Mobile device gateway systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587958-B2
Application number	US-52415408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2008
Priority date	Jan 23, 2007
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A control system ( 106 ) for mounting to a vehicle ( 100 ) and for providing information to an occupant of the vehicle from a first source device ( 116 ) is provided. The vehicle includes an audio system ( 130 ) and/or a display system ( 100 ). The control system includes a first interface ( 120 ) for communicating with the first source device ( 116 ). The control system further includes a second interface for providing a signal to the audio system and/or the display system. The control system yet further includes a processor ( 122 ). A memory unit ( 122 ) is communicably connected to the processor and includes a first transport ( 2112 ) configured to send a control signal to the interface. The memory unit ( 132 ) further includes a first manager ( 2304 ) configured to receive a command from an application ( 2104 ) and to translate the command from the application ( 2104 ) into a command for the transport ( 2112 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control system for mounting to a vehicle and for providing information to an occupant of the vehicle from a first source device and a second source device, the vehicle including an audio system or a display system, the system comprising:
a first interface for communicating with the first source device;
a second interface for providing a signal to the audio system or the display system;
a third interface for communicating with the second source device;
a processor;
a memory unit communicably connected to the processor and including:
a single local database for storing metadata extracted from the first source device and the second source device locally in the memory of the control system;
a first transport configured to send a control signal to the first interface;
a first manager configured to receive a command from an application and to translate the command from the application into a command for the first transport, wherein the first manager is a common manager for sending control signals to the first interface and the second interface using one or more transports;
computer code for extracting metadata from media files on the first source device and the second source device and storing the metadata extracted from both the first source device and the second source device in the single local database stored in the memory, wherein the metadata is extracted automatically and stored in the single local database in response to the first source device or the second source device being connected to the first interface or the third interface;
computer code for cataloging the stored metadata in the single local database into an aggregated list and providing the aggregated list to the second interface for display to a user such that the user is presented with metadata corresponding to the media files on both the first source device and the second source device; and
computer code for automatically updating the aggregated list in response to the (i) first source device being connected to the first interface for a second or later time and (ii) a change in the media files stored in the first source device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory unit includes computer code for generating a second manager when the second source device is communicably connected to the third interface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second manager is associated with the second source device and the first manager is associated with the first source device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first source device is a digital radio device and wherein the application is configured to allow the occupant to control operation of the digital radio device via the control system.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth interface for receiving audio signals from a microphone mounted to the vehicle;
wherein the memory unit includes computer code for facilitating the dictation of speech received at the microphone and provided as the audio signals to the second interface.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application is a text messaging application for providing a text message received from the first source device to the audio system or the display system, wherein the application is further configured to provide the user with a plurality of options for responding to the text message received.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a phone module for mounting to the vehicle, the phone module configured to receive data from a remote source; and
an interface to a vehicle actuator;
wherein the memory unit further includes:
computer code for parsing the information received at the phone module from the remote source; and
computer code for sending a command signal to the interface.

8. A method for providing information to an occupant of the vehicle from a first source device and a second source device, the vehicle including an audio system or a display system, the method comprising:
establishing a communications link with the first source device;
establishing a communications link with the second source device;
providing a first interface for sending a signal to the audio system or the display system;
receiving a command from an application at a manager;
using the manager to translate the command from the application into a command for a transport, wherein the manager is a common manager for sending control signals to the first source device and the second source device using one or more transports;
sending a control signal to the first interface using the transport;
extracting metadata files from media files on the first source device and the second source device, wherein the metadata files are automatically extracted from the first or second source device in response to establishing the communications link with the first source device or establishing the communications link with the second source device;
storing the metadata in a single database stored locally in memory of a control system of the vehicle including the first interface and the manager;
cataloging metadata into an aggregated list using a processor of the control system;
providing the aggregated list to the first interface for display to a user such that the user is presented with metadata corresponding to the media files on both the first source device and the second source device; and
automatically updating the aggregated list in response to (i) establishing the communications link with the first source device at a second or later time and (ii) a change in the media files stored in the first source device.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory unit further includes computer code for:
receiving a selection associated with a metadata file in the displayed aggregated list to conduct an activity;
determining which source device the selected metadata file is associated with using an identifier; and
accessing the source device associated with the selected metadata file to conduct the activity.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a selection associated with a metadata file in the displayed aggregated list to conduct an activity;
determining which source device the selected metadata file is associated with using an identifier; and
accessing the source device associated with the selected metadata file to conduct the activity.

Assignees

• Campbell Douglas C
• Chutorash Richard J
• Douthitt Brian L
• Eich Rodger W
• Price James B
• Zeinstra Mark
• Vanderwall Philip J
• Anderson Elisabet A
• Sims Michael J
• Davis Mike
• Ringold Ted W
• Visteon Global Tech Inc

Inventors

• Campbell Douglas C
• Chutorash Richard J
• Douthitt Brian L
• Eich Rodger W
• Price James B
• Zeinstra Mark
• Vanderwall Philip J
• Anderson Elisabet A
• Sims Michael J
• Davis Mike
• Ringold Ted W

Classifications

• B60R11/0258

  for navigation systems · CPC title

• H04M1/6083

  by interfacing with the vehicle audio system · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• B60R2011/0091

  the article being mounted on a flexible shaft · CPC title

• G01C21/3661

  Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio · CPC title