SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SYNCHRONIZING AN IN-VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH A REMOTE SOURCE

• US 20100063670A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Brzezinski, Daniel, Bahamonde, Michael S., Witkowski, Todd R., Supanich, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,918,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• 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: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization

Abstract

The present application relates to an in-vehicle control system for synchronizing files with a remote source. The remote source includes a storage device configured to store a first file. The system includes a communications device capable of establishing a wireless communication link with the remote source. The communications device is configured to send, receive, or both send and receive files to and/or from the remote source. The system further includes a memory device configured to store a second file. The system yet further includes a data processing device coupled to the communications device, the data processing device configured to perform a comparison of the first file of the remote source and the second file of the memory device, wherein the data processing device is further configured to synchronize the file of the remote source and the file of the in-vehicle control system based on the comparison.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle control system for synchronizing files with a remote source, the remote source having a storage device configured to store a first file, the system comprising:

a communications device capable of establishing a wireless communication link with the remote source, wherein the communications device is configured to send, receive, or both send and receive files to and/or from the remote source;

a memory device configured to store a second file; and

a data processing device coupled to the communications device, the data processing device configured to perform a comparison of the first file of the remote source and the second file of the memory device, wherein the data processing device is further configured to synchronize the first file of the remote source and the second file of the in-vehicle control system based on the comparison.

2. The in-vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle control system is connected to a vehicle data bus.

3. The in-vehicle control system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle data bus is communicably connected to at least a second wireless communications device located within the vehicle.

4. The in-vehicle control system of claim 2, wherein the second wireless communications device is configured to receive wireless signals from a portable wireless device.

5. The in-vehicle control system of claim 3, wherein the second wireless communication device is further configured to receive commands from the portable wireless device and to provide the commands to the data processing system via the vehicle data bus.

6. The in-vehicle control system of claim 3, wherein the portable wireless device is configured to send a data synchronization command to the data processing system via the second wireless communication device.

7. The in-vehicle control system of claim 3, wherein the portable wireless device is further configured to trigger at least one vehicle hardware function.

8. The in-vehicle control system of claim 3, wherein the portable wireless device is a key fob.

9. The in-vehicle control system of claim 7, wherein a vehicle hardware function includes a vehicle cabin door unlock function.

10. The in-vehicle control system of claim 1, further comprising an interface to a home control device configured to activate a home device.

11. The in-vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the home control device is a trainable home control device configured to duplicate signals of an original radio frequency transmitter.

12. The in-vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the home control device includes a user input device located externally from a housing of the in-vehicle control system, and wherein the home control device is configured to send a synchronization signal to the in-vehicle control system when the user input is actuated, and wherein the same user input device is also configured to activate transmission to the home device.

13. The in-vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the home control device is configured to continue to transmit a signal to activate the home device after a user input has been completed.

14. The in-vehicle control system of claim 13, wherein the home control device includes a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller, wherein the first microcontroller matches user input to a trained signal, and wherein the second microcontroller coordinates a trained signal transmission that may continue after the user input has been completed.

15. A method for synchronizing the data files of an in-vehicle control system with a remote source, comprising the steps of:

receiving a synchronization command from a wireless portable device, wherein the synchronization command is received by a signal receiver;

activating the in-vehicle control system from a powered-down state to a powered-up state;

establishing a wireless data communication link between the in-vehicle control system and the remote source; and

synchronizing at least one data file between the in-vehicle control system and the remote source via the wireless data communication link.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

terminating the wireless data communication link between the in-vehicle control system and the remote source; and

causing the in-vehicle control system to enter a reduced power state once the data communications link is terminated.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal receiver is coupled to the vehicle data bus.

18. A method for synchronizing the data files of a remote source with an in-vehicle control system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a synchronization command to an in-vehicle control system via an input device mounted to the vehicle and communicably coupled to the in-vehicle control system;

establishing a wireless communication link between the remote source and the in-vehicle control system; and

synchronizing a plurality of data files stored in the remote source with a plurality of data files stored in the in-vehicle control system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the input device is a microphone configured to receive voice from a vehicle occupant, wherein the method further comprises using speech recognition to determine the synchronization command from a signal representing the voice received at the microphone.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further includes providing a graphical user interface via an output display coupled to the in-vehicle control system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method further includes executing a plurality of user transfer commands using the in-vehicle control system, wherein the commands are input via the in-vehicle control system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein user transfer commands include commands for managing the data files of the remote source.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein user transfer commands include commands for browsing the contents of the remote source.