Compact display unit

• US 20080064360A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Slingeland, Daniel Alexander van Oosten, Banasik, Paul Michael, Contour, Michael Joseph, Doyle, Marquis D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/44 Wiring harness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

The specification and drawing figures describe and show a compact display unit that includes a mobile application server. The mobile application server is mounted in the vehicle for receipt and transmission of the communications. The mobile application server is operatively connected to a compact display unit. The compact display unit presents to a vehicle operator a range of pre-selected permissive communications between the vehicle and a remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle.

This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure, but this abstract is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of any claim.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mountable display unit, comprising:

a housing;

an array of buttons positioned on the housing adapted to activate the display unit;

a monitor mounted in the housing adapted to present a range of programmable permissive communications to a vehicle operator; and

a mobile server mounted in the vehicle, operatively connected to the monitor, adapted to transmit to, and receive messages across, a mobile satellite communications system.

2. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more programs in the mobile server adapted to transmit to, and receive messages from, a mobile satellite communications system.

3. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 2, further comprising one or more programs in the mobile server adapted to detect either removal or attempted removal of the display unit and mobile server from the vehicle, or to detect unauthorized misappropriate of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitor includes a touch screen operatively connected to the monitor adapted to present the programmed permissible communications choices to a vehicle operator.

5. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle operator cannot alter the programmed permissible communications choices.

6. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the display unit includes no keyboard for data entry into the display unit.

7. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a text-to-speech engine adapted to control text-to-speech signals.

8. A vehicle-mountable display unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the display unit is operable by a vehicle operator while the vehicle is either stationary or moving.

9. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options, comprising:

a mobile application server mountable in the vehicle for receipt and transmission of the communications; and

a compact display unit operatively connectable to the mobile application server for presenting a range of pre-selected permissive communications between the vehicle and a remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle.

10. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for operatively connecting the compact display unit to the mobile application server.

11. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for operatively connecting the compact display unit to the mobile application server includes a communications path between the compact display unit and the mobile application server.

12. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options as recited in claim 11, wherein the communications path includes a serial port mounted in the mobile application server.

13. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options as recited in claim 12, wherein the communications path includes a virtual network computing link operatively connected via the serial port to the compact display unit.

14. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options as recited in claim 13, wherein the compact display unit includes one or more buttons positioned on the housing for activating the display unit.

15. A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options as recited in claim 14, wherein the compact display unit includes a monitor for displaying the pre-selected permissive communications to a vehicle operator.

16. A method for providing communication options, comprising the steps of:

installing in a vehicle a mobile application server capable of receipt and transmission of communications; and

providing a compact display unit operatively connectable to the mobile application server for presenting a range of pre-selected permissive communications between the vehicle and a remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle.

17. A method for providing communication options as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of installing in a vehicle a mobile application server capable of receipt and transmission of communications includes the substeps of:

providing a communications path between the compact display unit and the mobile application server;

installing a serial port in the mobile application server; and

including a virtual network computing link operatively connected via the serial port to the compact display unit.

18. A method for providing communication options as recited in claim 17, wherein the step of providing a compact display unit operatively connectable to the mobile application server for presenting a range of pre-selected permissive communications between the vehicle and a remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle includes the substeps of:

arranging one or more buttons on the compact display unit for activating the compact display unit; and

providing a monitor for displaying a range of optional pre-selected permissive communications to a vehicle operator.