System and method for controlling an entertainment device in a vehicle based on driver status and a predetermined vehicle event

• US 8,577,548 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Bennie, Brian, Watkins, Scott Alan, Dalebout, Matthew J., Sarkisian, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US12/992,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/49, 701/45, 340/426.11, 340/426.12, 340/426.14, 340/4.3, 340/4.34, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.3, 340/5.31, 340/457.1, 303/121
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/242 Safety belts; Body harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4883 Interlock systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus and a method for transmitting at least one of an audio signal and a video signal based on driver status and an occurrence of a predetermined vehicle event is provided. The apparatus comprises an entertainment device. The entertainment device is configured to receive a key identification signal from a key indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver and to receive a vehicle status signal to detect the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event. The entertainment device is further configured to disable the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal in response to the key identification signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver and to detecting the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an entertainment device based on driver status of a driver in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a key identification signal indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver from a key ignition device;

receiving a vehicle status signal to determine an occurrence of a predetermined vehicle event;

wherein receiving the vehicle status signal comprises;

receiving a pair status signal, at the entertainment device, to determine if at least one occupant communication device belonging to the secondary driver has been electrically mated to a communication module positioned within the vehicle; and

disabling an operation of the entertainment device in response to the key identification signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver and determining the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event, wherein disabling the operation of the entertainment device comprises;

disabling the operation of the entertainment device in response to determining that the pair status signal indicates that the at least one occupant communication device belonging to the secondary driver has not been electrically mated to the communication module.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein disabling the operation of the entertainment device further comprises muting the transmission of an audio signal from the entertainment device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein disabling the operation of the entertainment device further comprises preventing the transmission of a video signal from the entertainment device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the vehicle status signal to determine the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event further comprises receiving a vehicle speed signal to determine if the vehicle speed signal exceeds at least one pre-selected speed value that is established by the primary driver.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein disabling the operation of the entertainment device further comprises disabling the operation of the entertainment device in response to determining that the vehicle speed signal exceeds the at least one pre-selected speed value as established by the primary driver.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the vehicle status signal to determine the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event further comprises receiving at least one seat belt buckle status signal to determine if at least one of the secondary driver and one or more passengers in the vehicle are in an unbuckled state.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein disabling the operation of the entertainment device further comprises disabling the operation of the entertainment device in response to determining that the seat belt buckle status signal indicates that the at least one of the secondary driver and the one or more passengers in the vehicle are in the unbuckled state.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively controlling the operation of the entertainment device for the secondary driver in the event the key identification signal indicates that the driver is the primary driver so that the entertainment device is capable of at least one of muting audio signals and preventing the transmission of video signals.

9. An apparatus for transmitting at least one of an audio signal and a video signal based on driver status and an occurrence of a predetermined vehicle event;

the apparatus comprising;

an entertainment device configured to;

receive a key identification signal indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver;

receive a vehicle status signal to detect the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event, wherein the vehicle status signal comprises a pair status signal indicative of whether at least one occupant communication device belonging to the secondary driver has been successfully paired to a communication module;

disable a transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal in response to the key identification signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver and to detecting the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event; and

disable the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal in response to detecting that the pair status signal indicates that the at least one occupant communication device belonging to the secondary driver has not been successfully paired to the communication module.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the vehicle status signal comprises at least one of a vehicle speed signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle and a seat belt buckle status signal indicative of whether at least one of the secondary driver and one or more passengers in the vehicle are buckled.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the entertainment device disables the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal in response to detecting that the vehicle speed signal exceeds at least one pre-selected speed value as established by the primary driver.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the entertainment device disables the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal in response to detecting that the seat belt buckle status signal indicates that the at least one of the secondary driver and the one or more passengers in the vehicle are in an unbuckled state.

13. A method for controlling the operation of an entertainment device that transmits at least one of an audio signal and a video signal based on driver status and on an occurrence of a predetermined vehicle event, the method comprising:

receiving a key identification signal from a key indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver;

receiving a vehicle status signal, at the entertainment device, indicative of at least a pair status signal corresponding to whether at least one occupant communication device belonging to the secondary driver has been successfully paired to a communication module;

detecting the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event based on the vehicle status signal;

disabling a transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal from the entertainment device in response to the key identification signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver and to detecting the occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event, and

disabling the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal from the entertainment device in response to determining that the pair status signal indicates that the at least one occupant communication device belonging to the secondary driver has not been successfully paired to the communication module.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle status signal comprises at least one of a vehicle speed signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle and a seat belt buckle status signal indicative of whether at least one of the secondary driver and one or more passengers in the vehicle are buckled.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein disabling the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal from the entertainment device further comprises disabling the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal from the entertainment device in response to determining that the vehicle speed signal exceeds at least one pre-selected speed value as established by the primary driver.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein disabling the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal from the entertainment device further comprises disabling the transmission of the at least one of the audio signal and the video signal from the entertainment device in response to determining that the seat belt buckle status signal indicates that the at least one of the secondary driver and the one or more passengers in the vehicle are in an unbuckled state.