Centralized management of motor vehicle software applications and services

• US 8,326,486 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airbiquity Incorporated
• Inventors: Moinzadeh, Kamyar, Hong, Leon L., Zhao, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam
• Application Number:
  US12/886,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 701/630, 701/516, 701/631, 701/159
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44536 Selecting among different versions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

In one example, a network device stores a mapping of application operation modes to vehicle conditions such as a first condition of the vehicle powered but not moving and a second condition of the vehicle moving. The network device receives a wirelessly transmitted request for a particular application to utilize an interface powered by the vehicle. The network device compares an application identifier specified by the received request to the mapping. The network device then identifies a portion of the vehicle interface according to the comparison and signals control software on the vehicle to grant the particular application access to only the identified portion of the vehicle interface itself. The application can reside on the mobile device and utilize the vehicle interface as an extended interface, or the application can reside on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling operation of a user application program executable in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a server computer located remotely from a motor vehicle and having access to wireless communications for exchanging information with the motor vehicle;

storing a digital configuration file in a datastore accessible to the server, the configuration file including parameters for remotely controlling access to user interface resources of a head unit of the motor vehicle;

wherein the stored parameters are each specific to a particular user application program executable in the motor vehicle;

receiving at the server a wirelessly transmitted request message from the motor vehicle, the request message including an identifier of the motor vehicle, and data for identifying a user application program executable in the motor vehicle;

identifying a user application program based on the data in the request message;

accessing the stored configuration file parameters to select parameters specific to the identified user application program; and

wirelessly transmitting a control message to the motor vehicle in response to the request message, the control message indicating, for the identified user application program, which user interface resources of the head unit of the motor vehicle are permitted, or conversely are not permitted, to be utilized by the user application program, based on the selected parameters stored in the configuration file;

in the motor vehicle, establishing a communicative coupling between a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device and the motor vehicle head unit; and

in the motor vehicle head unit, receiving data via the communicative coupling for identifying user application programs stored on the user'"'"'s wireless device; and

wherein the data sent to the server in the request message for identifying a user application program includes data identifying at least one of the application programs stored on the user'"'"'s wireless device, so that the control message indicates which user interface resources of the head unit of the motor vehicle are permitted, or conversely are not permitted, to be utilized by the identified user application program stored on the user'"'"'s wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user application program executes on the user'"'"'s wireless device located in the motor vehicle and the communicative coupling to the head unit comprises a cable or short-range wireless link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface resources of the head unit subject to control via the control message include an audio output and a video display screen.

4. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling operation of a user application program executable in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a server computer located remotely from a motor vehicle and having access to wireless communications for exchanging information with the motor vehicle;

storing a digital configuration file in a datastore accessible to the server, the configuration file including parameters for remotely controlling access to user interface resources of a head unit of the motor vehicle;

wherein the stored parameters are each specific to a particular user application program executable in the motor vehicle;

receiving at the server a wirelessly transmitted request message from the motor vehicle, the request message including an identifier of the motor vehicle, and data for identifying a user application program executable in the motor vehicle;

identifying a user application program based on the data in the request message,

accessing the stored configuration file parameters to select parameters specific to the identified user application program; and

wirelessly transmitting a control message to the motor vehicle in response to the request message, the control message indicating, for the identified user application program, which user interface resources of the head unit of the motor vehicle are permitted, or conversely are not permitted, to be utilized by the user application program, based on the selected parameters stored in the configuration file,

wherein;

the head unit includes a display screen and the an identifier of the head unit comprises one or more of a make/model/year of the vehicle a predefined head unit identification code, and a listing of at least one parameter of the head unit display screen; and

further comprising the steps of;

in the server, selecting a GUI based on information received in the request message; and

in the control message, instructing the head unit to install and use the selected GUI;

and further comprising;

modifying the selected GUI in appearance based on a customized frontend, wherein the customized frontend is selected based on a telephone number of a mobile device currently coupled to the motor vehicle head unit, or information provided by the user through the head unit.