Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of motor vehicle

• US 20040158371A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XCSR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pointset Corporation
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle, Antoine, Arthur St.
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of a motor vehicle. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The motor vehicle owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the motor vehicle. Once the desired settings have been made, they are transferred to the motor vehicle using a portable transfer device, which may comprise a key for operating the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for setting a programmable feature of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting a programmable feature of the motor vehicle at the interactive site;

providing a transfer device having an input port and an output port;

transferring set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device;

transferring the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises a serial bus connector.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises the same serial bus connector.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises a serial bus connector.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises an optical sensor.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein transferring set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device comprises modulating a portion of a display screen and sensing such modulation in the transfer device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer device comprises a key for operating the motor vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable feature comprises a navigational function.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable feature comprises a communication function.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable feature comprises an entertainment function.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable feature comprises a climate control function.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable feature comprises a control having a user-assigned function.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the interactive site includes a plurality of control icons and further comprising dragging a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle control panel.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, after transferring the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to the motor vehicle, providing a control corresponding to the selected icon on the motor vehicle control panel.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable feature comprises a display having a user-assigned function.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the interactive site includes a plurality of display icons and further comprising dragging a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle display panel.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising, after transferring the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to the motor vehicle, providing a display corresponding to the selected icon on the motor vehicle display panel.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a programmable feature of the motor vehicle by user input to a control within the motor vehicle;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the motor vehicle to the transfer device;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the transfer device to the interactive site.

19. A method for setting a programmable feature of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing an interactive computer program with a graphical user interface depicting the programmable features of the motor vehicle;

setting the programmable feature of the motor vehicle using the interactive computer program with a user'"'"'s computer;

providing a transfer device having an input port and an output port;

transferring set-up data from the user'"'"'s computer to the input port of the transfer device;

transferring the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises a serial bus connector.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises the same serial bus connector.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises a serial bus connector.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises an optical sensor.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein transferring set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device comprises modulating a portion of a display screen and sensing such modulation in the transfer device.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the transfer device comprises a key for operating the motor vehicle.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the programmable feature comprises a navigational function.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the programmable feature comprises a communication function.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the programmable feature comprises an entertainment function.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein the programmable feature comprises a climate control function.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the programmable feature comprises a control having a user-assigned function.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the interactive site includes a plurality of control icons and further comprising dragging a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle control panel.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising, after transferring the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to the motor vehicle, providing a control corresponding to the selected icon on the motor vehicle control panel.

33. The method of claim 19 wherein the programmable feature comprises a display having a user-assigned function.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the interactive site includes a plurality of display icons and further comprising dragging a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle display panel.

35. The method of claim 31 further comprising, after transferring the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to the motor vehicle, providing a display corresponding to the selected icon on the motor vehicle display panel.

36. The method of claim 19 wherein the interactive computer program is hosted on a global computer network.

37. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

setting a programmable feature of the motor vehicle by user input to a control within the motor vehicle;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the motor vehicle to the transfer device;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

38. A method for setting a programmable feature of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting a programmable feature of the motor vehicle at the interactive site;

transferring set-up data from the interactive site to the motor vehicle.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the programmable feature comprises a navigational function.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the programmable feature comprises a communication function.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the programmable feature comprises an entertainment function.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein the programmable feature comprises a climate control function.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein the programmable feature comprises a control having a user-assigned function.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the interactive site includes a plurality of control icons and further comprising dragging a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle control panel.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising, after transferring the set-up data from the interactive site to the motor vehicle, providing a control corresponding to the selected icon on the motor vehicle control panel.

46. The method of claim 38 wherein the programmable feature comprises a display having a user-assigned function.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the interactive site includes a plurality of display icons and further comprising dragging a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle display panel.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising, after transferring the set-up data from the interactive site to the motor vehicle, providing a display corresponding to the selected icon on the motor vehicle display panel.

49. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

setting a programmable feature of the motor vehicle by user input to a control within the motor vehicle;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the motor vehicle to the interactive site.

50. A system for setting a programmable feature of a motor vehicle comprising:

a motor vehicle having a programmable feature;

a transfer device provided in combination with the motor vehicle, the transfer device having at least one communication port;

an interactive computer program with a graphical user interface depicting the programmable feature of the motor vehicle;

wherein a user of the motor vehicle sets the programmable feature using the interactive program on a user'"'"'s computer, transfers set-up data for the programmable feature from the user'"'"'s computer to a transfer device and then transfers the set-up data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the transfer device comprises a key for operating the motor vehicle.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein the programmable feature comprises a navigational function.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein the programmable feature comprises a communication function.

54. The system of claim 50 wherein the programmable feature comprises an entertainment function.

55. The system of claim 50 wherein the programmable feature comprises a climate control function.

56. The system of claim 50 wherein the programmable feature comprises a control having a user-assigned function.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of control icons and wherein the user drags a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle control panel.

58. The system of claim 57 further comprising means within the motor vehicle for providing a control corresponding to the user-selected icon on the motor vehicle control panel.

59. The system of claim 50 wherein the programmable feature comprises a display having a user-assigned function.

60. The system of claim 56 wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of display icons and wherein the user drags a selected icon onto a representation of a motor vehicle display panel.

61. The system of claim 60 further comprising means within the motor vehicle for providing a display corresponding to the user-selected icon on the motor vehicle display panel.