Self adjusting vehicle clock

• US 20060002238A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Morris, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/02 the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A method and system are provided for adjusting a clock time setting in a vehicle. The system includes a global positioning system that is in communication with a vehicle control module and has a memory that stores geographical data corresponding to time settings for regional time zones. The method includes the steps of determining in which of the regional time zones the vehicle is located, detecting a difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located, adjusting the vehicle clock time setting if the control module is configured to automatically adjust the vehicle clock time setting, and sending a clock adjustment prompt to a vehicle operator interface if the control module is not configured to automatically adjust the vehicle clock time setting.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a clock time setting in a vehicle using a global positioning satellite system including an in-vehicle communication module, a memory in operable communication with the communication module and storing geographical data corresponding to time settings for regional time zones, and a vehicle operator interface that is coupled to the vehicle communication module, the method comprising the steps of:

determining in which of the regional time zones the vehicle is located;

detecting a difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located;

adjusting the vehicle clock time setting if the communication module is set at an automatic clock adjustment configuration; and

sending a clock adjustment prompt to the vehicle operator interface if the communication module is not set at an automatic clock adjustment configuration.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the vehicle clock in accordance with a user response to the clock adjustment prompt.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

configuring the communication module to automatically adjust the vehicle clock time setting in accordance with a user response to the clock adjustment prompt.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

preserving the difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located in accordance with a user response to the clock adjustment prompt.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operator interface is a telephone.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining in which of the regional time zones the vehicle is located is performed using the global positioning satellite system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of detecting a difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located comprises:

receiving a signal from a global positioning system communication center, the signal including the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located; and

comparing the time setting for the regional time zone with the vehicle clock time setting.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting a change to or from daylight savings time in the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of delaying the clock adjustment prompt until the vehicle is set to an inoperative setting.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle includes a transmission and the clock adjustment prompt is delayed until the transmission is disengaged.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is further configured to delay the clock adjustment prompt until the vehicle is set to an inoperative setting.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle includes a transmission and the wherein the communication module is further configured to delay the clock adjustment prompt until the transmission is disengaged.

11. A system for adjusting a clock time setting in a vehicle, comprising:

a memory storing geographical data corresponding to time settings for regional time zones;

a communication module in operable communication with the memory; and

a vehicle operator communication interface coupled to the communications module,

wherein the communication module is configured to;

detect a difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located, and

transmit a clock adjustment prompt to the vehicle operator communication interface.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit a clock adjustment signal.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication module is further configured to adjust the vehicle clock in accordance with a user response to the clock adjustment prompt.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication module is configured to automatically adjust the vehicle clock time setting in accordance with a user response to the clock adjustment prompt.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication module is further configured to preserve the difference between the vehicle clock time setting and the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located in accordance with a user response to the clock adjustment 5 prompt.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle operator interface is a telephone.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is a global positioning satellite system.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising a global positioning satellite system communication center that transmits a signal to the communication module, the signal including the time setting for the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located,

wherein the communication module is further configured to compare the time setting for the regional time zone with the vehicle clock time setting.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication module is further configured to detect a change to or from daylight savings time in the regional time zone in which the vehicle is located.