Remotely configurable multimedia entertainment and information system for vehicles

• US 6,799,201 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cucuzella, Mathew, Fuchs, Axel, Weisshaar, Bernhard P., Blanco, Richard L., Gubka, Steven S., Hede, William S., Clayton, Mark, Bhaskaran, Parvathy, Lee, Jeffrey S., Smith, Merlin, Knappenberger, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUANG N
• Application Number:
  US09/664,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/203, 709/229, 701/1, 701/211, 370/401, 455/418, 455/426
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities

Abstract

An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile. The internet radio allows access to a host of audio, visual and other information. Normal radio channel function is provided along with programmable content and channel selection, as well as automatic content and channel updating by location and style. Internet access is also provided. Direct or targeted advertising, as well as electronic commerce is supported. Connection to the internet is through wireless communications. Programmability is achieved off-line via a web page and remote computer. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.

Claims

1. A method of remotely configuring a wireless communication device comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless communication device capable of presenting content of various formats, a broadcaster that broadcasts content of various formats, a remote programming device for configuring configuration data for the content, and a remote service provider that holds the configuration data, the remote service provider able to communicate with the wireless communication device and the remote communication device;

remotely configuring, by the remote programming device, the configuration data on the service provider for desired formats of associated content for said wireless communication device;

receiving the configuration data from the remote service provider and content from the broadcaster in the wireless communication device;

configuring the received content from the broadcaster in the wireless communication device by format in accordance with the configuration data;

presenting the configured formats to a user of the wireless communication device;

selecting content in the configured format by the user; and

providing the selected content from the broadcaster to the user through the wireless communication device.

2. The method of remotely configuring a wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving includes receiving a service application from the remote service provider necessary to present content from the broadcaster.

3. The method of remotely configuring a wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein said step of providing includes running the service application in order to properly receive associated content from the broadcaster.

4. The method of remotely configuring a wireless communication device of claim 1 Wherein said step of remotely configuring includes updating the configuration data with any new service applications for properly receiving associated content from the broadcaster.

5. A system for remotely configuring a wireless communication device in a vehicle comprising:

a broadcaster that broadcasts content of various formats;

a remote service provider for holding configuration data;

a remote programming device coupled to said service provider for configuring configuration data for configuring content;

a wireless communication device for receiving the configuration data from the service provider and for configuring the received content from the broadcaster by format in accordance with the configuration data, and displaying content according to the configured format based upon said configuration data on said wireless communication device;

a display for displaying content in the configured format for a user; and

a user interface for presenting the configured formats and for enabling the selection of content based upon said configured format by the user.

6. The system for remotely configuring a wireless communication device in a vehicle of claim 5 wherein said wireless communication device is operable to receiving a service application from the remote service provider necessary to present content from the broadcaster.

7. The system for remotely configuring a wireless communication device in a vehicle of claim 5 wherein said wireless communication device is operable to run the service application received from the remote service provider to properly receive the associated content from the broadcaster.

8. A method of remotely configuring a wireless communication device comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless communication device capable of presenting content of various formats, a broadcaster that broadcasts content of various formats, a remote programming device for configuring configuration data for the content, and an Internet web page that holds the configuration data on an Internet gateway, the Internet gateway being able to communicate with the wireless communication device and the computer;

remotely configuring, by the remote programming device, the configuration data on the Internet web page for desired formats of associated content for said wireless communication device;

receiving the configuration data of the Internet web page from the Internet gateway and content from the broadcaster in the wireless communication device;

configuring the received content from the broadcaster in the wireless communication device by format in accordance with the configuration data;

presenting the configured formats to a user of the wireless communication device;

selecting content in the configured format by the user; and

providing the selected content from the broadcaster to the user through the wireless communication device.

9. A system for remotely configuring a wireless communication device in a vehicle comprising:

a broadcaster that broadcasts content of various formats;

an Internet gateway with an Internet web page for holding configuration data for configuring the content;

a remote programming device coupled to said Internet gateway for configuring the configuration data on the Internet web page;

a wireless communication device for receiving the configuration data from the Internet gateway and for configuring the received content from the broadcaster by format in accordance with the configuration data, and displaying content according to the configured format based upon said configuration data on said wireless communication device;

a display for displaying content in the configured format for a user; and

a user interface for presenting the configured formats and for enabling the selection of content based upon said configured format by the user.