U.S. patent application number 10/642453 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-28 for system and method for data exchange in a vehicle multimedia system.
Invention is credited to Lappe, Dirk, Wolf, Stefan.
Application Number | 20050090953 10/642453 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7929010 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050090953 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolf, Stefan ; et
al. |
April 28, 2005 |
System and method for data exchange in a vehicle multimedia
system
Abstract
In a multimedia system for a vehicle, a plurality of multimedia
units are connected to one another by an optical bus laid as a ring
line. An interface unit, situated at an arbitrary point in the ring
line or integrated into one of the multimedia units establishes a
radio connection between the multimedia system and an external
unit, which for example transmits traffic information to the
multimedia system.
Inventors: |
Wolf, Stefan; (Muehltal,
DE) ; Lappe, Dirk; (Karlsruhe, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Samuels, Gauthier & Stevens LLP
Suite 3300
225 Franklin Street
Boston
MA
02110
US
|
Family ID: |
7929010 |
Appl. No.: |
10/642453 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10642453 |
Aug 15, 2003 |
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09713774 |
Nov 15, 2000 |
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6647327 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/036 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 1999 |
DE |
199 54 758.0 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of data exchange in a vehicular multimedia system that
includes an interface unit and a plurality of multimedia units each
connected to a data bus in the vehicle, comprising: establishing a
radio connection between the interface unit and an external unit;
receiving from the multimedia units requests for the radio
connection with the external unit; and coordinating/arbitrating at
the interface unit requests for radio connection to the external
unit.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a radio connection
comprises: transmitting data/commands over the radio connection in
both directions between the interface unit and the external
unit.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving multimedia
data at the interface unit via the radio connection; and sending
the received multimedia data from the interface unit over the data
bus to at least one of the plurality of multimedia units.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein coordinating/arbitrating requests
for radio connection comprises: determining a sequence for
processing simultaneously received requests.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining a sequence for
processing requests comprises: determining with a random selection
criteria the sequence for processing simultaneously received
requests.
6. A multimedia system suitable for use in a vehicle and capable of
communicating with an external unit, comprising: an interface unit;
a plurality of multimedia units; a data bus configured in the
vehicle, wherein said interface unit and said plurality of
multimedia units are each connected to said data bus; and wherein
said interface unit establishes a radio connection with the
external unit, and wherein said interface unit comprises a
coordination unit that coordinates requests received over said data
bus from said multimedia units for radio connections to the
external unit.
7. The multimedia system of claim 6, wherein said interface unit is
located at an arbitrary location along said data bus.
8. The multimedia system of claim 6, wherein said interface unit
receives multimedia data over the radio connection and sends the
received multimedia data over said data bus to at least one of said
multimedia units.
9. The multimedia system of claim 6, wherein said interface unit is
situated in the data bus as a separate unit.
10. The multimedia system of claim 6, wherein said interface unit
is integrated into one of said multimedia units situated in the
data bus.
11. The multimedia system of claim 6, wherein said interface unit
further comprises: means for receiving a request from at least one
of said multimedia units, for processing said received request, and
for communicating with the external unit over the radio connection
to fulfill said received request.
12. The multimedia system of claim 8, wherein said interface unit
further comprises: means for establishing full duplex radio
communication between said interface unit and the external
unit.
13. A multimedia system for a vehicle comprising a plurality of
multimedia units connected to one another by a data bus in the
vehicle, wherein an interface unit is situated at an arbitrary
point of the data bus and is configured to establish a radio
connection between the multimedia system and an external unit,
wherein said interface unit coordinates requests generated by the
multimedia units, said requests being for radio connection with the
external interface.
14. The multimedia system of claim 13 wherein the interface unit is
situated along the data bus as a separate unit.
15. The multimedia system of claim 13, wherein the interface unit
comprises: a coordination unit configured to perform said
coordination of the requests for radio connections to the external
unit, which it receives from the multimedia units.
16. The multimedia system of claim 13, wherein the interface unit
is situated along the data bus as a separate unit.
17. The multimedia system of claim 13, wherein the interface unit
is integrated into one of the multimedia units.
18. The multimedia system of claim 13, wherein the external unit
comprises a service center that transmits traffic information in
response to requests transmitted from said interface unit.
