Abstract:
Disclosed here is a system for a vehicle including a personal electronic device in communication with a vehicle head unit, the personal electronic device synchronized with the vehicle head unit for controlling which application icons appear on the vehicle heat unit. Also disclosed is a computer storage media having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions that, when executed, perform a method, the method includes synchronizing the display of a plurality of applications that each operate a respective vehicle system between a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a vehicle and, more particularly, to a head unit synchronization system therefor. 
         [0002]    Vehicles often include various systems such as infotainment and navigation systems. These systems are generally provided with a display around which mechanical control elements are arranged to provide a user interface mounted in a dashboard of a vehicle cabin for driver and front passenger access. Alternatively, the display combines at least some of the control elements into a touch panel display. 
         [0003]    Conventionally, a vehicle head unit is an interface located in the vehicle dash board to provide user control of vehicle systems. For example, the user may be able to select application icons that appear on the head unit display. 
         [0004]    In some cases, the vehicle head unit is configurable by a user to access the vehicle systems in a desired manner. Typically, such configuration is performed on the head unit or via a personal computer for transfer to the vehicle via removable media. Although effective, the configuration is relatively static based on an original setup profile due at least in part to the limited space on the head unit display which provides access to, but a relatively minimal number of application icons. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The system and method described herein includes a personal electronic device in communication with a vehicle head unit of a vehicle such that application icons on the vehicle head unit and the personal electronic device are synchronized. The synchronization permits the vehicle head unit to be specifically configured to each user in response to the personal electronic device of that user. 
         [0006]    A system for a vehicle, according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, includes a personal electronic device in communication with a vehicle head unit, the personal electronic device synchronized with the vehicle head unit to control which application icons are available on the head unit and the personal electronic device. 
         [0007]    In another implementation, a computer storage media is disclosed herein having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions that, when executed, perform a method, the method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment includes synchronizing a multiple of applications that operate a respective vehicle system between a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device. 
         [0008]    The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an example vehicle system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating operations of the vehicle system according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  are example screens of a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons that are displayed on the head unit; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons that are displayed on the head unit and the personal electronic device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons on the head unit; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons on the head unit; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons on the head unit and the personal electronic device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons on the head unit and personal electronic device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface therebetween according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons on the head unit and the personal electronic device; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  are example screens on a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device illustrating an interface to arrange applications from a vehicle head unit according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment for configuring application icons on the head unit and the personal electronic device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Disclosed herein are a system and a method of synchronizing a plurality of applications, each operating a respective vehicle system, between a vehicle head unit and a personal electronic device. The personal electronic device can be utilized to install or remove particular application icons that represent particular applications on the vehicle head unit. The personal electronic device can also be utilized to arrange the layout of the particular application icons that represent particular applications on the vehicle head unit. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a vehicle  20  with a vehicle head unit  22 . As will be further described, the vehicle head unit  22  is operable to display content that can include personalized information, entertainment content such as videos, games, maps, navigation, vehicle diagnostics, calendar information, weather information, vehicle climate controls, vehicle entertainment controls, email, internet browsing, or any other interactive applications associated with a user. 
         [0022]    The vehicle head unit  22  can include a control system  24 , an interactive display system  26 , and a communication system  28 . It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. 
         [0023]    The control system  24  generally includes a control module  40  with a processor  42 , a memory  44 , and an interface  46 . The control module  40  may be a portion of a central vehicle control, a stand-alone unit, or other system such as a cloud-based system. Other operational software for the processor  42  may also be stored in the memory  44 . The processor  42  may be any type of microprocessor having desired performance characteristics. The memory  44  may include any type of computer readable medium that stores the data and control algorithms described herein such as a head unit synchronization algorithm  48 . 
         [0024]    The interface  46  facilitates communication with other systems such as the interactive display system  26  and the communication system  28 . The interface  46  provides for communication and information exchange with other on-board vehicle systems and off-board vehicle systems via the communication system  28 . On-board systems include, but are not limited to, vehicle sensors that provide, for example, vehicle tire pressure, fuel level and other vehicle diagnostic information. Off-board vehicle systems include, but are not limited to, a personal electronic device  50  of the user (e.g. a tablet, smart phone, wearable device, or other mobile device) or other remote network or remote computer. That is, the personal electronic device  50  in this disclosed non-limiting embodiment is a device typically carried or worn by the driver that defines a system  55  with the vehicle head unit  22  when in communication therewith, irrespective of whether the personal electronic device  50  is within or outside of the vehicle  20 . 
         [0025]    The interactive display system  26  can include a display  60  about which mechanical control elements  62  are arranged to provide a user interface mounted in a dashboard of a vehicle cabin for driver and front passenger access. Alternatively, the display  60  combines at least some of the control elements into a touch panel display. 
         [0026]    The communication system  28  may include wired and wireless communication such as wireless radios using various types of wireless data communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth™, ZigBee, ANT™, WiFi, WiMax, cellular network, and other wireless technology standards) and removable media such as USB devices to exchange data with, for example, the personal electronic device  50 . The cellular network may include mobile devices, cell sites, base stations, repeaters, antennas, towers, and the like and may include GSM, GPRS, 3G, EVDO, mesh, or other cellular network types. 
         [0027]    The interactive display system  26  displays, for example, multiple vehicle application icons  70 . The vehicle application icons  70  represent user access to applications  72  that enable user control of vehicle systems  80  that pertains thereto including, but not limited to, the vehicle&#39;s entertainment media such as AM/FM radio, satellite radio, CDs, MP3s, video; navigation systems such as GPS navigation; climate controls; communication systems such as cellular phones, text, email; and vehicle accessory functions such as lights, door chimes, speed control and others through the display  60  and/or mechanical control elements  62 . The applications  72  may reside in the memory  44  of the control module  40 , and/or the personal electronic device  50 , and/or, cloud and/or the particular vehicle system  80 . 
