Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of a motor vehicle

• US 7,379,541 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XCSR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pointset Corporation
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle, St. Antoine, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella L
• Application Number:
  US10/938,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20050031100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.03, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/90.01, 379/110.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.25, 379/102.05
• US Class Current: 379/102.03
• 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 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of a motor vehicle. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The motor vehicle owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the motor vehicle. Once the desired settings have been made, they are transferred to the motor vehicle using a portable transfer device, which may comprise a key for operating the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an automobile sound system comprising:

providing a server on a global computer network with a graphical user interface tailored to an automobile sound system and the programmable features thereof;

accessing the server with a user'"'"'s computer and operating the graphical user interface to program a selected automobile sound system function;

transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function to an automobile sound system remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the automobile sound system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the automobile sound system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the automobile sound system via telephonic communications.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the automobile sound system.

6. A method of controlling an automobile heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:

providing a server on a global computer network with a graphical user interface tailored to an automobile HVAC system and the programmable features thereof;

accessing the server with a user'"'"'s computer and operating the graphical user interface to program a selected automobile HVAC system function;

transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function to an automobile HVAC system remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the automobile HVAC system.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the automobile HVAC system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the automobile HVAC system via telephonic communications.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function comprises transferring the data from the user'"'"'s computer directly to the automobile HVAC system.