Abstract:
Methods, systems and devices are described for sharing information between an integrated virtual environment (IVE) or other wearable computing device and a display system associated with an aircraft, automobile, boat, train, bus or other vehicle. As a user enters a vehicle with an IVE, the vehicle recognizes the IVE and transfers the data stream to a vehicle display. The IVE may also be disabled while it is present in the vehicle to prevent distraction to a driver or operator of the vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to integrated virtual environment (IVE) or other wearable computing devices. More particularly, the following discussion relates to systems, methods and devices to improve compatibility between wearable computing devices and vehicle display systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Mobile computing devices have become ubiquitous in recent years. Millions of consumers now carry mobile phones, tablet computers and other devices that are able to provide a wealth of immediate information to the user. Such information often includes messaging, voice or video communications, textual or graphical data, or even audio or video media streaming. 
         [0003]    Consumers are now demanding even smaller devices with increased connectivity and processing power. In particular, there is intense interest in computers that are integrated into eyeglasses or other wearable devices. These so-called “integrated virtual environments” (IVEs) provide augmented reality, communications, media and/or other computing features in a device that can be conveniently and comfortably carried throughout the day. There is some concern, however, that too much attention could be focused on an IVE at some times or during some activities. If a user is operating a vehicle, for example, excessive focus on a media stream or other IVE presentation could be distracting to more urgent tasks, such as controlling the vehicle. 
         [0004]    It is therefore desirable to build systems, devices and techniques for allowing a user to continue use of messaging or other IVE data even in situations where focusing attention on the IVE device itself could be undesirable. These and other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Some embodiments provide methods executable by a vehicle display system to provide imagery intended for an integrated virtual environment (IVE) device on a display of a vehicle. The method suitably comprises detecting that the IVE device is in physical proximity to the vehicle, and when the IVE device is in physical proximity to the vehicle, providing a first message to the IVE device to thereby temporarily disable presentation of data on an IVE display of the IVE device and directing the presentation of the data on the display of the vehicle instead of on the IVE display. 
         [0006]    Other embodiments provide a display management system to provide imagery on a display of a vehicle. The display management system suitably comprises a communications interface configured to receive data communications signals from an antenna and a controller. The controller is configured to identify an integrated virtual environment (IVE) device in physical proximity to the vehicle and, when the IVE device is in physical proximity to the vehicle, to instruct the IVE to disable its display and to instead provide content otherwise presented on the IVE as the imagery for presentation on the display of the vehicle. 
         [0007]    Other embodiments, aspects and other features are described in more detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0008]    Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram showing an exemplary system in which IVEs are able to communicate with a vehicle display system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an exemplary process to share content from an IVE to a vehicle display; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of an exemplary process in which multiple IVEs communicate with a vehicle display system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description. 
         [0013]    According to various exemplary embodiments, displays provided by an integrated virtual environment device are temporarily suspended when the user is in relatively close physical proximity to a vehicle. Further, some or all of the information that would otherwise be displayed on the IVE device can be presented instead on a display that is associated with a vehicle. This allows users to continue receiving messages, enjoying a media stream and/or performing other functions ordinarily carried out using the IVE even though the user is controlling or riding in a vehicle. 
         [0014]    These general concepts may be applied in any number of different settings. As a driver enters an automobile or truck, for example, the vehicle display system could automatically detect the presence of the driver&#39;s IDE device, and could automatically transfer imagery and/or data from the IDE to a dashboard or heads up display in the vehicle. This would allow the driver to continue viewing of messages or other content in a safer and less distracting manner than would otherwise be available from the IDE itself. Other embodiments could consider multiple passengers within a vehicle. A cabin entertainment system for an aircraft, for example, could transfer messaging, video or other data from a passenger&#39;s IDE to a seat-back entertainment system for more convenient viewing in the passenger&#39;s seat during flight. Additional details of these and other exemplary embodiments are set forth in more detail below. 
