U.S. patent application number 17/384461 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-11 for method for enabling, and causing, stored settings of controls for functions of a radio head unit in an automotive vehicle to be re-programmed.
The applicant listed for this patent is Loren S. Adell, Michael Adell. Invention is credited to Loren S. Adell, Michael Adell.
Application Number | 20210352455 17/384461 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005735696 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210352455 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adell; Loren S. ; et
al. |
November 11, 2021 |
METHOD FOR ENABLING, AND CAUSING, STORED SETTINGS OF CONTROLS FOR
FUNCTIONS OF A RADIO HEAD UNIT IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TO BE
RE-PROGRAMMED
Abstract
A method for re-programming a radio head unit in an automotive
vehicle by a special "app" in a personal cellular (wireless)
telephone.
Inventors: |
Adell; Loren S.; (Frisco,
TX) ; Adell; Michael; (Frisco, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Adell; Loren S.
Adell; Michael |
Frisco
Frisco |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005735696 |
Appl. No.: |
17/384461 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16854275 |
Apr 21, 2020 |
11082822 |
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17384461 |
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16273088 |
Feb 11, 2019 |
10652715 |
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16854275 |
|
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62629599 |
Feb 12, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/50 20180201; H04M
1/6091 20130101; H04W 4/48 20180201 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/50 20060101
H04W004/50; H04M 1/60 20060101 H04M001/60; H04W 4/48 20060101
H04W004/48 |
Claims
1. In an automotive vehicle which has a radio head unit having 1) a
radio receiver for receiving wireless signals that carry audio
content, 2) circuitry for extracting audio content from the
wireless signals and for delivering extracted audio content to an
audio system for transmission as audio into an occupant space of an
automotive vehicle, and 3) controls having stored settings for
functions of the radio head unit, a method comprising: in a
cellular telephone which has a touch-screen, opening a
re-programming app for enabling stored settings of controls for
functions of the radio head unit to be re-programmed using icons
presented on the touch-screen, which when touched, enable the
cellular telephone to re-program settings of controls for functions
of the radio head unit and to save re-programmed settings of
controls for functions of the radio head unit; the method further
comprising touching icons to cause a setting of a control for a
selected function to be re-programmed and the re-programmed setting
to be saved.
2. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising, pairing the
cellular telephone with the radio head unit to enable wireless
communication, when the radio head unit detects that the saved
re-programmed setting differs from the current corresponding
setting in the radio head unit, causing the radio head unit to
replace the current corresponding setting in the radio head unit by
the saved re-programmed setting.
3. The method set forth in claim 1 in which the icons comprise 1) a
first icon for selecting, for re-programming, a setting of a
control for a selected function, 2) a second icon for
re-programming the setting of a control for a selected function,
and 3) a third icon for saving a re-programmed setting of a control
for a selected function, the method further comprising, touching
the first icon to cause a setting of a control for a selected
function to be selected for re-programming, after that setting has
been selected by touching the first icon, touching the second icon
to cause that setting to be re-programmed, and after that setting
has been re-programmed, touching the third icon to cause the
re-programmed setting to be saved.
4. The method set forth in claim 3 in which the radio head unit can
receive wireless radio signals from multiple radio frequency bands,
and the method further comprises, touching the first icon to cause
the touch-screen to present multiple radio frequency bands, then
touching the touch-screen to select one radio frequency band for
display on the touch-screen including display of the second icon as
a control of a selected function of the one radio frequency band,
touching the second icon to cause the setting of a control of a
selected function of the one radio frequency band, and then
touching the third icon to cause the re-programmed setting to be
saved.
5. The method set forth in claim 3 in which the radio head unit can
receive audio content from multiple audio devices, and the method
further comprises, touching the first icon to cause the
touch-screen to present multiple audio devices, then touching the
touch-screen to select one audio device for display on the
touch-screen including display of the second icon as a control of a
selected function of the one audio device, touching the second icon
to cause the setting of a control of a selected function of the one
audio device to be re-programmed, and then touching the third icon
to cause the re-programmed setting to be saved.
