MOBILE DEVICE GATEWAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100097239A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Mike, Ringold, Ted W., Vanderwall, Phillip J., Campbell, Douglas C., Douthitt, Brian L., Zeinstra, Mark L., Eich, Rodger W., Anderson, Elisabet A., Chutorash, Richard J., Sims, Michael J., Price, James B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,587,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.4
• 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, the vehicle including an audio system and/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 and/or the display system;

a processor; and

a memory unit communicably connected to the processor and including;

a first transport configured to send a control signal to the 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 transport.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database system for storing catalog information relating to media files stored on the first source device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the database system is configured to automatically manage the catalog when the first source device is connected to the first interface.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third interface for communicating with a second source device;

wherein the memory unit includes computer code for generating a second manager when the second source device is communicably connected to the third interface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second manager is associated with the second source device and the first manager is associated with the first source device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the memory unit further comprises computer code for cataloging media files of the first source device and the second source device into a list.

7. 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.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second 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.

9. 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 and/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.

10. 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.

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

establishing a communications link with the first source device;

providing a first interface for sending a signal to the audio system and/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; and

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