(12) United States Patent
`Knockeart et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`US006622083B1
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`PORTABLE DRIVER INFORMATION
`DEVICE
`
`Inventors: Ronald P. Knockeart, Clarkston, MI
`(US); Robert L. Drury, Novi, MI
`(US); Melvin A. Rode, Orion, MI (US);
`Harry Asher, Garden City, MI (US)
`Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive
`Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
`
`( * )
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Appl. No.: 09/585,384
`Filed:
`Jun. 1, 2000
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/137,216, ?led on Jun. 1,
`1999, provisional application No. 60/140,880, ?led on Jun.
`24, 1999, provisional application No. 60/145,284, ?led on
`Jul. 23, 1999, and provisional application No. 60/166,787,
`?led on Nov. 22, 1999.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. B60Q 1/00
`
`U.S. Cl. ........................... .. 701/202; 701/35; 705/6;
`709/203
`
`Field of Search ................. .. 701/202, 35; 709/203;
`705/6
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,258,421 A * 3/1981 JuhasZ et al. ............... .. 701/35
`4,733,356 A
`3/1988 Haeussermann et al.
`5,239,700 A
`8/1993 Guenther et al.
`5,278,759 A * 1/1994 Berra et al. .......... .. 364/424.01
`5,515,284 A * 5/1996
`364/444
`5,559,707 A * 9/1996
`..... .. 364/443
`5,581,462 A * 12/1996
`364/424.012
`5,648,768 A * 7/1997 Bouve ...................... .. 340/988
`5,648,769 A * 7/1997 Sato et al. ................ .. 340/988
`5,781,871 A * 7/1998 MeZger et al. .
`455/456
`5,794,164 A * 8/1998 Beckert et al.
`..... .. 701/1
`5,802,492 A * 9/1998 DeLorme et al. ......... .. 701/200
`
`5,859,628 A * 1/1999 Ross et al. ................ .. 345/173
`5,862,500 A * 1/1999 Goodwin
`701/35
`5,922,040 A * 7/1999 Prabhakaran
`340/990
`5,922,041 A * 7/1999 Anderson
`701/200
`5,924,075 A * 7/1999 Kanemitsu
`.... .. 705/6
`5,938,721 A * 8/1999 Dusselletal. ............ .. 701/211
`5,944,768 A * 8/1999 Ito etal. ................... .. 701/200
`5,948,040 A * 9/1999 DeLorme etal.
`701/201
`5,950,144 A * 9/1999 Halletal. ................ .. 702/108
`5,951,620 A * 9/1999 Ahrensetal. ............ .. 701/200
`5,959,577 A * 9/1999 Fan etal.
`342/35713
`
`6,009,403 A * 12/1999 Sato . . . . .
`
`. . . . . . . .. 705/6
`
`710/1
`6,018,775 A * 1/2000 Vossler.
`701/36
`6,032,089 A * 2/2000 Buckley .... ..
`701/211
`6,041,281 A * 3/2000 Nimura etal.
`6,073,063 A * 6/2000 Leong Ong etal. ........ .. 701/35
`6,075,467 A * 6/2000 Ninagawa ................. .. 340/995
`6,076,041 A * 6/2000 Watanabe
`701/211
`6,115,655 A * 9/2000 Keith etal. ................. .. 701/35
`(List continued on neXt page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`FR
`FR
`
`198 24 587
`2761387
`2761788
`
`12/1998
`10/1998
`10/1998
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 1998, No. 14, Dec. 31, 1998,
`JP 10 260047 A, Matsushita Electric Ind. Co. Ltd.
`Primary Examiner—Michael J. Zanelli
`Assistant Examiner—Eric M Gibson
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`Asystem and method for making use of a removable device,
`such as a PDA, cellphone or similar device, in conjunction
`With a driver information system. The removable device is
`brought to a vehicle and data in the removable device is
`transferred to the vehicle. This data can be data that is
`normally stored in the removable device, such as contact
`data, or it can be data that the operator has selected and
`loaded into the removable device for transport to the vehicle,
`for instance to update the vehicle information system. Data
`can also be transferred from the vehicle to external systems
`by transporting it in the removable device.
`
`32 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`105
`
`Irv-Vehicle System
`
`’ / / r ’
`
`Removable
`Persona!
