Abstract:
A system includes a vehicle, a vehicle network disposed within the vehicle, and a vehicle display operative connected to the vehicle network. The vehicle network is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless earpiece to receive data from the at least one wireless earpiece and display information associated with the at least one wireless earpiece on the vehicle display. The vehicle may also be configured to receive input from an occupant wearing the at least one wireless earpiece using the vehicle display and communicate the input to the at least one wireless earpiece.

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/260,446, filed on Nov. 27, 2015, and entitled Vehicle with display system for interacting with wearable device, 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, navigation, 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 collect information from a vehicle and to communicate to a wearable device such as an earpiece. 
         [0008]    It is yet another object, feature, or advantage to allow for a vehicle display to be used to display data from an earpiece or other wearable device. 
         [0009]    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 an objects, features, or advantages stated herein. 
         [0010]    A system includes a vehicle, a vehicle network disposed within the vehicle, and a vehicle display operative connected to the vehicle network. The vehicle network is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless earpiece to receive data from the at least one wireless earpiece and display information associated with the at least one wireless earpiece on the vehicle display. The vehicle may be further configured to access audio files from the at least one wireless earpiece and display information about the audio files on the vehicle display. The vehicle may be further configured to access a playlist from the at least one wireless earpiece and display the playlist on the vehicle display. The vehicle may be further configured to access health monitoring data from the at least one wireless earpiece and display information about the health monitoring data on the vehicle display. The vehicle may be further configured to access a destination from the at least one wireless earpiece and display the destination on the vehicle display. The vehicle display may be a touchscreen display and the vehicle may be further configured to receive input from an occupant wearing the at least one wireless earpiece using the touch screen display and communicate the input to the at least one wireless earpiece. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect, a method for communicating information to a wireless earpiece of an occupant within a vehicle is provided. The method includes providing a vehicle having a vehicle display in operative communication with a vehicle network of the vehicle, wirelessly connecting the vehicle to the wireless earpiece of the occupant within the vehicle, and receiving data from the wireless earpiece and displaying the data on the vehicle display of the vehicle. The data may be one or more audio files stored on the wireless earpiece or a playlist stored on the wireless earpiece or health monitoring data or a destination location stored on the wireless earpiece. The vehicle display may be a touchscreen display and the method may further include receiving input from the occupant of the vehicle at the touchscreen display and sending the input to the wireless earpiece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of use of a wearable device in conjunction with a vehicle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a wearable device in the form of a set of ear pieces. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a system which includes ear pieces in communication with a vehicle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a wearable device in communication with an entertainment system, navigation system and other systems having displays. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    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. 
         [0018]      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, electrical, 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. 
         [0019]    One or more wearable devices such as a set of earpieces  10  may include a left earpiece  12 A and a right earpiece  12 B 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 or Wi-Fi 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 or other computing device. 
         [0020]    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 . 
         [0021]      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. 
         [0022]      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. 
         [0023]    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. 
         [0024]    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 . 
         [0025]    An electromagnetic (E/M) field transceiver  37  may be operatively connected to the intelligent control system  30  to link the processor  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. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates another example of one or more wearable ear pieces  10  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, input, commands, files, 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. 
         [0027]    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 . 
         [0028]    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 pieces  12 A,  12 B. 
         [0029]    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 navigation system  120 , entertainment system  122 , or vehicle display  124  and the 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, or otherwise. 
         [0030]    According to another aspect, there are various forms of interaction between the navigation system, entertainment system, or vehicle display of a vehicle and one or more wearable devices. One type of interaction involves the transfer of data including information about audio or video files between the one or more wearable devices and the vehicle display  124  which may be used by the entertainment system  122 . 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 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. The vehicle display  124  may be used to display this information. 
         [0031]    Similarly, there are various forms of interaction between the navigation system of a vehicle and one or more wearable devices. In particular, a navigation system associated with one or more wearable devices such as earpieces may integrate with the navigation system of a vehicle. According to one example one or more earpieces may provide a voice assistant for providing instructions to a user but the one or more earpieces may not have a geolocation system such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or GLOSNASS receiver or other geolocation system. However, the one or more earpieces may each have one or more inertial sensors which may be used to track movement of an individual. Thus, to determine geolocation or geospatial position, the one or more wearable devices may communicate with a mobile device or vehicle navigation system which includes a geolocation system. It is further contemplated that once an earpiece knows of or is calibrated to a particular geoposition, the earpiece may use information from its inertial sensors to update or track changes in its geoposition. Thus, location information may also be communicated to and from one or more earpieces. The location information, whether a starting location, destination, or intermediary location may be displayed on the vehicle display. 
         [0032]    According to another aspect, one or more wearable devices may provide for health monitoring of an individual such as a driver or passenger of the vehicle. The wearable devices may have any number of different sensors which may be used for monitoring the health of an individual or other physical parameters of an individual. Examples of sensors may include one or more inertial sensors such as an accelerometer, a gyro sensor or gyrometer, a magnetometer or other type of inertial sensor. As shown in  FIG. 3 , 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  78 , 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. Data associated with the health monitoring may be displayed on one or more vehicle displays  124  of the vehicle. 
         [0033]    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.