         [0015]    Turning now to the drawing figures and with initial reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system  100  suitably includes a vehicle display system  112  that interacts with one or more integrated virtual environment (IVE) devices  102 A-B. During normal operation, IVE devices  102 A-B receive messages, media content or any other types of digital data from one or more content sources  104 . This information is suitably formatted and presented on a display associated with the IVE device  102 A-B. As the user enters (or otherwise comes into close proximity with) a vehicle, however, the display changes from the IVE  102 A-B to a display  120  that is associated with the vehicle. In various embodiments, the vehicle display system  112  receives a data stream from the IVE  102  that is rendered to the user on the vehicle display  120  while the user is present in the vehicle. Other embodiments could perform a handoff procedure in which content from source  104  is provided to the vehicle display system  112  though a vehicle communication service  125 . Other embodiments may be supplemented or otherwise modified in any manner. 
         [0016]    IVE devices  102 A-B are any sort of wearable computing devices capable of providing enhanced reality, media content or other information to the viewer. Examples of IVE devices  102 A-B could include the GOOGLE GLASS products available from Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., although any number of other products could be equivalently used. Typically, IVE devices  102 A-B augment the user&#39;s regular vision with computerized displays providing additional information about objects viewed, messages intended for the viewer, media content and/or any other data desired by the user. Each IVE  102 A-B typically includes a suitable processor and memory for storing and executing software commands, along with a display for providing output to the user. Some IVE devices  102 A-B could display generated imagery within a pair of eyeglasses, for example, or in a projection that is visible to the user, or in any other manner. Although  FIG. 1  shows two IVE devices  102 A-B for simplicity, in practice any number of devices could be provided within a practical system  100 . 
         [0017]    Vehicle display system  110  is a vehicle entertainment system, vehicle information system, or other computing system capable of providing visual presentations to operators and/or passengers of a vehicle. Typically, such visual presentations are made on a display  120  that is visible within the vehicle, such as a dashboard display, a heads up display (HUD), a helmet mounted display (HMD), or simply a flat panel or other display that is present anywhere within the vehicle. Vehicles could include (without limitation) aircraft, automobiles, trucks, boats, ships, bicycles, motorcycles, transit vehicles such as buses and trains, and/or any other vehicles as desired. 
         [0018]    Display system  110  suitably includes a microprocessor, digital signal processor or other controller  116  that receives data inputs from one or more sources via one or more interfaces  112 ,  114 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , display system  110  includes an interface  112  to a wide area network  105  such as the Internet, a cellular network, a satellite network or the like. Display system  110  is also shown with a second interface  114  that allows direct communication with IVE devices  102 A-B. Such communications may be provided using any sort of relatively short range wireless communications or the like. Conventional WPAN/Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15) or ZIGBEE (IEEE 802.15.4) communications could be used, for example, as could any other standard or proprietary communications schemes. Interfaces  112 ,  114  may share one or more antennas  111  in some implementations, or separate antennas  111  may be provided to support different communications standards, frequency bands or the like. 
         [0019]    Vehicle communications service  125  is any sort of backend service capable of supporting communications with one or more vehicle display systems  110 . In practice, service  125  may incorporate a proxy or the like for obtaining content on network  105 . Such content may be forwarded to display system  110  via network  105  or via a separate communications channel, such as a satellite link or cellular network, as desired. 
         [0020]    As noted above, it is typically desirable to suspend data presentation using the IVE device  102 A-B while the user is operating a vehicle, or when excessive attention on the device  102 A-B could be detrimental. To that end, vehicle communications service  110  and IVE device  102  interact with each other to transfer the display of relevant information from the IVE display to the vehicle display  120  at appropriate times. When the user is operating the vehicle, for example, messages or other relevant information can be transferred from the user&#39;s IVE device  102  to a cockpit or dashboard display, to a HUD, or to any other display  120  located within the vehicle. Presentation can be returned to the IVE device  102  when the user exits the vehicle, when the vehicle is turned off, or at any other appropriate time. 
         [0021]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary process  200  to transfer displays of video imagery or other data from an IVE device  102  to a vehicle display  120  is described. Generally speaking, process  200  may be executed by controller  116  within the vehicle display system  110  ( FIG. 1 ), or by other suitable processing circuitry as appropriate. 
