EXTENSIBLE SCHEME FOR OPERATING VEHICLE HEAD UNIT AS EXTENDED INTERFACE FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130238165A1
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airbiquity Incorporated
• Inventors: Hong, Leon, Garrett, Darren L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

In an example, a processing device sends, to a remote network device, a request for an application of a mobile device to utilize a resource of a vehicle head unit, the request including a first profile of the vehicle head unit and a second profile of the mobile device. Responsive to sending the request, the processing device receives an instruction from the remote network device, the instruction to be executed by embedded software of the vehicle head unit so as to enable the application to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit.

Claims

1. A memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

coupling a mobile device and a vehicle head unit;

sending, to a remote network device, a request for an application of the mobile device to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit, the request including a first profile of the vehicle head unit and a second profile of the mobile device; and

responsive to sending the request, receiving an instruction from the remote network device, the instruction to be executed by embedded software of the vehicle head unit so as to enable the requested application to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit.

2. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the embedded software comprises a template HMI application and a plurality of HMI screens, and wherein the instruction delineates a specific order to display at least a portion of the plurality of HMI screens for the requested application.

3. The memory device of claim 2, wherein the template Human Machine Interface (HMI) application operates without an interpreter component.

4. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the first profile identifies a first unique identifier that corresponds to the vehicle head unit and identifies a language or protocol associated with the embedded software.

5. The memory device of claim 4, wherein the second profile identifies a second unique identifier that is different than the first unique identifier.

6. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises a result of a command or control function executed by application logic associated with the requested application.

7. The memory device of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise, responsive to the request, updating code that is stored on the mobile device and that corresponds to the application logic.

8. The memory device of claim 6, wherein code corresponding to the application logic is configured to interoperate with the vehicle head unit responsive to the mobile device receiving a user input, the interoperation according to a result of the execution of the instruction by the vehicle head unit.

9. A memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for an application of a mobile device to utilize a resource of a vehicle head unit, the request including a first profile of the vehicle head unit and a second profile of the mobile device;

determining whether the requested application is authorized to utilize the resource of the vehicle head unit based on a current status of the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the requested application is authorized to utilize the resource of the vehicle, downloading an instruction to the vehicle head unit, the instruction to be executed by embedded software of the vehicle head unit so as to enable the requested application to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit.

10. The memory device of claim 9, wherein the embedded software comprises a template HMI application and a plurality of HMI screens, and wherein the instruction delineates a specific order to display at least a portion of the plurality of HMI screens for the requested application.

11. The memory device of claim 10, wherein the template HMI application operates without an interpreter component.

12. The memory device of claim 9, wherein the first profile identifies a first unique identifier that corresponds to the vehicle head unit and identifies a language or protocol associated with the embedded software.

13. The memory device of claim 12, wherein the second profile identifies a second unique identifier that is different than the first unique identifier.

14. The memory device of claim 9, wherein the instruction comprises a result of a command or control function executed by application logic.

15. The memory device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise, responsive to determining that the requested application is authorized to utilize the resource of the vehicle, updating code that is stored on the mobile device and that corresponds to the application logic.

16. The memory device of claim 14, wherein code corresponding to the application logic is configured to interoperate with the vehicle head unit responsive to the mobile device receiving a user input, the interoperation according to a result of the execution of the instruction by the vehicle head unit.

17. A method, comprising:

sending, using a vehicle head unit or a mobile device coupled to the vehicle head unit, a request for an application of the mobile device to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit, the request including a first profile of the vehicle head unit and a second profile of the mobile device; and

responsive to sending the request, receiving from the remote network device an instruction to be executed using the vehicle head unit;

executing, using embedded software of the vehicle head unit, the instruction so as to enable the requested application of the mobile device to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the embedded software comprises a template HMI application and a plurality of HMI screens, and wherein the instruction delineates a specific order to display at least a portion of the plurality of HMI screens for the requested application.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the template Human Machine Interface (HMI) application operates without an interpreter component.