Vehicular communication system

• US 7,382,289 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Kevin C., Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/053,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.17, 340/988, 340/995.14, 345/629, 701/209, 701/210
• US Class Current: 340/995.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface

Abstract

A vehicular communication system comprises a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service. Data pertaining to at least one of the location and the direction heading of the vehicle is communicated to the external provider from the vehicle via the conimunication link. This data is derived at least in part from a global positioning system that determines the geographic location and/or the direction heading of the vehicle. The external provider wirelessly provides information or service back to the vehicle via the communication link that is at least in part customized to the geographic location and/or direction heading of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, said communication system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly;

a global positioning system determining at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service;

said wireless communication link communicating data from the vehicle to said external provider;

said data including at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

said external provider providing information or service via said wireless communication link to the vehicle;

said information or service being at least in part customized to at least one of said geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle; and

a control at said interior rearview mirror assembly for facilitating operation of said communication system.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein a display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein at least one of (a) said display device comprises a multi-pixel display device, (b) said display device is capable of displaying a scrolling display, (c) said display device is capable of displaying a multi-text display, (d) said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having a reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, (e) said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having an electrocbromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, (f) said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having a reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (g) said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having an electrochromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (h) said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having an electrochromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

3. The communication system of claim 1, including at least one of (a) a link to a vehicle bus system, (b) a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device, (c) a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device and wherein said mobile device comprises at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen thereby providing user entry to said communication system via said short-range wireless communication link, (d) a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device and including a holder in the vehicle for said mobile device, (e) a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device and wherein said mobile device comprises a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle, and (f) a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device and wherein said mobile device comprises one of a hand-held telephone, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held personal identifier, and a hand-held remote entry device.

4. The communication system of claim 1, including an in-vehicle voice input device and wherein at least one of (a) said in-vehicle voice input device is at said interior rearview mirror assembly, (b) the communication system includes in-vehicle voice detection, (c) the communication system includes voice recognition, and (d) the communication system includes in-vehicle voice generation.

5. The communication system of claim 1, including at least one of (a) a short-range wireless communication link with a mobile device and (b) a short-range wireless communication link with a mobile device, said link comprising a BLUETOOTH link.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having a reflective element disposed threat and wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) said external provider comprises at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web-site, a toll center, a banking center, a satellite radio provider, a service supplier, a convenience supplier, a food supplier, a service station and a telematics service, (b) said information or service provided by said external provider via said wireless communication link comprises at least one of a by said external provider via said wireless communication link comprises at least one of a discount, a service offer, an advertisement, entertainment, an INTERNET site, news, weather data and traffic data, (c) said external provider provides connection to the INTERNET, (d) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider includes at least one of vehicle type data and vehicle identity data, and (e) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider includes personal information.

8. A communication system for a vehicle, said communication system comprising:

a global positioning system for determining at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service;

said wireless communication link communicating data from the vehicle to said external provider;

said data including at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

said external provider providing information or service via said wireless communication link to the vehicle;

said information or service being at least in part customized to at least one of said geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle; and

wherein said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider includes at least one of vehicle type data, personal information, and vehicle identity data.

9. The communication system of claim 8 wherein said external provider comprises at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web-site, a toll center, a banking center, a satellite radio provider, a service supplier, a convenience supplier, a food supplier, a service station, and a telematics service.

10. The communication system of claim 8 wherein said information or service provided by said external provider via said wireless communication link comprises at least one of a discount, a service offer, an advertisement, entertainment, an INTERNET site, news, weather data, and traffic data.

11. The communication system of claim 8 wherein said external provider provides connection to the INTERNET.

12. A communication system for a vehicle, said communication system comprising:

a global positioning system for determining at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service;

said wireless communication link communicating data from the vehicle to said external provider;

said data including at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

said external provider providing information or service via said wireless communication link to the vehicle;

said information or service being at least in part customized to at least one of said geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

wherein said external provider comprises at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web-site, a toll center, a banking center, a satellite radio provider, a service supplier, a convenience supplier, a food supplier, a service station, and a telematics service; and

wherein said information or service provided by said external provider via said wireless communication link comprises at least one of a discount, a service offer, an advertisement, entertainment, an INTERNET site, news, weather data, and traffic data.

13. The communication system of claim 12 including at least one of (a) an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing having a reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element,(b) a link to a vehicle bus system, (c) including a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device, (d) including a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device wherein said mobile device comprises a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle, (e) including a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device wherein said mobile device comprises at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen thereby providing user entry to said communication system via said short-range wireless communication link, (f) said short-range wireless communication link comprising a BLUETOOTH link, (g) including a control at an interior rearview mirror assembly for facilitating operation of said communication system, (h) said external provider providing connection to the INTERNET, (i) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider including at least one of vehicle type data and vehicle identity data and (i) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider including personal information.

