Abstract:
A system includes a vehicle, a vehicle network disposed within the vehicle, and an entertainment system disposed within the vehicle wherein the entertainment system comprises at least one audio source. The entertainment system is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless earpiece to provide for streaming of audio to and from the at least one wireless earpiece. A method includes providing a vehicle having an entertainment system, wirelessly connecting the entertainment system of the vehicle to at least one wireless ear piece associated with an occupant within the vehicle, and streaming audio from the at least one wireless earpiece to the entertainment system of the vehicle.

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/260,440, filed on Nov. 27, 2015, and entitled Vehicle with interaction between entertainment systems and wearable devices, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to wearable devices and vehicles. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to the interaction between one or more wearable earpieces and a vehicle&#39;s entertainment system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Vehicles may come with various types of electronics packages. These packages may be standard or optional and include electronics associated with communications or entertainment. However, there are various problems and deficiencies with such offerings. What is needed are vehicles with improved electronics options which create, improve, or enhance overall experience of vehicles. In particular, what is needed are vehicles which integrate with wearable devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art. 
         [0005]    It is another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to communicate between vehicle systems and wearable devices. 
         [0006]    It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to use wearable devices within vehicles and to provide enhanced vehicle functionality. 
         [0007]    It is another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to enhance the entertainment system of a vehicle. 
         [0008]    One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to or by any objects, features, or advantages stated herein. 
         [0009]    According to one aspect a system includes a vehicle, a vehicle network disposed within the vehicle, and an entertainment system disposed within the vehicle wherein the entertainment system comprises at least one audio source. The entertainment system is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless earpiece to provide for streaming of audio to and from the at least one wireless earpiece. The entertainment system may be further configured to transfer audio files to the at least one wireless earpiece. The entertainment system may be further configured to transfer audio files from the at least one wireless earpiece. The entertainment system may be further configured to receive a playlist transferred from the at least one wireless earpiece and to perform an analysis of the playlist and determine one or more entertainment system settings based on the analysis. The settings may include radio station presets such as for satellite radio. The entertainment system may also be configured to send a playlist to the at least one wireless earpiece, to send audio preferences to the at least one wireless earpiece, and/or to receive audio preferences from the at least one wireless earpiece. The entertainment system may communicate with multiple sets of earpieces associated with multiple occupants within the vehicle such as to receive at least one playlist transferred from each of the multiple sets of ear pieces or to perform an analysis which combines each playlist from each of the multiple sets of ear pieces and determine one or more entertainment systems based on the analysis. The audio source may be a CD player, a DVD player, a FM radio, a television receiver, a satellite radio, a solid state memory containing audio files, a magnetic memory containing audio files, or any number of other audio sources. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect, a method for providing entertainment to one or more occupants within a vehicle is provided. The method includes providing a vehicle having an entertainment system, wirelessly connecting the entertainment system of the vehicle to at least one wireless ear piece associated with an occupant within the vehicle, and streaming audio from the at least one wireless earpiece to the entertainment system of the vehicle. The method may further include transferring one or more audio files from the at least one wireless earpiece to the entertainment system of the vehicle, transferring one or more audio files from the entertainment system of the vehicle to the at least one wireless earpiece, communicating a playlist from the at least one wireless earpiece to the entertainment system of the vehicle, performing an analysis of the playlist and determining one or more entertainment system settings based on the analysis, or communicating a playlist from the entertainment system of the vehicle to the at least one wireless earpiece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of use of a wearable device in conjunction with a vehicle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a wearable device in the form of a set of ear pieces. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a system which includes ear pieces in communication with a vehicle. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a wearable device in communication with an entertainment system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Some of the most important factors in selecting a vehicle such as car may be the technology available to enhance the experience. This may be of particular importance in certain vehicle segments such as for luxury vehicles. Another important factor in selecting a vehicle may be the available safety features. According to various aspects, the present invention allows for wearable devices including ear pieces to enhance the experience of vehicles and according to some aspects, the present invention allows for wearable devices such as earpieces to enhance the overall safety of the vehicle. Therefore, it is expected that the technology described herein will make any vehicle so equipped more desirable to customers, more satisfying to customers, and potentially more profitable for the vehicle manufacturer. Similarly at least some of the various aspects may be added to existing vehicles as after-market accessories to improve the safety or experience of existing vehicles. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of use of a wearable device in conjunction with a vehicle. A shown in  FIG. 1  there is a vehicle  2 . Although the vehicle shown is a full-size sedan, it is contemplated that the vehicle may be of any number of types of cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans, mini-vans, automotive vehicles, commercial vehicles, agricultural vehicles, construction vehicles, specialty vehicles, recreational vehicles, buses, motorcycles, aircraft, boats, ships, yachts, spacecraft, or other types of vehicles. The vehicle may be gas-powered, diesel powered, electric, solar-powered, or human-powered. The vehicle may be actively operated by a driver or may be partially or completely autonomous or self-driving. The vehicle  2  may have a vehicle control system  40 . The vehicle control system is a system which may include any number of mechanical and electromechanical subsystems. As shown in  FIG. 1 , such systems may include a navigation system  42 , an entertainment system  44 , a vehicle security system  45 , an audio system  46 , a safety system  47 , a communications system  48  preferably with a wireless transceiver, a driver assistance system  49 , a passenger comfort system  50 , and an engine/transmission, chassis electronics system(s)  51 . Of course, other examples of vehicle control sub-systems are contemplated. In addition, it is to be understood that there may be overlap between some of these different vehicle systems and the presence or absence of these vehicle systems as well as other vehicle systems may depend upon the type of vehicle, the type of fuel or propulsion system, the size of the vehicle, and other factors and variables. In the automotive context, examples of the driver assistance system  49  may include one or more subsystems such as a lane assist system, a speed assist system, a blind spot detection system, a park assist system, and an adaptive cruise control system. In the automotive context, examples of the passenger comfort system  50  may include one or more subsystems such as automatic climate control, electronic seat adjustment, automatic wipers, automatic headlamps, and automatic cooling. In the automotive context, examples of the safety system  47  may include active safety systems such as air bags, hill descent control, and an emergency brake assist system. Aspects of the navigation system  42 , the entertainment system  44 , the audio system  46 , and the communications system  48  may be combined into an infotainment system. 
