METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INTEGRATED PLATFORM FOR ENTERTAINMENT, INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION, CONTROL AND COMPUTING APPLICATIONS IN VEHICLES

• US 20110106375A1
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vishnu Gurusamy Sundaram
• Original Assignee: Vishnu Gurusamy Sundaram
• Inventors: Gurusamy Sundaram, Vishnu
• Application Number:
  US12/980,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

Various embodiments include a method and system for providing an integrated platform for entertainment, information, communication, control and computing applications in a vehicle. The system includes an in-vehicle computer residing in user'"'"'s vehicle. The in-vehicle computer is used for user'"'"'s entertainment and transfer of information between user'"'"'s vehicle and other application servers such as original equipment manufacturers of the vehicle, online stores, toll booths, gas stations, etc. Information transfer and communication can also take place between the user'"'"'s vehicles and other peer vehicles in its vicinity. The in-vehicle computer can further control vehicles'"'"' behavior by utilizing its computing applications and interacting with vehicle'"'"'s engine, engine controlling unit, air conditioning regulator, speedometer, fuel meter, gyrometer etc. so as to personalize the vehicle according to its user'"'"'s needs and requirements. The in-vehicle computer also provides a platform to application developers for developing various applications such as games, user identification, GPS, traffic alerts, finger print scanning, voice conferencing social networking, blogging and the likes for the vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a sensor;

a control system operable to receive electronic signals and actuate systems of the vehicle based on the received electronic signals;

a computer readable medium containing computer code;

a processor operable to execute the computer code to;

receive first information about a first user in the vehicle;

determine a first identity of the first user based on the received first information;

determine a first setting associated with the first identity, in which the first setting is a setting of a system of the vehicle; and

issue instructions to effectuate the first setting in the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 in which the processor is further operable to:

receive from the first user an indication of a desire to enter a transaction with a counterparty;

receive from a counterparty a request to confirm the first identity of the first user; and

provide to the counterparty an indication that the first identity has been confirmed based on the first information.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 in which the processor is further operable to:

provide to the first user an indication that the counterparty has agreed to the transaction; and

provide to the counterparty an indication that the first user has agreed to the transaction.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, in which the processor is further operable to receive an indication of a set of preferences associated with the first user, in which the first setting is included among the set of preferences.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 in which the set of preferences is received from another vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 in which the set of preferences is received over a network.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 in which the set of preferences is received from an external device.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 in which the set of preferences is received from a mobile communications device.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 in which the processor is further operable to:

receive second information about a second user in the vehicle;

determine a second identity of the second user based on the received second information;

determine a second setting associated with the second identity, in which the second setting is a setting of a system of the vehicle; and

issue instructions to effectuate the second setting in the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 in which the first setting is not the same as the second setting.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 in which, in receiving first information about the first user, the processor is operable to receive biometric information about the first user.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 in which the biometric information includes one of:

(a) a fingerprint reading;

(b) a picture;

(c) a retinal scan;

(d) a voice recording;

(e) a weight;

(f) a height;

(g) an eye color; and

(h) a hair color.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 further including a climate control system, in which the first setting is a temperature, and in which, in issuing instructions, the processor is operable to issue instructions for the climate control system to bring the interior of the vehicle to the temperature.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 further including a radio, in which the first setting is a music player, and in which, in issuing instructions, the processor is operable to issue instructions for the songs to play according to the known profile of the user.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 further including a seat, in which the first setting is a seat position, and in which, in issuing instructions, the processor is operable to issue instructions for the seat to move to the seat position.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a first sensor proximate to a driver'"'"'s seat;

a second sensor proximate to a passenger'"'"'s seat;

a control system operable to receive electronic signals and actuate systems of the vehicle based on the received electronic signals;

a computer readable medium containing computer code;

a processor operable to execute the computer code to;

receive a first command from the driver via the first sensor;

receive a second command from the passenger via the second sensor; and

issue instructions to effectuate a first setting in the vehicle based on the received first command; and

issue instructions to effectuate a second setting in the vehicle based on the received second command.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 in which the first sensor is a first microphone, and the second sensor is a second microphone.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 in which the first sensor is a first camera, and the second sensor is a second camera.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 in which the processor is further operable to execute computer code to:

receive a third command from the passenger via the first sensor;

determine that the third command has not originated from the driver; and

disregard the third command based on the determination that it did not originate from the driver.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 in which, in determining that the third command has not originated from the driver, the processor is operable to determine that audio constituting the third command has originated from a source not proximate to the first sensor.

