Context-aware systems and methods location-aware systems and methods context-aware vehicles and methods of operating the same and location-aware vehicles and methods of operating the same
First Claim
1. A context-aware system comprising:
- a computer configured to be mounted in a vehicle, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;
one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors;
one or more context providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide context information for use in determining a vehicle context, at least some of the context providers receiving context information from sources remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted;
at least one hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a context;
a context service module configured to receive context information from the one or more context providers and determine a vehicle context, the context service module being configured to determine a vehicle context by accessing the one hierarchical tree structure and traversing at least one of said nodes; and
a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle context that is determined by the context service, adjust a behavior of the one or more applications so that the one or more applications behave in a manner that is consistent with a current vehicle context.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Context-aware systems and methods, location-aware systems and methods, context-aware vehicles and methods of operating the same, and location-aware vehicles and methods of operating the same are described. In various embodiments, a context or location service module, implemented in software, determines a vehicle context or a vehicle location based upon information that it receives from various context providers or location providers respectively. Software executing on a vehicle'"'"'s computer can then cause one or more applications that are associated with a vehicle computer to be modified in a manner that changes their behavior. The behavior modification is based on the current context or location of the vehicle and thus provides a context-specific or location-specific user experience. The context or location can be ascertained through the use of one or more hierarchical tree structures that comprises individual nodes. Each node is associated with a context or location. The nodes are traversable by the vehicle'"'"'s software to ascertain a more complete context or location.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A context-aware system comprising:
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a computer configured to be mounted in a vehicle, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;
one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors;
one or more context providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide context information for use in determining a vehicle context, at least some of the context providers receiving context information from sources remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted;
at least one hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a context;
a context service module configured to receive context information from the one or more context providers and determine a vehicle context, the context service module being configured to determine a vehicle context by accessing the one hierarchical tree structure and traversing at least one of said nodes; and
a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle context that is determined by the context service, adjust a behavior of the one or more applications so that the one or more applications behave in a manner that is consistent with a current vehicle context. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A location-aware system comprising:
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a computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;
one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors;
one or more location providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide location information for use in determining a vehicle location;
a location service module configured to receive location information from the one or more location providers and determine a vehicle location by using at least one hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a location, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing the one hierarchical tree structure and traversing at least one of said nodes; and
at least one of said one or more applications being configured to provide a user with information that is associated with the vehicle'"'"'s location as determined by the location service module. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a vehicle comprising:
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receiving, with a vehicle-mounted computer, location information pertaining to a location of a vehicle;
accessing at least one hierarchical tree structure, using the vehicle-mounted computer, the structure having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a location;
using the location information to identify a node on the at least one hierarchical tree structure;
traversing multiple nodes of the at least one hierarchical tree structure to derive a vehicle location; and
responsive to a derived vehicle location, providing a user of the vehicle with information associated with the derived location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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means for receiving, with a vehicle-mounted computer, location information pertaining to a location of a vehicle;
means for accessing at least one hierarchical tree structure, using the vehicle-mounted computer, the structure having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a location;
means for using the location information to identify a node on the at least one hierarchical tree structure;
means for traversing multiple nodes of the at least one hierarchical tree structure to derive a vehicle location; and
means for providing a user of the vehicle with information associated with the derived location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A vehicle comprising:
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a computer mounted in the vehicle, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;
one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors;
one or more context providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide context information for use in determining a vehicle context, at least some of the context providers receiving context information from sources remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted, wherein one or more of the context providers are configured to wirelessly receive information concerning a vehicle'"'"'s context;
at least one hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a context;
a context service module configured to receive context information from the one or more context providers and determine a vehicle context, the context service module being configured to determine a vehicle context by accessing the one hierarchical tree structure and traversing at least one of said nodes; and
a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle context that is determined by the context service, adjust a behavior of the one or more applications so that the one or more applications behave in a manner that is consistent with a current vehicle context.
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16. A vehicle comprising:
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a computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;
one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors;
one or more location providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide location information for use in determining a vehicle location;
a location service module configured to receive location information from the one or more location providers and determine a vehicle location by using at least one hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a location, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing the one hierarchical tree structure and traversing at least one of said nodes; and
at least one of said one or more applications being configured to provide a user with information that is associated with the vehicle'"'"'s location as determined by the location service module, wherein the information that is provided to the user is associated with one or more user-specified preferences. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A vehicle comprising:
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a computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;
one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors;
one or more location providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide location information for use in determining a vehicle location;
a location service module configured to receive location information from the one or more location providers and determine a vehicle location by using multiple hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media each of which having multiple nodes each of which being associated with a location, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing the multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of said nodes; and
at least one of said one or more applications being configured to provide a user with information that is associated with the vehicle'"'"'s location as determined by the location service module.
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Specification