Patent ID: 8630196

Claim:
A method for conducting a transaction using a vehicle's multiprocessor system, the method including: operating multiple processors that communicate through a network in the vehicle's multiprocessor system, wherein the multiple processors operate as a distributed processing system, and wherein the system is configured to: a. monitor for wireless signals from a new device not currently coupled to the multiprocessor system and moved into the vehicle, wherein the new device runs a first software application that processes a first type of data, b. wirelessly connect the new device to the multiprocessor system, c. identify data codes in the wireless signals from the new device and use the data codes to identify the first type of data processed by the first software application running on the new device, d. responsive to identifying the data codes from the new device, select a second software application from among multiple different software applications contained within memory in the multiprocessor system, wherein the second software application is configured to process the first type of data processed by the new device, e. download a copy of the second software application selected from the memory to a particular one of the multiple processors in the multiprocessor system, wherein the second software application is not currently loaded in the particular one of the multiple processors, f. reconfigure the particular one of the multiple processors in the multiprocessor system to run the second software application downloaded from the memory and operate the new device with the second software application now running on the particular one of the multiple processors, wherein operating the new device includes processing of data previously processed by the new device prior to the new device being moved into the vehicle, using the second application to display a list of icons available; selecting an icon from the list of icons available, wherein the selected icon displays a user interface that has at least one of an electronic menu and multiple electronic menus for conducting a transaction; receiving user input through the electronic menu instructing transaction initiation; generating a transaction selection from the electronic menu; transmitting the selection through the new device; processing an amount of the selection from the user and transmitting the amount back to the particular one of the multiple processors in the multiprocessor system in the vehicle; and providing directions to the user for moving to a location for picking up the transmitted selection.