Data distribution unit for vehicle entertainment system

• US 8,973,061 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• 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): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US14/263,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 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 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 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 further configured to transmit the video data to a display in the vehicle to be displayed; 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; and

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

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

a data distribution unit 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.

3. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the data distribution unit further comprises:

a wired connection configured to transmit at least one of the video data and the audio data to a wired device connected to the data distribution unit via the wired connection.

4. The data distribution system of claim 3, wherein the wired connection comprises a USB connection or an Ethernet connection.

5. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the data distribution unit further comprises:

a storage device configured to store the video data and the audio data.

6. The data distribution system of claim 2, wherein the display is mounted in the vehicle.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

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

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

a wireless receiver configured to receive first data wirelessly from a first hotspot within the vehicle, wherein the first data is received by the first hotspot wirelessly from a cellular network, the first hotspot has a first access level, and the wireless receiver receives the first data from the first hotspot via an 802.11 transmission standard;

a signal processor configured to decode the first data received by the wireless receiver, or second data stored in the data distribution unit, into video data and audio data; and

a wireless transmitter configured to create a second hotspot having a second access level, different from the first access level, by assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to at least one wireless enabled device via the 802.11 transmission standard, and further configured to transmit at least one of the video data and the audio data to the at least one wireless enabled device.

11. The data distribution system of claim 10, wherein the data distribution unit further comprises:

a wired connection configured to transmit at least one of the video data and the audio data to a wired device connected to the data distribution unit via the wired connection.

12. The data distribution system of claim 11, wherein the wired connection comprises a USB connection or an Ethernet connection.

13. The data distribution system of claim 10, wherein the data distribution unit further comprises:

a storage device configured to store the second data, wherein the at least one wireless enabled device has access to the second data stored on the storage device.

14. The data distribution system of claim 13, wherein the second data stored on the storage device is received from a wireless network.

15. The data distribution system of claim 10, wherein the at least one wireless enabled device is one of a plurality of wireless enabled devices, and the plurality of wireless enabled devices transmit and receive third data to and from each other via the data distribution unit.

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

at least one display mounted in the vehicle, wherein the data distribution unit is configured to transmit at least one of the video data and the audio data to the at least one display.

17. The data distribution system of claim 16, wherein the at least one display is mounted to a headrest of a seat in the vehicle.

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

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

19. The data distribution system of claim 10, wherein the first data is received by the first hotspot wirelessly via a Third Generation (3G) cellular network or a Fourth Generation (4G) cellular network.

20. The data distribution system of claim 10, wherein the first data is received by the first hotspot 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.