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

• US 20050080555A1
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reus, Edward F., Parupudi, Gopal, Evans, Stephen S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a radio having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

providing a computer operably associated with the radio and 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;

providing a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

providing at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

providing one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

providing one or more location providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide location information for use in determining a vehicle location;

providing a location service module configured to receive location information from the one or more location providers and determine a vehicle location, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

providing a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a data store remote from a vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

4. A system comprising:

a vehicle;

a radio mounted in the vehicle and having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

a computer mounted in the vehicle and operably associated with the radio, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;

a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

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, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a data store remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

7. A system comprising:

a rental vehicle;

a radio mounted in the rental vehicle and having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

a computer mounted in the rental vehicle and operably associated with the radio, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;

a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

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, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a data store remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

10. A method comprising:

providing a vehicle;

providing a radio mounted in the vehicle and having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

providing a computer mounted in the vehicle and operably associated with the radio, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;

providing a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

providing at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

providing one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

providing one or more location providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide location information for use in determining a vehicle location;

providing a location service module configured to receive location information from the one or more location providers and determine a vehicle location, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

providing a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a data store remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

13. A method comprising:

providing a rental vehicle;

providing a radio mounted in the rental vehicle and having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

providing a computer mounted in the rental vehicle and operably associated with the radio, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;

providing a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

providing at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

providing one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

providing one or more location providers operably associated with the computer and configured to provide location information for use in determining a vehicle location;

providing a location service module configured to receive location information from the one or more location providers and determine a vehicle location, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

providing a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a data store remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

16. A system comprising:

a plurality of vehicles, each of which comprise;

a radio mounted in the vehicle and having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

a computer mounted in the vehicle and operably associated with the radio, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;

a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

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, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a data store remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

19. A system comprising:

a plurality of rental vehicles, each of which comprising;

a radio mounted in the rental vehicle and having radio station buttons for selecting a radio station;

a computer mounted in the rental vehicle and operably associated with the radio, the computer comprising one or more processors and computer-readable media associated with the one or more processors;

a first hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with first locations;

at least one second hierarchical tree structure resident on the computer-readable media and having multiple nodes associated with second locations, at least one node from the at least one second hierarchical tree structure being linked with one node on the first hierarchical tree structure by a link that is configured to enable a complete location to be derived from the first and second locations;

one or more applications resident on the computer-readable media and configured to be executed on the one or more processors, one application being configured to map individual radio stations to specific radio station buttons;

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, the location service module being configured to determine a vehicle location by accessing multiple hierarchical tree structures and traversing at least one of each of said multiple hierarchical tree structures; and

a behavior engine operably associated with the computer and configured to, responsive to a vehicle location that is determined by the location service module, cause said one application to map radio stations that are associated with a determined location to individual radio station buttons.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a data store communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a data store remote from the vehicle in which the computer is mounted and communicatively linked with the computer and configured to hold user preferences that associate radio stations with various locations.