META-CONFIGURATION OF PROFILES

• US 20150261827A1
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspiration Innovation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Poulsen
• Inventors: Poulsen, Andrew S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,547,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24564 Applying rules; Deductive queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1255 Settings incompatibility, e.g. constraints, user requirements vs. device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for creating, applying, using and retrieving profile information that includes attributes that may be stored separately from, or with, the content to which the profiles are being applied. In this manner, profiles can be shared in various environments and across various applications. Attributes that have corresponding attributes in other content can be applied to the other content, as long as each of the attributes is valid. In vehicle applications, the profile can be generated in a first vehicle, stored in a profile repository, and subsequently applied to a second vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a profile for a vehicle using settings from a first vehicle for use with at least one additional vehicle, using a profile controller, and making said profile available for use by said at least one additional vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving a request at a profile controller to define a vehicle profile for a user;

determining a selection of items for the profile based on a first vehicle, each of the items having an at least one user-configurable setting;

determining at least one attribute of the at least one user-configurable setting for each item of the selection of items of the profile;

combining the determined attributes to form said profile;

assigning a unique identifier to said profile using said profile controller when said profile has not previously been assigned a unique identifier;

storing said profile with said unique identifier using said profile controller in a profile repository; and

sending a notification that said profile with said unique identifier is available for use.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile is formed as part of storing said profile in a profile repository.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein storing said profile in a profile repository further comprises:

updating an existing profile prior to storing it.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein updating an existing profile comprises:

automatically updating all attributes within said profile to reflect their current user-configurable settings; and

storing said updated profile in said profile repository using said profile controller.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein updating an existing profile comprises:

automatically updating all attributes of said profile to reflect their current user-configurable settings whenever at least one of the user-configurable settings associated with any of the attributes within said profile changes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said user-configurable settings comprise one or more of:

climate control settings, seat settings, audio system settings, engine performance settings, navigation system settings, sun/moonroof settings, display brightness settings, and/or mirror settings.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a selection of items for the profile comprises:

automatically selecting all available items that have at least one user-configurable setting; and

automatically selecting all attributes of said available items.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein automatically selecting all attributes of said available items further comprises:

deselecting one or more attributes that are not to be included in the profile.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein storing said profile with said unique identifier using said profile controller in the profile repository comprises:

storing said profile with said unique identifier in the profile repository wherein said profile repository is located within said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein storing said profile with said unique identifier using said profile controller in the profile repository comprises:

storing said profile with said unique identifier in the profile repository wherein said profile repository is located on a removable storage device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein storing said profile with said unique identifier using said profile controller in the profile repository comprises:

storing said profile using said unique identifier in a profile repository wherein said profile repository is an external profile repository.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said external profile repository is accessed through a network.

13. A method for modifying vehicle settings, comprising:

receiving a profile at a profile controller in a first vehicle, said profile including a plurality of user content presentation attributes for one or more user-configurable content settings for one or more items, said profile having been defined in a second vehicle different from said first vehicle;

said profile controller applying the profile to said first vehicle, said applying including;

setting a current attribute pointer to a current user content presentation attribute from said plurality of user content presentation attributes in said profile;

validating said current user content presentation attribute to determine if said user current content presentation attribute can be applied to a corresponding content setting of an item in said first vehicle;

applying said current user content presentation attribute to the corresponding content setting of the item in said first vehicle to modify the content setting of the item when said current user content presentation attribute is validated; and

incrementing said current attribute pointer so that each attribute of said plurality of user content presentation attributes is applied to its corresponding content setting if said current user content presentation attribute is validated.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile defined in said second vehicle different from said first vehicle is based on:

a request received at a profile controller to define a profile for a user at the second vehicle;

a selection of items determined for the profile based on said second vehicle, each item of the selection of items having an at least one user-configurable setting; and

at least one attribute of the at least one user-configurable setting determined for each item of the selection of items of the profile.