Integration of add-on interior modules into driver user interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744852-B2
Application number	US-201514850312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 10, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A listing of wireless in-vehicle components installed to a vehicle may be maintained by the vehicle. The listing may include in-vehicle components that are factory-installed to the vehicle as well as add-on in-vehicle components that may be added or removed by a user. A wireless transceiver may scan for changes to the add-on in-vehicle components within the vehicle. A user interface may display a unified interface including both the factory-installed wireless in-vehicle components and the add-on wireless in-vehicle components. A user may review and adjust the configuration of the in-vehicle components of the in-vehicle components using the user interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a display integrated into a vehicle;
a wireless transceiver; and
a processor, coupled to the display and transceiver, programmed to
maintain a list of wireless factory-installed in-vehicle components,
scan for add-on wireless in-vehicle components within the vehicle using the wireless transceiver,
generate a user interface listing both the factory-installed wireless in-vehicle components and the add-on wireless in-vehicle components, and
provide the listing to the display.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive user input to the display requesting a change in state of one of the in-vehicle components, and
utilize the wireless transceiver to update the state of the one of the in-vehicle components.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the change in state is one of rolling down a smart-shade in-vehicle component or rolling up a smart-shade in-vehicle component.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive an indication of a change in state from one of the in-vehicle components; and
update the state of the one of the in-vehicle components in the list responsive to the indication.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the change in the state is an automatic change based on input to the one of the in-vehicle components from a light sensor of the in-vehicle component.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the change in the state is in response to input received to a user interface control of the one of the in-vehicle components.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display is a head unit of the vehicle, and the processor is a telematics control unit processor.

8. A method comprising:
maintaining in a storage by a processor of a vehicle an in-vehicle component listing including factory-installed components and add-on components added after a vehicle is built;
scanning, using a wireless transceiver as directed by the processor, for add-on in-vehicle components within the vehicle;
removing, by the processor, a first add-on wireless in-vehicle component from the listing responsive to failure to locate the first in-vehicle component during the scanning; and
adding, by the processor, a second add-on wireless in-vehicle component to the listing located during the scanning.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating a user interface listing including both the factory-installed components and the add-on components; and
providing the user interface listing to a display.

10. The method of claim 9 , where the display is a head unit of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving user input to the display requesting a change in state of one of the in-vehicle components; and
utilizing the wireless transceiver to update the state of the one of the in-vehicle components.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the change in state is one of rolling down a window shade in-vehicle component or rolling up a window shade in-vehicle component.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of a change in state from one of the in-vehicle components; and
updating the state of the one of the in-vehicle components in the user interface responsive to the indication.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the change in the state is one of: an automatic change based on input to the one of the in-vehicle components from a sensor of the in-vehicle component, or in response to input received to a user interface control of the one of the in-vehicle components.

15. A computer program product embodied in non-transitory computer readable storage having instructions for programming a processor of a vehicle in communication with a wireless transceiver to control a display, comprising instructions for:
maintaining a list of installed in-vehicle components,
scanning for current in-vehicle components within the vehicle using the wireless transceiver,
updating the list based on the scanning, and
sending, to the display, a generated user interface listing of the current in-vehicle components.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising instructions for maintaining, in the list, identifiers of factory-installed components and add-on components added after a vehicle is built.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising instructions for removing an add-on wireless in-vehicle component from the listing responsive to failure to locate the wireless in-vehicle component during the scanning.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising instructions for adding an add-on wireless in-vehicle component to the listing located during the scanning.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Buttolo Pietro
• Tokish Stephen Ronald
• Rankin Ii James Stewart
• Salter Stuart C
• Strumolo Gary Steven

Classifications

• G06F3/1423 Primary

  controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display · CPC title

• B60K35/81

  for controlling displays · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/85 Primary

  Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data · CPC title