Environment customization with extensible environment-settings data

• US 8,185,274 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Garg, Parag
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US12/050,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23193 Memory stores lifetime, different settings, configurations of controlled device

Abstract

Environment customization includes downloading extensible environment-settings data from a data-storage device and adjusting one or more environmental parameters defined by the extensible environment-settings data. The extensible environment-settings data is amended to include previously undefined settings, and the amended extensible environment-settings data is uploaded to the data-storage device.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:

an input configured to download, from a data-storage device, extensible vehicle-settings data including generic settings and one or more instances of vehicle-specific settings;

a customization subsystem configured;

to amend the extensible vehicle-settings data to include previously undefined settings, and

if an instance of the vehicle-specific settings tailored to the control system is present in the extensible vehicle-settings data, to adjust vehicle parameters according to that instance, but

if an instance of the vehicle-specific settings tailored to the control system is not present in the extensible vehicle-settings data, to adjust vehicle parameters according to the generic settings; and

an output configured to upload amended extensible vehicle-settings data to the data-storage device.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the extensible vehicle-settings data is written in extensible markup language.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the customization subsystem is configured, if an instance of the vehicle-specific settings tailored to the control system is not present in the extensible vehicle-settings data, to amend the extensible vehicle-settings data to include such an instance.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the customization subsystem is configured to amend the extensible vehicle-settings data to include settings corresponding to vehicle parameters previously undefined by the extensible vehicle-settings data.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the customization subsystem is configured to amend the extensible vehicle-settings data at least in part by amending the generic settings in accordance with user adjustments to one or more vehicle parameters.

6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising an environmental monitor configured to assess at least one environmental condition;

wherein the customization subsystem is configured to adjust vehicle parameters based on the environmental condition.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one environmental condition is geographic position.

8. The control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one environmental condition is temperature.

9. The control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one environmental condition is time.

16. The control system of claim 1, wherein the data-storage device is removable from the vehicle.

17. The control system of claim 1, wherein the data-storage device is a network device.

18. The control system of claim 1, wherein the data-storage device is one or more of a cell phone and a music player.

10. A control system for a vehicle environment, comprising:

an input configured to download, from a data-storage device, extensible vehicle environment-settings data including generic settings and one or more instances of vehicle environment-specific settings;

a customization subsystem configured;

to amend the extensible vehicle environment-settings data to include previously undefined settings, and

if an instance of the vehicle environment-specific settings tailored to the control system is present in the extensible vehicle environment-settings data, to adjust vehicle environmental parameters according to that instance, but

if an instance of the vehicle environment-specific settings tailored to the control system is not present in the extensible vehicle environment-settings data, to adjust vehicle environmental parameters according to the generic settings; and

an output configured to upload amended extensible vehicle environment-settings data to the data-storage device.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the extensible vehicle environment-settings data is written in extensible markup language.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the customization subsystem is configured, if an instance of the vehicle environment-specific settings tailored to the control system is not present in the extensible vehicle environmental-settings data, to amend the extensible vehicle environment-settings data to include such an instance.

13. The control system of claim 10, wherein the customization subsystem is configured to amend the extensible vehicle environment-settings data to include settings corresponding to vehicle environmental parameters previously undefined by the extensible vehicle environment-settings data.

14. The control system of claim 10, wherein the customization subsystem is configured to amend the extensible vehicle environment-settings data at least in part by amending the generic settings in accordance with user adjustments to one or more vehicle environmental parameters.

19. The control system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle environment is a room.

15. A method of customizing a vehicle experience, comprising:

downloading, from a data-storage device, extensible vehicle-settings data including generic settings and one or more instances of vehicle-specific settings;

if an instance of the vehicle-specific settings tailored to the control system is present in the extensible vehicle-settings data, to adjust vehicle parameters according to that instance, but

if an instance of the vehicle-specific settings tailored to the control system is not present in the extensible vehicle-settings data, to adjust vehicle parameters according to the generic settings;

amending the extensible vehicle-settings data to include previously undefined settings; and

uploading amended extensible vehicle-settings data to the data-storage device.