         [0018]    One or more wearable devices such as a set of earpieces  10  including a left earpiece  12 A and a right earpiece  12 B may in operative communication with the vehicle control system  40  such as through the communication system  48 . For example, the communication system  48  may provide a Bluetooth or BLE link to wearable devices or may otherwise provide for communications with the wearable devices preferably through wireless communications. The vehicle  2  may communicate with the wearable device(s) directly, or alternatively, or in addition, the vehicle  2  may communicate with the wearable device(s) through an intermediary device such as a mobile device  4  which may be a mobile phone, a tablet, or other type of mobile device. 
         [0019]    As will be explained in further details with respect to various examples, the wearable device(s)  10  interact with the vehicle control system  40  in any number of different ways. For example, the wearable device(s)  10  may provide sensor data, identity information, stored information, streamed information, or other types of information to the vehicle. Based on this information, the vehicle may take any number of actions which may include one or more actions taken by the vehicle control system (or subsystems thereof). In addition, the vehicle  2  may communicate sensor data, identity information, stored information, streamed information or other types of information to the wearable device(s)  10 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates one example of a wearable device in the form of a set of ear pieces  10  in greater detail.  FIG. 1  illustrates a set of earpiece wearables  10  which includes a left earpiece  12 A and a right earpiece  12 B. Each of the earpieces wearables  12 A,  12 B has an earpiece wearable housing  14 A,  14 B which may be in the form of a protective shell or casing and may be an in-the-ear earpiece housing. A left infrared through ultraviolet spectrometer  16 A and right infrared through ultraviolet spectrometer  16 B is also shown. Each earpiece  12 A,  12 B may include one or more microphones  70 A,  70 B. Note that the air microphones  70 A,  70 B are outward facing such that the air microphones  70 A,  70 B may capture ambient environmental sound. It is to be understood that any number of microphones may be present including air conduction microphones, bone conduction microphones, or other audio sensors. Corona portions  20 A,  20 B may be present which provide lighting such as though a light pipe or guide from one or more light emitting diodes. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a device. The device may include one or more LEDs  20  electrically connected to an intelligent control system  30 . The intelligent control system  30  may include one or more processors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits, or other types of integrated circuits. The intelligent control system  30  may also be electrically connected to one or more sensors  32 . Where the device is an earpiece, the sensor(s) may include an inertial sensor  74 , another inertial sensor  76 . Each inertial sensor  74 ,  76  may include an accelerometer, a gyro sensor or gyrometer, a magnetometer or other type of inertial sensor. The sensor(s)  32  may also include one or more contact sensors  72 , one or more bone conduction microphones  71 , one or more air conduction microphones  70 , one or more chemical sensors  79 , a pulse oximeter  76 , a temperature sensor  80 , or other physiological or biological sensor(s). Further examples of physiological or biological sensors include an alcohol sensor  83 , glucose sensor  85 , or bilirubin sensor  87 . Other examples of physiological or biological sensors may also be included in the device. These may include a blood pressure sensor  82 , an electroencephalogram (EEG)  84 , an Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) sensor, a lactic acid sensor  88 , a hemoglobin sensor  90 , a hematocrit sensor  92  or other biological or chemical sensor. 
         [0022]    A spectrometer  16  is also shown. The spectrometer  16  may be an infrared (IR) through ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer although it is contemplated that any number of wavelengths in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet spectrums may be detected. The spectrometer  16  is preferably adapted to measure environmental wavelengths for analysis and recommendations and thus preferably is located on or at the external facing side of the device. 
