System, method, and computer program product for instant messaging utilizing a vehicular assembly

• US 8,131,458 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Boadin Technology LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Zilka, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Application Number:
  US12/340,584
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/200, 701/201, 701/203, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/213, 455/414, 455/412, 455/552.1, 455/457, 455/466, 340/572.3, 340/988, 340/995.24, 705/14
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for instant messaging utilizing a vehicular assembly. In operation, a vehicular assembly is utilized to communicate with a mobile device. Additionally, an instant message is communicated with a remote entity via the vehicular assembly, utilizing the mobile device.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

code for registering a global unique user login information capable of being used to access a plurality of different online applications including a first online application that provides access to a first one or more files associated with the first online application, a second online application that provides access to a second one or more files associated with the second online application, a third online application that provides access to a third one or more files associated with the third online application, and a fourth online application that provides access to a fourth one or more files associated with the fourth online application;

code for receiving the global unique user login information in connection with a login;

code for displaying at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes;

code for displaying at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes;

code for displaying at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes;

code for displaying at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes, allowing access to the first online application;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes, allowing access to the second online application;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes, allowing access to the third online application;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes, allowing access to the fourth online application;

vehicular assembly code for working in association with a vehicular assembly coupled to a vehicle, the vehicular assembly including at least one processor, memory, at least one input device, at least one display, at least one speaker, at least one microphone, a navigation system, and at least one interface capable of communicating with a mobile device equipped with a wireless communication channel;

software application code for working in association with the vehicular assembly code and the different online applications;

code for causing communication with the mobile device and the vehicular assembly, utilizing a mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

code for communicating an instant message with a remote entity via the vehicular assembly, utilizing the mobile device;

code for determining a current location of the vehicle, utilizing the navigation system of the vehicular assembly;

code for allowing receipt of a user request for traffic service content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

code for, in response to the receipt of the user request for traffic service content, causing generation of a traffic service content request for the traffic service content utilizing the current location;

code for causing transmission of the traffic service content request over the wireless communication channel of the mobile device;

code for allowing receipt of the traffic service content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

code for, after the receipt of the traffic service content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, causing output of the traffic service content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

code for allowing receipt of a user request for driving directions to a destination, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

code for, in response to the receipt of the user request for driving directions to the destination, causing generation of driving directions to the destination;

code for causing output of the driving directions to the destination, utilizing the at least one display of the vehicular assembly;

code for allowing receipt of a user request for streaming content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

code for, in response to the receipt of the user request for streaming content, causing generation of a streaming content request for the streaming content;

code for causing transmission of the streaming content request over the wireless communication channel of the mobile device;

code for allowing receipt of the streaming content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

code for causing output of the streaming content, utilizing the at least one speaker of the vehicular assembly;

code for allowing receipt of the instant message from the remote entity, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

code for causing conversion of the instant message from text to speech utilizing the at least one processor of the vehicular assembly; and

code for causing output of the instant message utilizing the at least one speaker of the vehicular assembly.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the communication between the mobile device and the vehicular assembly is wired.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the communication between the mobile device and the vehicular assembly is wireless.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes a short messaging service message.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes a multimedia messaging service message.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes text converted from speech received utilizing the vehicular assembly.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes a voice message received utilizing the vehicular assembly.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes a picture received utilizing the vehicular assembly.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes navigation information received utilizing the vehicular assembly.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein contact information associated with the instant message is received from the mobile device.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the instant message is transmitted utilizing a communication channel of the mobile device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the communication channel includes a cellular channel.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the communication channel includes a broadband channel.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, and further comprising computer code for receiving another instant message from the remote entity via the vehicular assembly, utilizing the mobile device.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the instant message is converted from text-to-speech.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein a sender identifier of the instant message is converted from text-to-speech.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein a sender identifier of the instant message is displayed utilizing the display of the vehicular assembly.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable to allow a user to initiate a predefined text message.

19. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device and the at least one display are components of a touch screen device.

20. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel includes a wireless communication.

21. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is further operable to retrieve data to be controlled by voice commands from the mobile device.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the data includes music, contacts, and other data.

23. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication channel includes a cellular wireless channel.

24. The computer program product of claim 1, and further comprising:

code for displaying the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for registration purposes;

code for displaying the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for registration purposes;

code for displaying the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for registration purposes;

code for displaying the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for registration purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for registration purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for registration purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for registration purposes;

code for receiving a selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for registration purposes;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for registration purposes, allowing registration of the first online application by;

utilizing data required for accessing the first online application, and

receiving preference information associated with the first online application;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for registration purposes, allowing registration of the second online application by;

utilizing data required for accessing the second online application, and

receiving preference information associated with the second online application;

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for registration purposes, allowing registration of the third online application by;

utilizing data required for accessing the third online application, and

receiving preference information associated with the third online application; and

code for, in response to the selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the third online application for registration purposes, allowing registration of the fourth online application by;

utilizing data required for accessing the fourth online application, and

receiving preference information associated with the fourth online application.

