Dashboard including rules to display data

• US 9,873,328 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ent Services Development Corporation LP (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Ent Services Development Corporation LP (DXC Technology Company)
• Inventors: Patel, Rikin, Bejcek, William E., Nowaczyk, David J., Rueda, Alejandro Anzures
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/929,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 3404255, 340438, 340461, 340462, 701 1, 345 30
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/151 Instrument output devices for configurable output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/46 Electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60K 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/223 Flexible displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/65 : Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 : the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/658 : the instruments being ergonomically adjustable to the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 : Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 : Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 : Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles

Abstract

A system for displaying a dashboard display in a vehicle includes a vehicle data bus interface for communicating with vehicle subsystems of a vehicle management system, a dashboard display module, and a dashboard store for storing a dashboard display definition. In one example, the dashboard display module obtains from the vehicle bus information regarding which of the plurality of vehicle subsystems are enabled, and transmits the information regarding which of the plurality of vehicle subsystems are enabled to a device external to the vehicle management system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle data bus interface for communicating with vehicle subsystems of a vehicle management system;

a rules store for storing a set of dashboard display rules;

a dashboard display module; and

a dashboard store for storing a dashboard display definition, wherein the dashboard display module is further to, where it is determined that the dashboard display definition is not in compliance with the dashboard display rules, modify the dashboard display definition to bring it into conformity with the dashboard display rules.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dashboard display module is to:

obtain the dashboard display definition;

determine whether the dashboard display definition is in compliance with the dashboard display rules;

obtain, where it is so determined, data from at least one of the vehicle subsystems in accordance with the dashboard display definition; and

display the obtained data in accordance with the dashboard display definition.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dashboard editor to display a number of modifications to the dashboard display definition on the dashboard as the modifications are made.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dashboard display rules are at least partially based on laws enacted within a jurisdiction in which the dashboard is located.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the law enacted within the jurisdiction in which the dashboard is located is at least partially based on global positioning information identifying the location of the dashboard.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dashboard display rules are at least partially based on a time of day.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the dashboard editor is to display the modifications to the dashboard display definition based on a user-selection of data representing a number of interfaces.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user-selected data includes selections regarding parameters defining interface shape, size, style, position, color, brightness, input control functionality, display unit, or combinations thereof.

2. A computer implemented method comprising:

communicating, by a processor, with vehicle subsystems of a vehicle management system;

storing, by the processor, a set of dashboard display rules;

storing, by the processor, a dashboard display definition; and

modifying, by the processor, where it is determined that the dashboard display definition is not in compliance with the dashboard display rules, the dashboard display definition to bring it into conformity with the dashboard display rules.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining, by the processor, the dashboard display definition;

determining, by the processor, whether the dashboard display definition is in compliance with the dashboard display rules;

obtaining, by the processor, where it is so determined, data from at least one of the vehicle subsystems in accordance with the dashboard display definition; and

displaying, by the processor, the obtained data in accordance with the dashboard display definition.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying, by the processor, a number of modifications to the dashboard display definition on a dashboard as the modifications are made.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the dashboard display rules are at least partially based on laws enacted within a jurisdiction in which a dashboard is located.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the display of the modifications to the dashboard display definition is based on a user-selection of data representing a number of interfaces.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user-selected data includes selections regarding parameters defining interface shape, size, style, position, color, brightness, input control functionality, display unit, or combinations thereof.

8. A system comprising:

a vehicle data bus;

a plurality of vehicle subsystems connected via the vehicle bus;

a rules store for storing a set of dashboard display rules;

a dashboard store for storing a dashboard display definition;

a dashboard display module for modifying, where it is determined that the dashboard display definition is not in compliance with the dashboard display rules, the dashboard display definition to bring it into conformity with the dashboard display rules.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the dashboard display module is further for;

obtaining the dashboard display definition; and

determining whether the dashboard display definition is in compliance with the dashboard display rules;

the system further comprises a vehicle data access manager for obtaining, where it is so determined, data from at least one of the vehicle subsystems in accordance with the dashboard display definition; and

the dashboard display module is additionally for displaying, in accordance with the dashboard display definition, the obtained data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the dashboard display module is further for displaying a number of modifications to the dashboard display definition on a dashboard as the modifications are made.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the dashboard display rules are at least partially based on laws enacted within a jurisdiction in which a dashboard is located.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the display of the modifications to the dashboard display definition is based on a user-selection of data representing a number of interfaces.