Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of motor vehicle

• US 7,289,611 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XCSR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pointset Corporation
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle, St. Antoine, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/757,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.07, 379/106.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.17
• US Class Current: 379/102.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of a motor vehicle. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The motor vehicle owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the motor vehicle. Once the desired settings have been made, they are transferred to the motor vehicle using a portable transfer device, which may comprise a key for operating the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for setting a programmable feature of an automobile sound system comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface graphically depicting a programmable feature of an automobile sound system;

establishing a connection between a user'"'"'s computer and the interactive site;

entering data with the user'"'"'s computer to set the programmable feature of the automobile sound system at the interactive site;

providing a portable transfer device separate from the user'"'"'s computer having an input port and an output port;

downloading set-up data for the programmable feature of the automobile sound system from the interactive site to the user'"'"'s computer;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

coupling the output port of the transfer device to the automobile sound system; and

transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the automobile sound system.

2. A method for setting a programmable feature of an automobile sound system comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting a programmable feature of an automobile sound system at the interactive site;

transferring set-up data for the programmable feature from the interactive site to the automobile sound system;

setting a programmable feature of the automobile sound system by user input to a control physically associated with the automobile sound system;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the automobile sound system to the interactive site.

3. A method for setting a programmable feature of an automobile HVAC system comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface graphically depicting a programmable feature of an automobile HVAC system;

establishing a connection between a user'"'"'s computer and the interactive site;

entering data with the user'"'"'s computer to set the programmable feature of the automobile HVAC system at the interactive site;

providing a portable transfer device separate from the user'"'"'s computer having an input port and an output port;

downloading set-up data for the programmable feature of the automobile HVAC system from the interactive site to the user'"'"'s computer;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

coupling the output port of the transfer device to the automobile HVAC system; and

transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the automobile HVAC system.

4. A method for setting a programmable feature of an automobile HVAC system comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting a programmable feature of an automobile HVAC system at the interactive site;

transferring set-up data for the programmable feature from the interactive site to the automobile HVAC system;

setting a programmable feature of the automobile HVAC system by user input to a control physically associated with the automobile HVAC system;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the automobile HVAC system to the interactive site.