Method of generating anthropomophic vehicle images

• US 9,280,919 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company), GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company), GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Richard A., Wuergler, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Nicholas R
• Application Number:
  US13/526,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A method of generating anthropomorphic vehicle images for a vehicle owner is shown that includes providing a plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle images on a visual display for a vehicle owner to select; receiving a selection of an anthropomorphic vehicle image from the vehicle owner using a wireless device; obtaining vehicle data using one or more vehicle sensors located on the vehicle; altering at least a portion of the selected anthropomorphic vehicle image based on the accessed vehicle data; and displaying the altered anthropomorphic vehicle image on a wireless device to the vehicle owner.

Claims

1. A method of generating anthropomorphic vehicle images for a vehicle owner, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a vehicle model owned or operated by the vehicle owner;

(b) providing a plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle components depicting a portion of an exterior surface of the vehicle model on a visual display for the vehicle owner to select;

(c) receiving a selection of an anthropomorphic vehicle component from the vehicle owner using a wireless device;

(d) obtaining vehicle data using one or more vehicle sensors located on a vehicle associated with the vehicle model;

(e) altering at least a portion of an anthropomorphic vehicle image comprising selected anthropomorphic vehicle components based on the accessed vehicle data; and

(f) displaying the altered anthropomorphic vehicle image on the wireless device to the vehicle owner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anthropomorphic vehicle image represents a vehicle model.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

relating the geographical positions of two or more vehicles using the obtained vehicle data;

identifying the anthropomorphic vehicle image belonging to each of the vehicles; and

superimposing the anthropomorphic vehicle image belonging to each of the vehicles onto a geographical map based on geographical positions; and

wirelessly transmitting this map to each of the vehicles.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of presenting a plurality of vehicle component images or vehicle environment images on the visual display from which the vehicle owner can choose and receiving from the vehicle owner a selection from among the plurality of vehicle component images and vehicle environment images.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the selected anthropomorphic vehicle image comprises an artistic image of an informational gauge.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the altered anthropomorphic vehicle image on a smartphone display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle images using software stored at a smartphone and providing the plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle images on a smartphone display for the vehicle owner to select.

8. A method of generating anthropomorphic vehicle images for a vehicle owner, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle images to the vehicle owner on a visual display, wherein each of the anthropomorphic vehicle images includes one or more artistic images of informational gauges that represent a function of a vehicle;

(b) receiving from the vehicle owner a selection from among the plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle images;

(c) providing a plurality of vehicle component images and vehicle environment images on the visual display from which the vehicle owner can choose;

(d) receiving from the vehicle owner a selection from among the plurality of vehicle component images and vehicle environment images;

(e) changing the selected anthropomorphic vehicle image to include the selected vehicle component image, the selected vehicle environment image, or both;

(f) gathering vehicle operational data from vehicle sensors onboard the vehicle;

(g) visually communicating at least some of the gathered vehicle operational data to the vehicle owner by altering one or more artistic images of informational gauges included with the anthropomorphic vehicle image; and

(h) displaying the altered anthropomorphic vehicle image on the visual display.