Description
[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority of
allowed non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/854,275,
filed Apr. 21, 2020, which has priority to non-Provisional patent
application Ser. No. 16/273,088, filed Feb. 11, 2019, (now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,652,715), which has priority to Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/629,599, filed Feb. 12, 2018, the present
application incorporating by reference the entire content of each
of those prior applications.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to an automotive vehicle which has a
radio head unit which has multiple functional capabilities, one of
which allows the vehicle to wirelessly communicate via a cellular
network with a remote party.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The interior of a typical automotive vehicle has an
instrument panel which faces a driver of the vehicle and a front
seat passenger. A head unit, sometimes referred to as a radio head
or radio head unit, is typically disposed centrally in the
instrument panel for viewing, and access, by both a driver and a
passenger. A radio head unit provides various functional
capabilities.
[0004] A typical radio head unit comprises an electronic display
screen and various inputs such as control switches for controlling
various functions of the radio head unit and other devices and/or
functions which are fully or partially controlled by or through the
radio head unit. Additional control switches may be present in the
instrument panel outside the radio head unit and electrically
connected with the radio head unit for controlling certain
functions within the radio head unit and/or functions which are
remote from, but controlled, through the radio head unit.
[0005] The vehicle has a radio antenna for sending and receiving
radio transmissions. The radio antenna is connected to a radio
receiver in the radio head unit. The radio receiver comprises
circuitry for converting received radio transmissions into audio
signals. Amplification circuitry amplifies the audio signals which
are then input to an audio system having speakers which convert the
amplified audio signals into audio content which can be heard by
vehicle occupants.
[0006] Control switches, whether in the radio head unit or
elsewhere in a vehicle, such as on a steering wheel, can select
audio signals from in-vehicle sources, such as CD and DVD players
for example, to be input to the amplification circuitry and
consequently be heard by vehicle occupants instead of broadcast
radio. Such other sources may be built into the radio head unit or
may be self-contained auxiliary devices which plug into or have
wireless communication with the radio head unit.
[0007] The control switches perform various functions such as
selecting the audio source, setting audio quality and volume,
selecting specific content from a selected source, selecting a
particular broadcast radio band, and selecting a particular radio
station within a band.
[0008] The antenna may be designed with capability for receiving
not only radio signals in AM, FM and other broadcast radio bands,
such as satellite radio. The antenna may also be designed to
receive signals from satellites of the Global Positioning System
(GPS) for use in navigation.
SUMMARY THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Disclosed are a system and method for restoring local
control to at least portions or a radio head unit in a motor
vehicle when communication between a personal cellular (wireless)
telephone, which has been paired with the radio head unit, and a
telephone of a remote party is placed "on-hold" while both
telephones are "off-hook".
[0010] Also disclosed, and claimed herein, is a method for
re-programming the radio head unit by a special "app" in a personal
cellular (wireless) telephone which offers greater convenience for
a person because it allows a person to enter re-programming data
via the telephone without necessarily having to be inside the
vehicle and enter data via controls and/or devices associated with
the radio head unit inside the vehicle.
[0011] The foregoing summary, accompanied by further detail of the
disclosure, will be presented in the Detailed Description below
with reference to the following drawings that are part of this
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of an instrument panel in the vehicle
which contains a radio head unit and which faces rearward toward a
driver's seat on the left and a passenger's seat on the right.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an automotive vehicle having a
radio head unit with which a cellular telephone has been paired and
how wireless telephonic communication between the cellular
telephone and a telephone of a remote party takes place.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of a cellular telephone showing a
first screen on a touch screen of the telephone.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3 but showing a second screen on
the touch screen.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 3 but showing a third screen on
the touch screen.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front view of the radio head unit showing a
first screen on a touch screen of the radio head unit.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 but showing a second screen on
the touch screen of the radio head unit.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 6 but showing a third screen on
the touch screen of the radio head unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a portion of an interior of an automotive
vehicle 10 having an instrument panel 12 which contains a radio
head unit 14 and which faces rearward of the vehicle toward a
driver's seat 16 on the left and a passenger's seat 18 on the
right. Driver's seat 16 and passenger's seat 18 are separated from
each other by a console 20.
