Abstract:
Apparatus is provided for an electronic vehicle storage system. The apparatus includes a vehicle electrical infrastructure, a vehicle communications network coupled to the vehicle electrical infrastructure, a controller coupled to the vehicle electrical infrastructure via the vehicle communications network, and a data storage device coupled to the controller and configured to store multimedia files. The controller is configured to communicate with the vehicle electrical infrastructure. The data storage device includes an embedded database containing a list of multimedia file content. The controller is further configured to access the embedded database and associate a recognized multimedia file with a multimedia file content from the list of multimedia file content.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are provided for wirelessly broadcasting large multimedia files to vehicles. The apparatus includes a vehicle-based receiver configured to wirelessly receive at least one group of encoded data packets at a data rate based on a number of concurrently broadcasted groups of encoded data packets, a decoder coupled to the data storage device, a data storage device coupled to the receiver, and a media playback unit coupled to the data storage device. The group of data packets corresponds to at least a portion of a multimedia content, and each of the data packets contains at least a portion of the multimedia content. The data rate is based on an average vehicle operation duration and/or a probability of occurrence of the average vehicle operation duration. The decoder is configured to assemble at least a portion of the multimedia content from the first data file upon the data storage device receiving a pre-determined number of data packets. The data storage device is configured to store the group of data packets and assembled multimedia content. The playback unit is configured to play the assembled multimedia content.
Abstract:
System, methods, and apparatus are provided for wireless vehicle-to-vehicle sharing of multimedia data. The system includes a data storage device configured to store multimedia data packets transmitted by a system broadcast, a processor coupled to the data storage device and configured to determine a non-received group of multimedia data packets based on the stored multimedia data packets of the system broadcast, and a transceiver coupled to the processor. The transceiver is configured to receive multimedia data packets transmitted from the system broadcast and multimedia data packets transmitted from a system vehicle in response to the request signal. The method includes the steps of determining non-received multimedia data packets based on a system broadcast in a first wireless protocol, and requesting multimedia data packets of the non-received multimedia data packets in a second wireless protocol from system vehicles.
Abstract:
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for placing emergency calls from a vehicle to a Public Safety Answering Point. An emergency call apparatus is configured to detect a trigger condition and, if the trigger condition is detected, send a telephone dial command through a vehicle communication network to a telecommunication apparatus to establish voice communication with the Public Safety Answering Point. A method is provided of retrofitting a vehicle with embedded telecommunication apparatus to enable single button access to emergency services without the need for a fee based subscription.
Abstract:
In a first embodiment, the invention is directed to a camera for mounting on a vehicle, including a lens member, an imaging element and an image processing board. The image processing board is separated sufficiently from the imaging element so as to impart relatively little heat generated during operation to the imaging element. The imaging element is positioned to receive video input from the lens member. The image processing board is configured to generate image processing board output data that relates to the video input received by the imaging element. The image processing board is positioned in a selected position to release heat along a heat path that is spaced from the imaging element. The camera may further include a vehicle interface board configured to communicate signals relating to the image processing board output data to a vehicle component.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating route instructions on a turn-by-turn navigation system in a vehicle. Turn instructions can include a turn icon as well as visual and audio prompts. The turn-by-turn navigation system typically includes a dual-use disk changer configured for both audio and Map/POI disk access. Separate Map and POI database disks are typically installed in dedicated slots of the disk changer and are designed to minimize switching time, while audio disks can be installed in the remaining slots. Moreover, audio playback buffering can be employed to enable audio-to-navigation-to-audio disk switching without interrupting audio playback. The turn-by-turn navigation system can generally be produced more economically than a typical premium system with a full complement of costly features, such as a color map display, since the turn-by-turn navigation system can be configured with only those features deemed most useful to a broad-based market segment.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating route instructions on a turn-by-turn navigation system in a vehicle. Turn instructions can include a turn icon as well as visual and audio prompts. The turn-by-turn navigation system typically includes a dual-use disk changer configured for both audio and Map/POI disk access. Separate Map and POI database disks are typically installed in dedicated slots of the disk changer and are designed to minimize switching time, while audio disks can be installed in the remaining slots. Moreover, audio playback buffering can be employed to enable audio-to-navigation-to-audio disk switching without interrupting audio playback. The turn-by-turn navigation system can generally be produced more economically than a typical premium system with a full complement of costly features, such as a color map display, since the turn-by-turn navigation system can be configured with only those features deemed most useful to a broad-based market segment.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether the vehicle requires a service. A determination is also made as to whether the vehicle is proximate a location at which the service can be performed. A notification is provided that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location.
Abstract:
An alert system for a vehicle includes a video display, an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver side visual alert device disposed at a driver side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger side visual alert device disposed at a passenger side exterior rearview mirror assembly. A control is operable to activate at least one of the alert devices in response to a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle. The alert devices are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check the images captured by a rearward facing camera and displayed in the vehicle cabin by the video display so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for controlling equipment operable by a plurality of operators. A control state evaluation device is configured to evaluate a control state of an equipment control. A signal detection device is configured to detect if a signal associated with an operator of the equipment control is present. A process controller is configured to activate a first equipment function if the signal from the equipment control is present, and is configured to activate a second equipment function if the signal is not present.