Automobile personal computer systems

• US 6,711,474 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: Susan M. Treyz, Treyz G. Victor
• Inventors: Treyz, Susan M., Treyz, G. Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/178,968
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/35, 701/36, 701/207, 701/210, 701/208, 701/213, 701/300, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 342/357.09, 342/357.13, 342/825.15, 342/825.49, 342/357.1, 340/425.5, 340/992, 340/993, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/414.11, 455/414.2, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An automobile personal computer system is provided. A user of the system may wirelessly interact with merchants, communications facilities, information providers, computers at the home or office, and other entities. Such interactions may involve local wireless links and remote wireless links. Wireless communications may involve satellite transmissions, cellular transmissions, short-range wireless transmissions, etc. Products may be purchased using voice commands or by interacting with displays in the automobile. The automobile'"'"'s location and functions may be monitored and controlled. Location information and other information particular to the user may be used to target promotions to the user. The user may obtain information on the goods or services available at a merchant while driving and may initiate a purchase transaction for those goods or services.

Claims

1. An automobile computer system in an automobile that interacts with a wireless device of a merchant that is external to the automobile to allow a user to purchase a product from the merchant, comprising:

at least one processor that processes commands from the user;

a sound system with which the processor plays audio content for the user;

wireless communications circuitry that supports wireless communications for the processor over a bidirectional local wireless link and a remote wireless link that is separate from the local wireless link; and

a global positioning receiver that determines the location of the automobile, wherein the processor uses the remote wireless link to obtain information on the merchant based on the location determined by the global positioning receiver and wherein the processor uses the local wireless link in interacting with the wireless device that is external to the automobile to purchase the product from the merchant.

2. The automobile computer system defined in claim 1 further comprising a microphone for receiving voice commands from the user, wherein the processor is further configured to process the voice commands.

3. The automobile computer system defined in claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to use the voice commands to direct the automobile computer system to purchase a product using the remote wireless link in response to the audio content.

4. The automobile computer system defined in claim 3 wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises a satellite antenna.

5. The automobile computer system defined in claim 4 wherein the processor is configured to collect information on the performance of the automobile using vehicle electronics in the automobile.

6. The automobile computer system defined in claim 5 wherein the processor is configured to download audio content from the merchant over the local wireless link.

7. The automobile computer system defined in claim 6 wherein the performance information includes diagnostic codes and wherein the automobile computer system comprises memory that is configured to locally store the diagnostic codes that have been collected.

8. The automobile computer system defined in claim 7 wherein the processor and wireless communications circuitry are configured to wirelessly transfer the diagnostic codes to a server that is external to the automobile.