`Device
`
`Docklng Statlon
`
`160
`
`290
`
`/ ’
`
`Removable
`
`160
`
`Personai
`Device
`
`170
`[
`Manually
`/////// L_> Personal
`
`Transported
`
`4 , ’
`
`, ~ /
`
`Computer
`
`210
`
`Onboard
`Cum puter
`
`Static
`Storage
`
`240
`
`190
`
`<_
`
`Communication
`H System
`
`222
`
`230
`
`f \\ Server
`
`180
`
`Information
`Server
`
`125
`
`System
`
`en
`
`1
`
`

`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`*
`271373426‘ 2 * “9x888 gegzettal'l """"""" " 328%;
`,
`,
`c 1 a e a.
`6,141,609 A * 10/2000 Herdeg et a1‘
`701/35
`
`..
`
`6,182,006 B1 * 1/2001 Meek ....................... .. 340/988
`6,216,086 B1 * 4/2001 Seymour et a1. .......... .. 701/202
`6,249,767 B1 * 6/2001 Okayama et a1. .
`705/5
`*
`.
`6,334,089 B2 12/2001 Hessmg .................... .. 701/209
`
`. 701/29
`6,181,992 B1 * 1/2001 Gurne et a1. ..
`6,181,994 B1 * 1/2001 COlSOIl et a1. .............. .. 701/33
`
`_
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`Sep. 16, 2003
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
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`Sheet 3 6f 8
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`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`Removable Personal Device
`
`1/0 Interface
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`160 /
`340
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 16, 2003
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`US 6,622,083 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 6f 8
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`US 6,622,083 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 0f 8
`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`Removable Personal Device
`Non-Volatile Storage
`
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`8
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 6f 8
`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`Removable Personal Device
`
`Non-Volatile Storage
`
`320”
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`
`9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 8 6f 8
`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`Non-Volatile
`Storage
`
`Interface
`
`FIG. 10
`
`10
`
`

`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`1
`PORTABLE DRIVER INFORMATION
`DEVICE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the bene?t of US. Provisional
`Application Nos. 60/137,216 ?led Jun. 1, 1999, No. 60/140,
`880 ?led Jun. 24, 1999, No. 60/145,284 ?led Jul. 23, 1999,
`and No. 60/166,787 ?led Nov. 22, 1999, Which are each
`incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`This invention relates to a portable device used With a
`driver information system.
`Driver information systems, such as systems Which pro
`vide route planning and guidance services to an operator of
`a vehicle, typically function in an autonomous manner using
`data stored in the vehicle or make use of a centraliZed server
`that the vehicle contacts over a Wireless communication link
`such as using road-side beacons, a cellular telephone
`connection, an FM sideband channel, or a pager. Updating
`autonomous systems often requires replacement of its
`storage, such as replacing a CD-ROM. In systems that
`communicate With a centraliZed server, the amount of data
`that can be loaded into a vehicle is limited by the data rate
`of the Wireless communication link With the centraliZed
`server.
`Many people today make use of personal digital assistants
`(PDAs), Which are small often general-purpose computers
`that are used to eXecute productivity applications and store
`data, such as personal contact databases. An oWner of a
`PDA, Who also makes use of a driver information system,
`may at times Want to make use of guidance services of the
`driver information system to reach a location related to a
`record in the contact database in his or her PDA.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In a general aspect, the invention is a method for making
`use of a removable device, such as a PDA, cellphone or
`similar device, in conjunction With a driver information
`system. The removable device is brought to a vehicle and
`data in the removable device is transferred to the vehicle.
`This data can be data that is normally stored in the remov
`able device, such as contact data, or it can be data that the
`operator has selected and loaded into the removable device
`for transport to the vehicle, for instance to update the vehicle
`information system. Data can also be transferred from the
`vehicle to eXternal systems by transporting it in the remov
`able device.
`In one aspect, in general, the invention is a method for
`providing information to a driver information system in a
`vehicle. The method includes selecting information on an
`information source and then transferring the selected infor
`mation onto a storage medium in a portable device. The
`portable device is then transported to the vehicle and com
`munication is established betWeen the portable device and
`the driver information system. The method then includes
`transferring the information from the storage medium in the
`portable device to the driver information system.
`The method can include one or more of the folloWing
`features.
`Selecting the information includes selecting location
`related information.
`Selecting the location-related information includes speci
`fying an itinerary.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`Specifying the itinerary includes specifying a ?nal desti
`nation.
