ELECTRONIC VEHICLE DOCUMENT DISPLAY

• US 20120268258A1
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Longobardi, Giuseppe, MacLellan, Scot
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys

Abstract

A method of displaying electronic documents on a vehicle display screen is described. The vehicle includes a display screen embedded in a window of the vehicle in a manner visible from outside the vehicle. The method includes storing the digital certificate in a memory unit of the control module. The method includes displaying information on the display screen by retrieving the digital certificate. Also, upon validating the digital certificate, the information associated with the digital certificate is displayed on the display screen, wherein the information includes an electronic document that indicates at least one of compliance with a local law, valid insurance, validation of payment of taxes associated with the vehicle, and a parking receipt for parking the vehicle, wherein the display screen comprises at least one button, manipulable by a user outside of said vehicle, to select a display mode of said display screen.

Claims

1. A method of displaying electronic documents on a vehicle display screen, comprising:

transferring an encrypted digital certificate to a control module in a vehicle, the vehicle including a display screen embedded in a window of the vehicle in a manner visible from outside the vehicle, wherein the control module is coupled to the display screen;

storing the digital certificate in a memory unit of the control module; and

displaying information on the display screen by;

retrieving the digital certificate from the memory unit of the control module; and

upon validating the digital certificate in the control module, displaying said information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen, wherein the information includes an electronic document that indicates at least one of compliance with a local law, valid insurance, validation of payment of taxes associated with the vehicle, and a parking receipt for parking the vehicle, wherein the display screen comprises at least one button, manipulable by a user outside of said vehicle, to select a display mode of said display screen.

2. The method of claim 1 further including electronically receiving an encrypted digital certificate using a receiving device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transferring the encrypted digital certificate to the control module includes coupling the receiving device to the control module via an I/O port of the control module for electronically transferring the digital certificate to the memory unit of the control module.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein coupling the receiving device to the control module includes wirelessly coupling the receiving device to the control module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information associated with the digital certificate includes validating the digital certificate using a validation function of the control module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transferring an encrypted digital certificate to a control module further includes transferring said information associated with the digital certificate to the control module; and

displaying information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen further includes;

identifying a location of said vehicle utilizing global positioning signal data; and

displaying said information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen based, at least in part, on said location of said vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the control module includes multiple processing functions, such that displaying information on the display screen further includes displaying information processed by one or more of said processing functions of the control module.

8. An apparatus for displaying electronic documents, comprising:

a display screen embedded in a window of a vehicle, wherein said display screen is visible from outside the vehicle, wherein the display screen comprises at least one button, manipulable by a user outside of said vehicle, to select a display mode of said display screen;

a control module configured for displaying information on said display screen;

an I/O port configured for transferring an encrypted digital certificate to the control module;

wherein the control module is coupled to the display screen;

the control module including;

a memory module configured for storing the digital certificate; and

a display function configured for displaying information on the display screen by;

retrieving the digital certificate from the memory unit of the control module; and

upon validating the digital certificate in the control module, displaying information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen, wherein the information includes an electronic document that indicates at least one of compliance with a local law, valid insurance, validation of payment of taxes associated with the vehicle, and a parking receipt for parking the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control module further includes a validation function configured for validating the digital certificate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory unit is further configured for storing said information associated with the electronic certificate, and the display application is further configured for displaying information on the display screen by:

identifying a location of said vehicle utilizing global positioning signal data; and

displaying said information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen based, at least in part, on said location of said vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control module further includes display functions, each of said display functions being configured for displaying information on the display screen.

12. A system for displaying electronic documents on a vehicle, comprising:

a display screen embedded in a window of the vehicle in a manner visible from outside the vehicle, wherein the display screen comprises at least one button, manipulable by a user outside of said vehicle, to select a display mode of said display screen;

a control module configured for displaying information on the display screen; and

an I/O port configured for transferring an encrypted digital certificate to the control module;

wherein the control module is coupled to the display screen;

the control module including;

a memory module configured for storing the digital certificate; and

a display function configured for displaying information on the display screen by;

retrieving the digital certificate from the memory unit of the control module; and

upon validating the digital certificate in the control module, displaying information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen, wherein the information includes an electronic document that indicates at least one of compliance with a local law, valid insurance, validation of payment of taxes associated with the vehicle, and a parking receipt for parking the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control module further includes a validation function configured for validating the digital certificate.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory unit is further configured for storing said information associated with the electronic certificate, and the display application is further configured for displaying information on the display screen by:

identifying a location of said vehicle utilizing global positioning signal data; and

displaying said information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen based, at least in part, on said location of said vehicle.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the control module further includes display functions, and each of said display functions is configured for displaying information on the display screen.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the I/O port comprises a wireless communication module, and the control module further includes a client module for wirelessly receiving the electronic certificate from a server.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the control module is configured for receiving the electronic certificate from input media coupled to the I/O port.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the control module and display screen are configured for use in only a particular vehicle.