Abstract:
A system and method for allowing a user to select and manage software applications in their vehicle from any Internet enabled device and allows the user to remotely configure the content of each specific application from any Internet enabled device. Once the application has been configured via the internet enabled device, the user launches the application from the vehicle. Upon launching, the application dynamically retrieves the user&#39;s settings from the server and downloads any information or content necessary. In this manner, the application is personalized to the user&#39;s settings, without the user ever having to take any actions from within the vehicle, or to personalie the user&#39;s settings while the vehicle is in Park.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/313,546, filed on Mar. 12, 2010. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a system and method of configuring software applications in a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a system and method of configuring software applications in a motor vehicle using any internet enabled device. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    Motor vehicles equipped with communication systems have the capability of communicating between various entities. For example, a vehicle communications system may communicate with a call center, another vehicle, an EMS service, and a land network such as the internet-infrastructure, a public switching telephone network, or any other telecommunications network. These communication systems are typically integrated with controls, audio systems, and interactive display devices to provide information to the user of the motor vehicle. The information may be communicated in the form of light displays on the instrument panel of the motor vehicle, calls made to the motor vehicle, or as information displayed on the interactive display device. This information may be functional in nature, such as GPS location, vehicle performance information, warning messages and/or instructions, etc., and in the form of entertainment information, such as music, audio books, movies, games, etc. In many cases, this information is generated by software applications and the information is communicated to the motor vehicle via the communication system. While these systems have performed well in the past, there is room in the art for a system and method of configuring software applications in a motor vehicle in order to personalize the motor vehicle via an internet enabled device in order to reduce distractions and allow a user of the motor vehicle to perform more time consuming and more intensive driver workload operations outside of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]    The present invention allows a user to select and manage software applications in their vehicle from any Internet enabled device. The user can remotely configure the content of each specific application from any Internet enabled device. Once the application has been configured via the internet enabled device, the user launches the application from the vehicle. Upon launching, the application dynamically retrieves the user&#39;s settings from the server and downloads any information or content necessary. In this manner, the application is personalized to the user&#39;s settings, without the user ever having to take any actions from within the vehicle or personalizing the user&#39;s settings while in Park. 
         [0006]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS  
         [0007]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for selecting and communicating software applications to a motor vehicle according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary infotainment module within the motor vehicle; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for selecting, communicating, and storing software applications to a motor vehicle according to the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for configuring software applications in a motor vehicle is generally indicated by reference number  10 . The system  10  generally includes a vehicle  12 , one or more wireless carrier systems  14 , a land communications network  16 , an internet enabled device  18 , and a vehicle service provider  20 . It should be understood that the disclosed method can be used with any number of different systems and is not specifically limited to the operating environment shown here. 
         [0013]    The vehicle  12  is depicted in the illustrated embodiment as a passenger car, but it should be appreciated that any other vehicle including motorcycles, trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), marine vessels, aircraft, etc., can also be used. The vehicle  12  includes a vehicle electronics system  22 . The electronics system  22  generally includes a network module  24 , one or more control inputs  26 , an audio system  28 , a visual display  30 , an infotainment module  32 , as well as a number of vehicle system modules (VSMs)  33 . Some of these devices can be connected directly to the network module  24  such as, for example, the control inputs  26 , whereas others are indirectly connected using one or more network connections, such as a communications bus  34 . Examples of suitable network connections include a controller area network (CAN), a media oriented system transfer (MOST), a local interconnection network (LIN), a local area network (LAN), and other appropriate connections such as Ethernet or others that conform with known ISO, SAE and IEEE standards and specifications, to name but a few. 
         [0014]    In the example provided, the network module  24  is a telematics unit which is an OEM-installed device that enables wireless voice and/or data communication over the wireless carrier system  14  and via wireless networking so that the vehicle can communicate with the vehicle service provider  20 , other telematics-enabled vehicles, or some other entity or device. The network module  24  preferably uses radio transmissions to establish a communications channel (a voice channel and/or a data channel) with the wireless carrier system  14  so that voice and/or data transmissions can be sent and received over the channel. By providing both voice and data communication, network module  24  enables the vehicle to offer a number of different services including those related to navigation, telephony, emergency assistance, diagnostics, infotainment, etc. It should be appreciated that the network module  24  may be limited to data communication without departing from the scope of the present invention. Data can be sent either via a data connection, such as via packet data transmission over a data channel, or via a voice channel using techniques known in the art. It should be appreciated that the network unit  24  may be a wi-fi connection or a Bluetooth connection without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0015]    The network module  24  can be used to provide a diverse range of vehicle services that involve wireless communication to and/or from the vehicle  12 . Such services include: turn-by-turn directions and other navigation-related services that are provided in conjunction with a GPS-based vehicle navigation module; airbag deployment notification and other emergency or roadside assistance-related services that are provided in connection with one or more collision sensor interface modules such as a body control module (not shown); diagnostic reporting using one or more diagnostic modules; and infotainment-related services for the infotainment module  32 . It should be understood that at least some of the aforementioned modules could be implemented in the form of software instructions saved internal or external to the network module  24 , implemented as hardware components located internal or external to the network module  24 , or integrated and/or shared with each other or with other systems located throughout the vehicle. In the event that the modules are implemented as VSMs  33  located external to the telematics unit  32 , they could utilize the vehicle bus  34  to exchange data and commands with the network module  24  and the infotainment module  32 . 
