Technique for effectively selecting entertainment programs in a vehicle

• US 7,043,699 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US09/923,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 348/761, 348/762, 348/764, 348/765, 348/744, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/166.1, 455/166.2, 715/763, 715/765, 715/853, 715/854, 715/810, 715/790, 701/36, 701/43
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A system for use in a vehicle for receiving entertainment programs from one or more sources remote from the vehicle, comprising:

a receiver for receiving, from outside the vehicle, one or more signals containing data concerning categories in which the entertainment programs are classified based on contents thereof; and

a display for presenting thereon at least one category, together with a collection of one or more indicators in association with the at least one category, wherein the one or more indicators represent the one or more remote sources currently providing the entertainment programs receivable by the receiver, and the association is determined based on the data, thereby facilitating selection of a remote source represented by an indicator in the collection to receive an entertainment program, which is classified in the at least one category and currently provided by the remote source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the remote sources is a radio station.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the remote sources is a television (TV) source.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the remote sources is an audio source.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the remote sources is a video source.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the remote sources provides weather information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the categories includes news.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the categories includes a type of music.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes a sign identifying the remote source represented thereby.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote source is selected by selecting, on the display, the indicator representing the remote source.

11. A method for use in a system in a vehicle for receiving entertainment programs from one or more sources remote from the vehicle, the system including a receiver and a display, the method comprising:

receiving, from outside the vehicle, one or more signals containing data concerning categories in which the entertainment programs are classified based on contents thereof; and

presenting, on the display, at least one category, together with a collection of one or more indicators in association with the at least one category, wherein the one or more indicators represent the one or more remote sources currently providing the entertainment programs receivable by the receiver, and the association is determined based on the data, thereby facilitating selection of a remote source represented by an indicator in the collection to receive an entertainment program, which is classified in the at least one category and currently provided by the remote source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the remote sources is a radio station.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the remote sources is a TV source.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the remote sources is an audio source.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the remote sources is a video source.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the remote sources provides weather information.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the categories includes news.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the categories includes a type of music.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the indicator includes a sign identifying the remote source represented thereby.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the remote source is selected by selecting, on the display, the indicator representing the remote source.