On board vehicle media controller

• US 9,338,170 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lipman, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US14/657,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 726/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a microprocessor executable media controller operable to receive a media stream from a remote node, the received media stream being for an occupant associated with an on board vehicle input/output system, identify which on board vehicle input/output systems are restricted due to operator command and/or as a result of a governing law, and provide the media stream, in compliance with any restriction, to a selected input/output system associated with the occupant.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a microprocessor executable media controller executing on an on board computer of the vehicle that receives a media stream from a remote node, the vehicle comprising multiple input/output systems at different spatial locations in the vehicle, the received media stream being for at least first and second input/output systems of the multiple input/output systems and, in response to restrictions due to operator command and/or as a result of a governing law, provide at least a portion of the media stream, in compliance with any restriction, to the first, but not the second, input/output system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second input/output systems are on board vehicle input/output systems, wherein the media stream is for all occupants of the vehicle but is provided only to unrestricted on board vehicle input/output systems in a second set of on board vehicle input/output systems and not to restricted on board vehicle input/output systems in a first set of on board vehicle input/output systems, the unrestricted on board vehicle input/output systems being a subset of the multiple input/output systems and wherein the first set includes the second input/output system and the second set includes the first input/output system.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second input/output systems are on board vehicle input/output systems, wherein the on board vehicle input/output systems are in a dependent mode in which common content is provided synchronously to all unrestricted on board vehicle input/output systems in a second set of on board vehicle input/output systems regardless of different content selections of users of each of the on board vehicle input/output systems and not to restricted on board vehicle input/output systems in a first set of on board vehicle input/output systems and wherein the first set includes the second input/output system and the second set includes the first input/output system.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second input/output systems are on board vehicle input/output systems, wherein the on board vehicle input/output systems are in an independent mode in which different content is provided synchronously to all unrestricted on board vehicle input/output systems in a second set of on board vehicle input/output systems, the different content being controlled by each occupant associated with each on board vehicle input/output system, and not to restricted on board vehicle input/output systems in a first set of on board vehicle input/output systems and wherein the first set includes the second input/output system and the second set includes the first input/output system.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the media controller receives a command to restrict one or more of the first and second input/output systems, determines whether the source of the command is authorized and/or privileged to restrict the first and/or second input/output systems, when the source is authorized and/or privileged, determines, from the command, an appropriate rule set to be implemented, applies the rule set to each of the first and second input/output system, and, in response and when appropriate, configures and/or reconfigures the second input/output system and/or a media stream to the second input/output system.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the restriction is as a result of a governing law and wherein the media controller, for a current satellite-positioning-system based position of the vehicle, current state of the vehicle, and a seating location of a selected on board vehicle input/output system, determines that a law restricts the second input/output system from performing at least one of the following functions:

texting from the second input/output system, displaying streaming video content to the second input/output system, initiating and/or continuing a cellular call, and providing a media channel of a multimedia media stream to the second input/output system.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the second input/output system is associated with the vehicle operator and the current state of the vehicle is one or more of moving and in gear.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first and second input/output systems are on board vehicle input/output systems, wherein the function is providing a media channel of a multimedia media stream, and wherein the media controller presents a first channel, but not a second, of the multimedia stream to the second input/output system.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the media controller:

(a) determines a first spatial location of an external communication device, the external communication device being in wireless communication with the on board media controller and the first spatial location being associated with a first set of restrictions, the first set of restrictions being at least one of a control on connectivity access by the external communication device, a restriction on the connectivity access, and a restriction on one or more functions of the external communication device and (b), in response, applies the first set of restrictions.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein, as a result of applying the first set of restrictions, the media controller declines to accept connectivity access by the external communication device.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein, as a result of applying the first set of restrictions, the media controller applies a restriction on the connectivity access.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein, as a result of applying the first set of restrictions, the media controller restricts the one or more functions of the external communication device.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the media controller measures, at a plurality of connectivity access points, a respective signal strength associated with a transmission by the external communication device, and, based on the measurements, determines the first spatial location by triangulation.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein a second spatial location is associated with a second set of restrictions, the first and second sets of restrictions being different from one another.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the media controller monitors the external communication for a change from the first to the second spatial locations and, upon detecting the change, applies the second set of restrictions.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a micropressor executing a microprocessor executable media controller on board a vehicle, a signal, wherein the vehicle comprises multiple on board input/output systems at different spatial locations in the vehicle;

determining, by the micropressor executing the microprocessor executable media controller, that first and second on board input/output systems of the multiple input/output systems are to receive the payload of the signal;

determining, by the micropressor executing the microprocessor executable media controller, a pertinent rule set;

determining, by the micropressor executing the microprocessor executable media controller and based on the pertinent rule set, whether all or part of the payload can be presented to each of the first and second on board input/output systems; and

