Automatic device mode based on physical location of user in a vehicle

• US 9,084,090 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Clement, Manuel Christian, Mariet, Robertus Christianus Elisabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sweeney, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US14/288,518
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 701/41, 701/48
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0064 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit, e.g. remote keypad or mobile phone
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18181 Propulsion control with common controlling member for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure provides a control device that is located inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The control device may include a portable computing device configured to execute software that effectively enables passengers to use a touch screen (or another input device) to perform control actions for the vehicle that would otherwise take a flip of a switch, turning of a knob, or pressing of a pedal. For example, the portable computing device may be used to steer the vehicle or apply the brakes of the vehicle. The capabilities of the portable computing device are subject to location-specific permissions. The portable computing device, for example, may be allowed to steer the vehicle only when it is located in the area of the vehicle'"'"'s driver seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a passenger compartment configured to accommodate one or more passengers;

a plurality of vehicle systems;

a vehicle control unit operatively connected to each vehicle system, the vehicle control unit including a processor and a memory, the memory storing;

(i) a first indication of a first location within the passenger compartment from where a portable device is permitted to change the state of a first vehicle system of the plurality,

(ii) a second indication of a second location within the passenger compartment from where the portable device is permitted to change the state of a second vehicle system of the plurality;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a first instruction from the portable control device to change a first state of the first vehicle system;

receive a second instruction from the portable control device to change a second state of the second vehicle system;

determine a current location of the portable control device in the passenger compartment;

determine, based on the first indication and the current location of the portable control device, whether the first instruction is permitted to be executed;

determine, based on the second indication and the current location of the portable control device, whether the second instruction is permitted to be executed; and

execute the first instruction, but not the second instruction, in response to determining that only the first instruction is permitted to be executed when the portable control device is located at its current location.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first system is a steering system and the first instruction is permitted to be executed only when the portable control device is located at a driver seat of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first system is an entertainment system and the first instruction is permitted to be executed only when the portable control device is located at a driver seat or a front passenger seat of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first location is part of a first region of the passenger compartment and the second location is part of a second region of the passenger compartment.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the portable control device is one of a smart phone, a tablet, or a laptop.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the portable control device is connected to the vehicle control unit via a wireless connection.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable control device is connected to the vehicle control unit via a wireless connection.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an output device;

a memory storing a data structure that relates;

(i) a first user interface component with a first region in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, thereby indicating that the apparatus is permitted to output the first user interface component on the output device when the apparatus is located in the first region;

(ii) a second user interface component with a second region in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, thereby indicating that the apparatus is permitted to output the second user interface component on the output device when the apparatus is located in the second region; and

a processor coupled to the output device and the memory, the processor being configured to;

determine a current location of the apparatus within the vehicle;

determine, based on the current location of the apparatus and the data structure stored in the memory, whether the first user interface component is permitted to be output;

determine, based on the current location of the apparatus and the data structure stored in the memory, whether the second user interface component is permitted to be output;

output the first user interface component using the output device upon determining that the first user interface component is permitted to be output; and

output the second user interface component using the output device upon determining that the second user interface component is permitted to be output.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the output device is one of a display screen or a speaker; and

outputting the first user interface component using the output device includes one of rendering the first user interface component on the display screen or playing a sound representing the first user input component.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the vehicle includes a first vehicle system and a second vehicle system;

the first user interface component is configured to receive user input to change a state of the first vehicle system; and

the second user interface component is configured to receive user input to change a state of the second vehicle system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first vehicle system is a braking system and the second vehicle system is an entertainment system.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first user interface component is part of a first user interface;

the second user interface component is part of a second user interface;

the data structure indicates that the first user interface is permitted to be output using the output device when the apparatus is located in the first region; and

the data structure indicates that the second user interface is permitted to be output using the output device when the apparatus is located in the second region.

12. A method for managing instruction execution in a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle systems, the method comprising:

receiving a first instruction from a portable control device to change a state of a first one of the plurality of vehicle systems;

receiving a second instruction from the portable control device to change a state of a second one of the plurality of vehicle systems;

determining, by one or more processors, a current location of the portable control device in a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

determining, by the one or more processors, based on a first indication of a first location within the passenger compartment and the current location of the portable control device, whether the first instruction is permitted to be executed, the first indication identifying whether the portable control device is permitted to change the state of the first vehicle system;

determining, by the one or more processors, based on a second indication of a second location within the passenger compartment and the current location of the portable control device, whether the second instruction is permitted to be executed, the second indication identifying whether the portable control device is permitted to change the state of the second vehicle system; and

executing, by the one or more processors, the first instruction, but not the second instruction, in response to determining that only the first instruction is permitted to be executed when the portable control device is located at the current location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first system is a steering system and the first instruction is permitted to be executed only when the portable control device is located at a driver seat of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first location is part of a first region of the passenger compartment and the second location is part of a second region of the passenger compartment.

16. A method for outputting information in a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle systems, the method comprising:

associating a first user interface component with a first region in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, thereby indicating that an apparatus is permitted to output the first user interface component on an output device when the apparatus is located in the first region;

associating a second user interface component with a second region in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, thereby indicating that the apparatus is permitted to output the second user interface component on the output device when the apparatus is located in the second region;

determining, by one or more processors, a current location of the apparatus within a vehicle;

determining, by the one or more processors based on the current location of the apparatus and the association of the first user interface component with the first region, whether the first user interface component is permitted to be output;

determining, by the one or more processors based on the current location of the apparatus and the association of the second user interface component with the second region, whether the second user interface component is permitted to be output;

outputting the first user interface component using the output device upon determining that the first user interface component is permitted to be output; and

outputting the second user interface component using the output device upon determining that the second user interface component is permitted to be output.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein outputting the first user interface component using the output device includes one of rendering the first user interface component on a display screen or playing a sound representing the first user input component.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the vehicle includes a first vehicle system and a second vehicle system;

the first user interface component is configured to receive user input to change a state of the first vehicle system; and

the second user interface component is configured to receive user input to change a state of the second vehicle system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first vehicle system is a braking system and the second vehicle system is an entertainment system.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first user interface component is part of a first user interface;

the second user interface component is part of a second user interface;

the first user interface is permitted to be output using the output device when the apparatus is located in the first region; and

the second user interface is permitted to be output using the output device when the apparatus is located in the second region.