`Specifying the itinerary includes specifying one or more
`intermediate destinations.
`Selecting the location-related information includes select
`ing road-map data related to the speci?ed itinerary.
`Selecting the location-related information includes select
`ing locations of points of interest related to the speci
`?ed itinerary.
`Selecting locations of points of interest includes identi
`fying a class of points of interest.
`Selecting the location-related information includes select
`ing advertising information
`Selecting information on the information source includes
`providing a user pro?le and subsequently matching the
`information on the information source using the user
`pro?le.
`The method further includes establishing a communica
`tion path over a public data netWork from the portable device
`to the information source, and transferring the selected
`information onto the storage medium includes transferring
`the selected information over the established communica
`tion path.
`Establishing the communication path over the public data
`netWork includes establishing a communication path over a
`public Internet.
`Transferring the information from the storage medium in
`the portable device to the driver information system includes
`transferring said information over a Wireless data link.
`The driver information system includes a docking station
`and transporting the portable device to the vehicle includes
`docking the portable device in the docking station.
`In another aspect, in general, the invention is a method for
`vehicle navigation. The method includes coupling a portable
`device to an on-board computer. The portable device
`includes a storage device for holding travel-related infor
`mation. A speci?cation of a destination is accepted from a
`user. Travel-related information, including information
`related to the speci?ed destination, is transferred from the
`portable device to the on-board computer. The method then
`includes guiding the user along a route to the speci?ed
`destination.
`The method can include one or more of the folloWing
`features.
`A graphical display on the portable device is controlled
`from the on-board computer.
`Visual feedback is provided to the user While accepting
`the speci?cation of the destination.
`Visual feedback is provided While guiding the user along
`the route to the speci?ed destination.
`Accepting the speci?cation of the destination includes
`accessing a database stored on the portable device.
`Accessing the database stored on the portable device
`includes accessing address information in a personal
`contact database.
`In another aspect, in general, the invention is a method for
`updating a driver information system in a vehicle. Aportable
`device is coupled to an information source, and information
`from the information source is transferred to a storage
`device in the portable device. The portable device is trans
`ported to the vehicle and coupled to the driver information
`system. The driver information system is then updated using
`the information in the storage device in the portable device.
`The method can include the feature that the storage device
`in the portable device has a limited capacity and the steps are
`
`11
`
`

`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`3
`repeated multiple times. The driver information system is
`thereby updated using a greater amount of information than
`can be stored in the portable device at one time.
`In another aspect, in general, the invention is a method for
`retrieving data from a driver information system in a vehicle.
`The method includes coupling a portable device to the driver
`information system and transferring the data from the driver
`information system to a storage device in the portable
`device. The portable device is then transported from the
`vehicle to a destination of the data and the portable device
`is coupled to the destination of the data. The data is then
`transferred from the portable device to the destination of the
`data.
`The transferred data can be vehicle diagnostic data.
`The transferred data can be travel-related data
`In another aspect, in general, the invention is a driver
`information system. The system includes an on-board
`computer, and a communication interface for removably
`coupling a portable device to the on-board computer. The
`on-board computer is programmed to access information
`stored in the portable device that is coupled to the on-board
`computer through the communication interface.
`The system can include one or more of the folloWing
`features.
`The communication interface includes a Wireless com
`munication interface for communicating betWeen the
`portable device and the on-board computer over a
`Wireless communication channel.
`The on-board computer is further programmed to display
`information on said portable device, and to accept user
`inputs from said portable device.
`The on-board computer is further programmed to access
`navigation-related information on the portable device
`in response to user inputs for selecting a travel desti
`nation
`The communication interface includes a mechanical
`docking station for accepting the portable device.
`The communication interface includes con?gurable cir
`cuitry for adapting to communication With the portable
`device.
`The mechanical docking station includes an adjustable
`portion for adapting to the portable device.
`The invention has one or more of the folloWing advan
`tages:
`Making use of data that is normally stored in an operator’s
`PDA alloWs an operator to easily specify a destination
`that corresponds to a contact record stored in the PDA.
`Using the storage functionality of the removable device
`provides an ef?cient means of updating data in the
`vehicle Without relying on limited data rate Wireless
`connections.
`The data transferred to the vehicle in the removable
`device can be personaliZed for the particular operator,
`and to a particular itinerary planned by the operator.