when permitted, providing, by the micropressor executing the microprocessor executable media controller, the all or part of the payload to an unrestricted one of the first and second on board input/output systems but not to a restricted one of the first and second on board input/output systems.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the media stream is for all occupants of the vehicle but is provided only to unrestricted on board input/output systems and not to restricted on board input/output systems, the unrestricted on board input/output systems being a subset of all on board input/output systems.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the on board input/output systems are in a dependent mode in which common content is provided synchronously to all unrestricted on board input/output systems regardless of different content selections of users of each of the on board input/output systems.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein a restriction in the rule set is as a result of a governing law and wherein the media controller, for a current satellite-positioning-system based position of the vehicle, current state of the vehicle, and a seating location of the second on board input/output system, determines that a law restricts the second on board input/output system from performing at least one of the following functions:

texting from an on board input/output system, displaying streaming video content to an on board input/output system, initiating and/or continuing a cellular call, and providing a media channel of a multimedia media stream.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, by the media controller, a command to restrict one or more on board input/output systems;

determining, by the media controller, whether the source of the command is authorized and/or privileged to restrict the one or more on board input/output systems;

when the source is authorized and/or privileged, determining, by the media controller and from the command, an appropriate rule set to be implemented;

applying, by the media controller, the rule set to each on board input/output system; and

in response and when appropriate, configuring and/or reconfiguring, by the media controller, at least one on board input/output system and/or a media stream to the at least one on board input/output system.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the on board input/output systems are in an independent mode in which different content is provided synchronously to all unrestricted on board input/output systems, the different content being controlled by each occupant associated with each on board input/output system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the selected on board input/output system is associated with the vehicle operator and the current state of the vehicle is one or more of moving and in gear.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a function of the selected on board input/output system is restricted by the rule set, wherein the function is providing a media channel of a multimedia media stream, and wherein the media controller presents a first channel, but not a second channel, of the multimedia stream to the selected on board input/output system.

24. A non-transient, tangible computer readable medium comprising a microprocessor executable media controller on board a vehicle, the vehicle having plural input/output systems located at different spatial locations in the vehicle, that, when executed by a processor, (a) receives a signal from a local and/or remote node of a network, (b) determines which of the plural input/output systems are to receive the payload of the signal, (c) determines, based at least in part on a corresponding spatial location of a selected one of the input/output systems, (d) a rule set corresponding to the selected one of the input/output systems, (e) determines, based on the corresponding rule set whether all or part of the payload can be presented to the selected input/output system, (f) when permitted, provides the all or part of the payload to the selected input/output system, and (g) when not permitted, does not provide the all or part of the payload to the selected input/output system.

25. A method performed by the media controller of claim 24.

26. A vehicle comprising the computer readable medium of claim 24.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the input/output systems are on board vehicle input/output systems, wherein, when the all or part of the payload is not provided to the selected input/output system, the selected input/output system is restricted, wherein, when the all or part of the payload is provided to the selected input/output system, the selected input/output system is unrestricted, and wherein the media stream is for all occupants of the vehicle but is provided only to unrestricted input/output systems, the unrestricted input/output systems being a subset of all input/output systems on board the vehicle.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the input/output systems are on board vehicle input/output systems, wherein the signal is provided to unrestricted input/output systems but not to restricted input/output systems, and wherein the input/output systems are in a dependent mode in which common content is provided synchronously to all unrestricted input/output systems regardless of different content selections of users of each of the input/output systems.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the media controller, when executed, further performs the following operations:

receiving a command to restrict one or more input/output systems;

determining whether the source of the command is authorized and/or privileged to restrict the one or more input/output systems;

when the source is authorized and/or privileged, determining, from the command, an appropriate rule set to be implemented;

applying the rule set to each input/output system; and

in response and when appropriate, configuring and/or reconfiguring at least one input/output system and/or a media stream to the at least one input/output system.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the input/output systems are in an independent mode in which different content is provided synchronously to all unrestricted input/output systems, the different content being controlled by each occupant associated with each input/output system.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein a restriction in the rule set is as a result of a governing law and wherein the media controller, for a current satellite-positioning-system based position of the vehicle, current state of the vehicle, and a spatial location of a selected input/output system, determines that a law restricts the input/output system from performing at least one of the following functions:

texting from an input/output system, displaying streaming video content to an input/output system, initiating and/or continuing a cellular call, and providing a media channel of a multimedia media stream.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the selected input/output system is associated with the vehicle operator and the current state of the vehicle is one or more of moving and in gear.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein a function of the selected input/output system is restricted by the rule set, wherein the function is providing a media channel of a multimedia media stream, and wherein the media controller presents a first channel, but not a second channel, of the multimedia stream to the selected input/output system.