21. The vehicle of claim 19 in which, in determining that the third command has not originated from the driver, the processor is operable to:

load a voice profile of the driver;

compare audio constituting the third command to the voice profile; and

determine that the audio does not match the voice profile.

determine the location source of the sound using sensors.

22. The vehicle of claim 16 in which the first and second commands are received substantially simultaneously to effectuate settings which are processed.

23. The vehicle of claim 16 further including:

a third sensor comprising a microphone;

a fourth sensor comprising a camera;

a fifth sensor comprising a display screen that is touch sensitive; and

a steering wheel with a sixth sensor comprising a touch pad,

in which, in executing the computer code, the processor is further operable to;

receive a third spoken command from a user via the microphone;

receive a fourth gestured command from the user via the camera;

receive a fifth command from the user via the display screen that is touch sensitive;

receive a sixth command from the user via the touch pad; and

issue instructions to effectuate at least one setting in the vehicle based on the received third, fourth, fifth, and sixth commands.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 in which the processor is further operable to:

determine that there is a conflict between two of the received commands; and

determine a highest priority command from among the conflicting commands,

in which, in issuing instructions, the processor is operable to effectuate at least one setting in the vehicle based only on the highest priority command from among the conflicting commands.

25. The vehicle of claim 24 in which the processor is further operable to receive from the user an indication to reduce the priority of any commands received via a particular sensor,

in which, in determining a highest priority command, the processor is operable to determine a command from among the conflicting commands that has not been received via the particular sensor.

26. The vehicle of claim 25 in which the processor is further operable to receive from the user an indication to mute the microphone,

in which, in determining a highest priority command, the processor is operable to determine a command from among the conflicting commands that has not been received via the microphone.

27. The vehicle of claim 24 in which the processor is further operable to:

receive an indication of current driving conditions; and

determine, based on the indication of current driving conditions, that any commands received via a particular sensor will have reduced priority,

in which, in determining a highest priority command, the processor is operable to determine a command from among the conflicting commands that has not been received via the particular sensor.

28. The vehicle of claim 23 in which, in receiving the second gestured command, the processor is operable to:

receive a video of the user captured by the camera;

determine the second gestured command by performing a gesture-recognition algorithm on the video.

29. A system comprising a vehicle and a remote server,

in which the vehicle is operable to:

determine a first operational state of the vehicle;

transmit to the remote server an indication of the first operational state;

receive from the remote server an indication of a suggested second operational state for the vehicle; and

effectuate the second operational state, and in which the remote server is operable to;

receive from the vehicle an indication of the first operational state;

determine a second operational state that would improve performance of the vehicle; and

transmit an indication of the second operational state to the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 29 in which the first operational state includes one of:

(a) an engine speed;

(b) a driving speed;

(c) a power distribution among wheels of the vehicle;

(d) a gear;

(e) percentage use of a gas-powered engine; and

(f) a percentage use of an electric engine.

31. The system of claim 29,

in which the vehicle is further operable to:

determine an environmental state; and

transmit the environmental state to the remote server, and

in which the remove server, in determining the second operation state, is operable to determine the second operational state based on the environmental state.

32. The system of claim 31 in which the environmental state includes one of:

(a) a weather condition;

(b) a road condition;

(c) a presence of potholes (d) a traffic condition;

(e) a location;

(f) an altitude;

(g) a road incline; and

(h) a road curvature.

33. A vehicle comprising:

a sensor;

a speaker system;

a control system operable to receive electronic signals and actuate systems of the vehicle based on the received electronic signals;

a computer readable medium containing computer code;

a processor operable to execute the computer code to;

determine a first location of a first user within the vehicle; and

issue instructions to the speaker system to optimize a first audio presentation for the first location.

