Controlling Navigation Software on a Portable Device from the Head Unit of a Vehicle

• US 20150088421A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Foster, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,958,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/537
• 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

Abstract

A mapping between controls of the head unit of a vehicle and functions of a navigation service application running on a portable device is received. Subsequently, an indication that one of the controls has been actuated is received via a communication link between the portable device and the head unit. A function is selected from among the functions of the navigation service application in accordance with the received mapping and the received indication. The selected function of the navigation software application then is executed. In this manner, the navigation service application is safely and efficiently controlled via the head unit.

Claims

1. A method in a portable device for controlling a navigation service application executing on the portable device according to user input received via a head unit of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a mapping between a plurality of controls of the head unit and a plurality of functions of the navigation software application;

receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication that one of the plurality of controls has been actuated, via a communication link between the portable device and the head unit;

selecting, by the one or more processors, a function from among the plurality of functions of the navigation software application in accordance with the received mapping and the received indication; and

executing, by the one or more processors, the selected function of the navigation software application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, by the one or more processors, navigation data that specifies a sequence of instructions for travelling between a source to a destination, wherein each of the instructions describes a respective maneuver at a corresponding geographic location; and

wherein executing the selected function includes providing a next instruction in the sequence of instruction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the indication that one of the plurality of controls has been actuated includes receiving an indication that a next track button was actuated, wherein providing the next instruction is in response to receiving the indication that the next track button as actuated.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the next instruction includes transmitting the next instruction to the head unit via the communication link.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication link between the portable device and the head unit is a short-range communication link, and wherein obtaining the navigation data includes receiving the navigation data from a navigation server via a long-range communication link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the mapping between a plurality of controls includes:

receiving, by the one or more processors, respective indications of the plurality of controls being actuated, wherein each of the indications includes a corresponding control identifier,

for each of the indications, receiving a selection of one of the plurality of functions, via a user interface of the portable device, and

generating a respective data record to indicate a correspondence between the control identifier and the selected function.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of functions of the navigation software application includes one or more of (i) start navigation, (ii) cancel navigation, (iii) provide next instruction, and (iv) provide previous instruction.

8. A portable device comprising:

one or more processors;

a short-range network interface to communicate with a head unit of a vehicle via a short-range communication link, wherein the head unit includes a plurality of controls;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon (i) first instructions that implement a navigation service application executable on the one or more processors, wherein the navigation service application supports a plurality of user-selectable functions, and (ii) second instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the portable device to;

receive, via the short-range network interface, an indication that one of the plurality of controls on the head unit has been actuated,

select a function from among the plurality of user-selectable functions based on the received indication, and

execute the selected function.

9. The portable device of claim 8, further comprising:

a long-range network interface to communicate with a navigation server via a long-range communication link;

wherein the navigation service application, when executed on the one or more processors, causes the portable device to receive, via the second network interface, navigation data that specifies a sequence of instructions for travelling between a source to a destination, wherein each of the instructions describes a respective maneuver at a corresponding geographic location; and

wherein the selected function provides a next instruction in the sequence of instructions.

10. The portable device of claim 9, wherein the second instructions further cause the portable device to provide the next instruction to the head unit via the short-range network interface.

11. The portable device of claim 9, wherein the second instructions cause the portable device to provide the next instruction in response to receiving the indication that the next track button as actuated.

12. The portable device of claim 8, wherein the instructions cause the portable device to select the function based on a mapping between the plurality of controls and the plurality of user-selectable functions, stored on the computer-readable medium.

13. The portable device of claim 12, further comprising:

a user interface to receive user input;

wherein to generate the mapping, the instructions further cause the portable device to;

receive respective indications of the plurality of controls being actuated, wherein each of the indications includes a corresponding control identifier,

for each of the indications, receive a selection of one of the plurality of functions, via the user interface, and

generate a respective data record to indicate a correspondence between the control identifier and the selected function.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a portable device, cause the portable device to:

receive a mapping between a plurality of controls on a head unit of a vehicle and a plurality of navigation functions supported by the portable device;

receive an indication of one of the plurality of controls being actuated on the head unit;

select a navigation function from among the plurality of navigation functions in accordance with the received mapping and the received indication;

execute the navigation function, and

provide a result of executing the navigation function to the head unit.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein to receive the mapping, the instructions further cause the portable device to:

receive respective indications of the plurality of controls being actuated, wherein each of the indications includes a corresponding control identifier,

for each of the indications, receive, via a user interface of the portable device, a selection of one of the plurality of navigation functions, and

generate a respective data record to indicate a correspondence between the control identifier and the selected function.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the portable device to:

in a first instance, receive a first indication of a first one of the plurality of controls being actuated on the head unit,

obtain navigation data in response to the first indication, wherein the navigation data specifies a sequence of instructions for travelling between a source to a destination,

in a second instance, receive a second indication of a second one of the plurality of controls being actuated on the head unit, and

provide a next instruction in the sequence of instructions to the head unit.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second one of the plurality of controls is one of (i) a next track button or (ii) a volume up button.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions cause the portable device to receive the navigation data from a navigation server via a long-range communication link, wherein the portable device communicates with the head unit via a short-range communication link.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein plurality of navigation functions of the navigation software application include one or more of (i) start navigation, (ii) cancel navigation, (iii) provide next instruction, and (iv) provide previous instruction.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions implement an application programming interface (API) invoked by a companion application configured to communicate with a navigation service application native to an operating system of the portable device.