Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of a motor vehicle

• US 20050031100A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XCSR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arthur S.T. Antoine, Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields
• Inventors: Antoine, Arthur St., Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/102.30
• 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 of controlling an entertainment system of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program an entertainment system function;

transferring data representative of the selected entertainment system function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected entertainment system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein transferring data representative of the selected entertainment system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected entertainment system function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting an entertainment system parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the entertainment system function comprises selection of a radio station.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the entertainment system function comprises creation of a play list.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the entertainment system function comprises selection of an audio source.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the entertainment system function comprises selection of an audio level.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the entertainment system function comprises selection of audio equalization values.

15. A method of controlling a climate control system of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program a climate control system function;

transferring data representative of the selected climate control system function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein transferring data representative of the selected climate control system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein transferring data representative of the selected climate control system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein transferring data representative of the selected climate control system function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising adjusting a climate control system parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of air circulation path.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of air filtering.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of fan speed.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of temperature sensor weightings.

28. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of a temperature setting.

29. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of a humidity setting.

30. The method of claim 15 wherein the climate control system function comprises selection of a seat warmer setting.

31. A method of controlling a navigation system of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program a navigation system function;

transferring data representative of the selected navigation system function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein transferring data representative of the selected navigation system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein transferring data representative of the selected navigation system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein transferring data representative of the selected navigation system function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

37. The method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting a navigation system parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

40. The method of claim 31 wherein the navigation system function comprises selection of a destination.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein the navigation system function comprises enabling capture of a location upon predetermined driver input.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein the navigation system function comprises selection of a preferred route.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein the navigation system function comprises enabling an alert when the motor vehicle is low on fuel and within range of a preferred fuel vendor.

44. A method of controlling a mobile telephone of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program a mobile telephone function;

transferring data representative of the selected mobile telephone function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein transferring data representative of the selected mobile telephone function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein transferring data representative of the selected mobile telephone function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein transferring data representative of the selected mobile telephone function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

50. The method of claim 44 further comprising adjusting a mobile telephone parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein the mobile telephone function comprises selection of a telephone number.

54. The method of claim 44 wherein the mobile telephone function comprises enabling voice dialing of a selected telephone number.

55. The method of claim 44 wherein the mobile telephone function comprises enabling voice commands for controlling telephone functions.

56. A method of controlling personalization of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program a personalization function;

transferring data representative of the selected personalization function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein transferring data representative of the selected personalization function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein transferring data representative of the selected personalization function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

61. The method of claim 56 wherein transferring data representative of the selected personalization function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

62. The method of claim 56 further comprising adjusting a personalization parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

65. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of a horn sound.

66. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of a horn response mode.

67. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of interior lighting intensity.

68. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of dash lighting intensity.

69. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of dash lighting color.

70. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of interior lighting options.

71. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of an alert sound.

72. The method of claim 56 wherein the personalization function comprises selection of a display image.

73. A method of controlling a driver interface of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program a driver interface function;

transferring data representative of the selected driver interface function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein transferring data representative of the selected driver interface function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein transferring data representative of the selected driver interface function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

78. The method of claim 73 wherein transferring data representative of the selected driver interface function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

79. The method of claim 73 further comprising adjusting a driver interface parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

81. The method of claim 79 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

82. The method of claim 73 wherein the driver interface function comprises selection of voice commands.

83. The method of claim 73 wherein the driver interface function comprises assignment of a vehicle function to a selected driver control.

84. The method of claim 73 wherein the driver interface function comprises assignment of a vehicle parameter to a selected driver display.

85. A method of controlling operation of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to program a vehicle operation function;

transferring data representative of the selected vehicle operation function to a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein transferring data representative of the selected vehicle operation function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the motor vehicle.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein transferring data representative of the selected vehicle operation function comprises transferring the data from the server to the motor vehicle.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the motor vehicle via telephonic communications.

90. The method of claim 85 wherein transferring data representative of the selected vehicle operation function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the motor vehicle.

91. The method of claim 85 further comprising adjusting a vehicle operation parameter from within the motor vehicle and transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein transferring the adjusted parameter to the user'"'"'s computer comprises transferring the adjusted parameter to a transfer device and then transferring the adjusted parameter from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

93. The method of claim 91 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network and further comprising transferring the adjusted parameter from the user'"'"'s computer to the server.

94. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a window stop limit.

95. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling passenger window operation.

96. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a window position.

97. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a sunroof position.

98. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling automatic operation of a sunroof when interior temperature reaches a selected value.

99. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling ignition lock-out if selected seatbelts are not fastened.

100. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling an alert at a selected vehicle speed.

101. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a vehicle speed limit.

102. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a vehicle acceleration limit.

103. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling storage of a vehicle location log.

104. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling storage of a vehicle operation log.

105. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises enabling a selected automatic response to detection of a vehicle accident.

106. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a door locking mode.

107. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a door opening sequence.

108. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a suspension setting.

109. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of an engine control setting.

110. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a transmission setting.

111. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a steering setting.

112. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a traction control setting.

113. The method of claim 85 wherein the vehicle operation function comprises selection of a braking setting.

114. A method of managing maintenance of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a graphical interface on a user'"'"'s computer with a user operated control to select a vehicle maintenance parameter;

transferring data representative of the selected vehicle maintenance parameter from a motor vehicle remote from the user'"'"'s computer;

115. The method of claim 114 wherein transferring data representative of the selected vehicle maintenance parameter comprises transferring the data from the motor vehicle to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer.

116. The method of claim 114 wherein the graphical user interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network.

117. The method of claim 116 wherein transferring data representative of the selected vehicle maintenance parameter comprises transferring the data from the motor vehicle to the server.

118. The method of claim 117 wherein the data is transferred from the motor vehicle to the server via telephonic communication.

119. The method of claim 117 further comprising providing maintenance advisory information on the graphical user interface.

120. The method of claim 119 wherein the maintenance advisory information comprises an expected data of next vehicle service.

121. The method of claim 119 wherein the maintenance advisory information comprises service required at a next vehicle service.

122. The method of claim 119 wherein the maintenance advisory information comprises an estimated cost of a next vehicle service.

123. The method of claim 117 further comprising transmitting vehicle maintenance data from the server to a vehicle manufacturer representative.