19. The multimedia system of claim 18, wherein the external unit
transmits or receives traffic information from the multimedia
system.
20. The multimedia system of claim 8, wherein said coordination
unit comprises: means for determining with a random selection
criteria the sequence for processing simultaneously received
requests.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a system and method for data
exchange for a multimedia system for a vehicle, with several units,
which are connected to one another through an optical data bus laid
as a ring line in the vehicle.
[0002] Multimedia systems are already standard equipment in top
class motor vehicles. In a multimedia system for a motor vehicle,
several units are connected to one another by an optical data bus,
which is laid as a ring line so data exchange is possible between
arbitrary units of the ring Line.
[0003] Convenient, modem multimedia systems for vehicles are
equipped, for example, with an audio system that includes an audio
radio receiving system, a cassette unit, an audio CD player,
loudspeakers, a television receiver, a VCR, a DVD player, a
navigation system, a mobile telephone, a fax machine, an onboard
computer, a keyboard, and a monitor. Of course the number of units
will increase in the future.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a technique for exchanging
data in a vehicle multimedia system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Briefly, according to an aspect of the present invention, a
multimedia system suitable for use in vehicle and capable of
communicating with an external unit, includes an interface unit, a
plurality of multimedia units, and an optical data bus configured
as a ring line in the vehicle. The interface unit and the plurality
of multimedia units are each connected to the optical data bus. The
interface unit establishes a radio connection with the external
unit, and the interface unit receives multimedia data over the
radio connection and sends the received multimedia data over the
optical data bus to at least one of the multimedia units.
[0006] The interface unit may be located at an arbitrary point in
the ring line to establish the radio connection with the external
unit.
[0007] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent in light of the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle multimedia system; and
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment multimedia
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a multimedia system 10 that includes a
plurality of multimedia units 12-16 and an interface unit 18,
interconnected by a ring line 20 (e.g., an optical data bus). Upon
request of one of the multimedia units 12-16, the interface unit 18
establishes a radio connection with an external unit 22. The data
sent by the external unit 22 to the multimedia system 10 are
received by the interface unit 18 and forwarded to the appropriate
unit 12-16 via the ring line 20. The interface unit 18 can be
located at an arbitrary point in the ring line.
[0011] The interface unit 18 coordinates requests of the multimedia
units 12-16 situated in the ring line 20 for radio connection to
the external unit 22. If the interface unit 18 receives several
requests for a radio connection to the external unit simultaneously
from several units 12-16 in the ring line 20, the interface unit 18
determines the sequence for processing the requests in accordance
with a specifiable method. For example, the interface unit 18 can
determine the sequence for processing the requests according to the
sequence of requesting units in the ring line 20. However, it may
also select the sequence for processing the requesting units
randomly.
[0012] In one embodiment, the external unit 22 may be configured as
a service unit that transmits traffic information. For example, if
the multimedia system 10 is equipped with a navigation system, the
operator can request traffic information from the external unit 22
via the navigation system. However, data can also be transmitted in
the reverse direction. For example, the operator can transmit
information that describes local traffic conditions via the
interface unit 18 to the external unit 22, which can process this
current on-site information to provide the requesting multimedia
system with information and instructions appropriate to the traffic
situation that prevails locally at the moment.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment multimedia
system 30, in which the interface unit 18 is not disposed
separately in the ring line 20, but rather is integrated into one
of the multimedia units (e.g., the unit 12).
[0014] An advantage of a system according to the present invention
is that in the transmission of data between the multimedia system
(e.g., 10 or 30) and the external unit 22, the external unit 22
always sees the same interface (i.e., the interface 18), regardless
of the unit in the ring line that is currently communicating.
[0015] Technical systems, such as for example media-oriented system
transfer (MOST), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Universal
Mobile Telephone System, (UMTS), and the Short Message Services
(SMS) can all be integrated into the inventive vehicle multimedia
system. However, the inventive multimedia system is not limited to
these systems or automotive vehicles.
[0016] Although the present invention has been shown and described
with respect to several preferred embodiments thereof, various
changes, omissions and additions to the form and detail thereof,
may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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