METHOD TO TRANSMIT REAL-TIME IN-VEHICLE INFORMATION TO AN INTERNET SERVICE

• US 20140280552A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: NG, Brian, SCHOLZ, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 9,883,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A system includes an in-vehicle system containing vehicle data, a mobile device, and an interface configured to connect the mobile device to the in-vehicle system. The mobile device is configured to access the vehicle data through the interface and post the vehicle data to a user network. The mobile device is able to be mounted within the vehicle by a docking mechanism.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an in-vehicle system containing vehicle data;

a mobile device; and

an interface configured to connect the mobile device to the in-vehicle system,

wherein the mobile device is configured to access the vehicle data through the interface and post the vehicle data to a user network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user network comprises an internet-based social network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to post the vehicle data to the user network utilizing only functionality of the mobile device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to connect the mobile device to the vehicle infotainment system.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a touch screen, and wherein the mobile device is configured to access the vehicle data by receiving user touch input on the touch screen.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the mobile device is configured to access the vehicle data using only touch input on the touch screen.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein, when connected to the in-vehicle system, the mobile device is configured to operate a limited set of functions.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data comprises current vehicle trip information or information related to saved, previous vehicle trips.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to post streaming audio from a vehicle infotainment system to the user network.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data comprises a current location of the vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle system, the mobile device is configured to automatically enter an in-vehicle, posting-ready mode.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle system, the mobile device is configured to automatically initiate an in-vehicle related application on the mobile device.

13. A system, comprising:

a mobile device;

a dock configured to mount the mobile device within a vehicle;

an in-vehicle system containing vehicle data; and

an interface configured to connect the mobile device to the in-vehicle system,

wherein the mobile device is configured to access the vehicle data through the interface and post the vehicle data to a user network.

14. A method, comprising:

connecting a mobile device to an in-vehicle system;

accessing the vehicle data using the mobile device; and

providing the vehicle data to a user network,

wherein the vehicle data is accessed and posted to the user network utilizing only functionality of the mobile device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the user network comprises an internet-based social network.