System and method for selectively filtering and providing event program information

• US 7,668,653 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Habaguchi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Algahaim; Helal A
• Application Number:
  US11/756,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 701/116, 701/201, 701/207, 701/209, 345/211, 340/995.1, 709/219, 709/216
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for communicating filtered event program information and broadcasting user searchable event program information to vehicles. For example, there is provided a system for broadcasting event program information to at least one vehicle that is filtered according to the vehicle'"'"'s current location. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more antennas, a broadcast receiver unit having a data filter, and a navigational device that displays event program information by venue within a set distance from the vehicle'"'"'s current location. The display further comprises multi-leveled sub-menus that provide a user with a variety of movie related information such as screening times, cast listings, movie reviews, movie trailers, etc. The system further comprises a memory buffer unit in the receiver unit that stores the vehicle'"'"'s last reported location data and cross-referenced databases of movie program information periodically updated so as to minimize bandwidth requirements of the system.

Claims

1. A system for providing updated event information to a user of a vehicle, comprising:

a navigation unit for determining a geographic position of the vehicle;

a receiver for receiving event information updates from a remote location;

a memory unit; and

a processor unit operatively coupled to the navigation unit, the receiver, and the memory unit, wherein the processor unit is programmed to;

store position data regarding the determined geographic position in the memory unit prior to a vehicle deactivation;

retrieve the position data from the memory unit after a vehicle reactivation;

use the position data to filter a first portion of the received event information updates to discard updates regarding events occurring farther than a predetermined distance from the determined geographic position of the vehicle; and

generate the updated event information from the filtered event information updates,

wherein the receiver and the navigation unit are initialized in response to the vehicle reactivation, and the first portion of the event information updates is received by the receiver after the receiver is initialized but before the navigation unit is initialized.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying the updated event information to the user.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor unit stores preliminary event information in the memory unit prior to the vehicle deactivation.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor unit generates the updated event information by updating the preliminary event information with the filtered event information updates.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the processor unit changes a first portion of the preliminary event information while leaving a second portion of the preliminary event information unchanged.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the navigation unit comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor stores the position data in the memory unit before vehicle'"'"'s ignition is turned off.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor unit retrieves the position data after vehicle'"'"'s ignition is turned on.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor unit retrieves the position data after the receiver unit is reactivated.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver unit receives broadcast information updates.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiver receives the broadcast information updates via a satellite radio broadcast system.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the updated event information comprises movie information.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio unit for providing the updated event information as an audible message for the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the audible message comprises spoken words.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor unit is further programmed to store position data regarding the determined geographical position in the memory unit at predetermined time intervals.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor unit is further programmed to:

receive updated position data from the navigational unit after the navigational unit is initialized, the updated position data regarding an updated geographical position of the vehicle;

store the updated position data in the memory unit; and

use the updated position data to filter a second portion of the event information updates, the second portion of the event information updates being received by the receiver after the navigation unit is initialized.