         [0016]    According to one embodiment, the network module  24  utilizes cellular communication according to either GSM or CDMA standards and thus includes a standard cellular chipset  36  for voice communications like hands-free calling, a wireless modem for data transmission, an electronic processing device  38 , one or more digital memory devices  40 , and a dual antenna  42 . It should be appreciated that the modem can either be implemented through software that is stored in the network module  24  and is executed by the processor  38 , or it can be a separate hardware component located internal or external to the network module  24 . The modem can operate using any number of different standards or protocols such as EVDO, CDMA, GPRS, and EDGE. Wireless networking between the vehicle and other networked devices can also be carried out using the network module  24 . For this purpose, the network module  24  can be configured to communicate wirelessly according to one or more wireless protocols, such as any of the IEEE 802.11 protocols, WiMAX, or Bluetooth. When used for packet-switch data communication such as TCP/IP, the network module  24  can be configured with a static IP address or can set up to automatically receive an assigned IP address from another device on the network such as a router or from a network address server. 
         [0017]    The processor  38  can be any type of device capable of processing electronic instructions including microprocessors, microcontrollers, host processors, controllers, vehicle communication processors, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It can be a dedicated processor used only for the network module  24  or can be shared with other vehicle systems. 
         [0018]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the infotainment module  32  is illustrated in further detail. The infotainment module  32  offers AM/FM or satellite radio, DC/DVD player for music and video, navigation system, data and multi-media ports (USB, Bluetooth, line in, line out, video in) as well as general and vehicle status information. The infotainment module  32  can also display webpages, movies, television programs, videogames and/or other information that is downloaded by the infotainment module  32  via the network module  24 . 
         [0019]    The infotainment module  32  generally includes a processor  50  in communication with the network module  24  via the network bus  34 . The processor  50  can be any type of device capable of processing electronic instructions including microprocessors, microcontrollers, host processors, controllers, vehicle communication processors, digital signature processing, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Generally, the processor  50  controls the user interface, bus interface, and network interface as well as GPS navigation and touch screen control. It is also used to process and output video data from multiple sources. The processor  50  can have various input and output (I/O) ports that allow a user of the motor vehicle  12  to connect with the infotainment module  32 . For example, the processor  50  can communicate with a USB device  51 . 
         [0020]    The processor  50  communicates with an audio processor  52 . The audio processor  52  performs I/Q demodulation and outputs digital audio and data. This data includes functions such as volume, treble, bass and sound effects, as well as more sophisticated features like mixing input channels and digitally process multiple channels, performing sound effects processing such as Dolby® Pro Logic® II, SRS® Circle Surround™ II, TruSound and other audio algorithms. The audio processor  52  outputs to the audio system  28  that includes a plurality of speakers  53 . 
         [0021]    The processor  50  also communicates via the network bus  34  with the display device  30 . In the example provided, the display device  30  is an interactive display device that is preferably a graphics display, such as a touch screen on the instrument panel or a heads-up display reflected off of the windshield, and can be used to provide a multitude of input and output functions. The display device  30  is preferably controlled via touchscreen input controls  54 , though various other input controls may be used to control the infotainment module  32 , such as input controls  26  associated with the network module  24 . In one embodiment, the input controls  26  and  54  are combined or integrated on the instrument panel of the motor vehicle or through the touchscreen of the display device  30 . It should be appreciated that various other vehicle user interfaces and display devices can also be utilized. For example, the processor  50  may also communicate via the network bus  34  with a separate monitor or other display device  56 , either in a service station or an integrated video display located in a back seat area of the motor vehicle  12 . 
         [0022]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , apart from the infotainment module  32 , the vehicle  12  can include other vehicle system modules (VSMs)  33  in the form of electronic hardware components that are located throughout the vehicle and typically receive input from one or more sensors and use the sensed input to perform diagnostic, monitoring, control, reporting and/or other functions. Each of the VSMs  33  is preferably connected by communications bus  34  to the other VSMs, as well as to the network module  24  and the infotainment module  32 , and can be programmed to run vehicle system and subsystem diagnostic tests. As examples, one VSM  33  can be an engine control module (ECM) that controls various aspects of engine operation such as fuel ignition and ignition timing, another VSM  33  can be a powertrain control module that regulates operation of one or more components of the vehicle powertrain, and another VSM  33  can be a body control module that governs various electrical components located throughout the vehicle, like the vehicle&#39;s power door locks and headlights. It should be appreciated that the above-mentioned VSMs are only examples of some of the modules that may be used in vehicle  12 , as numerous others are also possible. 
         [0023]    The wireless carrier system  14  is preferably a cellular telephone system that includes a plurality of cell towers  60  (only one shown), one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs)  62 , as well as any other networking components required to connect the wireless carrier system  14  with the land network  16 . Cellular system  14  can implement any suitable communications technology, including for example, analog technologies such as AMPS, or the newer digital technologies such as CDMA (e.g., CDMA2000) or GSM/GPRS. 