14. A communication system for a vehicle, said communication system comprising:

a global positioning system determining at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service;

said wireless communication link communicating data from the vehicle to said external provider;

said data including at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

said external provider providing information or service via said wireless communication link to the vehicle;

said information or service being at least in part customized to at least one of said geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle; and

said system including a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein a display device is disposed in the vehicle at a location viewable by the driver while driving, and wherein at least some information displayed by said display device is communicated from said mobile device via said short-range wireless communication link.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein said display device comprises at least one of (a) a multi-pixel display device, (b) a display device capable of displaying a scrolling display, (c) a display device capable of displaying a multi-text display, (d) a video display device, (e) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (f) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and located to the rear of and displaying information through, a reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (g) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing having an electrochromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, and (h) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having an electrochromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

17. The communication system of claim 14, wherein at least one of (a) said communication system includes a link to a vehicle bus system, (b) said mobile device comprises at least one of a keypad, a touch pad, and a stylus-actuated screen thereby providing user entry to said communication system via said short-range wireless communication link, (c) said communication system includes a holder in the vehicle for said mobile device, (d) said mobile device comprises a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle and (e) said mobile device comprises one of a hand-held telephone, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held personal identifier and a hand-held remote entry device.

18. The communication system of claim 14, wherein said external provider provides connection to the INTERNET, and wherein said external provider comprises at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web-site, a toll center, a banking center, a satellite radio provider, a service supplier, a convenience supplier, a food supplier, a service station, and a telematics service, and wherein at least one of (a) said information or service provided by said external provider via said wireless communication link comprises at least one of a discount, a service offer, an advertisement, entertainment, an INTERNET site, news, weather data and traffic data and (b) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider includes at least one of vehicle type data, personal information and vehicle identity data.

19. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a vehicular global positioning system operable to provide location/directional information to the driver.

20. A communication system for a vehicle, said communication system comprising:

a global positioning system for determining at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service;

said wireless communication link communicating data from the vehicle to said external provider;

said data including at least one of the geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

said external provider providing information or service via said wfreless communication link to the vehicle;

said information or service being at least in part customized to at least one of said geographic location and the direction heading of the vehicle;

said system including a short-range wireless communication link in the vehicle to a mobile device;

wherein a display device is disposed in the vehicle at a location viewable by the driver while driving and wherein said display device is disposed in the vehicle at a location viewable by the driver while driving and wherein at least some information displayed by said display device is communicated from said mobile device via said short-range wireless communication link; and

said communication system including an in-vehicle voice input device.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein at least one of (a) said in-vehicle voice input device is at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (b) the communication system includes in-vehicle voice detection, (c) the communication system includes voice recognition and (d) the communication system includes in-vehicle voice generation.

22. The communication system of claim 20, wherein said short-range wireless communication link comprises a BLUETOOTH link, and wherein the vehicle is equipped with a vehicular global positioning system operable to provide location/directional information to the driver.

23. The communication system of claim 20, wherein at least one of (a) said external provider comprises at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web-site, a toll center, a banking center, a satellite radio provider, a service supplier, a convenience supplier, a food supplier, a service station and a telematics service, (b) said information or service provided by said external provider via said wireless communication link comprises at least one of a discount, a service offer, an advertisement, entertainment, an INTERNET site, news, weather data and traffic data, (c) said external provider provides connection to the INTERNET, (d) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider includes at least one of vehicle type data and vehicle identity data, and (e) said data communicated via said wireless communication link to said external provider includes personal information.

24. The communication system of claim 20, wherein said display device comprises at least one of (a) a multi-pixel display device, (b) a display device capable of displaying a scrolling display, (c) a display device capable of displaying a multi-text display, (d) a video display device, (e) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (f) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and located to the rear of, and displaying information through, a reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (g) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing having an electrochromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, and (h) a display device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having an electrochromic reflective element disposed threat and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, said reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

25. The communication system of claim 20, wherein at least one of (a) said communication system includes a link to a vehicle bus system, (b) said mobile device comprises at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen thereby providing user entry to said communication system via said short-range wireless communication link, (c) said communication system includes a holder in the vehicle for said mobile device, (d) wherein said mobile device comprises a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle, (e) said mobile device comprises one of a hand-held telephone, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held personal identifier and a hand-held remote entry device, and (f) a control is provided at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle for facilitating operation of said communication system.