Integration of add-on interior modules into driver user interface

• US 9,744,852 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Buttolo, Pietro, Tokish, Stephen Ronald, Rankin, II, James Stewart, Salter, Stuart C., Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US14/850,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00

Abstract

A listing of wireless in-vehicle components installed to a vehicle may be maintained by the vehicle. The listing may include in-vehicle components that are factory-installed to the vehicle as well as add-on in-vehicle components that may be added or removed by a user. A wireless transceiver may scan for changes to the add-on in-vehicle components within the vehicle. A user interface may display a unified interface including both the factory-installed wireless in-vehicle components and the add-on wireless in-vehicle components. A user may review and adjust the configuration of the in-vehicle components of the in-vehicle components using the user interface.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a display integrated into a vehicle;

a wireless transceiver; and

a processor, coupled to the display and transceiver, programmed to

maintain a list of wireless factory-installed in-vehicle components,

scan for add-on wireless in-vehicle components within the vehicle using the wireless transceiver,

generate a user interface listing both the factory-installed wireless in-vehicle components and the add-on wireless in-vehicle components, and

provide the listing to the display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive user input to the display requesting a change in state of one of the in-vehicle components, and

utilize the wireless transceiver to update the state of the one of the in-vehicle components.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the change in state is one of rolling down a smart-shade in-vehicle component or rolling up a smart-shade in-vehicle component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive an indication of a change in state from one of the in-vehicle components; and

update the state of the one of the in-vehicle components in the list responsive to the indication.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the change in the state is an automatic change based on input to the one of the in-vehicle components from a light sensor of the in-vehicle component.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the change in the state is in response to input received to a user interface control of the one of the in-vehicle components.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is a head unit of the vehicle, and the processor is a telematics control unit processor.

8. A method comprising:

maintaining in a storage by a processor of a vehicle an in-vehicle component listing including factory-installed components and add-on components added after a vehicle is built;

scanning, using a wireless transceiver as directed by the processor, for add-on in-vehicle components within the vehicle;

removing, by the processor, a first add-on wireless in-vehicle component from the listing responsive to failure to locate the first in-vehicle component during the scanning; and

adding, by the processor, a second add-on wireless in-vehicle component to the listing located during the scanning.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a user interface listing including both the factory-installed components and the add-on components; and

providing the user interface listing to a display.

10. The method of claim 9, where the display is a head unit of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving user input to the display requesting a change in state of one of the in-vehicle components; and

utilizing the wireless transceiver to update the state of the one of the in-vehicle components.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the change in state is one of rolling down a window shade in-vehicle component or rolling up a window shade in-vehicle component.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a change in state from one of the in-vehicle components; and

updating the state of the one of the in-vehicle components in the user interface responsive to the indication.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the change in the state is one of:

an automatic change based on input to the one of the in-vehicle components from a sensor of the in-vehicle component, or in response to input received to a user interface control of the one of the in-vehicle components.

15. A computer program product embodied in non-transitory computer readable storage having instructions for programming a processor of a vehicle in communication with a wireless transceiver to control a display, comprising instructions for:

maintaining a list of installed in-vehicle components,

scanning for current in-vehicle components within the vehicle using the wireless transceiver,

updating the list based on the scanning, and

sending, to the display, a generated user interface listing of the current in-vehicle components.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for maintaining, in the list, identifiers of factory-installed components and add-on components added after a vehicle is built.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for removing an add-on wireless in-vehicle component from the listing responsive to failure to locate the wireless in-vehicle component during the scanning.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for adding an add-on wireless in-vehicle component to the listing located during the scanning.