Vehicular dual mode master/slave interface
First Claim
1. A master/slave interface device comprising:
- a plurality of inputs from vehicular peripheral devices;
an input from a handheld computing device; and
a dual mode controller configured to operate in a slave mode and a master mode,wherein in the slave mode i) the handheld computing device is communicatively coupled to the dual mode controller, ii) the handheld computing device serves as a master controller which receives input from a user and which communicates with each of the vehicular peripheral devices, iii) the data communicated from each one of the peripheral devices to the handheld computing device or from the handheld computing device to any one of the peripheral devices is routed to and passes through the dual-mode controller, and iv) the dual mode controller receives data retrieved by the handheld computing device from a remote server, andwherein in the master mode i) the handheld computing device is not communicatively coupled to the dual-mode controller, and ii) the dual-mode controller serves as a master controller which receives input from a user and which communicates with each of the vehicular peripheral devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular interface may include an electromechanical interface between a handheld electronic device and subsystems on a vehicular bus or network. In selected embodiments the interface may operate in a “master mode” when a handheld device, such as a tablet computer or smart-phone, is not inserted therein. In this mode the interface may serve as a master controller and accesses and controls various subsystems on a vehicle (such as engine control subsystems, media controllers, navigation systems, sensors and transducers) as a master controller. In one embodiment, when a tablet device is inserted into the interface, the interface may automatically switch to “slave mode” in which it acts as an adapter or interface between the tablet device and the vehicular subsystems. In this mode of operation the user'"'"'s exclusive interface is through the tablet computer and the tablet computer serves as the master controller for the system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A master/slave interface device comprising:
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a plurality of inputs from vehicular peripheral devices; an input from a handheld computing device; and a dual mode controller configured to operate in a slave mode and a master mode, wherein in the slave mode i) the handheld computing device is communicatively coupled to the dual mode controller, ii) the handheld computing device serves as a master controller which receives input from a user and which communicates with each of the vehicular peripheral devices, iii) the data communicated from each one of the peripheral devices to the handheld computing device or from the handheld computing device to any one of the peripheral devices is routed to and passes through the dual-mode controller, and iv) the dual mode controller receives data retrieved by the handheld computing device from a remote server, and wherein in the master mode i) the handheld computing device is not communicatively coupled to the dual-mode controller, and ii) the dual-mode controller serves as a master controller which receives input from a user and which communicates with each of the vehicular peripheral devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An interface method comprising:
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receiving, at a dual mode controller, a plurality of inputs from vehicular peripheral devices; receiving, at the dual mode controller, an input from a handheld computing device; and operating the dual mode controller in a slave mode and a master mode, wherein in the slave mode i) the handheld computing device is communicatively coupled to the dual mode controller, ii) the handheld computing device serves as a master controller which receives input from a user and which communicates with each of the vehicular peripheral devices, iii) the data communicated from each one of the peripheral devices to the handheld computing device or from the handheld computing device to any one of the peripheral devices is routed to and passes through the dual-mode controller, and iv) the dual mode controller receives data retrieved by the handheld computing device from a remote server, and wherein in the master mode i) the handheld computing device is not communicatively coupled to the dual-mode controller, and ii) the dual-mode controller serves as a master controller which receives input from a user and which communicates with each of the vehicular peripheral devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification