VEHICLE CONTROL INTERFACE

• US 20080039998A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Voorhuis PLC LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more vehicle system nay be transferred via a control unit and/or an order confirmation may be communicated via the control unit.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first vehicle; and

a control unit capable of transferring one or more vehicle system settings to the first vehicle if in communication with the first vehicle and capable of transferring the one or more vehicle system settings to a second vehicle if in communication with the second vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle system settings comprise settings for one or more of tie following vehicle systems:

a vehicle component system, an environmental system, a media system, and/or an information direction system, or combinations thereof.

3. The system s of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a housing capable of being selectively moved between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

an external interface capable of communicating between the housing and the selected first or second vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a housing capable of being selectively moved between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

a wireless system capable of communicating between the housing and the selected first or second vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a housing capable of being selectively moved between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

a wireless system capable of communicating between the housing and the selected first or second vehicle, wherein the wireless system comprises one or more of the following;

an RFID device, and/or a wireless connection device, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a cellular phone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle comprises a cradle capable of holding the control unit.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing capable of being selectively moved between a first vehicle and a second vehicle;

an external interface capable of communicating between the housing and the selected first or second vehicle to transfer one or more vehicle system settings to the first vehicle if in communication with the first vehicle, and to transfer the one or more vehicle system settings to the second vehicle if in communication with the second vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more vehicle system settings comprise settings for one or more of the following vehicle systems:

a vehicle component system, an environmental system, a media system, and/or an information direction system, or combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the external interface comprises a wireless system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the external interface comprises one or more of the following:

an RFID device, and/or a wireless connection device, or combinations thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a cellular phone.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transferring one or more vehicle system settings to a first vehicle if in communication with the first vehicle; and

means for transferring the one or more vehicle system settings to a second vehicle if in communication with the second vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more vehicle system settings comprise settings for one or more of the following vehicle systems:

a vehicle component system, an environmental system, a media system, and/or an information direction system, or combinations thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a cellular phone.

16. A method, comprising:

transferring one or more vehicle system settings to a first vehicle if in communication with the first vehicle; and

transferring the one or more vehicle system settings to a second vehicle if in communication with the second vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more vehicle system settings comprise settings for one or more of the following vehicle systems:

a vehicle component system, an environmental system, a media system, and/or an information direction system, or combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising transferring one or more vehicle system settings via a wireless system.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising transferring one or more vehicle system settings via an external interface comprising one or more of the following:

an REID device, and/or a wireless connection device, or combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a message if desired vehicle system settings are not possible;

receiving a message if desired vehicle system settings will be activated in the future; and

receiving a message if desired vehicle system settings are currently activated.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the one or more vehicle system settings comprise settings for one or more of the following vehicle systems:

a vehicle component system, an environmental system, a media system, and/or an information direction system, or combinations thereof.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 16, further comprising transferring one or more vehicle system settings via a wireless system.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising transferring one or more vehicle system settings via an external interface comprising one or more of the following:

an RFID device, and/or a wireless connection device, or combinations thereof.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a message if desired vehicle system settings are not possible;

receiving a message if desired vehicle system settings will be activated in the future; and

receiving a message if desired vehicle system settings are currently activated.

21. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

transferring one or more vehicle system settings to a first vehicle if in communication with the first vehicle;

transferring the one or more vehicle system settings to a second vehicle if in communication with the second vehicle.

26. A method, comprising:

communicating an order placement between a vehicle and a store via a first wireless system; and

communicating an order confirmation between the control unit and the store via a second wireless system if the control unit is located outside the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising searching for the store based at least in part on one or more search criteria.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising presenting directions to the store.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising presenting one or more available purchase options of the store.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising presenting one or more available purchase options of the store in a ranked order based at least in part on one or more prior purchases.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

searching for the store based at least in part on one or more search criteria;

determining directions to the store; and

presenting one or more available purchase options of the store.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating an order placement between a vehicle and a store; and

means for communicating an order confirmation between the control unit and the store if the control unit is located outside the vehicle.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for searching for the store based at least in part on one or more search criteria.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for presenting directions to the store.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for presenting one or more available purchase options of the store.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for presenting one or more available purchase options of the store in a ranked order based at least in part on one or more prior purchases.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

means for searching for the store based at least in part on one or more search criteria;

means for determining directions to the store; and

means for presenting one or more available purchase options of the store.

38. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

communicating an order placement between a vehicle and a store via a first wireless system; and

communicating an order confirmation between the control unit and the store via a second wireless system if the control unit is located outside the vehicle.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38, further comprising searching for the store based at least in part on one or more search criteria.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 38, further comprising presenting directions to the store.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 38, further comprising presenting one or more available purchase options of the store.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 38, further comprising presenting one or more available purchase options of the store in a ranked order based at least in part on one or more prior purchases.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 38, further comprising:

searching for the store based at least in part on one or more search criteria;

determining directions to the store; and

presenting one or more available purchase options of the store.

44. A system, comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first wireless system capable of communicating an order placement between the vehicle and a store; and

a control unit, the control unit comprising a housing capable of operating outside the vehicle, and a second wireless system capable of communicating an order confirmation between the housing and the store.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the first wireless system and/or the second wireless system comprises one or more of the following:

an RFID device, and/or a wireless connection device, or combinations thereof.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the control unit is capable of transferring one or more vehicle system settings to the vehicle if in communication with the vehicle and capable of transferring the one or more vehicle system settings to a second vehicle if in communication with the second vehicle.