34. The vehicle of claim 33, further comprising a headphone jack, in which the processor is further operable to transmit a second audio presentation to a second user via the headphone jack or set of speakers near to him.

35. The vehicle of claim 34, in which the first audio presentation and second audio presentation are presented simultaneously.

36. The vehicle of claim 33 in which the audio presentation is one of:

(a) a song;

(b) a radio program;

(c) a soundtrack;

(d) an audio book;

(e) a set of driving instructions;

(f) a set of instructions;

(g) a live phone conversation; and

(h) a voicemail.

37. The vehicle of claim 33 in which, in executing the computer code, the processor is further operable to:

determine a second location of a second user within the vehicle;

issue instructions to the speaker system to optimize a second audio presentation for the second location.

38. The vehicle of claim 37 in which the speaker system is operable to:

simultaneously output both the first and second audio presentations.

39. The vehicle of claim 33 in which, in optimizing the first audio presentation, the speaker system is operable to:

coordinate the delays of each of a plurality of speakers within the speaker system;

coordinate the volumes of each of a plurality of speakers within the speaker system; and

transmitting cancelling sound signals to reduce the component of interference of presentations given to different users.

40. The vehicle of claim 33 in which, in determining the first location of the first user, the processor is further operable to:

receive a biometric indicator of the first user via the sensor; and

determine the first location based on the biometric indicator.

41. The vehicle of claim 40 in which the biometric indicator is a voice recording.

42. A vehicle comprising:

a sensor;

a control system operable to receive electronic signals and actuate systems of the vehicle based on the received electronic signals;

a computer readable medium containing computer code;

a processor operable to execute the computer code to;

receive a reading from the sensors;

determine, based on the reading, a condition of a road; and

transmit to a second vehicle an indication of the condition of the road.

43. The vehicle of claim 42 in which the sensor is a motion sensor and the condition of the road includes a presence of potholes.

44. The vehicle of claim 42 in which the sensor is a camera sensor and the condition of the road includes a presence of obstacles on the road.

45. The vehicle of claim 42 in which, in transmitting to the second vehicle, the processor is further operable to:

determine a second vehicle that is nearby; and

transmit to the second vehicle an indication of the condition of the road.

46. The vehicle of claim 42 in which, in transmitting to the second vehicle, the processor is further operable to:

determine a second vehicle that belongs to a same group as does the first vehicle; and

transmit to the second vehicle an indication of the condition of the road.

47. The vehicle of claim 46 in which the group is a social network.

48. A vehicle comprising:

a sensor;

an antenna;

a control system operable to receive electronic signals and actuate systems of the vehicle based on the received electronic signals;

a computer readable medium containing computer code;

a processor operable to execute the computer code to;

transmit via the antenna an indication of the vehicle'"'"'s location to a central server;

transmit via the antenna an indication of an operating parameter of the vehicle;

receive via the antenna, a command to modify the operating parameter of the vehicle;

receive information available in the vehicle;

receive data;

determine processed information by combining the information available in the vehicle and the data received;

relay processed information to the user; and

modify the operating parameter of the vehicle based on the received command.

49. The vehicle of claim 48, in which, in executing the computer code, the processor is further operable to:

receive via the antenna, an image from the central server; and

instruct a display screen to display the image.

50. The vehicle of claim 49 in which the image includes map data, in which the processor is further operable to:

determine a destination;

determine directions to the destination;

cause the map data to be projected on the display screen; and

cause the directions to be displayed overlayed on top of the map data on the display screen.

51. The vehicle of claim 50 in which received information includes a camera feed from a camera installed in the vehicle, and in which the processor is further operable to cause the camera feed to be displayed together with the map and directions on the display screen.

52. The vehicle of claim 49 in which the image depicts a map with a driving route.

53. The vehicle of claim 48 in which the operating parameter is a driving speed of the vehicle, and in which the command to modify the operating parameter includes a command to decrease the driving speed.

54. The vehicle of claim 48 in which the operating parameter is an activation state of a piece of equipment of the vehicle, and in which the command to modify the operating parameter includes one of:

(a) a command to switch the piece of equipment from inactive to active; and

(b) a command to activate a specific function of the piece of equipment.