         [0028]    The personal electronic device  50  is operable to display and download the applications  72  that enable user control of the vehicle systems  80 . The applications  72  may also be represented as application icons  52  on the personal electronic device  50  that permits a user to configure the interactive display system  26  of the vehicle head unit  22 . That is, the application icons  52  which represent the applications  72  may be arranged on the personal electronic device  50  such that the vehicle application icons  70  are correspondingly synchronized and arranged on the display  60  of the vehicle head unit  22 . 
         [0029]    The display  60  of the vehicle head unit  22  typically utilizes relatively large vehicle application icons  70  compared to the application icons  52  displayed on the personal electronic device  50  to facilitate selection and operation of a vehicle system  80  while the vehicle  20  is being driven. Accordingly, as such, the user may readily configure the application icons  52  displayed on the personal electronic device  50  off-board the vehicle  20  such that the associated vehicle application icons  70  can be synchronized thereto when the driver approaches or enters the vehicle  20 . 
         [0030]    The functions of the algorithm  48  are disclosed in terms of functional block diagrams in  FIG. 2  and representative pages in  FIGS. 3-10 , and it should be appreciated that these functions may be enacted in either dedicated hardware circuitry or programmed software routines capable of execution in a microprocessor based electronics control embodiment. That is, the memory  44  is an example computer storage media having computer-useable instructions such as the algorithm  48  that, when executed, performs a method  100  to synchronize the vehicle application icons  70  displayed on the display  60  of the vehicle head unit  22  with that of the personal electronic device  50 . 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , initially, the method  100 , according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, provides for user access to a mobile application on the personal electronic device that displays a list of all the applications  72  available to be utilized on the vehicle head unit  22  (step  102 ). It should be appreciated that various icons, interfaces, lists, and arrangements may be displayed on the personal electronic device  50  ( FIG. 3 ). For example, the personal electronic device  50  may display the equivalent icon arrangement of that which is displayed on the display  60  of the vehicle head unit  22 , to permit modifications thereof on the personal electronic device  50  (Step  104 ). 
         [0032]    Applications  72  that have already been downloaded on the personal electronic device  50  are shown as available applications for the vehicle head unit  22 . Those applications  72  that have not been downloaded (shown in phantom) can be displayed, for example, with the option to selectively install one or more of the available applications  72  on the vehicle head unit  22  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0033]    Next, at step  106 , in response to the user approaching or entering the vehicle  20 , the personal electronic device  50  is recognized and communicates with the vehicle head unit  22  via the communication system  28 . That is, the vehicle head unit  22  will recognize the personal electronic device  50 , and accordingly, at step  108 , synchronize with the vehicle head unit  22 . The synchronization may include, for example, installation, removal, and layout arrangement of the vehicle application icons  70  on the display  60  of the vehicle head unit  22  to be synchronized with the personal electronic device  50 . 
         [0034]    Once communication is established between the personal electronic device  50  and the vehicle head unit  22  via the communication system  28 , the personal electronic device  50  and the vehicle head unit  22  are synchronized such that the desired applications  72  are available to the vehicle head unit  22  (step  108 ). That is, the display  60  of the vehicle head unit  22  is configured to display the multiple vehicle application icons  70  as configured on the personal electronic device  50 . 
         [0035]    In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle head unit  22  receives the applications  72  from the personal electronic device  50 . That is, the applications  72  are transferred from the personal electronic device  50 . 
         [0036]    In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle head unit  22  receives the applications  72  from a source other than the personal electronic device  50 , such as over a cellular, satellite or radio network. 
         [0037]    In still another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle head unit  22  need only activate resident applications  72  in response to synchronization with personal electronic device  50 . That is, all the applications  72  are stored in the vehicle head unit  22  and are only selected via the personal electronic device  50 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , in addition to synchronization with the personal electronic device  50 , the vehicle head unit  22  may be directly accessed via the display  60  to install desired applications  72 . That is, functionality to install or removal particular applications  72  is performed via the vehicle head unit  22  that then communicates with an applications source, e.g., an app store, via the personal electronic device  50 . 
         [0038]    In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the applications  72  need not be downloaded to the vehicle head unit  22 , but may be accessible from the personal electronic device  50 . That is, the applications  72  on the personal electronic device  50  are accessible by the vehicle head unit  22 , but are resident on the personal electronic device  50 . The user may select applications on the personal electronic device  50  which will then be utilized on the vehicle head unit  22 . In other words, particular applications  72  may be enabled/disabled either via the personal electronic device  50  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and/or the vehicle head unit  22  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
         [0039]    In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the layout of the application icons  52  may be effectuated on the personal electronic device  50  ( FIG. 9 ) and/or the vehicle head unit  22  ( FIG. 10 ). The arrangement of the application icons  52  displayed on the personal electronic device  50  are synchronized with the arrangement of the vehicle application icons  70  on the vehicle head unit  22  of the vehicle head unit  22  irrespective of which icons  52  and/or  70  are arranged. That is, the arrangement of icons  52 ,  70  is synchronized when the driver approaches or enters the vehicle  20  (Step  108  in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0040]    Such synchronization permits the vehicle head unit  22  to be specifically configured to the particular driver. For example, one configuration may be provided by a wife and another configuration provided by a husband, in response to the recognition and communication between the vehicle head unit  22  and the husband&#39;s or wife&#39;s respective personal electronic device  50 . 
         [0041]    The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar references in the context of description (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or specifically contradicted by context. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. 
         [0042]    Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments. 
         [0043]    It should be appreciated that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be appreciated that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom. 
         [0044]    Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be appreciated that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine their scope and content.