Driver information interface and method of managing driver information

• US 20040204157A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Broun, Charles C. III, Remboski, Donald, Gardner, Judith L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

An interface (10) allows a user to choose when incoming information is received. Thus, the user may choose to receive particular types of information according to a current need for the information and when appropriate attention may be given to the information. The interface (10) identifies for the user at least the type of information to be received and a criticality and/or time-sensitivity of that information. The interface (10) may include, for each of a first, second and third information sources (12-16) a respective button (18-22) and a respective visual indicator (24-28).

Claims

1. An interface for managing information comprising:

a plurality of buttons, each button having an information indicator associated therewith defining a button and information indicator pair, and each button and information indicator pair being associated with a source of information;

each information indicator having a plurality of states, wherein each state of the information indicator is indicative of a presence of information from the associated source of information and a characteristic of the information; and

wherein each button is operable to cause a dissemination of the information from the associated source of information.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein each indicator comprises a visual indicator having at least three states.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the at least three states comprise:

inactive, steadily indicated and flashed.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the source of information comprises at least one source of information form the group comprising:

wireless communication information, navigation information, vehicle operation information.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is disposed within a vehicle, and wherein the source of information is operably coupled from the vehicle to the interface.

6. The interface of claim 5, further comprising a docking station disposed within the vehicle, and wherein the interface is adapted to operatively couple to the docking station.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises one of:

a cellular telephone, a pager and a personal digital assistant.

8. The interface of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buttons and indicators pairs are disposed in proximity to each other.

9. Within a vehicle having a plurality of sources of information to be communicated to an operator of the vehicle, an interface for managing communication of information from the plurality of sources to the operator of the vehicle, the interface comprising:

a plurality of buttons, each button having an information indicator associated therewith, and each button and information indicator pair being associated with one of the plurality of sources of information;

each status indicator having a plurality of states, wherein each state of the information indicator is indicative of a presence of information from the source of information and a characteristic of the information;

each button is operable to cause a dissemination of the information from the associated source of information; and

the plurality of buttons are located within the vehicle in close proximity to each other.

10. The interface of claim 9, wherein the interface is located within the steering wheel of the vehicle.

11. The interface of claim 9, wherein the interface is located on an instrument panel within the vehicle.

12. The interface of claim 9, wherein each indicator comprises a visual indicator having at least three states.

13. The interface of claim 12, wherein the at least three states comprise:

inactive, steadily indicated and flashed.

14. The interface of claim 9, wherein the source of information comprises at least one source of information form the group comprising:

wireless communication information, navigation information, vehicle operation information.

15. The interface of claim 9, further comprising a docking station disposed within the vehicle, and wherein the interface is adapted to operatively couple to the docking station.

16. A method of managing information comprising:

providing an interface having a plurality of buttons and information indicator pairs;

associating respective ones of the plurality of buttons and information indicator pairs with a source of information;

responsive to the presence of information from a source of information, activating the indicator of the associated button and information indicator pair in one of a plurality of possible states;

detecting the selection of one of the buttons and information indicator pairs by a user; and

providing to the user the information from the source of information associated with the selected one of the buttons and information indicator pairs.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of activating the indicator comprises one of:

inactivating, steadily indicating and intermittently indicating.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the source of information comprises at least one source of information form the group comprising:

wireless communication information, navigation information, vehicle operation information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing an interface comprising providing an interface within a vehicle.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing an interface comprises arranging the buttons and information indicator pairs in proximity of one another.