monitoring diagnostics in an automobile, comprising:

sensing a value for a part in the automobile;

receiving the value by a computer built into the automobile;

comparing the value to a valid range for the part by the computer; and

issuing a message to a device if the value is outside the valid range.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein issuing a message includes issuing a message to a second computer if the value is outside the valid range.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein comparing the value includes receiving the valid range from a user.

34. A method according to claim 31, wherein issuing a message includes sending an electronic message to the device.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein issuing a message includes adding an appointment to a calendar in the device.

36. A method according to claim 31, wherein issuing a message includes displaying the message on a display of the device.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein issuing a message includes issuing the message to the device via a docking station.

38. A method according to claim 31, wherein issuing a message includes wirelessly transmitting the message to the device.

39. A method for programming a computer built in an automobile, comprising:

receiving a program selection from a user, the program selection representing a sensor identifier, a target value, and an action;

monitoring a value for a sensor identified by the sensor identifier; and

performing the action if the value for the sensor reaches the target value.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein receiving a program selection include listing at least the one program selection to the user in a list.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein receiving a program selection includes:

listing at least the sensor identifier to the user in a first list;

receiving a selection of the sensor identifier from the first list by the user;

receiving the target value as an input from the user;

listing at least the action to the user in a second list; and

receiving a selection of the action from the second list by the user.

42. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a computer built into an automobile, result in;

presenting an owner'"'"'s manual for the automobile to a user;

receiving a request from a user for information about a part in the automobile; and

presenting the information about the part to the user.

43. An article according to claim 42, wherein displaying the information includes:

receiving real-time data about the part from a sensor; and

presenting the real-time data to the user.

44. An article according to claim 42, wherein receiving a request includes:

receiving a request for a service history of the automobile; and

accessing the service history of the automobile from a storage in the computer.

45. An article according to claim 42, wherein displaying the information includes:

storing real-time data generated by a sensor in a storage of the computer when a switch is enabled;

retrieving the real-time data from the storage; and

presenting the retrieved real-time data.

46. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a computer built into an automobile, result in;

sensing a value for a part in the automobile;

receiving the value by a computer built into the automobile;

comparing the value to a valid range for the part by the computer; and

issuing a message to a device if the value is outside the valid range.

47. An article according to claim 46, wherein issuing a message includes sending an electronic message to the device.

48. An article according to claim 46, wherein issuing a message includes adding an appointment to a calendar in the device.

49. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a computer built into an automobile, result in;

receiving a program selection from a user, the program selection including a sensor identifier, a target value, and an action;

monitoring a value for a sensor identified by the sensor identifier; and

performing the action if the value for the sensor reaches the target value.

50. An article according to claim 49, wherein receiving a program selection include listing at least the one program selection to the user in a list.

51. An article according to claim 49, wherein receiving a program selection includes:

listing at least the sensor identifier to the user in a first list;

receiving a selection of the sensor identifier from the first list by the user;

receiving the target value as an input from the user;

listing at least the action to the user in a second list; and

receiving a selection of the action from the second list by the user.