[0021] A person seated in driver's seat 16 controls how vehicle 10
is being driven, using controls which include a steering wheel 22,
a foot operated accelerator pedal 24, a foot operated brake pedal
26, and a transmission control lever 28 in console 20.
[0022] Radio head unit 14 is disposed centrally of instrument panel
12 for viewing and access by both a driver and a passenger. Radio
head unit 14 comprises an electronic display screen 30 and various
control switches, 32 generally, for controlling various functions
of radio head unit 14, and other devices and/or functions which are
fully or partially controlled by or through radio head unit 14.
Such switches may be mechanical ones or touch-screen switches
present in display screen 30. Additional control switches, 34
generally, are shown in instrument panel 12 below radio head unit
14 and they may or may not be associated with radio head unit 14.
One example of a function which is provided via radio head unit 14
is vehicle navigation and travel information both in audible form
via audio speakers and in visual form via maps on display screen
30. Another function is display of a telephone directory on display
screen 30
[0023] FIG. 2 shows that vehicle 10 has a radio antenna 36 for
receiving broadcast radio transmissions. Antenna 36 is connected to
a radio receiver 38 in radio head unit 14. Radio receiver 38
comprises circuitry for converting radio transmissions received by
antenna 36 into audio signals. Radio transmissions can be any of
various types, including without limitation amplitude modulation
(AM) and frequency modulation (FM) which carry audio signals. The
circuitry of radio receiver 38 which receives modulated radio
signals that carry audio content comprises circuitry for
de-modulating the received radio signals to extract audio content
as audio signals. Radio head unit 14 also comprises controls for
controlling certain functions of the radio head unit.
[0024] Amplification circuitry 40 in radio head unit 14 amplifies
the audio signals which are then input to one or more speakers of
an audio system 42. The speakers convert the amplified audio
signals into audio which can be heard by vehicle occupants. Antenna
36 can also be designed to have the capability to receive data
signals, such as signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS)
for use by the vehicle's navigation system to display the vehicle's
location in an electronic map on display screen 30. Antenna 36 may
also be capable of receiving data signals from other sources. Data
signals may provide various types of information to the vehicle
and/or an occupant. Some types of data signals are intended to be
converted into text or graphics for presentation on display screen
30. Other types of data signals are intended to be converted into
audio which is presented via speakers of audio system 42.
[0025] Audio signals can be delivered from a selected source other
than antenna 36 and receiver 38 to the amplification circuitry for
delivery to the speakers and conversion into audio which can be
heard by vehicle occupants. Such sources 44 may be built into radio
head unit 14, or they may be self-contained auxiliary devices 46
which plug into an interface 48 in radio head unit 14 or which
wirelessly communicate with the radio head unit.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a personal cellular (wireless) telephone 50
which has been wirelessly paired with radio head unit 14 (e.g.
Bluetooth). The pairing with radio head unit 14 enables a caller to
place a call from the number assigned to the cellular telephone to
a remote party by using certain controls for the radio head unit.
Controls for the radio head unit also allow an incoming call to be
answered.
[0027] In FIG. 2 an antenna which is internal to cellular telephone
50 is in wireless communication with an antenna on a cellular tower
52 which in turn is in communication an antenna on a cellular tower
54 which has, or is associated with, an MTSO (mobile telephone
switching office) 56. When a caller places a call from telephone 50
to a remote party (the callee), status of telephone 50 changes from
"on-hook" to "off-hook". Upon receiving the number being called,
MTSO 56 first confirms that the number of the calling telephone is
a valid subscriber to its telephone service. Upon confirmation, the
call is routed to the telephone whose number is being called. That
telephone may be either a wireless cellular telephone 58 which is
in communication with a wireless network, represented by antenna
tower 60, or a telephone 62 wired to a PSTN (public switch
telephone network) 64 via what is commonly called a land line.
