Patent ID: 6775603
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A system for selectively setting a variable operating parameter of a vehicle device and a corresponding non-vehicle device for an operator of the vehicle device and the non-vehicle device, the system comprising:a portable information storage device having a storage element, means for receiving from a human operator information representative of the operator's preference for a particular operating parameter for the vehicle device and storing the received information on the storage element, and means for generating an output signal based on the stored information; a vehicle interface connected to an on-board vehicle control system having the variable operating parameter, the vehicle interface arranged to receive the output signal generated by the portable storage device for input to the on-board vehicle control system, wherein the on-board vehicle control system is arranged to set a value of the variable operating parameter for the vehicle device based on the information in the input signal; wherein the portable information storage device further includes means for receiving, from the vehicle interface, information representative of usage of the vehicle device by the operator, and means for storing the information representative of the usage of the vehicle device by the operator; and a non-vehicle interface connected to an off-board non-vehicle control system, and arranged to receive the output signal generated by the portable storage device for input to the off-board non-vehicle control system, and further arranged to access the stored information representative of the usage of the vehicle device by the operator, wherein the off-board non-vehicle control system is arranged to set a value of the variable operating parameter for the non-vehicle device corresponding to the vehicle device based on the information in the input signal and the information representative of usage of the vehicle device by the operator.