CONFIGURING USER CUSTOMIZABLE OPERATIONAL FEATURES OF A VEHICLE

• US 20150057839A1
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Sherry S., Martin, Jason, Bhargav-Spantzel, Abhilasha, Khosravi, Hormuzd M., Owen, Craig T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,248,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L

Abstract

Embodiments of apparatus and methods for configuring user customizable operational features of a vehicle are described. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a communication module configured to be disposed in the vehicle, and communicate with a mobile device a user. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to be disposed in the vehicle and coupled with the communication module, to obtain from the mobile device, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable features of the vehicle, and adjust the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more preferences of the user obtained. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication module to be disposed in a vehicle, and communicate with a mobile device of a user; and

a controller to be disposed in the vehicle and coupled with the communication module, to obtain from the mobile device, through the communication module, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, and adjust the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more preferences of the user obtained.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors coupled with the controller, and to enable the controller to detect a location of the user in the vehicle, wherein the controller is further able to adjust the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based additionally on the location of the user in the vehicle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors include an image sensor, and the controller is able to retrieve an image from the mobile device for facial recognition.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an user input module coupled with the controller, and to enable the user to provide to the controller, a location of the user in the vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is able to request the mobile device to retrieve the one or more preferences of the user stored in the mobile device or in a remote device accessible to the mobile device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is able to communicate with the mobile device in accordance with a selected one of a frequency hopping, near field, or hypertext transfer communication protocol.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication module and the controller are complementarily configured to obtain the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device, through a Bluetooth profile of the user having the one or more preferences of the user for the user customizable operational features of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more preferences of the user comprise one or more preferences for steering wheel position, head restraint position, light settings, seat settings, mirror settings, seat belt settings, air bag settings, transmission settings, mode of operation, window settings, interior climate settings, or infotainment settings.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more preferences of the user comprise one or more preferences for one or more settings for one or more mechanical or electronic components or systems of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is able to obtain the one or more preferences of the user from a virtual assistant on the mobile device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is able to download a vehicle side of the virtual assistant from the mobile device, wherein the vehicle side of the virtual assistant is able to cooperate with a mobile device side of the virtual assistant.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more preferences of the user are updatable based at least in part on a recommendation from a social network.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a rental vehicle, and the user is a renter of the vehicle, and wherein the communication module is able to detect presence of the mobile device, and on detection, establish a communication connection with the mobile device.

14-25. -25. (canceled)

26. At least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions configured to cause a controller of a vehicle, in response to execution of the instructions by the controller, to:

connect with a mobile device of a user;

receive from the mobile device, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle; and

configure the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, by the controller, according to the one or more preferences received.

27. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the controller is further caused to associate the user with a location in the vehicle, and further configure the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based at least in part on the location of the user in the vehicle.

28. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the controller is further caused to negotiate with the mobile device, a protocol to communicate the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device to the controller.

29. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the controller is further caused to request the mobile device to retrieve the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device or a remote device, and forward to the controller.

30. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the controller is further caused to receive, from the mobile device, a Bluetooth profile of the user, having the one or more preferences of the user for the one or more customizable operational features of the vehicle.

31. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the controller is further caused to:

receive from the user, a request to change a setting for one of the one or more user customizable features of the vehicle;

adjust the setting for the one user customable feature of the vehicle; and

export to the mobile device, the setting for the one user customizable operational feature of the vehicle.

32. The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the mobile device is a first mobile device, the user is a first user, and the one or more preferences are first one or more preferences, and wherein the controller is further caused to:

connect with a second mobile device of a second user;

receive from the second mobile device, second one or more preferences of the second user for the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle; and

reconcile the first and second one or more preferences for the user customizable operational features of the vehicle;

wherein configure comprises configure the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, according to a result of the reconciliation of the first and second one or more preferences.

33. A method, comprising:

connecting, by a controller of a vehicle, with a mobile device of a user;

receiving, by the controller, from the mobile device, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle; and

configuring, by the controller, the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, by the controller, according to the one or more preferences received.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising associating the user, by the controller, with a location in the vehicle, wherein configuring is further based at least in part on the location of the user in the vehicle.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising negotiating with the mobile device, by the controller, a protocol to communicate the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device to the controller.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising requesting the mobile device, by the controller, to retrieve the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device or a remote device, and forward to the controller.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving, by the controller, from the user, a request to change a setting for one of the one or more user customizable features of the vehicle;

adjusting, by the controller, the setting for the one user customable feature of the vehicle; and

exporting, by the controller, to the mobile device, the setting for the one user customizable operational feature of the vehicle.