[0028] When a call from telephone 50 is connected to the telephone
of the callee, the status of the callee's telephone may be either
"on-hook" or "off-hook." When the callee's telephone is "on-hook,"
the callee can answer the call, and when the call is answered, the
status of the callee's telephone changes to "off-hook". When a call
from telephone 50 is connected to the callee and the status of the
callee's telephone is "off-hook", the call will not be completed,
and the caller is notified by a busy signal. However, if the callee
is on a call and his/her telephone service has a "call-waiting"
feature, the callee will be notified of the incoming call and given
the option to answer it within a certain length of time. The caller
does not receive a busy signal during that time.
[0029] If the call is answered, the caller and callee can then
speak with each other. During the call, either party can use its
telephone to change the status of the call from "not on-hold" to
"on-hold". If the callee's telephone places the call "on hold", the
status of the callee's telephone still remains "off-hook" and
therefore does not cause the call to be disconnected. The status of
the caller's telephone is of course "off-hook", but the caller's
telephone is notified of the change in status of the call to
"on-hold". Consequently, radio head unit 14 remains tied up with
the call and continues not allowing a vehicle occupant to use at
least some of the other capabilities which the radio head unit
would otherwise provide, such as the vehicle navigation system
mentioned earlier.
[0030] An additional capability which is lost while the status of
the call is "on-hold" is the ability of the vehicle's audio system
to play audio content that the caller might prefer to be hearing
during the hold instead of having to listen to music or recorded
messages which might be coming from the callee. The "on-hold"
placed by the callee's telephone however doesn't prevent the
vehicle's audio system from playing audio content of the caller's
choosing during the hold.
[0031] Radio head unit 14 has certain settings which are selectable
by a vehicle occupant. For example, an occupant may set a certain
default audio source which will play automatically through the
audio system when a remote party's telephone places a call
"on-hold" and the "on-hold"is detected by radio head unit 14. One
of the controls associated with radio head unit 14 allows an
occupant to switch to a source other than the default source if
desired, and that is an example of a capability of the radio head
unit which is not lost when the call has been placed "on hold".
Adjustment of audio speaker volume is another capability which is
not lost when a call is placed "on-hold".
[0032] Default settings may have a hierarchy. At one level of one
example of a hierarchy, an occupant may set a default broadcast
radio band or a default auxiliary device. At the next level, an
occupant may set a default radio broadcast station within the
default broadcast radio band or a default audio file within the
default auxiliary device. While a call is "on-hold", controls allow
an occupant to change from the default broadcast radio band setting
to another broadcast radio band, and in any broadcast radio band,
allow an occupant to change from one station to another.
[0033] A current default setting within a hierarchy is changed to a
new default setting by an occupant using a re-programming feature
present in radio head unit 14. Re-programming requires an occupant
to be present in the vehicle.
[0034] Rather than being inside a vehicle and using controls of the
radio head unit to re-program features, a person can perform
re-programming in a different way which can offer greater
convenience because the person does not have to be inside the
vehicle and use controls of radio head unit 14 to perform
re-programming. Instead, a person can re-program data on a cellular
(wireless) telephone at any place, such as at home or office, and
at any time which are more convenient for the person.
[0035] This new way is accomplished by a re-programming application
(i.e. an "app") in a person's portable cellular (wireless)
telephone. The app is specifically designed for compatibility with
vehicles which are manufactured by a particular manufacturer. The
"app" enables a person to re-program data, such as data for default
settings in radio head unit 14, without entering the data via
re-programming controls of the radio head unit.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows an icon 66 for the re-programming "app" on a
touch screen 68 of a cellular (wireless) telephone 70. When touch
screen 68 is touched at the location of icon 66, the re-programming
"app" opens and displays a screen, or a succession of different
screens, via which changes, such as changes to default settings,
can be made and stored by touching icons of screens displayed on
touch screen 68. The stored data is then ready to be installed in
the radio head unit in replacement of corresponding data.
Re-programming screens may contain icons and/or alpha-numeric
keyboards whose keys can be touched.