         [0024]    The wireless carrier system  14  may also include satellite based communications which can be used to provide uni-directional or bi-directional communication with the vehicle  12 . This can be done using one or more communication satellites  66  and an uplink transmitting station  68 . Uni-directional communication can be, for example, satellite radio services, wherein programming content (news, music, etc.) is received by transmitting station  68 , packaged for upload, and then sent to the satellite  66 , which broadcasts the programming to subscribers. Bi-directional communication can be, for example, satellite telephony services using satellite  66  to relay telephone communications between the vehicle  12  and the station  68 . It should be appreciated that the wireless carrier system  14  is only exemplary and may include any other number of telecommunications systems and methods. 
         [0025]    The land network  16  may be a conventional land-based telecommunications network that is connected to one or more landline telephones and connects the wireless carrier system  14  to the vehicle service provider  20  and the computer  18 . For example, the land network  16  may include a public switched telephone network (PSTN) such as that used to provide hardwired telephony, packet-switched data communications, and preferably the Internet infrastructure. One or more segments of land network  16  could be implemented through the use of a standard wired network, a fiber or other optical network, a cable network, power lines, other wireless networks such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), or networks providing broadband wireless access (BWA), or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the vehicle service provider  20  and computer  18  need not be connected via the land network  16 , but could include wireless equipment so that it can communicate directly with a wireless network, such as the wireless carrier system  14 . 
         [0026]    The internet enabled device  18  can be one of a number of devices capable of accessing the internet, such as, for example, home personal computers, laptop computers, notebook or netbook computers, PDA&#39;s, phones, smart phones, etc. 
         [0027]    The service provider  20  is designed to provide the vehicle electronics  22  with a number of different system back-end functions. These functions include providing software applications to the infotainment module  32  of the vehicle  12 . Other functions may include diagnostic information, warning communications, etc. The vehicle service provider  20  can have various configurations but generally includes servers  70  and databases  72  that communicate with the land network  16  to provide software applications and other services. Data transmissions to and from the land network  16  are passed to the servers  70  and/or databases  72 . The servers  70  can store various software applications. The databases  72  can store account information such as subscriber authentication information, vehicle identifiers, profile records, behavioral patterns, and other pertinent subscriber information. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a method of configuring software applications using the system  10  is generally indicated by reference number  100 . The method  100  begins at step  102  where a user  103  uses the device  18  to access the servers  70  of the vehicle service provider  20  via the internet  16  to select to configure a software application previously stored or used by the vehicle  12 . The software applications can take any form, from website content such as sports news internet pages and news internet pages, to diagnostic applications, to games, to content players, to name but a few. The vehicle service provider  20  receives the request and retrieves the URL of the configuration page for the requested application at step  104 . At step  106 , the application configuration URL is opened and communicated to the device  18 . The user  103  then sets the application configuration options using the device  18  at step  108 . For example, where the application is a sports news application, the user  103  can select specific teams or sports that the user  103  prefers to read about, or prefer to see updated information about. In a news application the user  103  can select the news sources that they would like to read or the user  103  can type in a URL that is not included in any pre-defined list from the vehicle service provider  20 . 
         [0029]    The application settings are then communicated back to the servers  70  of the vehicle service provider  20  and the vehicle service provider  20  updates the application configuration for the user  103  at step  110 . The vehicle service provider  20  then sends a confirmation of the configuration settings at step  112 . 
         [0030]    Once the user  103  is within the vehicle  12 , the user  103  launches the application using the infotainment module  32  at step  114 . At step  116  the application then sends a request to receive configuration settings through the infotainment module  32  and the network module  24  to the vehicle service provider  20 . At step  118  the vehicle service provider  20  looks up the application configuration settings previously set and stored at step  110 . The configuration options are then communicated back to the infotainment module  32  via the network module  24  at step  120 . The infotainment module  32  then updates and configures the application according to the received configuration settings at step  122 . If no dynamic content is associated with the updated settings, then the method  100  proceeds to step  130 . If, however, the configuration settings require dynamic content, then the method  100  proceeds to step  124  where the infotainment module  32  requests from the vehicle service provider  20  the dynamic content associated with the configuration settings. Examples of dynamic content include, but are not limited to, sports scores or updated news items and webpages (i.e. content that changes over time). The vehicle service provider  20  retrieves the requested content at step  126  and communicates the requested content back to the infotainment module  32  at step  128 . The method  100  ends with the user  103  presented with the content selected through the internet enabled device  18  without further in-vehicle operations. 
         [0031]    The system  10  and method  100  allows applications to be personalized to the preferences of each individual user  103  of a vehicle  12 . In addition, the system  10  and method  100  allows the user  103  to perform more time consuming and more intensive driver workload operations outside of the vehicle  12 . This allows for safer operation of the vehicle  12  without sacrificing personalization features and provides a more usable platform to configure the applications within the vehicle  12 . 
         [0032]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.