         [0023]    A gesture control interface  36  is also operatively connected to or integrated into the intelligent control system  30 . The gesture control interface  36  may include one or more emitters  82  and one or more detectors  84  for sensing user gestures. The emitters may be of any number of types including infrared LEDs. The device may include a transceiver  35  which may allow for induction transmissions such as through near field magnetic induction. A short range transceiver  34  using Bluetooth, BLE, UWB, or other means of radio communication may also be present. The short range transceiver  34  may be used to communicate with the vehicle control system. In operation, the intelligent control system  30  may be configured to convey different information using one or more of the LED(s)  20  based on context or mode of operation of the device. The various sensors  32 , the intelligent control system  30 , and other electronic components may be located on the printed circuit board of the device. One or more speakers  73  may also be operatively connected to the intelligent control system  30 . 
         [0024]    A magnetic induction electric conduction electromagnetic (E/M) field transceiver  37  or other type of electromagnetic field receiver is also operatively connected to the intelligent control system  30  to link the intelligent control system  30  to the electromagnetic field of the user. The use of the E/M transceiver  37  allows the device to link electromagnetically into a personal area network or body area network or other device. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates another example of one or more wearable ear pieces in operative communication with a vehicle. In  FIG. 4 , a vehicle network  100  is shown. According to one aspect, the wearable devices  12 A,  12 B may communicate information through a vehicle network  100  associated with a vehicle  2 . Data, instructions, commands, or audio streams may be communicated over the vehicle network  100  or vehicle bus to and from the wearable devices. Protocols which are used may include a Controller Area Network (CAN), Local Interconnect Network (LIN), or others including proprietary network protocols or network protocol overlays. 
         [0026]    Various types of electronic control modules  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  or electronic control units may communicate over the network  100  of the vehicle. These may include electronic modules such as an engine control unit (ECU), a transmission control unit (TCU), an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a body control module (BCM), a door control unit (DCU), an electric power steering control unit (PSCU), a human-machine interface (HMI), powertrain control module (PCM), speed control unit (SCU), telematic control unit (TCU), brake control unit (BCM), battery management system, entertainment system and numerous others. Any number of electronic control modules may be operatively connected to the vehicle network  100 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment a wireless transceiver module  110  is operatively connected to a vehicle network  100  and it is the wireless transceiver module  110  which is in operative communication with one or more wearable devices such as wearable ear piece  12 A,  12 B. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , one or more wearable devices  12  (including one or more ear pieces from one or more different vehicle occupants) may communicate with an entertainment system  120  of a vehicle. Although the communication may be performed directly between the entertainment system  120  and one or more ear pieces  12 , in one embodiment a wireless transceiver module  110  may be operatively connected to the wearable ear piece  12  after the transceiver module  110  connects with or forms a wireless linkage with one or more of the ear pieces  12 . The wireless transceiver module  110  may use any number of different types of communications and protocols including Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi, or otherwise. 
         [0029]    According to another aspect, there are various forms of interaction between the entertainment system of a vehicle and one or more wearable devices. One type of interaction involves the transfer of data including media such as audio or video data between the vehicle and the one or more wearable devices. It is contemplated that the entertainment system associated with the vehicle may have large amounts of storage available, larger than may be available in the to wearable device(s). Thus, for example, suppose the earpieces have storage available for storing music, one or more audio files or playlists may be transferred from the vehicle to the earpiece. Alternatively, one or more audio files or playlists may be transferred from the earpiece to the vehicle. In addition, one or more audio files or playlists may be streamed from the entertainment system of the vehicle to the earpiece and one or more audio files or playlists may be streamed from the earpiece to the entertainment system of the vehicle. 
         [0030]    It is also contemplated that by communicating playlists or lists of audio files back and forth between the entertainment system and one or more earpieces that information contained within the playlists or lists of audio files may be analyzed in various ways such as to identify genres or artists of particular interest to an occupant of the vehicle. Such information may be readily obtained as it may be stored within the playlist or as header information or otherwise within an audio file. Alternatively such information may be looked up from a local or remote database based on information which is readily identifiable and extractable from a playlist or audio file. Based on this information entertainment system settings may be set according to preferences of the occupant. For example, if all audio files within a playlist from an earpiece of an occupant of the vehicle are tagged as “Jazz”, then in analyzing the playlist the entertainment system may determine that the occupant enjoys jazz music and may then arrange radio presets to favor jazz stations or presets or suggest jazz titles. Where multiple occupants are present within the vehicle each with their own earpieces, the entertainment system may obtain information from earpieces of all occupants and build a playlist such as one which includes music titles which all occupants listen to. 
         [0031]    In addition, there may be one or more displays associated with the entertainment system of the vehicle. Where there are one or more displays associated with the entertainment system of the vehicle these may be used in conjunction with the wearable devices such as one or more earpieces. Thus, for example, the available audio files or music stored on the wearable devices may be displayed on the one or more displays associated with the entertainment system of the vehicle. 
         [0032]    Various methods, system, and apparatus have been shown and described relating to vehicles with wearable integration or communication. The present invention is not to be limited to these specific examples but contemplates any number of related methods, system, and apparatus and these examples may vary based on the specific type of vehicle, the specific type of wearable device, and other considerations.