Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Process Emulation and Configuration on a Mobile Platform

• US 20130066518A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Yifan, Strumolo, Gary Steven, Filev, Dimitar Petrov, Greenberg, Jeffrey Allen, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Tonshal, Basavaraj, Prasad, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh, Aldighieri, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes providing an interface on a wireless device corresponding to an interface for vehicle infotainment system control. The method also includes providing simulated functionality of controls on the interface, such that activation of a control informs a user of what would occur if the control were activated on a vehicle interface. Further, the method includes saving at least one user setting input into the interface. The method additionally includes transferring the saved setting to a vehicle computing system (VCS) for use in infotainment system control when the wireless device is in communication with the VCS.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing an interface on a wireless device corresponding to an interface for vehicle infotainment system control;

providing simulated functionality of controls on the interface, such that activation of a control informs a user of what would occur if the control were activated on a vehicle interface;

saving at least one user setting input into the interface; and

transferring the saved setting to a vehicle computing system (VCS) for use in infotainment system control when the wireless device is in communication with the VCS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated functionality includes a visual display of vehicle system response.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated functionality includes a textual output describing vehicle system response.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated functionality includes a audio output describing vehicle system response.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface includes an entertainment system interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a user setting includes preset radio stations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface includes an HVAC interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a user setting includes a preferred vehicle temperature.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing communication between a vehicle computing system (VCS) and a wireless device;

determining that the wireless device has one or more native functions provided thereto that correspond to functions existent on the VCS;

offering a user the option to import the function from the wireless device to use as an alternative to the corresponding VCS function; and

contingent on the user'"'"'s selection of an import option, downloading at least some functionality of the native function to the VCS and providing a function control interface corresponding to the native function in lieu of an interface associated with the corresponding VCS function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the function includes a navigation function.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the function includes a phone control function.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the function includes an entertainment control function.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the entire native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein only a portion of the native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS, and wherein at least some portion of the native function is still run by the wireless device after receiving commands input into the function control interface provided on the VCS.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute the method comprising:

providing an interface on a wireless device corresponding to an interface for vehicle infotainment system control;

providing simulated functionality of controls on the interface, such that activation of a control informs a user of what would occur if the control were activated on a vehicle interface;

saving at least one user setting input into the interface; and

transferring the saved setting to a vehicle computing system (VCS) for use in infotainment system control when the wireless device is in communication with the VCS.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the simulated functionality includes a visual display of vehicle system response.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the simulated functionality includes a textual output describing vehicle system response.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the simulated functionality includes a audio output describing vehicle system response.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the interface includes an entertainment system interface.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the interface includes an HVAC interface.