[0037] FIG. 4 is an example of a screen 72 which appears on touch
screen 68 after icon 66 has been touched. An icon 74, when touched,
allows AM broadcast radio settings to be changed. An icon 76, when
touched, allows FM broadcast radio settings to be changed. An icon
78, when touched, allows satellite radio broadcast settings to be
changed. An icon 80, when touched, allows settings of a CD player
to be changed. An icon 82, when touched, allows settings of a DVD
player to be changed.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows a screen 84 which appears on touch screen 68
after icon 74 has been touched. Screen 84 shows an image of an AM
radio band 86. A station selector 88 is positionable by touch along
band 86 to select a default AM radio station.
[0039] FIG. 5 also shows an image of a volume control 90 for
controlling volume of AM radio audio played on the vehicle's audio
system. A volume selector 92 is positionable by touch along volume
control 90 to select a default volume.
[0040] Once the default station and volume have been selected, a
"save" icon 94 is touched to save the selections after which an
"exit" icon 96 is touched to return to screen 72. Default settings
for the other icons 76, 78, 80, and 82 can then be set in a similar
matter. Once all default settings have been selected and saved for
all five possible audio sources shown in FIG. 4, an icon 98 is
touched to select one audio source from the five possible ones
shown as the default audio source and then return to screen 68. The
re-programmed settings are then ready to be installed in radio head
unit 14 when the person enters the vehicle and powers up the radio
head unit.
[0041] Because of the pairing of the cellular (wireless) telephone
and the radio head unit, a screen 100 (FIG. 6) containing two icons
102, 104 first appears on the touch screen of the radio head unit
at power up when the radio head unit detects a mismatch between its
stored settings and the corresponding re-programmed settings in the
telephone. Each of two icons 102, 104 seeks an answer to a question
asking if the re-programmed settings should be accepted by the
radio head unit. This affords the person an opportunity to
reconsider if each change should be made. If they are accepted by
touching the "yes" icons, the radio head unit installs the
re-programmed settings so that the re-programmed settings in the
radio head unit match those in the telephone. If one or both
re-programmed settings is or are not accepted, the previous
settings are maintained in both the radio head unit and the
telephone. Touching a "save and exit" icon 106 returns the screen
to a home screen shown in FIG. 7.
[0042] The screen of FIG. 7 may contain one or more icons such as
108, 110, 112, and 114 for re-programming the radio head unit via
its touch screen rather than using manual controls outside the
touch screen. When one of those icons, such as 110, is touched, a
screen like that shown in FIG. 8 appears on the touch screen. A
setting is changed by a slider 116 similar to sliders 88 and 92 and
then saved by touching an icon 118 which returns the screen display
to the one shown in FIG. 7.
[0043] It is also possible for changes to be made without a person
actually entering the vehicle and powering up the vehicle's
electronic systems including the radio head unit if the radio head
unit and some of the electronic system associated with the radio
head unit remains powered up, such as by a back-up battery, while
the electrical system is off. It is also possible for the cellular
telephone of wirelessly power up the radio head unit and associated
electronics.
[0044] If a vehicle can provide different settings of certain
devices for different drivers, such as a default seat adjustment
position and a default mirror adjustment position for each driver,
using a driver selection switch, the radio head unit may store
default preferences for each individual driver, and that selection
switch may be used to also set the audio defaults for the
individual who is driving when a call is placed on hold.
[0045] When a call from cellular telephone 50 has been answered,
the conversation between caller and callee can be heard over the
vehicle's speakers. The caller may however choose to instead carry
on the conversation through the cellular telephone's speaker and
microphone by pressing a button on the cellular telephone. Doing
that prevents the conversation from being heard over the vehicle's
speakers.
[0046] If there is a different wireless communication device (a
Bluetooth ear piece having a microphone and speaker for example)
which has also been paired with radio head unit 14 and that device
is within range of radio head unit 14, it can be used to place a
call from the cellular telephone to a remote party via voice
commands to radio head unit 14.
* * * * *