Patent ID: 8862299

Claim:
A method, comprising: determining, by a microprocessor executable output control system, a stimulus for generating a perceptible output for at least one of an occupant and non-occupant of a vehicle; and providing, by an output source and at least one of interiorly and exteriorly to the vehicle, the perceptible output, wherein at least one of the following is true of the perceptible output: (i) the perceptible output comprises both audio and visual components and is provided exteriorly to the vehicle in response to identification, by the microprocessor, of an object in a potential path of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion; (ii) the perceptible output comprises both audio and visual components and is associated with one or more of a particular brand, make, model, and type of the vehicle, with differing brands, makes, models, and types of vehicles having differing perceptible outputs, the perceptible output provided by the output source being selected, by the microprocessor executable output control system, from among a plurality of possible perceptible outputs based on an identifier indicative of one or more of a particular brand, make, model, and type of the vehicle; (iii) the perceptible output comprises both audio and visual components and simulates noise of a vehicle operation and is a function of a set of vehicle occupant preferences, with differing possible occupants of the vehicle having differing corresponding perceptible outputs, the perceptible output provided by the output source being selected, by the microprocessor executable output control system, from among the differing corresponding perceptible outputs based on occupant input and/or an identifier of an occupant currently in the vehicle; (iv) the perceptible output is provided exteriorly to the vehicle and is a function of a determined geographic location of the vehicle, with differing vehicle locations having differing corresponding perceptible outputs; and (v) the perceptible output is a function of a sensed roadside electronic device, with differing roadside electronic devices being associated with differing corresponding perceptible outputs.