Method and apparatus for vehicle process emulation and configuration on a mobile platform

• US 9,420,406 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Yifan, Strumolo, Gary Steven, Filev, Dimitar Petrov, Greenberg, Jeffrey Allen, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Tonshal, Basavaraj, Prasad, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh, Aldighieri, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US14/179,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes providing an interface on a wireless device corresponding to an interface for vehicle infotainment system control. The method also includes providing simulated functionality of controls on the interface, such that activation of a control informs a user of what would occur if the control were activated on a vehicle interface. Further, the method includes saving at least one user setting input into the interface. The method additionally includes transferring the saved setting to a vehicle computing system (VCS) for use in infotainment system control when the wireless device is in communication with the VCS.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing communication between a vehicle computing system (VCS) and a wireless device;

determining that the wireless device has a native function that corresponds to a VCS function;

offering an option to import a wireless device native function interface to the VCS;

contingent on import-confirmation, downloading the wireless device native function interface to the VCS; and

providing the wireless device native function control interface in lieu of a corresponding standard VCS interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the native function includes a navigation function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the native function includes a phone control function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the native function includes an entertainment control function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the entire native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein only a portion of the native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS, and wherein at least some portion of the native function is still run by the wireless device after receiving commands input into the function control interface provided on the VCS.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute a method comprising:

establishing communication between a vehicle computing system (VCS) and a wireless device;

determining that the wireless device has a native function that corresponds to a VCS function;

offering an option to import a wireless device native function interface to the VCS;

contingent on import-confirmation, downloading the wireless device native function interface to the VCS; and

providing the wireless device native function control interface at the vehicle in lieu of a standard interface associated with the corresponding VCS function.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the native function includes a navigation function.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the native function includes a phone control function.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the native function includes an entertainment control function.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the entire native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein only a portion of the native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS, and wherein at least some portion of the native function is still run by the wireless device after receiving commands input into the function control interface provided on the VCS.

13. A native process emulation system comprising:

at least one processor configured to establish communication between a vehicle computing system (VCS) and a wireless device;

determine that the wireless device has a native function that corresponds to a VCS function;

offer an option to import a wireless device native function interface to the VCS;

contingent on import-confirmation, download the wireless device native function interface to the VCS; and

provide the wireless device native function control interface at the vehicle in lieu of a standard interface associated with the corresponding VCS function.

14. The native process emulation system of claim 13, wherein the native function includes a navigation function.

15. The native process emulation system of claim 13, wherein the native function includes a phone control function.

16. The native process emulation system of claim 13, wherein the native function includes an entertainment control function.

17. The native process emulation system of claim 13, wherein the entire native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS.

18. The native process emulation system of claim 13, wherein only a portion of the native function is downloaded to and run by the VCS, and wherein at least some portion of the native function is still run by the wireless device after receiving commands input into the function control interface provided on the VCS.