System and method for changing motor vehicle personalization settings

• US 20060015221A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kortge, James M., Sarkar, Susanta P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission

Abstract

A method and control system enable at least one adjustable setting of an apparatus in a vehicle to be changed in response to a selection made by a user of the vehicle either from the vehicle or from a location remote to the vehicle. The system has a user actuated input device that provides a control signal in response to a setting selection by the user. A server system stores a program for operating the method and system. A vehicle control system is provided onboard the vehicle. A communication network couples the server system to the vehicle control system so that so that the user can control the setting for the apparatus by operating the input device. The computer system records the vehicle settings in a database.

Claims

1. A preference control system for enabling at least one user adjustable setting for an apparatus in a vehicle to be manipulated in response to selections made by an operator according to the preferences of the operator, the preference control system comprising:

a first input device being located on board the vehicle, said first input device being adapted to provide a first control signal in response to one of a plurality of settings selected by the operator;

a vehicle control system located on board the vehicle for operating the apparatus;

said vehicle control system being arranged to provide an output signal to the apparatus in response to said first control signal, and said vehicle control system being adapted to be responsive to said output signal to change the setting of the apparatus;

a server system having at least one program stored therein for facilitating the operation of the preference control system;

data storage coupled to said server system; and

a communication network for coupling said vehicle control system to said server system so that said data storage can receive and store data related to the setting of the apparatus.

2. The preference control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second input device positioned at a location remote from the vehicle; and

said second input device being coupled to said server system so that an operator can interact with said setting by utilizing said second input device.

3. The preference control system of claim 2 wherein:

said second input device has a display screen and a keyboard;

said display screen being adapted to enable said operator to view the preference setting for the apparatus;

said keyboard being adapted to enable the operator to change said preference setting from said location remote from the vehicle, said keyboard providing a second control signal in response to the operator changing the setting;

said server system being adapted to be responsive to said second control signal to provide data related to said second control to said data storage; and

said communication network providing a signal to said vehicle control system to change the setting of the apparatus in response to said second control signal.

4. The preference control system of claim 2 wherein said second input device has an interactive display system including a voice activated system being adapted to enable the operator to change said preference setting.

5. The preference control system of claim 1 wherein said server system further has a plurality of interconnected servers comprising:

a web server;

a communication server coupled to said web server; and

a business server coupled to said web server so that said web server enables the exchange of information between said communication server and said business server.

6. The preference control system of claim 5 further comprised of a data base server coupled to said business server and to said data storage.

7. The preference control system of claim 1 wherein said communication network is comprised of:

a communications server;

a communication node located onboard the vehicle; and

a wireless network enabling said communication server and said communication node to exchange electrical signals related to the settings for the apparatus stored in said data storage.

8. The preference control system of claim 7 wherein said wireless network is a cellular telephone network.

9. The preference control system of claim 7 wherein said wireless network is a 802.11 wireless local area network.

10. The preference control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control system further comprises:

an engine control module;

a transmission control module;

a body control module; and

a bus for providing control signals, and said bus being coupled to said communication network, said engine control module, said transmission control module and said body control module

11. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control system comprises;

at least one micro-controller;

an input/output device coupled to said micro-controller; and

at least one memory device also coupled to said micro-controller.

12. A method for enabling at least one adjustable personal preference setting for an apparatus included in a vehicle to be changed through a control system in response to a selection made by an operator of the vehicle from a terminal device at a location remote to the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a configuration control signal in response to a personal preference setting selection by the operator on the terminal device;

providing a program for facilitating the operation of the control system;

coupling said configuration control signal to the vehicle so that the operator can thereby control the personal preference setting for the apparatus by operating the terminal device to provide said configuration control signal; and

changing the personal preference setting of the apparatus in response to said configuration control signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method utilizes a server system and further comprising a step of transmitting said configuration control signal through a wireless communication system.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of storing said configuration control signal in a database coupled to the server system.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein a current configuration control signal is provided in response to a current selection on the terminal device by the user from the location remote to the vehicle after a previous configuration control signal has been provided, the method further comprising the steps of:

comparing the current configuration control signal to the previous configuration control signal; and

communicating the current configuration control signal to the apparatus in the vehicle if the current and previous configurations are different from each other.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of providing the current configuration of each of multiple vehicles on a web page in a data base, and each of said web pages corresponding to the configuration of one of the vehicles.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the terminal device includes an input device, further comprising the steps of:

accessing one of said web pages through said input device;

obtaining the current configuration for a vehicle from the web page corresponding thereto;

utilizing the input device to change the configuration of a vehicle to a next configuration;

storing said next configuration in the database; and

informing the operator when the next configuration is applied to the corresponding vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

providing a configuration change message in said database for each vehicle having a changed configuration;

selecting the record corresponding to a given vehicle through a web page;

determining if there is a configuration change message in the database for said given vehicle;

accessing to another record corresponding to another vehicle if there is not a configuration change message; and

sending the configuration change message to said vehicle if there is a configuration change message.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of verifying the registration of said given vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of acknowledging the receipt by the vehicle of said configuration change message.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein a selection of a setting by an operator is made at a location onboard the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing another configuration control signal in response to a setting selection by the operator of the input device;

coupling said another configuration control signal to the vehicle so that the operator can thereby control the setting for the apparatus by operating said input device; and

changing the setting of the apparatus in response to said another configuration control signal.