`Other features and advantages of the invention Will be
`apparent from the folloWing description, and from the
`claims.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the vehicle information
`system;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of an in-vehicle
`system;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of components of a removable
`personal device;
`
`65
`
`4
`FIG. 4 is an illustration of the removable personal device;
`FIG. 5 is in illustration shoWing a docking station Which
`accepts the removable personal device;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the docking station;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the removable personal
`device docked With an on-board computer;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the removable personal
`device coupled to a personal computer that is on the Internet;
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the removable personal
`device coupled to the on-board computer;
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a removal memory device;
`and
`FIG. 11 is an illustration of the removable memory
`device.
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, a driver information system provides
`route planning and guidance (“navigation”) services to the
`operators of multiple vehicles 100, Which are free to drive
`throughout a Wide geographic area. To provide these ser
`vices to the operators of vehicles 100, the vehicle informa
`tion system performs some functions in a server system 125
`that is at a ?xed location, and other functions in in-vehicle
`systems 105 installed in each vehicle 100. Each in-vehicle
`system 105 on occasion communicates With server system
`125 over a Wireless communication link 110. The system
`also makes use of signals from global positioning system
`(GPS) satellites 140 to estimate the locations of vehicles 100
`for instance in terms of their latitudes and longitudes.
`In-vehicle system 105 is con?gured to use a removable
`personal device 160 to provide certain functionality of the
`in-vehicle system, or to enhance functionality of compo
`nents of the in-vehicle system that are permanently af?Xed
`to the vehicle. In this description, a “removable” device is
`understood to be a device that is intended to be brought in
`and out of the vehicle by the operator of the vehicle and
`coupled to the in-vehicle system in some manner that
`provide a communication path betWeen the in-vehicle sys
`tem and the removable personal device. Other components
`of the system are “permanently” affixed to the vehicle in that
`they are not generally brought in and out of the vehicle. Such
`items that could, hoWever, be installed or removed for
`eXtended periods of time. Equipment installed after a vehicle
`leaves an auto factory may be permanent, even if it is an
`“after-market” product that could be removed from the
`vehicle.
`In various embodiments, removable personal device 160
`provides an input/output interface betWeen in-vehicle sys
`tem 105 and an operator of the vehicle, or alternatively
`augments input/output capability supported by permanently
`installed devices in the vehicle. For instance, in some of the
`embodiments, removable personal device 160 includes a
`graphical display and that display is used to provide visual
`information to the operator of the vehicle during the route
`planning and guidance phases of navigation. The removable
`device may also include buttons or a touch-screen that is
`used by the operator for manual input to the system. In some
`embodiments, the in-vehicle system may include a graphical
`output device that is affixed to the vehicle, for eXample a
`shared console display, and the removable personal device is
`used to augment that display. Similarly in some embodi
`ments the in-vehicle system has ?Xed manual controls, such
`as buttons on the console or steering Wheel, Which are used
`as an alternative to buttons on the removable personal
`device.
`
`12
`
`

`
`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`5
`In various embodiments, removable personal device 160
`includes a storage device, such as a magnetic disk or a
`non-volatile memory, that is accessed by other components
`of the in-vehicle system. In certain of the embodiments in
`Which removable personal device 160 includes such a stor
`age device, that storage device is used to carry navigation
`related data betWeen the vehicle and a personal computer
`170 to either “doWnload” or “upload” information to or from
`the vehicle, respectively. In some of these embodiments, the
`data that is doWnloaded to the vehicle is loaded into remov
`able personal device 160 from a personal computer 170 that
`is coupled to Internet 190. This alloWs data to be obtained
`from an information server 180 over the Internet by the
`personal computer and loaded into the removable personal
`device for transport to the vehicle. Similarly, data that is
`uploaded from the vehicle can be passed to the personal
`computer and then to the information server. In alternative
`embodiments, removable personal device 160 may be
`coupled to the information server in other Ways, such as by
`connecting directly to the Internet over a Wireless or
`telephone-based link, or by connecting directly to an infor
`mation server Without communicating over the Internet.
