System and Method for Executing Hands-Free Operation of an Electronic Calendar Application Within a Vehicle

• US 20100306309A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Boll, David P., Santori, Nello Joseph, Ross, Joseph N., Kaiser, Micah J., Joh, Brian Woogeun
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means

Abstract

One or more embodiments may include a method and system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic device (ND) located within the vicinity of a vehicle. The system may include a vehicle computer system (VCS). The method may include receiving an input at the VCS to pair the VCS with the ND to establish a wireless communication link over which the VCS may receive one or more instructions from the ND. The one or more instructions may include instructions for establishing a connection with an electronic calendar application executing on the ND and instructions for prompting a user for one or more electronic calendar application events. The method may further include receiving a request from the user for the one or more electronic calendar application events and executing the one or more electronic calendar application events.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic wireless communication device (NWCD) located within the vicinity of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving input at a vehicle computer system (VCS) to pair the VCS with the NWCD to establish a wireless communication link between the VCS and the NWCD;

receiving at the VCS one or more first instructions from the NWCD over the wireless communication link, the one or more first instructions including instructions for establishing a connection with an electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD and instructions for prompting a user for one or more electronic calendar application events;

receiving at the VCS a request from the user for the one or more electronic calendar application events; and

executing the one or more electronic calendar application events.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein executing the one or more electronic calendar application events includes transmitting one or more messages to the NWCD to execute the one or more electronic calendar application events according to the request.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the one or more electronic calendar application events includes at least one of outputting one or more appointments, deleting one or more appointments, adding one or more appointments, modifying one or more appointments, moving between one or more appointments, and terminating operation of the electronic calendar application.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing an application programming interface (API) to establish a connection between the VCS and the electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD to transmit data between the VCS and the electronic calendar application.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein executing the one or more electronic calendar application events includes receiving one or more second instructions from the electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD, the one or more second instructions including instructions for speaking textual information issued from the electronic calendar application.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the first instructions or second instructions further include at least one additional instruction associated with a completion of an operation performed by the one or more first instructions or the one or more second instructions.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting an identifier and the at least one additional instruction to the electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD, the identifier identifying the completion of the operation performed by the one or more first instructions or the one or more second instructions.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the textual information includes at least one of a connection confirmation, information associated with one or more appointments, or an appointment deletion confirmation.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the textual information issued by the electronic calendar application includes operating instructions for operating the electronic calendar application.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the one or more electronic calendar application events is executed by the NWCD, and wherein executing the one or more electronic calendar application events includes speaking the one or more electronic calendar application events executed by the NWCD.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at the VCS a request from the user to operate the electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising receiving the request from the user in response to a trigger in the vehicle.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein the trigger is a button press, a voice-activated trigger, or both.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the one or more first instructions further include instructions for disconnecting the connection between the electronic calendar application and the VCS.

15. A computer-implemented system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic wireless communication device (NWCD) within the vicinity of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle computer system (VCS) configured to;

pair with the NWCD to establish a wireless communication link between the VCS and the NWCD;

receive an input in order to pair with the NWCD for wireless communication;

receive one or more first instructions from the NWCD over the wireless communication link, the one or more first instructions including instructions for establishing a wireless connection with an electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD and instructions for prompting a user for one or more electronic calendar application events;

receive a request from the user for the one or more electronic calendar application events; and

execute the one or more electronic calendar application events.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 15 wherein the VCS executes the one or more electronic calendar application events by transmitting one or more messages to the NWCD to execute the one or more electronic calendar application events according to the request.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 15 wherein the VCS is further configured to receive one or more second instructions from the NWCD, the one or more second instructions including instructions for speaking textual information issued from the electronic calendar application.

18. The computer implemented system of claim 17 wherein the first instructions or second instructions further include at least one additional instruction associated with a completion of an operation performed by the one or more first instructions or the one or more second instructions.

19. The computer-implemented system of claim 18 wherein the VCS is further configured to transmit an identifier and the at least one additional instruction to the electronic calendar application, the identifier identifying the completion of the operation performed by the one or more first instructions or the one or more second instructions.

20. A computer-implemented system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic wireless communication device (NWCD) located within the vicinity of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a means for receiving input at a vehicle computer system (VCS) to pair the VCS with the NWCD to establish a wireless communication link between the VCS and the NWCD;

a means for receiving a request from a user for operating an electronic calendar application executing on the NWCD;

a means for receiving at the VCS one or more first instructions from the NWCD over the wireless communication link, the one or more first instructions including instructions for establishing a connection with the electronic calendar application and instructions for prompting the user for one or more electronic calendar application events;

a means for receiving at the VCS a request from the user for the one or more electronic calendar application events; and

a means for executing the one or more electronic calendar application events, wherein the means for executing includes transmitting one or more messages to the NWCD to execute the one or more electronic calendar application events according to the request.