Electronic device and method for executing functions

• US 7,620,492 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Draeger, Gerd, Friedrichs, Arne, Skwarek, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/515,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,384 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701213-215, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 342/357.1, 340/988, 340/995.16, 340/995.1
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

In an electronic device, in particular a navigation device, having operator-input devices and communications devices for exchanging data with an external, central computer, at least one operator-input device is assigned a function for sending a specific input-identification code uniquely assigned to the electronic device and to the respective operator-input device, or for sending function data assigned to the input-identification code, to the external, central computer for executing the at least one function defined by the input-identification code and the function data.

Claims

1. An electronic vehicle navigation device, comprising:

operator-input devices and communication devices for exchanging data with an external central computer, wherein at least one of the operator-input devices is configured to send one of (i) a specific input-identification code uniquely assigned to the electronic device and the respective operator-input device and (ii) function data assigned to the input-identification code, to the external central computer, which, responsive to receiving only the one of the input-identification code and the function data, is configured to;

determine a function previously assigned to the one of the input-identification code and the function data, and

initiate execution of the function;

wherein the specific input-identification code uniquely assigned to the electronic device and the respective operator-input device and the function data assigned to the input-identification code are each sendable but only one is selected to be sent.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device receives and executes function commands generated by the central computer based on one of the sent input-identification code and the function data.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device receives a function menu generated by the central computer based on one of the sent input-identification code and the function data to select functions from the function menu.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the function is an electronic navigation command and the function data includes navigation parameters, such that the electronic navigation command is, without further input from the at least one of the operator-input devices, automatically executed upon receipt of the one of the input-identification code and the function data.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the function is an electronic navigation command and the function data includes navigation parameters, such that the electronic navigation command is, without further input from the at least one of the operator-input devices, automatically executed upon receipt of the one of the input-identification code and the function data, wherein the electronic device receives and executes function commands generated by the central computer based on one of the sent input-identification code and the function data, and wherein the electronic device receives a function menu generated by the central computer based on one of the sent input-identification code and the function data to select functions from the function menu.

4. A method for executing functions, using an operator-input at an electronic device, at least one operator-input device being uniquely assigned at least one of an input-identification code and function data, the method comprising:

sending one of the input-identification code and the function data of a manipulated operator-input device from the electronic device to an external central computer; and

at the computer, responsive to receiving only the one of the input-identification code and the function data, performing the following;

determining function commands, which were previously assigned to one of the sent input-identification code and the function data in a function database, and

initiating execution of the function commands;

wherein the specific input-identification code uniquely assigned to the electronic device and the respective operator-input device and the function data assigned to the input-identification code are each sendable but only one is selected to be sent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the execution of the function commands occurs via the central computer so that the function commands are executed by the central computer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the function database in the central computer is edited from an input terminal by assigning functions to the at least one of the input-identification code and the function data, using network access.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the central computer sends the ascertained function commands back to the electronic device which executes the function commands.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the function data in the function database are edited from an input terminal, using network access via the Internet, and the edited function data are sent to the electronic device for further selection with the aid of the operator-input devices.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the function data and the input-identification codes are sent in one of encoded form and encrypted form.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the function is an electronic navigation command and the function data includes navigation parameters, such that the electronic navigation command is automatically executed upon receipt of the one of the input-identification code and the function data.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the execution of the function commands occurs via the central computer so that the function commands are executed by the central computer, wherein the function database in the central computer is edited from an input terminal by assigning functions to the at least one of the input-identification code and the function data, using network access, and wherein at least one of the function data and the input-identification codes are sent in one of encoded form and encrypted form.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the function is an electronic navigation command and the function data includes navigation parameters, such that the electronic navigation command is automatically executed upon receipt of the one of the input-identification code and the function data.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the execution of the function commands occurs via the central computer so that the function commands are executed by the central computer, wherein the function database in the central computer is edited from an input terminal by assigning functions to the at least one of the input-identification code and the function data, using network access, wherein the central computer sends the ascertained function commands back to the electronic device which executes the function commands, and wherein the function data in the function database are edited from an input terminal, using network access via the Internet, and the edited function data are sent to the electronic device for further selection with the aid of the operator-input devices.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the function is an electronic navigation command and the function data includes navigation parameters, such that the electronic navigation command is automatically executed upon receipt of the one of the input-identification code and the function data.