Data distribution unit for vehicle entertainment system

• US 8,713,613 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US12/851,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18464 : Reciprocating rack connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18472 : Crank and pitman actuator

Abstract

A data distribution unit for a vehicle includes a wireless receiver configured to receive coded data wirelessly via a cellular network, a signal processor configured to decode the coded data into video data and audio data, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the video data wirelessly to a display and transmit the audio data wirelessly to a speaker.

Claims

1. A data distribution system for a vehicle, comprising:

a data distribution unit permanently mounted on a surface within the vehicle, comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive coded data wirelessly via a cellular network;

a signal processor configured to decode the coded data into video data and audio data;

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit the video data wirelessly to a display and transmit the audio data wirelessly to a speaker, and to create a first hotspot having a first access level by assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a first wireless enabled device via an 802.11 transmission standard; and

a second wireless transmitter configured to create a second hotspot having a second access level, different from the first access level, by assigning an IP address to a second wireless enabled device via the 802.11 transmission standard;

a video camera mounted on a first surface in the vehicle and located separately from the data distribution unit, and configured to record local video data, and wirelessly transmit the local video data to the data distribution unit during a videoconferencing session; and

a microphone mounted on a second surface in the vehicle and located separately from the data distribution unit, and configured to record local audio data, and wirelessly transmit the local audio data to the data distribution unit during a videoconferencing session,

wherein the first surface and the second surface are a same surface or a different surface.

5. The data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the display and the speaker are part of a portable media player.

6. The data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the display is mounted to a headrest of a seat in the vehicle.

7. The data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the data distribution unit is configured to transmit the local audio and video data to a remote device wirelessly via the cellular network, receive remote audio and video data from the remote device wirelessly via the cellular network, and transmit the remote audio data to the speaker and the remote video data to the display wirelessly via an 802.11 transmission standard.

8. The data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the display, the video camera, and the microphone are mounted to a headrest of a seat in the vehicle.

9. The data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the display and the video camera are mounted in a dashboard of the vehicle, and the microphone and the speaker are mounted in an overhead of the vehicle.

10. The data distribution system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of displays;

a plurality of video cameras; and

a plurality of microphones,

wherein a first display, a first video camera and a first microphone are mounted in a dashboard of the vehicle, and a second display, a second video camera and a second microphone are mounted in a headrest of a seat in the vehicle.

11. The data distribution system of claim 10, wherein functions of the first display, the first video camera and the first microphone are controllable by a first controller, and functions of the second display, the second video camera, and the second microphone are controllable by a second controller.

12. The data distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device.

13. The data distribution system of claim 12, wherein local data is stored in the storage device, and the local data is transmitted wirelessly to the display, the speaker, and the first wireless enabled device via the first wireless transmitter using the 802.11 transmission standard.

14. The data distribution system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data bus; and

a selection multiplexer connected to the wireless receiver and an additional media source, wherein the selection multiplexer is configured to multiplex one of data corresponding to the wireless receiver or data corresponding to the additional media source to the data bus.

15. The data distribution system of claim 14, wherein the first wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the data multiplexed to the data bus to at least one of the display, the speaker, or the first wireless enabled device via the 802.11 transmission standard.

2. A data distribution system for a vehicle, comprising:

a removable data distribution unit, comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive coded data wirelessly via a cellular network;

a signal processor configured to decode the coded data into video data and audio data;

a display configured to receive decoded video data from the signal processor, and display the decoded video data;

a first wireless transmitter configured to create a first hotspot having a first access level by assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a first wireless enabled device via an 802.11 transmission standard; and

a second wireless transmitter configured to create a second hotspot having a second access level, different from the first access level, by assigning an IP address to a second wireless enabled device via the 802.11 transmission standard;

an additional media source configured to be connected to the removable data distribution unit, comprising one of a portable storage device player, a DVD player, a television tuner, and a digital video recorder (DVR); and

a docking station mounted in the vehicle, wherein the removable data distribution unit is configured to removably connect to the docking station,

wherein the first wireless transmitter of the removable data distribution unit is further configured to transmit at least one of audio data and video data from the additional media source to the first wireless enabled device.

3. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the coded data wirelessly via an Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) cellular network, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) cellular network, or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular network.

4. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the first wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the video data and the audio data wirelessly using the 802.11 transmission standard.

16. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the coded data wirelessly via a Third Generation (3G) cellular network or a Fourth Generation (4G) cellular network.

17. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the portable storage device player is configured to receive a portable hard drive, a memory card, or a flash memory stick.

18. A data distribution system for a vehicle, comprising:

a data distribution unit permanently mounted on a surface within the vehicle, comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive coded data wirelessly via a cellular network;

a signal processor configured to decode the coded data into video data and audio data;

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit the video data wirelessly to a display and transmit the audio data wirelessly to a speaker, and to create a first hotspot having a first access level by assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a first wireless enabled device via an 802.11 transmission standard; and

a second wireless transmitter configured to create a second hotspot having a second access level, different from the first access level, by assigning an IP address to a second wireless enabled device via the 802.11 transmission standard.