25. A method, comprising:

registering a global unique user login information capable of being used to access a plurality of different online applications including a first online application that provides access to a first one or more files associated with the first online application, a second online application that provides access to a second one or more files associated with the second online application, a third online application that provides access to a third one or more files associated with the third online application, and a fourth online application that provides access to a fourth one or more files associated with the fourth online application;

receiving the global unique user login information in connection with a login;

displaying at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes;

displaying at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes;

displaying at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes;

displaying at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes;

receiving a selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes;

receiving a selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes;

receiving a selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes;

receiving a selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes;

in response to the selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes, allowing access to the first online application;

in response to the selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes, allowing access to the second online application;

in response to the selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes, allowing access to the third online application;

in response to the selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes, allowing access to the fourth online application;

utilizing vehicular assembly code for working in association with a vehicular assembly coupled to a vehicle, the vehicular assembly including at least one processor, memory, at least one input device, at least one display, at least one speaker, at least one microphone, a navigation system, and at least one interface capable of communicating with a mobile device equipped with a wireless communication channel;

utilizing software application code for working in association with the vehicular assembly code and the different online applications;

causing communication with the mobile device and the vehicular assembly, utilizing a mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

communicating an instant message with a remote entity via the vehicular assembly, utilizing the mobile device;

determining a current location of the vehicle, utilizing the navigation system of the vehicular assembly;

allowing receipt of a user request for traffic service content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

in response to the receipt of the user request for traffic service content, causing generation of a traffic service content request for the traffic service content utilizing the current location;

causing transmission of the traffic service content request over the wireless communication channel of the mobile device;

allowing receipt of the traffic service content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

after the receipt of the traffic service content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, causing output of the traffic service content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

allowing receipt of a user request for driving directions to a destination, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

in response to the receipt of the user request for driving directions to the destination, causing generation of driving directions to the destination;

causing output of the driving directions to the destination, utilizing the at least one display of the vehicular assembly;

allowing receipt of a user request for streaming content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

in response to the receipt of the user request for streaming content, causing generation of a streaming content request for the streaming content;

causing transmission of the streaming content request over the wireless communication channel of the mobile device;

allowing receipt of the streaming content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

causing output of the streaming content, utilizing the at least one speaker of the vehicular assembly;

allowing receipt of the instant message from the remote entity, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

causing conversion of the instant message from text to speech utilizing the at least one processor of the vehicular assembly; and

causing output of the instant message utilizing the at least one speaker of the vehicular assembly.

26. A vehicular assembly system, comprising:

logic for registering a global unique user login information capable of being used to access a plurality of different online applications including a first online application that provides access to a first one or more files associated with the first online application, a second online application that provides access to a second one or more files associated with the second online application, a third online application that provides access to a third one or more files associated with the third online application, and a fourth online application that provides access to a fourth one or more files associated with the fourth online application;

logic for receiving the global unique user login information in connection with a login;

logic for displaying at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes;

logic for displaying at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes;

logic for displaying at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes;

logic for displaying at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes;

logic for receiving a selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes;

logic for receiving a selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes;

logic for receiving a selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes;

logic for receiving a selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes;

logic for, in response to the selection of the at least one first online application identifier associated with the first online application for access purposes, allowing access to the first online application;

logic for, in response to the selection of the at least one second online application identifier associated with the second online application for access purposes, allowing access to the second online application;

logic for, in response to the selection of the at least one third online application identifier associated with the third online application for access purposes, allowing access to the third online application;

logic for, in response to the selection of the at least one fourth online application identifier associated with the fourth online application for access purposes, allowing access to the fourth online application;

vehicular assembly logic for working in association with a vehicular assembly coupled to a vehicle, the vehicular assembly including at least one processor, memory, at least one input device, at least one display, at least one speaker, at least one microphone, a navigation system, and at least one interface capable of communicating with a mobile device equipped with a wireless communication channel;

software application logic for working in association with the vehicular assembly logic and the different online applications;

logic for causing communication with the mobile device and the vehicular assembly, utilizing a mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

logic for communicating an instant message with a remote entity via the vehicular assembly, utilizing the mobile device;

logic for determining a current location of the vehicle, utilizing the navigation system of the vehicular assembly;

logic for allowing receipt of a user request for traffic service content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

logic for, in response to the receipt of the user request for traffic service content, causing generation of a traffic service content request for the traffic service content utilizing the current location;

logic for causing transmission of the traffic service content request over the wireless communication channel of the mobile device;

logic for allowing receipt of the traffic service content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

logic for, after the receipt of the traffic service content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, causing output of the traffic service content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

logic for allowing receipt of a user request for driving directions to a destination, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

logic for, in response to the receipt of the user request for driving directions to the destination, causing generation of driving directions to the destination;

logic for causing output of the driving directions to the destination, utilizing the at least one display of the vehicular assembly;

logic for allowing receipt of a user request for streaming content, utilizing the vehicular assembly;

logic for, in response to the receipt of the user request for streaming content, causing generation of a streaming content request for the streaming content;

logic for causing transmission of the streaming content request over the wireless communication channel of the mobile device;

logic for allowing receipt of the streaming content received via the wireless communication channel of the mobile device, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

logic for causing output of the streaming content, utilizing the at least one speaker of the vehicular assembly;

logic for allowing receipt of the instant message from the remote entity, utilizing the mobile device/vehicular assembly communication channel;

logic for causing conversion of the instant message from text to speech utilizing the at least one processor of the vehicular assembly; and

logic for causing output of the instant message utilizing the at least one speaker of the vehicular assembly.