Systems and methods for implementing a vehicle control and interconnection system

• US 20070073944A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Gormley As Trustee Under The Joseph Gormley Trust Dated August 16 2010
• Original Assignee: Joseph Gormley
• Inventors: Gormley, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/72
• 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

Abstract

A method of developing peripherals for integration with a vehicle control system comprises providing a vehicle control and interconnection system that includes a system core for processing data, an input module and an output module. The system core includes a reconfigurable space having reconfigurable hardware, memory and a supervising processor that is customized to the order. The supervising processor is configured to provide control information to identified peripherals and control the allocation and configuration of the reconfigurable space into a plurality of independent information processing workspaces. The associated information processing workspace for the peripherals is configured if required, a verifying operation of the peripherals with the control and interconnection system is performed and the peripherals are authorized as approved peripherals. To integrate the peripherals into the system, design tools assist the developer in configuring an associated information processing workspace, setting up operating conditions or performing other integration tasks.

Claims

1. A method of developing peripherals for integration with a vehicle control system comprising:

under control of a central domain, providing a vehicle control and interconnection system comprising;

a system core for processing data, an input module adapted to couple signals from associated peripherals to said system core and an output module adapted to direct signals from said system core to corresponding peripherals, wherein said system core comprises;

a reconfigurable space having reconfigurable hardware for supporting hardware programming and memory for supporting reconfigurable software programming; and

a supervising processor customized to said order, said supervising processor configured to;

during operation of said vehicle, provide control information to identified peripherals as necessary to implement a customized overall configuration; and

control the allocation and configuration of said reconfigurable space into a plurality of independent information processing workspaces, where each information processing workspace supports hardware, software or both hardware and software based upon programming instructions to implement peripheral defined functionalities for interaction with associated peripherals;

providing at least one design tool to a peripheral developer to allow said peripheral developer to develop and customize a peripheral for use with said control and interconnection system by at least one of;

defining information that characterizes capabilities of said peripheral such that said supervisory processor of said system core can oversee operation of said peripheral during operation; and

defining information such that an associated information processing workspace can be configured to offload at least some peripheral processing to within said reconfigurable space of said system core;

configuring said associated information processing workspace for said peripheral if required;

verifying operation of said peripheral with said control and interconnection system; and

authorizing said peripheral as an approved peripheral.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said design tool comprises at least one template that allows customization of a user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said design tool allows each peripheral provider to describe proprietary configurations where such proprietary configurations are installed into an associated information processing workspace outside of the visibility of other peripheral providers.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising customizing said control and interconnection system unique to a specific customer under exclusive control of said central domain by:

programming said information processing workspaces, electronically wiring interconnections within said control and interconnection system and testing at least an initial customization of an installation of said control and interconnection system into a vehicle is exclusively controlled by said central domain.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising approving and integrating third party peripheral providers into said control and interconnection system by developing appropriate configuration data for each peripheral so as to achieve a customized and responsive system based upon at least one of operator selection, operational conditions and environmental conditions.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein build requirements that are generated to describe a specific customization are preserved under the control of said central domain for backup and archival purposes.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one design tool further comprises a first tool configured to enable a peripheral provider to redesign a product such that hardware processing traditionally performed in an associated peripheral product is offloaded into a select information processing workspace of said system core such at least a portion of the total hardware processing of a peripheral is performed by said system core.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein after a customization, said central domain occasionally receives information from a specific vehicle customization via a wireless transceiver integrated with said system core.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing customer advisors for corresponding available features of said control and interconnection system to a customer based upon a vehicle that a control and interconnection system is to be installed into, available peripherals for that vehicle and customer preferences.

10. A method of customizing a vehicle control system comprising:

identifying a plurality of peripherals that are approved by a central domain for integration into a customized vehicle control system;

in response to receiving an order for a customized vehicle control system having identified at least one approved peripheral, initiating a customization of a vehicle control system;

under control of a central domain, installing in a corresponding vehicle, a vehicle control and interconnection system comprising;

a system core for processing data, an input module adapted to couple signals from associated peripherals to said system core and an output module adapted to direct signals from said system core to corresponding peripherals, wherein said system core comprises;

a reconfigurable space having reconfigurable hardware for supporting hardware programming and memory for supporting reconfigurable software programming; and

a supervising processor customized to said order, said supervising processor configured to;

during operation of said vehicle, provide control information to identified peripherals as necessary to implement a customized overall configuration; and

control the allocation and configuration of said reconfigurable space into a plurality of independent information processing workspaces, where each information processing workspace supports hardware, software or both hardware and software based upon programming instructions to implement peripheral defined functionalities for interaction with associated peripherals;

under control of said central domain, configuring said reconfigurable space for each approved peripheral that requires use of an associated information processing workspace; and

connecting approved peripherals to said control and interconnection system.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein selection of peripherals and customization of said supervising processor are based upon at least one of mission specific requirements and operator preferences to provide a customized control system.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a graphical user interface is integrated with said system core such that an operator can modify said operator preferences.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein an operator may alter said operator preferences based upon data stored on a portable memory device that may be temporarily docked for reading by said system core.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein in further response for receiving a request for a customized control and interconnection system, selecting from at least two different system core configurations, each different system core configuration providing different processing capabilities.

15. A method of integrating a plurality of peripherals into a reconfigurable control and interconnection system of a vehicle comprising:

establishing a compatible set of options for a customer based upon a set of available preferences;

receiving from said customer, an order for a customized control and interconnection system for a particular vehicle;

communicating said compatible set of options to a control entity;

under control of said control entity, installing a control and interconnection system into an associated vehicle, said control and interconnection system comprising;

a system core for processing data, an input module adapted to couple signals from associated external peripherals to said system core and an output module adapted to direct signals from said system core to corresponding external peripherals, wherein said system core comprises;

a reconfigurable space having reconfigurable hardware for supporting hardware programming and memory for supporting reconfigurable software programming; and

a supervising processor customized to said order, said supervising processor configured to;

during operation of said vehicle, provide control information to identified peripherals as necessary to implement a customized overall configuration; and

control the allocation and configuration of said reconfigurable space into a plurality of independent information processing workspaces, where each information processing workspace supports hardware, software or both hardware and software based upon programming instructions to implement peripheral defined functionalities for interaction with associated peripherals;

programming said system core based upon compatible set of options for said customer;

installing external peripherals associated with said compatible set of options;

interfacing said external peripherals with said control and interconnection system; and

returning said vehicle equipped with said control and interconnection system to said customer.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein:

said set of available preferences comprises a plurality of classes targeted to customers based upon demographic profiles that organize features and services most likely to interest an associated demographic; and

said compatible set of options comprises a select one of said classes.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said set of available preferences comprises different configurations of said system core including an option of at least one of different processor operating speed, different processor capabilities and different sizes of reconfigurable space.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said control entity is a single source that controls said set of available preferences by qualifying peripherals prior to integration into said control and interconnection system.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said compatible set of options selected by said customer are at least partially based upon a performance evaluation that suggests options based upon customer preference or demographic profile, and a vehicle inspection.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said customer purchases said reconfigurable control and interconnection system through a store outlet that has the capability of performing updates and modifications based upon available inventory once a reconfigurable control and interconnection system has been initially programmed by said control entity.