         [0022]    Vehicle display system  110  typically scans for IVE devices  102  that are in relatively close physical proximity (function  202 ). Scanning may be performed on any regular or irregular temporal basis, or may be initiated by the user in any manner. Various embodiments may use conventional IEEE 802.15 communications, for example, to locate IVE devices  102  that are operating within wireless range of the vehicle. When an IVE device  102  is located, then the device can be paired with the display system  110  as desired (function  204 ). Pairing may involve, for example, the user approving the connection with display system  110 , or the pairing may be automated as desired. User approval may be obtained from the IVE  102 , from buttons or other input features of vehicle display system  110 , or any combination of inputs from the IVE  102  and display system  110  as desired. 
         [0023]    When an IVE is paired with the display system  110 , then display of imagery on the IVE display is suitably disabled (function  206 ). In various embodiments, the display system  110  transmits an instruction to the IVE  102  that initiates the suspension of further displays. In other embodiments, IVE  102  may be programmed (e.g., in software or firmware) to disable its own display when it is paired with a vehicle display system  110 , as desired. 
         [0024]    Content display is then transferred from the IVE  102  to the vehicle display  120  as desired (function  208 ). In various embodiments, video streams that would ordinarily be presented on the IVE display are instead streamed to the display system  110  for rendering on display  120 . In such embodiments, IVE  102  is still involved in generating output imagery that is streamed or otherwise provided to display system  110  via interface  114  for presentation on display  120 . Other embodiments may simply provide messages or other raw data processed at IVE  102  to the display system  110  so that display system  110  can generate output images on display  120  that incorporate the received data. Text messages, for example, could be provided in a relatively raw format from IVE  102  to display system  110  via interface  114  in some embodiments. Display system  110  would then format the received raw data into still or moving imagery that could be provided on display  120 . 
         [0025]    In still other embodiments, display system  110  performs an actual handoff of data streaming from IVE  102  so that data is provided directly to the display system  110  without first passing through the IVE  102 . Such embodiments may make use of a separate interface  112  to a satellite, mobile telephone or other source of data rather than receiving data directly from the IVE via interface  114 . The handoff could be performed in any manner; in various embodiments, a backend service  125  suitably acts as a proxy on network  105  to retrieve messaging or other data directly from the content source  104 . Backend service  125  could also monitor connection status between the IVE  102  and the display system  110  so that messaging or other data streams can be restored to the IVE after pairing with the display system  110  has ended. Other embodiments could operate in any number of alternate but equivalent ways to achieve similar results. 
         [0026]    Display could be returned to the IVE  102  in any manner (function  212 ). In various embodiments, heartbeat messages are transmitted between the display system  110  and the IVE  102  on a regular temporal basis (e.g., every few seconds or so) to ensure that the IVE  102  is still present within the vehicle (function  210 ). Heartbeat messages may not be needed at times that the IVE  102  is otherwise engaged in active communications with the display system  110 . If the IVE  102  is providing a video stream or steady stream of data, for example, then heartbeat messages may not be needed. If display system  110  stops receiving heartbeat messages from IVE  102  after a period of relative inactivity, however, it can be determined that the IVE  102  is no longer present in proximity to the vehicle. The IVE display may be released at that time so that data presentation can continue. Similarly, the presentation of IVE data on vehicle display  120  can be discontinued as desired. Equivalent embodiments could monitor heartbeat messages from within the IVE device  102 . In such embodiments, the IVE  102  would reinstate its own display when it was determined that the vehicle display system  110  was no longer present, or no longer in physical proximity. Other embodiments could be modified or enhanced as desired. 
         [0027]    As noted above, various embodiments could consider multiple IVE devices  102 A-B operated by multiple users that may be present in proximity to the same vehicle. With reference now to  FIG. 3 , an example of a process  300  that could be used to manage communications between a display system  110  and two or more IVE devices  102 A-B is shown. 
         [0028]    As noted above, vehicle display system  110  suitably monitors for IVE devices  102 A-B that may be present within the physical proximity of the vehicle (function  302 ). Proximity may be defined by the range of wireless signaling protocols used to communicate with the IVE  102 A-B in many embodiments. When one or more IVE devices  102 A-B are discovered, then the display system  110  attempts to pair with the devices  102 A-B as desired (functions  304 ,  305 ). Note that the IVE devices  102 A-B may not come into contact with the vehicle at the same time; in practice, the devices  102 A-B may be discovered minutes, hours or even days apart from each other, depending upon the vehicle and the implementation. 
