System and method for receiving information in a vehicle

• US 7,619,507 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Hider, Mounir, Santos, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/383,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/992, 340/995.13, 340/539.13, 340/384.1, 340/905, 701/1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/53 of destinations

Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for receiving information in a vehicle. Information pertaining to the vehicle'"'"'s driver may be stored. Information pertaining to the vehicle'"'"'s driver may be made audile through the vehicle'"'"'s radio system.

Claims

1. A method for receiving information in a vehicle comprising:

storing information about a user-defined criteria;

receiving a broadcast signal containing event information;

determining whether the event information pertains to the user-defined criteria;

storing the event information if the event information pertains to the user-defined criteria;

automatically generating an alert signal if the event information pertains to the user-defined criteria; and

at least one of playing and displaying the stored event information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input in response to the alert signal.

3. A method for receiving event information in a vehicle comprising:

storing information about an identification number unique to the vehicle;

receiving a broadcast signal containing information about a user-defined geographic region;

receiving a broadcast signal containing event information including a geographic location associated with an event;

determining whether at least a portion of the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region;

storing at least a portion of the event information pertaining to the user-defined geographic region;

automatically generating an audible signal when at least a portion of the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region;

at least one of playing and displaying the stored event information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the audible signal is an audible alert signal and the method further comprises, after the step of automatically generating an audible signal, receiving a user input signal in response to the audible signal.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the broadcast signal containing the information about the user-defined geographic region includes a broadcast identification number, the method further comprising determining whether the broadcast identification number matches the identification number unique to the vehicle thereby determining whether the information about the user-defined geographic region pertains to the vehicle and storing the information about the user-defined geographic region when the broadcast identification number matches the identification number unique to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the information about the user-defined geographic region includes a user-defined zip code and wherein the event information includes a zip code associated with the event.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining whether at least a portion of the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region includes determining whether the zip code associated with the event is located within a predetermined radius of the user-defined zip code.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the information about the user-defined geographic region includes a user-defined zip code and wherein the event information includes a latitude and a longitude associated with the event.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising converting the latitude and the longitude associated with the event into a zip code associated with the event and wherein the step of determining whether at least a portion of the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region includes determining whether the zip code associated with the event is located within a predetermined radius of the user-defined zip code.

10. A system for receiving event information in a vehicle comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a broadcast signal containing event information including a geographic location associated with an event;

one or more computers operatively connected with the receiver and configured to

store information about an identification number unique to the vehicle;

store information about a user-defined geographic region;

determine whether the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region;

store the event information if the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region;

automatically generate an alert signal if the event information pertains to the user-defined geographic region; and

at least one of play and display the stored event information.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a broadcast signal containing information about a user-defined geographic region including a broadcast identification number and wherein the one or more computers are further configured to

determine whether the identification number unique to the vehicle matches the broadcast identification number thereby determining whether the information about the user-defined geographic region pertains to the vehicle;

and

store the information about the user-defined geographic region when the identification number unique to the vehicle matches the broadcast identification number.