Vehicular interface system for launching an application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10901515-B2
Application number	US-201816030157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A vehicular interface system for providing application-based access to a plurality of vehicular subsystems is disclosed. The vehicular interface system includes a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). A taskbar is displayed in a first portion of the GUI, the taskbar including a plurality of icons, each of icons representing a corresponding application. A plurality of windows is displayed in a second portion of the GUI. When determining that a user-selected icon is being dragged from an initial location on the taskbar, a semi-transparent overlay, corresponding to the application to be launched, is displayed on a window of the GUI as the selected icon is being dragged within the window. When determining that the selected icon is released within a selected window, the corresponding application is launched in the selected window. In general, the application provides control options or monitoring information relating to a subsystem of a vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicular interface system for providing access to a plurality of vehicular subsystems, the vehicular interface system comprising:
a display;
a memory; and
a processor operably coupled to the display and the memory, where the memory includes instructions for causing the processor to:
display a graphical user interface (GUI) including a taskbar in a first portion of the GUI;
display a plurality of icons within the taskbar, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a corresponding one of a plurality of applications;
display a plurality of windows in a second portion of the GUI, wherein each of the plurality of windows is pre-sized;
receive a user selection of a selected icon, wherein the selected icon is one of the plurality of icons located within the taskbar;
determine, based on user input, that the selected icon is being dragged from an initial location on the taskbar;
display a semi-transparent overlay, corresponding to an application to be launched, on at least one window of the plurality of windows as the selected icon is being dragged within the at least one window; and
determine, based on further user input, that the selected icon has been released by a user within a selected window of the plurality of windows and, in response, launch the application in the selected window, wherein the application provides at least one of control options or monitoring information relating to a vehicular subsystem of the plurality of vehicular subsystems.

2. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , wherein the GUI comprises a touch-screen, wherein receiving a user selection of the selected icon includes determining that the user is touching the selected icon on the touch-screen, and wherein determining that the selected icon has been released includes determining that the user is no longer touching the selected icon on the touch-screen.

3. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , wherein receiving a user selection of the selected icon includes determining that the user is placing a cursor over the selected icon with an external controller and performing a click-and-hold operation with a controller button of the external controller, and wherein determining that the selected icon has been released includes determining that the user has unclicked the controller button.

4. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , where the memory further includes instructions for causing the processor to:
display a miniature representation of the plurality of windows on the GUI in response to the user selection of the selected icon, the miniature representation of the plurality of windows including a plurality of mini-windows corresponding to the plurality of windows and representing the plurality of windows in which the application may be launched.

5. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , wherein launching the application further comprises completely materializing the semi-transparent overlay in the selected window when the selected icon has been released.

6. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of applications includes one or more applications for controlling one or more of the plurality of vehicular subsystems.

7. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , wherein the display is mounted within a central console of a vehicle.

8. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of applications includes at least one of an entertainment system application, a navigation system application, an energy tracking application, a browser application, a camera application or a cellular communications application.

9. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , where the memory further includes instructions for causing the processor to:
display a plurality of persistent controls on a third portion of the GUI.

10. The vehicular interface system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of persistent controls includes at least one of:
vehicle setting controls;
passenger cabin temperature setting controls;
vehicle seat warmer controls;
audio volume controls; or
defroster controls.

11. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , where the memory further includes instructions for causing the processor to:
alter an appearance of the selected icon after receiving the user selection of the selected icon.

12. The vehicular interface system of claim 11 , wherein altering the appearance of the selected icon includes enlarging the selected icon.

13. The vehicular interface system of claim 11 , wherein altering the appearance of the selected icon includes changing a color associated with the selected icon.

14. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , where the memory further includes instructions for causing the processor to:
subsequent to launching of the application, detect a user tap on the selected icon; and
in response to detecting the user tap, toggle the selected window from a first window size to a second window size, wherein the second window size covers substantially all of the second portion of the GUI.

15. The vehicular interface system of claim 1 , where the memory further includes instructions for causing the processor to:
subsequent to launching of the application, detect a double tap on the selected icon; and
in response to detecting the double tap, toggle the selected window from a first window size to a full screen mode.

16. A computer readable non-transitory memory comprising:
at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processor of a vehicular interface system including a display, causes the processor to:
display a graphical user interface (GUI), on the display, including a taskbar in a first portion of the GUI;
display a plurality of icons within the taskbar, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a corresponding one of a plurality of applications;
display a plurality of windows in a second portion of the GUI, wherein each of the plurality of windows is pre-sized;
receive a user selection of a selected icon, wherein the selected icon is one of the plurality of icons located within the taskbar;
determine, based on user input, that the selected icon is being dragged from an initial location on the taskbar;
display a semi-transparent overlay, corresponding to an application to be launched, on at least one window of the plurality of windows as the selected icon is being dragged within the at least one window; and
determine, based on further user input, that the selected icon has been released by a user within a selected window of the plurality of windows and, in response, launch the application in the selected window, wherein the application provides at least one of control options or monitoring information relating to a vehicular subsystem of a plurality of vehicular subsystems.

17. The computer readable non-transitory memory of claim 16 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions for causing the processor to:
display a miniature representation of the plurality of windows on the GUI in response to the user selection of the selected icon, the miniature representation of the plurality of windows including a plurality of mini-windows corresponding to the plurality of windows and representing the plurality of windows in which the application may be launched.

18. The computer readable non-transitory memory of claim 16 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions for causing the processor to:
display a plurality of persistent controls on a

Assignees

• Tesla Inc

Inventors

• Boblett Brennan
• Penke Nalinichandra
• Goldman Roy
• Fairman Michael
• Hsieh Kevin

Classifications

• G06F3/04817 Primary

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G01C21/3667

  Display of a road map (G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635) · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F17/00

  Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) · CPC title