Method and apparatus for transmitting vehicle-related information in and out of a vehicle

• US 8,078,390 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Menzel, Marc, Kelling, Enno
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul
• Application Number:
  US12/305,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/213, 701/300, 701/302, 701/117, 340/988, 340/933, 340/438, 340/991
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

A method for transmitting vehicle-related information in and out of a vehicle and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed. The method includes the steps of (i) receiving location information via reception means for position finding, (ii) evaluating vehicle-related information and location information via means for coordinating an interaction between the communication means, the reception means and means for wireless radio networking, (iii) transmitting vehicle-related information and the location information to mobile terminals carried in the vehicle by wireless radio networking comprising one bi-directional communication link, and (iv) indicating the vehicle-related information and location information audibly, visually, haptically, or any combination thereof, within a reproduction unit in the mobile terminals.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting vehicle-related information in and out of a vehicle via a communication means, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving location information via reception means for position finding,

evaluating vehicle-related information and location information via means for coordinating an interaction between the communication means, the reception means and means for wireless radio networking,

transmitting vehicle-related information and the location information to mobile terminals carried in the vehicle by wireless radio networking comprising one bi-directional communication link,

indicating the vehicle-related information and location information audibly, visually, haptically, or any combination thereof, within a reproduction unit in the mobile terminals,

ascertaining whether communication means, reception means for position finding and means for coordinating are situated on a computer platform that is positioned in the vehicle and are able to be activated,

ascertaining whether the communication means, the reception means for the position finding and means for coordinating the interaction are situated on the mobile terminals carried in the vehicle,

activating the communication means, the reception means for position finding and means for coordinating the interaction that are present in the vehicle, and

activating the communication means, the reception means for position finding and means for coordinating the interaction on the mobile terminal that are not present in the vehicle on the mobile terminal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of executing a navigation system on the mobile terminals, presenting the location information in the navigation systems via the reception means for position finding.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a presentation in the navigation systems is in 4-dimensional form, 3-dimensional form or both 2-dimensional form and 3-dimensional form.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reception means for position finding process satellite-assisted information from satellite systems GLOSNASS, GPS, COMPASS, Galileo, IRNSS, EGNOS, GAGAN, MEAS, WASS or any combination thereof.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless radio networking is effected by means of local area communication.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the local area communication is effected by means of Bluetooth.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication means are used for (i) mobile radio communication, (ii) DSRC communication, and (iii) data bus communication via CAN, Flexray, MOST, or any combination thereof.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of activating the communication means in the vehicle when criteria are met.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein means for coordinating the interaction is a telematics control unit which is implemented in the vehicle or on the terminals.

10. An apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises communication means for communication via mobile radio networks and wireless local area radio networks and vehicle field buses, and reception means for position finding information via satellites and means for coordinating the interaction between the communication means the reception means and means for wireless radio networking of mobile terminals carried in the vehicle.

11. A computer program having program code means in order to perform all of the steps of the method as claimed in claim 1 when the computer program is executed on a computer, a smart phone, an MDA, a PDA, a corresponding computation unit or a telemetics control unit.

12. A computer program product having program code means which are stored on a computer-readable data storage medium in order to perform all the steps of a method as claimed in claim 1 when the computer program is executed on a computer or a corresponding computation unit, a smart phone, an MDA, a PDA, a corresponding computation unit or a telemetics control unit.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the information related to driver assistance systems and/or vehicle safety systems includes vehicle-to-vehicle communication and/or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.