Integrated system and method for interactive communication and multimedia support in vehicles

• US 20090067449A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Tian, Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40019 Details regarding a bus master
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

An integrated system for interactive communication and multimedia support in a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of peripheral devices and a central control unit. Each of the peripheral devices is configured to be installed in the vehicle. The central control unit is also configured to be installed in the vehicle and has a communication interface. The communication interface includes first and second communication platforms and communicates with the plurality of peripheral devices via at least one of the first and second communication platforms. Each communication platform is configured to support bi-directional and selective communication between each of the peripheral devices.

Claims

1. An integrated system for interactive communication and multimedia support in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of peripheral devices, each of the peripheral devices configured to be installed in the vehicle;

a central control unit configured to be installed in the vehicle and having a communication interface, the communication interface including first and second communication platforms and configured to communicate with the plurality of peripheral devices via at least one of the first and second communication platforms, each communication platform configured to support bi-directional and selective communication between each of the peripheral devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central unit comprises an HMI module configured to interface between a user and the system, a storage unit configured to store multimedia content, and a control module configured to control operations of the system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the central unit is configured to receive a command from one of the peripheral devices and the HMI, wherein the command comprises one of unicast, multicast, and broadcast commands, and wherein the central unit is further configured to unicast, multicast, or broadcast multimedia content based on the command.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication platform comprises a wide area network communication platform.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication platform comprises a local area network communication platform.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication platform comprises a personal area network communication platform.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication platform comprises a wired connection, and the second communication platform comprises a wireless connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral devices comprise a plurality of video display units, and wherein at least one of the video display units comprises an HMI module configured to interface between a user and the video display unit, a control module configured to control operations of the video display unit, and an integrated communication module configured to communicate with the communication interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the integrated communication module of the video display unit is configured to communicate with a low-power, high-speed (“

LPHS”

) internal wireless and wired signals.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is further configured to allow one of the peripheral devices having one of the first and second communication platforms, and to bi-directionally and selectively communicate with another one of the peripheral devices having another one of the first and second communication platforms.

11. An integrated system for interactive communication and multimedia support in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first peripheral device configured to be installed in the vehicle and equipped with one of first and second communication platforms, wherein the first and second communication platforms are different;

a second peripheral device configured to be installed in the vehicle and equipped with another one of the first and second communication platforms;

a communication interface configured to support the first and second communication platforms, to be coupled to the first and second peripheral devices via the first and second communication platforms, and to support bi-directional and selective communication between the first and second peripheral devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the central unit comprises an HMI module configured to interface between a user and the system, a storage unit configured to store multimedia content, and a control module configured to control operations of the system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the central unit is configured to receive a command from one of the peripheral devices and the HMI, wherein the command comprises one of unicast, multicast, and broadcast commands, and wherein the central unit is further configured to unicast, multicast, or broadcast multimedia content based on the command.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communication platform comprises a wide area network communication platform.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communication platform comprises a local area network communication platform.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communication platform comprises a personal area network communication platform.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communication platform comprises a wired connection, and the second communication platform comprises a wireless connection.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second peripheral devices comprise first and second video display units, and wherein at least one of the first and second video display units comprises an HMI module configured to interface between a user and the at least one of the first and second video display units, a control module configured to control operations of the at least one of the first and second video display units, and an integrated communication module configured to communicate with the communication interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the integrated communication module of the at least one of the first and second the video display units is configured to communicate with a low-power, high-speed (“

LPHS”

) internal wireless and wired signals.

20. A method of interactively communicating between peripheral devices having respective first and second different communication platforms with an interface unit in a vehicle and configured to support the first and second communication platforms, the method comprising:

establishing a first connection between one of the first and second communication platforms on the interface unit and one of the peripheral devices;

establishing a second connection between another one of the first and second communication platforms on the interface unit and another one of the peripheral devices;

transmitting a signal from the one of the peripheral devices to the interface unit via the first connection;

selectively transmitting at least a portion of the signal from the interface unit to the another one of the peripheral devices via second connection;

receiving the at least a portion of the signal at the another one of the peripheral devices with the second connection;

receiving another signal from the another one of the peripheral devices with the second connection in response to the at least a portion of the signal; and

selectively transmitting at least a portion of the another signal from the interface unit to the one of the peripheral devices with the first connection.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting a signal from the one of the peripheral devices comprises transmitting a signal from the one of the peripheral devices in response to a request entered at a HMI module on the one of the peripheral devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the signal comprises one of unicast, multicast, and broadcast signals, and wherein selectively transmitting at least a portion of the signal comprises one of unicasting, multicasting, and broadcasting multimedia content based on one of the respective unicast, multicast, and broadcast signals.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first connection comprises a wide area network connection.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the first connection comprises a local area network connection.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the first connection comprises a personal area network connection.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the first connection comprises a wired connection, and the second connection comprises a wireless connection.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the peripheral devices comprise a plurality of video display units, and wherein at least one of the video display units comprises an HMI module, the method further comprising:

interfacing the at least one of the video display units through the HMI module; and

controlling operations of the at least one of the video display units.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising transmitting at least one of the signal and the another signal with a low-power, high-speed (“

LPHS”

) communication channel.