         [0029]    In the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a single display  120  presents data associated with one IVE  102 A-B or another. When multiple IVEs  102 A-B are discovered in such embodiments, then it may be desirable to allow a selection of which IVE  102 A-B should provide data to the display  120  (function  306 ). If multiple IVE users are riding in a vehicle, for example, it may be beneficial to determine which user is the vehicle operator or which user is in the best physical position for viewing the display  130 . Passengers in a vehicle may wish to continue using their IVE displays, for example, rather than transferring to a vehicle display  120  that is better used by the driver of the vehicle. The selection  306  may take place in any manner; various embodiments could allow selection via inputs associated with display system  110 , whereas other embodiments may simply operating on a first-come-first-served manner, or any other selection basis as desired. 
         [0030]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , IVE  102 A is selected to pair with the vehicle display  120 . Pairing status may be relayed to each IVE  102 A-B via messages  308 ,  309  (respectively), which may be sent directly to each IVE  102 A-B via interface  114  as desired. The IVE  102 A that is paired with the vehicle display  120  suitably disables its own display (function  310 ), and forwards data to the display system  110  as desired (function  313 ). IVE  102 B, which is not selected to pair with the primary vehicle display  120  in this example, may be managed in any appropriate manner (function  312 ). In various embodiments, IVE  102 B may provide data to a secondary display within the vehicle, or the IVE  102 B may simply continue to operate normally, with visual outputs provided to the display within the IVE  102 B itself. 
         [0031]    Imagery may be generated and presented on the vehicle display  120  in any manner (function  316 ). As noted above, imagery presented on the display  120  may be generated on the paired IVE  102 A or on the display system  110  based upon information received from IVE  102 A via interface  114  and/or information received via a separate interface  112 . Even though  FIG. 3  shows a video stream  313  provided to system  110  from IVE  102 A, then, equivalent embodiments could generate the stream at system  110  and/or could receive a similar stream  313  from another source on network  105  or elsewhere. 
         [0032]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , display system  110  remains in communication with each IVE  102 A-B even though only one IVE  102 A is actively paired with the vehicle display  120 . While other embodiments could equivalently discontinue communications with non-paired IVEs  102 B, maintaining a connection allows the display system  110  to conveniently switch the presentation on display  120  at a later time, if desired. 
         [0033]    Communications may be maintained though heartbeat messages  318 ,  319 , as described above, or in any other manner. When heartbeat messages and/or other data is no longer received from an IVE  102 A-B, then the vehicle display system  110  suitably disconnects the IVE  102  A-B as desired. At that point another IVE  102  may be selected, if one is available, or the display could remain idle, or content from other sources (e.g., content from server  125 ) could be provided. When the IDE  102 A-B is no longer in proximity to the vehicle (or when the IDE is no longer paired to the display system no), then the IDE is released and presentation of content on the IDE&#39;s display can resume as desired (functions  322 ,  323 ). 
         [0034]    Generally speaking, the various steps of processes  200  and  300  may be carried out with any sort of hardware, software and/or firmware logic within system  100 . Process  200  may be carried out, for example, by a vehicle display system  110  ( FIG. 1 ) operating in conjunction with any appropriate IVEs  102 A-B and/or networked services  104 , 125  as appropriate. In various embodiments, the various steps of processes  200  and  300  are carried out in response to software or firmware instructions stored in a memory, or on a disk drive and/or other storage associated with display system  110 , IVE  102 A-B, and/or servers  104  or  125 . Such instructions may be executed by any processor and/or other processing features within display system  110 , IVEs  102 A-B, servers  104 ,  125  and/or the like. The particular means used to implement each of the various functions shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , then, could be any sort of processing hardware executing conventional software logic in any format. 
         [0035]    The various processes and structures set forth herein could therefore provide an effective solution to the challenge of presenting IVE data within a vehicle without distracting a driver or operator of the vehicle. As an IVE is discovered within communications range of the vehicle, the vehicle display system is able to automatically pair with the IVE so that presentation of some or all of the content presented on the IVE is instead presented on a vehicle display. 
         [0036]    The term “exemplary” is used herein to represent one example, instance or illustration that may have any number of alternates. Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. While several exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of alternate but equivalent variations exist, and the examples presented herein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. To the contrary, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described without departing from the scope of the claims and their legal equivalents.