Removable modular universal telematics services engine for an audio-visual control unit

• US 20140047336A1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Telematics Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HTI IP LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II
• Granted Patent: US 9,792,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/589 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

Modular auxiliary processor circuitry, capable of performing telematics services, including wireless communications, diagnostic assessment and reporting, location based services, and internetworking, couples with a vehicle head unit through an auxiliary processing module interface. When so coupled, the auxiliary processing module circuitry can perform tasks, services, functions, and aspect that a lower-capability processor of the head unit cannot perform as quickly or as efficiently, if at all. When the auxiliary processor module is coupled and active, its display output can couple to a display device either permanently fixed in the vehicle, or portable and mobile with respect to the vehicle, through conductors or a wireless link. When the auxiliary processor circuitry'"'"'s output couples to the display device software running on the head unit, or the auxiliary processor module, may decouple the head unit from the display device unless a user interface requests its services, such as tuning an AM/FM radio circuit.

Claims

1. An auxiliary processing module, comprising:

processor circuitry configured for performing wireless communications, graphics processing, and application processing;

contacts that pass signals of the processor circuitry and that mate with complementary contacts of an auxiliary processing module interface connected to a vehicle'"'"'s audio-visual control unit when the auxiliary processing module has been coupled with the auxiliary processing module interface; and

wherein the wireless communications, graphics processing, and application processing supplement processing by the audio-visual control unit when the auxiliary processing module has been selected with a user interface.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor circuitry has a performance capability that exceeds that of a processor of the audio/visual control module.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary processor interface includes an accessible connection slot.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

6. A system, comprising:

an auxiliary processing module, comprising;

processor circuitry configured for performing wireless communications, graphics processing, and application processing;

contacts that pass signals of the processor circuitry and that mate with complementary contacts of an auxiliary processing module interface connected to a vehicle'"'"'s audio-visual control unit when the auxiliary processing module has been coupled with the auxiliary processing module interface;

wherein the wireless communications, graphics processing, and application processing supplement processing, by the audio-visual control unit when the auxiliary processing module is selected using software running on the audio/visual control unit;

a display device coupled to the audio-visual control unit; and

a switching means that operates when use of the auxiliary processing module has been selected to couple output from the auxiliary processing module to the display device.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the processor circuitry has a performance capability that exceeds the processing capability of a processor of the audio/visual control module.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary processing module interface includes a slot.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary processing mod de interface connection and the vehicle'"'"'s audio-visual control unit compose a head unit.

12. The auxiliary processing module of claim 6 wherein use of the auxiliary processing module has been selected using a user interface

13. The auxiliary processing module of claim 12 wherein the use interface is generated by software running on the audio/visual control unit.

14. The auxiliary processing module of claim 12 wherein the user interface is generated by software running on the auxiliary processing module.

7-8. -8. (canceled)

15. A method for supplementing the processing functions of a vehicle'"'"'s audio-visual control unit with an auxiliary processing module, comprising:

detecting the coupling of the auxiliary processing module to an auxiliary processing module interface coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s audio/visual control unit;

receiving a selection of at least one feature that the auxiliary processing module has been configured to perform from a user interface presented by the audio-visual control unit on a graphical display device coupled to the audio-visual control unit; and

configuring a switching means so that graphic signals can pass from the auxiliary processing module to the graphical display device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining that the coupling of the auxiliary processing module to the auxiliary processing module interface was the first such insertion coupling,

retrieving the vehicle'"'"'s vehicle identification number from a communications network of the vehicle; and

storing the vehicle'"'"'s vehicle identification number to a memory of the auxiliary processing module.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising causing the auxiliary processing module to wirelessly transmit the vehicle'"'"'s vehicle identification number together with a unique identifier of the auxiliary processing module to a central computer system.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

retrieving the vehicle'"'"'s vehicle identification number from a communications network of the vehicle;

comparing a vehicle identification number previously stored in a memory of the auxiliary processing module with the retrieved vehicle identification number; and

permitting use of features that the auxiliary processing module is configured to perform if the retrieved vehicle identification number matches the previously stored vehicle identification number.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the auxiliary processing module couples to the auxiliary processing module interface via wireless link.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying a graphical representation related to the performing of the at least one feature that the auxiliary processing module has been configured to perform.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one feature that the auxiliary processing module has been configured to perform is audio file synchronization.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one feature that the auxiliary processing module has been configured to perform is vehicle navigation.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one feature that the auxiliary processing module has been configured to perform is e-mail synchronization.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one feature that the auxiliary processing module has been configured to perform is gasoline station information.