Vehicle communication system

• US 7,916,043 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• 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:
  US12/551,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.17, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.24, 340/995.25, 340/988, 701/200, 701/208
• 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 wireless communication system for a vehicle includes a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle and a current directional heading of the vehicle. Data useful to the driver of the vehicle that is relevant to at least one of the current geographical location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link. The data is wirelessly communicated from the external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle. The data is at least in part customized to at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle.

Claims

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

a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle and a current directional heading of the vehicle, wherein said global positioning system is operable to provide location and directional information useful to the driver of the vehicle;

wherein data useful to the driver of the vehicle that is relevant to at least one of the current geographical location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link; and

wherein said data is wirelessly communicated from said external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein said data is at least in part customized to at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said external provider receives transmitted data from the vehicle via said wireless communication link and, responsive to receipt of said transmitted data from the vehicle, said external provider wirelessly communicates said data to the vehicle.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein said transmitted data includes at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said external provider comprises a telematic service provider.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4, wherein said telematic service provider communicates data associated with at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web site, a toll center, a banking center and a satellite radio.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication link is operable to carry data useful to the driver of the vehicle via at least one of a PUSH communication protocol and a PULL communication protocol.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein said wireless communication link is operable in response to a user input selecting at least one of said PUSH and PULL communication protocols.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein a display device is disposed at the vehicle for displaying information useful to the driver of the vehicle 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 and (d) said display device comprises a video display device.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein a display device is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle for displaying information useful to the driver of the vehicle, and wherein at least one of (a) said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, (b) said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, (c) said display device is disposed behind said reflective element and said reflective element comprises a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (d) said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element 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 (e) said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element 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.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein said display device comprises a reconfigurable display device.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication system comprises a link to a vehicle bus system.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication link comprises a wireless communication link with a mobile accessory that is a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 12, wherein at least one of (a) said mobile accessory comprises at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen, (b) said wireless communication system comprises a holder in the vehicle for said mobile accessory, and (c) said mobile accessory comprises at least one of a hand-held telephone, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held personal identifier, and a hand-held remote entry device.

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

15. A wireless communication system for a vehicle, said wireless communication system comprising:

a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle and a current directional heading of the vehicle, wherein said global positioning system is operable to provide location and directional information useful to the driver of the vehicle;

an in-vehicle voice input device;

wherein data useful to the driver of the vehicle that is relevant to at least one of the current geographical location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link;

wherein said data is wirelessly communicated from said external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein said data is at least in part customized to at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle; and

wherein said external provider receives transmitted data from the vehicle via said wireless communication link, said transmitted data including at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein, responsive to receipt of said transmitted data from the vehicle, said external provider wirelessly communicates said data to the vehicle.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein at least one of (a) said in-vehicle voice input device is at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (b) said wireless communication system includes in-vehicle voice detection, (c) said wireless communication system includes voice recognition and (d) said wireless communication system includes in-vehicle voice generation.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein a display device is disposed at the vehicle for displaying information useful to the driver of the vehicle 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 display device comprises a video display device and (e) said display device comprises a reconfigurable display device.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein said wireless communication system comprises a link to a vehicle bus system.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein said external provider comprises a telematic service provider.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein said telematic service provider communicates data associated with at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web site, a toll center, a banking center and a satellite radio.

21. A wireless communication system for a vehicle, said wireless communication system comprising:

a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle and a current directional heading of the vehicle, wherein said global positioning system is operable to provide location and directional information useful to the driver of the vehicle;

wherein data useful to the driver of the vehicle that is relevant to at least one of the current geographical location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle is carried from a telematic service provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link, and wherein said wireless communication link is operable to carry data useful to the driver of the vehicle via at least one of a PUSH communication protocol and a PULL communication protocol; and

wherein said data is wirelessly communicated from said telematic service provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein said data is at least in part customized to at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle; and

wherein said telematic service provider receives transmitted data from the vehicle via said wireless communication link, said transmitted data including at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein, responsive to receipt of said transmitted data from the vehicle, said telematic service provider wirelessly communicates said data to the vehicle.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 21, wherein said telematic service provider communicates data associated with at least one of a gas station, a store, a cinema, a web site, a toll center, a banking center and a satellite radio.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 21, wherein a display device is disposed at the vehicle for displaying information useful to the driver of the vehicle 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 display device comprises a video display device and (e) said display device comprises a reconfigurable display device.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 21, wherein said wireless communication system comprises a link to a vehicle bus system.

25. A wireless communication system for a vehicle, said wireless communication system comprising:

a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle and a current directional heading of the vehicle, wherein said global positioning system is operable to provide location and directional information useful to the driver of the vehicle;

wherein data useful to the driver of the vehicle that is relevant to at least one of the current geographical location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link;

wherein said data is wirelessly communicated from said external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein said data is at least in part customized to at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle; and

a display device disposed at the vehicle for displaying information useful to the driver of the vehicle, and wherein said display device comprises a reconfigurable display device.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 25, 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 and (d) said display device comprises a video display device.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein said external provider receives transmitted data from the vehicle via said wireless communication link and, responsive to receipt of said transmitted data from the vehicle, said external provider wirelessly communicates said data to the vehicle, and wherein said transmitted data includes at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein at least one of (a) said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, (b) said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said reflective element, (c) said display device is disposed behind said reflective element and said reflective element comprises a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (d) said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element 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 (e) said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element 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.