`In various embodiments, the vehicle information system
`uses one of a number of alternative approaches to route
`planning and guidance. Some of these approaches generally
`involve (a) destination selection at in-vehicle system 105,
`(b) transmitting the selected route to server system 125 over
`Wireless communication link 110, (c) route planning at
`server system 125, (d) doWnloading of route information
`from server system 125 to in-vehicle system 105 over
`Wireless communication link 110, folloWed by (e) route
`guidance of the vehicle under the control of in-vehicle
`system 105 Without necessarily communicating With server
`system 125. Such approaches are described in a co-pending
`U.S. applications Ser. No. 09/252,432, “Driver Information
`System,” ?led Feb. 18, 1999. That co-pending application is
`incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, the
`vehicle information system is entirely autonomous in its
`navigation functions, or makes use of server system 125
`during the route guidance phase of navigation.
`Referring to FIG. 2, in a ?rst embodiment, in-vehicle
`system 105 is one of a type described in the “Driver
`Information System” patent application referenced above.
`In-vehicle system 105 includes an on-board computer 210
`Which is used to coordinate the operation of other
`components, including sensors 230, Which provide informa
`tion related to the motion of the vehicle, input/output (I/O)
`devices 240, Which provide an interface betWeen the opera
`tor of the vehicle and the navigation system, and commu
`nication system 250, Which provides communication links
`from GPS satellites 140 and to and from server system 125.
`In this embodiment, on-board computer 210 has limited
`storage and processing capabilities. Or-board computer 210
`includes a processor that is coupled to other components of
`the on-board computer. The other components include a
`static storage 222 Which is a non-volatile storage used to
`store code and data for operation of the system. In particular,
`as is described further beloW, static storage 222 is used to
`store map-related information, such as a main roads
`netWork, Which is used during route guidance procedures
`executed on on-board computer 210. Static storage 222 can
`alternatively be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a solid
`state storage device such as a ?ash memory. In certain
`embodiments, the static storage includes a removable
`medium, such as a removable optical disk.
`Sensors 230, Which provide information related to the
`motion of the vehicle, include one or more of a velocity or
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`distance sensor, a differential velocity sensor that provides
`the relative speed of the Wheels on either side of the vehicle
`thereby encoding a turning radius of the vehicle, a magnetic
`compass, a gyroscope, and accelerometers. In other
`embodiments, no sensors 230 are used, and the system relies
`on positioning information derived from GPS satellites 140,
`or from some other positioning system (e.g., roadside
`beacons, cellular telephone cells, etc.).
`I/O devices 240 provide an interface for input from the
`operator of the vehicle. In this embodiment, I/O devices 240
`includes a manual input device, such as a knob, push-button,
`or rocker sWitch that is permanently affixed to the vehicle in
`a convenient location such as on the steering Wheel or
`console. In alternative, alternative manual input devices are
`used, such as a small keyboard, and in some embodiments,
`no manual input device is permanently affixed to the vehicle
`and input is either provided through the removable personal
`device or through some non-manual input mode. In alter
`native embodiments, I/O devices 240 include an automatic
`speech recognition device that alloWs an operator to provide
`spoken input to the system.
`I/O devices 240 also provide an interface for output to the
`operator of the vehicle. In this embodiment, I/O devices 240
`does not include a graphical display, although in alternative
`embodiments such a display may be used to provide graphi
`cal output in addition to or instead of that Which can be
`provided to the operator using the removable personal
`device.
`Referring still to FIG. 2, in-vehicle system provides a Way
`of coupling removable personal device 160 to on-board
`computer 210. In this embodiment, this includes a docking
`station 290, Which mechanically holds the removable per
`sonal device in place, for example, in a location on the
`dashboard of the vehicle that is accessible to the operator of
`the vehicle. The docking station also provides a communi
`cation path betWeen the removable personal device and the
`on-board computer. Docking station 290 is discussed further
`beloW With reference to FIG. 5.
`Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment, remov
`able personal device 160 is a portable computer, Which is
`commonly referred to as a “personal digital assistant” or
`PDA. In this particular embodiment, removable personal
`device 160 is Palm Computer made by Palm Inc., Which is
`a general-purpose computer on Which any of a number of
`different softWare applications can be executed under the
`control of an operating system. In other embodiments, PDAs
`made by other manufactures are alternatively used.
