Mobile device gateway systems and methods

• US 9,587,958 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas C., Chutorash, Richard J., Douthitt, Brian L., Eich, Rodger W., Price, James B., Zeinstra, Mark, Vanderwall, Philip J., Anderson, Elisabet A., Sims, Michael J., Davis, Mike, Ringold, Ted W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Assistant Examiner(s): EUSTAQUIO, CAL J
• Application Number:
  US12/524,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,347 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0091 the article being mounted on a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

A control system (106) for mounting to a vehicle (100) and for providing information to an occupant of the vehicle from a first source device (116) is provided. The vehicle includes an audio system (130) and/or a display system (100). The control system includes a first interface (120) for communicating with the first source device (116). The control system further includes a second interface for providing a signal to the audio system and/or the display system. The control system yet further includes a processor (122). A memory unit (122) is communicably connected to the processor and includes a first transport (2112) configured to send a control signal to the interface. The memory unit (132) further includes a first manager (2304) configured to receive a command from an application (2104) and to translate the command from the application (2104) into a command for the transport (2112).

Claims

1. A control system for mounting to a vehicle and for providing information to an occupant of the vehicle from a first source device and a second source device, the vehicle including an audio system or a display system, the system comprising:

a first interface for communicating with the first source device;

a second interface for providing a signal to the audio system or the display system;

a third interface for communicating with the second source device;

a processor;

a memory unit communicably connected to the processor and including;

a single local database for storing metadata extracted from the first source device and the second source device locally in the memory of the control system;

a first transport configured to send a control signal to the first interface;

a first manager configured to receive a command from an application and to translate the command from the application into a command for the first transport, wherein the first manager is a common manager for sending control signals to the first interface and the second interface using one or more transports;

computer code for extracting metadata from media files on the first source device and the second source device and storing the metadata extracted from both the first source device and the second source device in the single local database stored in the memory, wherein the metadata is extracted automatically and stored in the single local database in response to the first source device or the second source device being connected to the first interface or the third interface;

computer code for cataloging the stored metadata in the single local database into an aggregated list and providing the aggregated list to the second interface for display to a user such that the user is presented with metadata corresponding to the media files on both the first source device and the second source device; and

computer code for automatically updating the aggregated list in response to the (i) first source device being connected to the first interface for a second or later time and (ii) a change in the media files stored in the first source device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory unit includes computer code for generating a second manager when the second source device is communicably connected to the third interface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second manager is associated with the second source device and the first manager is associated with the first source device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first source device is a digital radio device and wherein the application is configured to allow the occupant to control operation of the digital radio device via the control system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth interface for receiving audio signals from a microphone mounted to the vehicle;

wherein the memory unit includes computer code for facilitating the dictation of speech received at the microphone and provided as the audio signals to the second interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is a text messaging application for providing a text message received from the first source device to the audio system or the display system, wherein the application is further configured to provide the user with a plurality of options for responding to the text message received.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a phone module for mounting to the vehicle, the phone module configured to receive data from a remote source; and

an interface to a vehicle actuator;

wherein the memory unit further includes;

computer code for parsing the information received at the phone module from the remote source; and

computer code for sending a command signal to the interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory unit further includes computer code for:

receiving a selection associated with a metadata file in the displayed aggregated list to conduct an activity;

determining which source device the selected metadata file is associated with using an identifier; and

accessing the source device associated with the selected metadata file to conduct the activity.

8. A method for providing information to an occupant of the vehicle from a first source device and a second source device, the vehicle including an audio system or a display system, the method comprising:

establishing a communications link with the first source device;

establishing a communications link with the second source device;

providing a first interface for sending a signal to the audio system or the display system;

receiving a command from an application at a manager;

using the manager to translate the command from the application into a command for a transport, wherein the manager is a common manager for sending control signals to the first source device and the second source device using one or more transports;

sending a control signal to the first interface using the transport;

extracting metadata files from media files on the first source device and the second source device, wherein the metadata files are automatically extracted from the first or second source device in response to establishing the communications link with the first source device or establishing the communications link with the second source device;

storing the metadata in a single database stored locally in memory of a control system of the vehicle including the first interface and the manager;

cataloging metadata into an aggregated list using a processor of the control system;

providing the aggregated list to the first interface for display to a user such that the user is presented with metadata corresponding to the media files on both the first source device and the second source device; and

automatically updating the aggregated list in response to (i) establishing the communications link with the first source device at a second or later time and (ii) a change in the media files stored in the first source device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a selection associated with a metadata file in the displayed aggregated list to conduct an activity;

determining which source device the selected metadata file is associated with using an identifier; and

accessing the source device associated with the selected metadata file to conduct the activity.