Vehicle media and communications access

• US 8,433,238 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kostepen, Hakan
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/653,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 455/550.1, 455/3.01, 455/351, 455/348, 455/3.06, 455/66.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to vehicle media and communications systems and/or providing communications network and/or satellite network access in a vehicle. Specifically, the disclosed methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to providing access to data, communications and/or satellites using a modular vehicle media and communications system.

Claims

1. A vehicle media and communications system, the vehicle media and communications system operably coupled to one or more media source having a media file and/or media signal, the system comprising:

a fixed first module adapted to receive and output the media file and/or the media signal on a video display and/or audio speaker;

a removable second module adapted to;

communicate with at least one of a communications network and a satellite network;

output communications from the at least one of the communications network and the satellite network on the video display and/or audio speaker; and

store personalization parameters associated with at least one of vehicle media and communications system settings, vehicle media and communications system states and vehicle media and communications system shortcuts;

a cradle/docking station detachably coupled to the second module; and

a vehicle parameter module adapted to receive one or more vehicle state parameters and further adapted to compare the vehicle state parameters to one or more predetermined state parameters, the vehicle state parameters comprising at least one of a vehicle speed parameter, a vehicle transmission parameter and a vehicle braking parameter;

wherein the vehicle parameter module communicates with the second module to disallow outputting communications from the at least one of the communications network and the satellite network based, at least in part, on the vehicle state parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module further comprises:

an amplification component adapted to amplify the media file and/or media signal; and

a digital signal processing component adapted to process the media file and/or media signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises at least one of a frequency modulation (FM) receiver, an amplitude modulation (AM) receiver and a satellite radio receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the media file and/or media signal comprises at least one of an FM signal. an AM signal and a satellite radio signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises at least one of a compact disc (CD) player, an MP3 player, a digital video disc (DVD) player, a high-definition video player, a wireless network adapter, a cellular network adapter, a satellite communications network adapter, a satellite video receiver and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver,

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises at least one of the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a global area network (GAN), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, a Global System for Mobile (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite network comprises a satellite communications network, a satellite video network and a GPS network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises a display device adapted to display the communications from the at least one of the communications network and the satellite network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second module further comprises a bezel surrounding a face of the display device, the bezel having a branding indicia disposed on a face of the bezel, and the second module is further adapted to display at least one of advertisements and sponsored content on the display device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cradle/docking station is permanently affixed to a body of the vehicle media and communications system, and the second module comprises a battery adapted to provide power to the second module when the second module is detached from the vehicle media and communications system.

11. A method of providing communications network and/or satellite network access in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a command to output at least one of a media signal and a communication, the command being from at least one of the communications network and the satellite network;

receiving one or more vehicle state parameters;

comparing the received vehicle state parameters with one or more predetermined vehicle state parameters; and

outputting the media signal and/or the communication based, at least in part, on the comparing of the received vehicle state parameters with the predetermined vehicle state parameters, wherein the outputting step includes displaying the media signal and/or the communication with a font size that is based, at least in part, on the comparing of the received vehicle state parameters with the predetermined vehicle state parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle state parameters comprise at least one of a vehicle speed parameter, a vehicle transmission parameter and a vehicle braking parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein comparing the received vehicle state parameters with one or more predetermined vehicle state parameters further includes at least one of:

(i) comparing the vehicle speed parameter with a predetermined vehicle speed parameter;

(ii) comparing the vehicle transmission parameter with a predetermined vehicle transmission parameter; and

(iii) comparing the vehicle braking parameter with a predetermined vehicle braking parameter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined vehicle state parameters comprise at least one of a predetermined vehicle speed parameter, a predetermined vehicle transmission parameter and a predetermined vehicle braking parameter;

and

wherein the predetermined vehicle speed parameter corresponds to a vehicle speed of zero miles per hour, the predetermined vehicle transmission parameter corresponds to a parked condition, and the predetermined vehicle braking parameter corresponds to a vehicle brake engagement.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the outputting step includes displaying the media signal and/or the communication with a lower limit on the font size if the vehicle speed is nonzero, the vehicle transmission is in drive, or the hand brake is off, and displaying the media signal and/or the communication with no lower limit on the font size if the vehicle speed is zero, the vehicle transmission is not in drive, and the hand brake is on.

16. A method of providing communications network and/or satellite network access in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a command to output at least one of a media signal and a communication, the command being from at least one of the communications network and the satellite network;

receiving one or more vehicle state parameters;

comparing the received vehicle state parameters with one or more predetermined vehicle state parameters;

outputting the media signal and/or the communication based, at least in part, on the comparing of the received vehicle state parameters with the predetermined vehicle state parameters; and

controlling which of two levels of internet access that the driver is provided with, the controlling being based, at least in part, on the comparing of the received vehicle state parameters with the predetermined vehicle state parameters, a first of the two levels of internet access comprising full internet access including allowing the driver to navigate the internet by use of both voice commands and keystrokes, a second of the two levels of internet access comprising allowing the driver to navigate the internet only by use of voice commands.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the driver is provided with the second level of internet access if the vehicle speed is nonzero or the vehicle transmission is in drive, and the driver is provided with the first level of internet access if the vehicle speed is zero and the vehicle transmission is not in drive.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle state parameters comprise at least one of a vehicle speed parameter, a vehicle transmission parameter and a vehicle braking parameter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein comparing the received vehicle state parameters with one or more predetermined vehicle state parameters further includes at least one of:

(i) comparing the vehicle speed parameter with a predetermined vehicle speed parameter;

(ii) comparing the vehicle transmission parameter with a predetermined vehicle transmission parameter; and

(iii) comparing the vehicle braking parameter with a predetermined vehicle braking parameter.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined vehicle state parameters comprise at least one of a predetermined vehicle speed parameter, a predetermined vehicle transmission parameter and a predetermined vehicle braking parameter;

and

wherein the predetermined vehicle speed parameter corresponds to a vehicle speed of zero miles per hour, the predetermined vehicle transmission parameter corresponds to a parked condition, and the predetermined vehicle braking parameter corresponds to a vehicle brake engagement.