`Similarly, other personal computers, such as those com
`monly referred to as “laptop” computers can alternatively be
`used, although the larger physical siZe of laptop computers
`may limit the locations in Which they can be docked in a
`vehicle. Referring to FIG. 3, removable personal device 160
`includes a processor and Working storage 310, and a non
`volatile storage 320 coupled to the processor. An I/O inter
`face 340 is coupled to the processor. This interface includes
`a display 342, Which provides bitmapped graphical output,
`and a manual input system 344. Referring to FIG. 4, manual
`input system 344 includes a number of push buttons 442, as
`Well as a stylus 444, Which is used to “Write” on the surface
`of display 342. Removable personal device 160 also
`includes a communication interface 330 that provides a data
`path from the processor and Working storage to external
`systems, such as a personal computer or, according to this
`invention, to the on-board computer. Referring to FIG. 4,
`communication interface is coupled to a series of connectors
`430 that are used to establish electrical connections betWeen
`the removable personal device and the external systems.
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`US 6,622,083 B1
`
`7
`In alternative embodiments, communication between
`removable personal device 160 and the on-board computer
`is not necessarily based on electrical connections. For
`instance, the removable personal device alternatively uses a
`Wireless communication, such as an optical (e.g., infra-red)
`link, a radio link, or an ultrasonic link. One alternative radio
`link uses the “Bluetooth” standard, Which uses a loW-poWer
`spread-spectrum at approximately 2 GHZ for passing pack
`etiZed data betWeen devices.
`Referring to FIG. 5, docking station 290 (see FIG. 2) is
`af?xed to the vehicle in a location such that the display of the
`removable personal device is visible to the vehicle’s opera
`tor When it is docked in the docking station. In this
`embodiment, the docking station is on the dashboard of the
`vehicle, although a variety of alternative locations can be
`used. Docking station 290 provides a electrical signal path
`that couples it to the on-board computer over Which data and
`commands are passed.
`In this embodiment, docking station 290 is con?gured
`such that it has an opening 560 that matches the dimensions
`of removable personal device 160. In alternative
`embodiments, the docking station is mechanically adaptable
`to different devices Which have different physical dimen
`sions. This mechanical adaptation is accomplished using one
`of a variety of approaches, including using an adapter, or
`“shim”, that mounts betWeen a generic docking station and
`the particular device being used. Another alternative is using
`a mechanical approach that physically conforms to the
`removable device as it is inserted into the opening in the
`docking station.
`Referring to FIG. 6, docking station 290 includes a
`communication interface 610. Communication interface 610
`is coupled to connectors 530 (FIG. 5) Which mate With
`connectors 430 on removable personal device 160 When it is
`docked in the docking station. Communication interface 610
`includes circuitry for passing signals betWeen the docking
`station and the removable device. In some embodiments, the
`circuitry includes control circuitry, for instance, for sending
`a signal to the removable device When it is initially inserted
`into the docking station such that the signal initiates execu
`tion of particular softWare on the removable device When it
`is inserted.
`In alternative embodiments in Which docking station 290
`is adaptable to different types of removable devices, com
`munication interface 610 automatically adapts its electrical
`interface and communication protocols for communicating
`With the removable device depending on the type of remov
`able device that is inserted into the docking station.
`Referring to FIG. 7, When removable personal device 160
`is docked and coupled to on-board computer 210, display
`342, manual inputs 344, and non-volatile storage 320 on the
`removable personal device are accessible to the on-board
`computer through processor 310 on the removable device.
`That is, an application executing on removable personal
`device 160 provides a softWare communication interface to
`the on-board computer such that devices such as display 342
`and manual inputs 344 can be operated in a slave manner
`from the on-board computer. In this embodiment, When
`removable personal device 160 is inserted into docking
`station 290, the circuitry in the docking station sends a signal
`to the removable device that results the application starting
`on the removable device, using a hardWare or softWare
`interrupt approach. On-board computer 210 is also coupled
`to ?xed input devices 244, such as knobs or sWitches, and in
`some embodiments, to a ?xed display 242 and a voice output
`device 246 Which provides output in the form of prerecorded
`or synthesiZed spoken Words and phrases.
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`Using arrangement shoWn in FIG. 7 a number of operat
`ing modes are used together, or alternatively alone or in
`other combinations. The operating modes include the
`folloWing, Which are described more fully beloW:
`1. Control of I/O interface 340 by on-board computer 210;
`2. DoWnloading of data from non-volatile storage 320 to
`on-board computer 210 When the removable device is
`?rst docked;
`3. Selective access of data in non-volatile storage 320 by
`on-board computer 210; and
`4. Uploading of data from on-board computer 210 to
`non-volatile storage 320.
`In addition, When the removable personal device is not
`docked in the vehicle and is instead coupled to personal
`computer 170 (FIGS. 1 and 2)