Method, system, and apparatus of vehicle and fleet operator profile automation and deployment

• US 9,308,879 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, George L., Wright, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUSTAFA, IMRAN K
• Application Number:
  US12/186,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,806 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A method, system, and device are presented for customizing vehicles for drivers using a vehicle-operator profile. The vehicle-operator profile contains adjustable-vehicle-related parameters related to one or more adjustable devices, such as power seats, power mirrors and entertainment devices, in a vehicle. The adjustable-vehicle-related parameters may be determined by data entry, by simulation of the vehicle, and/or by data processing, including processing ergonomic data for the driver. The adjustable-vehicle-related parameters may be stored on a profile-storage device and may be downloaded to the adjustable devices via a vehicle-setting-storage device. The adjustable devices may change based on the adjustable-vehicle-related parameters. If the adjustable devices are adjusted, the adjustable-vehicle-related parameters in the vehicle-operator profile may be updated to reflect the adjustments to the adjustable devices.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine a vehicle-operator profile for a driver;

determine a first plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters for one of a plurality of remote vehicles based on the vehicle-operator profile, and

transmit a prioritized list of a subset of the plurality of remote vehicles to a display device viewable by the driver, the list being prioritized based on the first plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters; and

a network-communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the first plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters to at least one of the plurality of remote vehicles by at least transmitting the first plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters to the at least one of the plurality of remote vehicles via a data network using the network-communication interface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a second plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one adjustable-vehicle-related parameter in the second plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters is received from an adjustable device of the remote vehicle.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to receive the second plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters by at least receiving the second plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters via the data network using the network-communication interface.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the second plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters is determined after adjusting the adjustable device.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the adjustable device is an entertainment device.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the adjustable device comprises a power-seat motor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the ergonomic data comprises ergonomic data.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the ergonomic data comprises a height of a driver, a limb length of the driver, or a health condition of the driver.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the vehicle-determining ergonomic data based on a simulation of a vehicle.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the first plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters by at least determining the first plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters based on environmental conditions.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of air temperature or humidity.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the vehicle-operator profile for the driver by at least receiving driver data from a profile-entry device and determining the vehicle-operator profile for the driver based on the received driver data.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the driver data is received via a web browser displayed on the profile-entry device and wherein the profile-entry device is configured to transmit the data to the processor via the data network.

11. A system comprising:

a vehicle from among a plurality of vehicles comprising;

a vehicle-setting-storage device configured to receive a plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters,

a display device viewable by a driver, and

an adjustable device, configured to be adjusted based on at least one of the plurality of adjustable-vehicle-related parameters; and

a profile-storage device remote from the vehicle and configured to;

select a vehicle-operator profile from a plurality of vehicle-operator profiles, wherein each vehicle-operator profile defines at least one adjustable-vehicle-related parameter,

create a prioritized list of the plurality of remote vehicles,

transmit the prioritized list of the plurality of remote vehicles to the display device, the list being prioritized based in part on the at least one adjustable-vehicle related parameter, and

transmit the at least one adjustable-vehicle related parameter from the selected vehicle-operator profile to the vehicle.