Adaptive Vehicle User Interface
First Claim
1. A method of configuring a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a touch-screen display interface within a vehicle;
monitoring at least one vehicle condition utilizing at least one vehicle condition sensor;
periodically communicating an output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor to a system controller, wherein said system controller is coupled to said touch-screen display interface;
selecting a set of vehicle subsystem information graphics from a plurality of vehicle subsystem information graphics, wherein said system controller automatically selects said set of vehicle subsystem information graphics based on said output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor;
selecting a set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons from a plurality of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponding to a plurality of controllable vehicle functions, wherein each of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponds to a touch-sensitive region on said touch-screen display interface, and wherein said system controller automatically selects said set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons based on said output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor;
configuring said touch-screen display interface in accordance with said set of vehicle subsystem information graphics and said set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons; and
wherein said system controller periodically performs said selecting steps and said configuring step during vehicle operation and as vehicle conditions change.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for configuring a vehicle interface in response to a monitored vehicle condition. For example, the vehicle condition sensor may be a precipitation sensor, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons correspond to windshield wiper controls when the precipitation sensor indicates a non-zero precipitation level. Alternately, the vehicle condition sensor may be a GPS sensor, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons correspond to activation controls an external system such as a garage door controller, a home lighting controller, or a home security controller. Alternately, the vehicle condition sensor may sense driving style, for example by monitoring vehicle speed, acceleration, lateral force or the output of a performance mode selector, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem information graphics correspond to essential vehicle operating controls.
81 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of configuring a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a touch-screen display interface within a vehicle; monitoring at least one vehicle condition utilizing at least one vehicle condition sensor; periodically communicating an output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor to a system controller, wherein said system controller is coupled to said touch-screen display interface; selecting a set of vehicle subsystem information graphics from a plurality of vehicle subsystem information graphics, wherein said system controller automatically selects said set of vehicle subsystem information graphics based on said output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor; selecting a set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons from a plurality of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponding to a plurality of controllable vehicle functions, wherein each of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponds to a touch-sensitive region on said touch-screen display interface, and wherein said system controller automatically selects said set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons based on said output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor; configuring said touch-screen display interface in accordance with said set of vehicle subsystem information graphics and said set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons; and wherein said system controller periodically performs said selecting steps and said configuring step during vehicle operation and as vehicle conditions change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification