(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0196134A1
`Lutter et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 26, 2002
`
`US 2002O1961.34A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`MANAGING AUDIO DEVICES
`
`(75) Inventors: Robert Pierce Lutter, Tacoma, WA
`(US); Dan Alan Preston, Bainbridge
`Island, WA (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`MARGER JOHNSON
`& McCOLLOM, P.C.
`1030 SW Morrison Street
`Portland, OR 97205 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Medius, Inc., 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite
`4100, Seattle, WA 98104
`(21) Appl. No.:
`09/892,295
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 26, 2001
`
`Publication Classification
`(51) Int. Cl." ....................................................... B60Q 1700
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...................... 340/426; 340/425.5; 340/565;
`340/539
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A vehicle audio System includes a wireleSS audio Sensor
`configured to wirelessly detect different portable audio
`Sources brought into the vehicle. Audio output devices are
`located in the vehicle for outputting audio signals from the
`different audio Sources. A processor Selectively connects the
`different audio Sources to the different audio output devices.
`In another aspect, the audio System includes object Sensors
`that detect objects located outside the vehicle. The processor
`generates warning Signals that are output from the different
`audio output devices according to where the objects are
`detected by the object Sensors.
`
`
`
`Page 1 of 14
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`BMW EXHIBIT 1008
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 26, 2002 Sheet 1 of 8
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`US 2002/01961.34 A1
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`Page 2 of 14
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 26, 2002. Sheet 2 of 8
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 26, 2002. Sheet 4 of 8
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 26, 2002 Sheet 6 of 8
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 26, 2002 Sheet 7 of 8
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 26, 2002 Sheet 8 of 8
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`US 2002/0196134 A1
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`US 2002/01961.34 A1
`
`Dec. 26, 2002
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING
`AUDIO DEVICES
`
`BACKGROUND
`0001 Car audio systems typically comprise an in-dash
`Stereo System. The in-dash Stereo System has an amplifier
`and any combination of multiple audio Sources that include
`a radio, cassette player and Compact Disc (CD) player.
`Speakers in the Stereo system output audio signals from any
`of the different audio Sources. Any other portable audio
`Sources brought into the car cannot use the car Speakers or
`amplifier System.
`0002 In-dash audio devices or portable audio devices
`brought into the car, can disrupt the attention of the car
`driver. For example, if the audio System is being played too
`loud, the car driver may not hear a Siren or other outside
`noises. The audio System may therefore contribute to poS
`Sible accidents.
`0003. Other types of audio devices, such as cellular
`telephones, are difficult to operate and hear while driving in
`a car. The car driver has to press the buttons on the cellular
`telephone and then hold the cell phone closely to the ear
`while also driving the car. It is also difficult to hear Someone
`talking on a cellular telephone while other audio Sources in
`the car are being played.
`0004. The present invention addresses this and other
`problems associated with the prior art.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0005) A vehicle audio system includes a wireless audio
`Sensor configured to wirelessly detect different portable
`audio Sources brought into the vehicle. Audio output devices
`are located in the vehicle for outputting audio Signals from
`the different audio Sources. A processor Selectively connects
`the different audio sources to the different audio output
`devices. In another aspect, the audio System includes object
`sensors that detect objects located outside the vehicle. The
`processor generates warning Signals that are output from the
`different audio output devices according to where the objects
`are detected by the object Sensors.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0006 FIG. 1 is a diagram of a vehicle that includes an
`audio manager.
`0007 FIG. 2 is a diagram of a graphical user interface
`that is controlled by the audio manager.
`0008 FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing how the audio
`manager operates.
`0009 FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing how the audio
`manger operates in conjunction with object Sensors.
`0.010
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing how the audio
`manager annunciates the location of objects identified by the
`object detection Sensors.
`0.011
`FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams showing how the audio
`manager annunciates a Warning Signals according to a
`location of another vehicle.
`0012 FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the audio manager
`circuitry.
`
`0013 FIG. 8 is a diagram of audio source interface
`circuitry and a Sample audio data packet transmitted
`between one of the audio Sources and the audio manager.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`0014 FIG. 1 shows an audio manager 14 located inside
`a vehicle 12. Multiple object detection sensors 16, 18, and
`22 are located next to the front grill, front window and rear
`end, respectively, of vehicle 12. The sensors 16, 18, and 22
`include infrared or radar antennas that detect objects any
`where around the perimeter of the vehicle 12. Of course
`other types of Sensors can by used and installed in any
`location in the vehicle 12 for detecting objects. Multiple
`audio output devices 20 are located inside the vehicle.
`Typically the audio output devices 20 are Speakers that are
`located in the dash, Side doors, rear doors, or in any other
`location of vehicle 12.
`0015. A wireless audio sensor 28 wirelessly detects dif
`ferent portable audio Sources brought into, or next to, the
`vehicle 12. For example, the audio Sensor 28 can detect a
`portable Compact Disc (CD) player 24 that is brought into
`the vehicle 12 by a passenger 26. The CD player 24 is
`connected to a headset 29 that attaches over the ears of the
`passenger 26. The earphones 28 can also be detected Sepa
`rately by the audio Sensor 28. A processor in the audio
`manager 14 receives communication data and audio data
`detected by the sensor 28 and then selectively connects
`different audio Sources detected in the vehicle 12 to the
`different audio output devices 20.
`0016 FIG. 2 shows a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 30
`that is coupled to the audio manager 14 shown in FIG. 1.
`The GUI 30 in combination with the audio manager 14
`automatically display the audio Sources detected by the
`wireleSS Sensor 28 or hardwired to the audio manager. In one
`example, there are three different audio Sources that are
`detected by sensor 28 inside the vehicle 12 (FIG. 1). A first
`audio Source comprises a cellular telephone that is repre
`sented by an icon 32 on the GUI 30. The sensor 28 also
`detects the CD player 24 previously shown in FIG. 1. The
`CD player 24 is represented by icon 34 on GUI 30. In this
`example, the audio manager 14 also detects a car radio that
`is represented by icon 37 on GUI 30. The audio sources can
`be any portable wireleSS device or any hardwired device
`connected by wires to the vehicle's electrical System.
`0017. The audio manager 14 detects and communicates
`with the different wireleSS audio Sources using any one of a
`variety of wireleSS communication protocols, Such as Blue
`tooth or IEEE 802.11. The audio manager 14 communicates
`with the different wireleSS audio Sources using the open
`communication protocol described in co-pending U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/841,753 entitled: OPEN
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME MUL
`TIPROCESSOR APPLICATIONS filed on Apr. 24, 2001
`and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/841,915
`entitled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC
`CONFIGURATION OF MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM
`filed on Apr. 24, 2001 which are both herein incorporated by
`reference.
`0018. The audio manager 14 can also detect different
`portable audio output devices and any audio output devices
`contained in the audio output device. For example, the CD
`player 24 when detected by sensor 28 notifies the audio
`
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`
`manger 14 that there is also an attached headset 28. The
`audio output devices could also be a speaker in the CD
`player, other Speakers in the vehicle 12, or portable Speakers
`that have no associated audio Source.
`0019. The audio manager 14 displays the different audio
`output devices on GUI 30. For example, vehicle installed car
`speakers 20A-20D are displayed in their permanent loca
`tions in the side doors of vehicle 12. The CD player 24 and
`headset 28 are shown located in the left rear seat of vehicle
`12. The cellphone 38 is shown located in the front passenger
`seat. The radio 37 is shown in the front dash of vehicle 12.
`The position of the different portable audio sources and
`audio output devices are determined using known position
`locating circuitry located in Sensor 28.
`0020. The audio manager 14 allows a user to selectively
`connect the different audio Sources to the different audio
`output devices by dragging and dropping icons 32, 34, and
`36 over the different icons 20A-20D, 29, and 38 representing
`the different audio output devices. For example, to output a
`cellular telephone conversation over the car Speakers 20A
`20D and the headset 29, an operator simply drags icon 32
`over the speaker icons 20A-20D and the headset icon 29.
`The audio manager 14 accordingly will direct the audio
`output from the cellular telephone 38 to the car speakers and
`the headset 29.
`0021. In another example, the audio data played by the
`CD player 24 is output from the car speakers by dragging the
`icon 34 over icons 20A-20D. If the car speakers are cur
`rently connected to the car radio 37, the audio manager 14
`disconnects the audio output from the car radio 37 from the
`speakers 20A-20D and connects the audio output from the
`CD player 24 to the car speakers 20A-20D. In yet another
`example, the audio signal from the CD player 24 is con
`nected only to the rear Speakers by dragging and dropping
`the icon 34 over speaker icons 20B and 20D.
`0022 Referring to FIG. 3, the audio manager 14 in block
`42 monitors the area around and inside the vehicle 12 for any
`audio Sources or audio output devices that may be transmit
`ting a wireleSS Signal. Any detected audio Sources or audio
`output devices are displayed on the GUI 30 in block 44. The
`data manager in block 46 then determines what applications
`are associated with the different audio Sources. For example,
`one detected audio Source may include a CD player appli
`cation and another audio Source may include a tape player
`and MP3 player application. The applications associated
`with the different audio sources are displayed on the GUI in
`block 48.
`0023 The data manager 14 in block 50 identifies any
`priorities and Security values associated with the identified
`audio applications. In block 52, the data manager 14 iden
`tifies requests to output different ones of the audio Sources
`to different ones of the audio output devices. The selected
`audio application may have a higher priority than the audio
`application that is currently connected to the Selected audio
`output device. If the priority of the requesting audio appli
`cation is the same or higher than the currently connected
`audio application, then the audio manager 14 in block 56
`replaces the audio application currently coupled to the audio
`output device with the Selected audio application. If the
`requesting audio application has a lower priority than the
`audio application currently coupled to the audio output
`device, then the audio manager in block 54 will not connect
`the new audio application.
`
`0024. The audio application priorities are used by the
`data manager to determine what audio Sources are allowed
`to be circumvented by other audio Sources. For example, an
`audio Source that generates a collision warning Signal may
`have a high priority that can override lower audio applica
`tions, Such as audio applications that only play music. AS
`Soon as the collision warning Signal is no longer generated,
`the previous audio Source is reconnected to the audio output
`device.
`0025. In another embodiment, a car radio may be playing
`a news weather report from the car Speakers. A user of the
`GUI 30 may move a CD audio source over the vehicle
`speaker icons 20A-20D (FIG. 2). If the radio weather report
`contains a higher priority value than a priority value asso
`ciated with the music played over the portable CD player,
`the CD player will not be allowed to output audio signals to
`the car Speakers. After the weather report is finished, the next
`radio program output from the car radio may have the same
`or a lower priority than the CD player. For example, the next
`program coming from the vehicle radio may be music.
`Because the music from the CD player has the same or
`higher priority than the music currently being played by the
`radio, the data manager 12 redirects the music output from
`the CD player over the car Speakers.
`0026. In yet another application, some audio devices or
`applications may not have a Sufficient Security value for
`accessing any of the audio output devices in vehicle 12. The
`data manager 14 reads a Security value in block 50, if any,
`transmitted by the audio Source. If the Security value is
`below some value established by the audio manager 14, or
`if the portable audio Source has no Security value, then the
`audio Source is not acknowledged by the audio manager 14
`and not allowed to be connected to the audio output devices
`in block 54.
`0027. The priority and security operations of the data
`manager are explained in further detail in co-pending U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/841,753 entitled: OPEN
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME MUL
`TIPROCESSOR APPLICATIONS filed on Apr. 24, 2001
`and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/841,915
`entitled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC
`CONFIGURATION OF MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM
`filed on Apr. 24, 2001.
`Object Collision Detection
`0028 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the audio manager 14
`also integrates object collision detection into the vehicle
`audio system. As described above in FIG. 1, multiple object
`detection sensors 16, 18 and 22 are connected to the audio
`manager 14 and are positioned around the vehicle 12 in
`different locations. Each sensor 16, 18 and 22 can detect
`objects around the perimeter of the vehicle 12.
`0029 Referring specifically to FIG. 4, the audio manager
`14 in block 42 receives the sensor data from the external
`Sensors 16, 18 and 22. The audio manager 14 includes image
`processing algorithms that detect, and possibly identify,
`different objects that are within the range of the sensors 16,
`18 or 22. A signal processor determines Velocity vectors for
`both the detected object and the vehicle 12. The velocity
`vectors include the position, direction, and Speed. Based on
`the Velocity vectors, it might be determined that a possible
`collision condition exists between the detected object and
`the vehicle 12.
`
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`0030) If a collision condition is determined in block 60,
`the audio manager in block 62 patches-in a warning Signal
`to Some or all audio output devices in block 62. The warning
`Signal is annunciated by the audio output devices in block
`64. Because audio output devices can be wirelessly coupled
`to different audio Sources, the audio manager 14 can output
`the collision warning to any portable device that may be
`located in or around the vehicle 12. For example, the audio
`manager 14 can patch-in the collision warning Signal to
`headset 28 in the portable CD player 24 (FIG. 1). That way,
`every passenger in the vehicle 12 is notified of the collision
`condition regardless of whether the passenger is listening to
`an in-dash radio, talking on a cellular telephone, or listening
`to music on the portable CD player. The collision warning is
`annunciated in block 64 until the collision condition is no
`longer detected in block 66. When the collision condition no
`longer exists, the audio manager in block 68 reconnects the
`audio Sources that were previously connected to the audio
`output devices before the collision condition was detected.
`0.031
`FIG. 5 shows how the audio manager 14 provides
`3-D audible signaling that helps a car operator identify
`where objects are detected in relationship to vehicle 12. This
`feature provides additional audio navigation Support to the
`car operator that help avoid collisions. In block 70 the audio
`navigation Support function is activated. This may be done
`manually by the vehicle operator or automatically whenever
`the vehicle is turned on. The audio manager 14 is notified
`that an object has been detected in block 72. The audio
`manager 14 determines a current location associated with
`the detected object in block 74. The audio manager 14
`determines the object location according to which Sensors
`detected the object and according to the location of the
`object identified in the Sensor data.
`0032) If the detected object is within a first range in front
`of the vehicle 12 in block 76, the audio manger 14 outputs
`a warning signal from the front speakers 20A and 20O (FIG.
`2) in block 84. If the detected object is detected within a
`Second range inside the first range in block 78, then the
`warning signal in block 86 is output in both the front
`speakers 20A and 20C and the rear speakers 20B and 20D
`of the vehicle 12. If the object is detected within the first
`range behind the vehicle in block 80, then the warning signal
`is annunciated only from the rear speakers 20B and 20D in
`block 88. When the object is detected outside of the first
`range in block 82, the warning Signal is cancelled by the
`audio manager 14 in block 90.
`0033. The audio manager dynamically varies which
`vehicle Speakers output the warning Signal according to
`where the object is currently being detected. This provides
`the car driver with a 3-D audible indication of where the
`object is located. Even if not displayed, the car driver has
`Some indication of where the object is located and where to
`turn to avoid a collision. Because the audio manager pro
`vides position information, the driver has a better and faster
`ability to See and then avoid possible collisions.
`0034 FIGS. 6A-6C show another example of how the
`audio manager 14 provides 3-D collision notification.
`Vehicle 92 includes a front left speaker 96, a front right
`speaker 98, a rear left speaker 100, and a rear right speaker
`102. The vehicle 92 is moving in a northerly direction and
`a Second vehicle 94 is moving in an opposite Southerly
`direction.
`
`0035) Vehicle 94 is detected by sensors (not shown) on
`vehicle 92. At the position of vehicle 94 in FIG. 6A, the
`audio manager 14 generates a warning Signal only in Speaker
`92. In FIG. 6B, the vehicle 94 moves closer along the left
`side of vehicle 92. The audio manager 14 accordingly
`outputs the warning signal in both speakers 96 and 100.
`Because the vehicle 94 is detected in closer proximity to
`vehicle 92 in FIG. 6B, the audio manager 14 increases the
`Volume of the warning Signal output from Speakers 96 and
`100. In FIG.6C the vehicle 94 is detected moving away and
`along a rear end of vehicle 92. The audio manager 14
`accordingly directs the warning Signal out from the rear
`speakers 100 and 102 in vehicle 92. Since the vehicle 94 is
`moving away from vehicle 92, the volume of the warning
`signal is reduced and eventually fades off until the vehicle 94
`is outside of a predetermined range of vehicle 92.
`0036) The dynamic 3-D movement of the warning signals
`to different Speakers and at different volume levels propor
`tional to a distance of the detected object 94 from the vehicle
`92 provides a Doppler effect similar to that experienced by
`a perSon hearing a whistle from a train as it travels toward
`and then away from the perSon. This provides an audible
`sensory effect of movement for the detected object that
`allows the listener to better identify collision conditions.
`0037 FIG. 7 shows in more detail the functional com
`ponents of the audio manager 14. A processor 110 receives
`Sensor data from an external Sensor interface 112. The Sensor
`data received over Sensor interface 112 is processed by a
`digital signal processor 114. The Signal processor 114 iden
`tifies and locates objects in the received sensor data. The
`Signal processor 114 also identifies kinematic State informa
`tion for the objects detected in the sensor data. The kine
`matic State information may include the Speed, direction,
`location and acceleration of the detected objects. Signal
`processing algorithms implemented in the Signal processor
`114 for detecting, identifying and determining the kinematic
`State for objects detected from radar, infrared, or other types
`of sensor data is well known and is therefore not described
`in further detail.
`0038 A wireless audio interface 116 detects and com
`municates wirelessly with different wireless audio devices
`Such as CD players, MP3 players, tape players, cellular
`telephones, televisions, DVD players, and any other device
`that can output wireless audio stream. The interface 116
`detects and communicates either through an associated
`audio Source or independently with different audio output
`devices Such as Speakers. An audio wiring harneSS 118
`couples the processor 110 to any other audio devices that are
`hardwired in the vehicle. A graphical interface 120 is used
`by a vehicle operator to manually Select different audio
`Sources for connecting to different audio output devices.
`0039 FIG. 8 shows in more detail the functional blocks
`of an audio Source that communicates with the audio man
`ager 14. An audio player 122 is connected to SpeakerS 123.
`A wireleSS interface 124 communicates with the audio
`interface 116 of the audio manager 14 shown in FIG. 7. As
`mentioned above, the communication protocol used between
`the audio device and the audio manager 14 can be any
`wireleSS protocol used for transmitting data, Such as Blue
`tooth or IEEE 802.11.
`0040. The wireless interface 124, in one example, sends
`out the audio data in packets 126 that include headers 128
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`that are used to conduct the wireleSS communication proto
`col with the audio manager 14. A priority value 130 assigns
`a priority to audio data 133. A Security value 132 assigns a
`security value to the audio data 133.
`0041. It should also be understood that the audio manager
`described above can be utilized for environments other than
`in a vehicle. For example, the audio manger can be used in
`a home or office environment. The audio manager can be
`located in a Personal Computer (PC) of other audio circuitry,
`Such as in a home entertainment center or home Stereo. The
`audio Sources can include any portable or hardwired audio
`device that is brought into the vicinity of the data manager
`audio Sensor. In one example, there may be multiple audio
`Sensors located in different rooms or offices. The graphical
`user interface may be the Screen of a PC, a television
`coupled to the audio manager or any other Screen used in a
`home entertainment System. The audio output devices can be
`any Stereo Speakers, television Speakers, telephone speakers,
`PC Speakers, etc. located in the home or office.
`0042. The system described above can use dedicated
`processor Systems, micro controllers, programmable logic
`devices, or microprocessors that perform Some or all of the
`operations. Some of the operations described above may be
`implemented in Software and other operations may be imple
`mented in hardware.
`0.043
`For the sake of convenience, the operations are
`described as various interconnected functional blocks or
`distinct Software modules. This is not necessary, however,
`and there may be cases where these functional blocks or
`modules are equivalently aggregated into a Single logic
`device, program or operation with unclear boundaries. In
`any event, the functional blocks and Software modules or
`described features can be implemented by themselves, or in
`combination with other operations in either hardware or
`Software.
`0044 Having described and illustrated the principles of
`the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be
`apparent that the invention may be modified in arrangement
`and detail without departing from Such principles claim is
`made to all modifications and variation coming within the
`Spirit and Scope of the following claims.
`1. A vehicle audio System, comprising:
`a wireleSS audio Sensor configured to wirelessly detect
`different audio Sources brought into or next to a vehicle;
`wireleSS audio output devices for Outputting audio data;
`and
`a processor for Selectively connecting the different audio
`Sources to the audio output devices.
`2. A vehicle audio System according to claim 1 including
`a graphical user interface that automatically displays the
`different audio Sources detected by the wireleSS audio Sensor.
`3. A vehicle audio System according to claim 2 wherein
`the graphical user interface automatically displays the wire
`leSS audio output devices brought into or next to the vehicle.
`4. A vehicle audio System according to claim 3 wherein
`the different audio Sources are Selectively connected to the
`different audio output devices by dragging and dropping
`icons displayed on the graphical user interface representing
`the different audio Sources over icons representing the audio
`output devices.
`
`5. A vehicle audio System according to claim 1 including
`object Sensors connected to the processor.
`6. A vehicle audio System according to claim 5 wherein
`the processor causes the audio output devices to output a
`warning Signal according to how far an object detected by
`the object sensor is from the vehicle.
`7. A vehicle audio System according to claim 6 wherein
`the processor causes the audio output devices to output a low
`Volume warning Signal when the object is detected at a far
`distance from the vehicle, a medium Volume warning Signal
`when the object is detected at a medium distance from the
`vehicle, and a high volume warning Signal when the object
`is detected at a close distance to the vehicle.
`8. A vehicle audio System according to claim 5 wherein
`the audio output devices are located at different locations in
`the vehicle and the processor outputs a warning Signal to the
`audio output devices at the locations associated with a
`detected location of the object.
`9. A vehicle audio System according to claim 8 wherein
`the processor automatically interrupts other audio Sources
`with the warning Signal when the object comes within a
`Specified distance of the vehicle.
`10. A vehicle audio System according to claim 1 wherein
`the different audio Sources are assigned priority values and
`the processor couples the audio Sources to the audio output
`devices according to the priority values.
`11. A vehicle audio System according to claim 1 wherein
`the different audio Sources are assigned Security values and
`the processor couples the audio Sources to the audio output
`devices according to the security values.
`12. A vehicle audio System according to claim 1 wherein
`one of the audio Sources comprises a cellular telephone that
`generates an output Signal that is detected by the wireleSS
`audio Sensor when located inside or next to the vehicle.
`13. A vehicle audio System according to claim 1 wherein
`at least Some of the audio output devices comprise in-dash
`vehicle Speakers.
`14. A method for annunciating distance information in a
`vehicle, comprising:
`detecting an object outside a vehicle,
`generating a warning Signal identifying the detected
`object; and
`continuously varying the loudness of the warning Signal
`in proportion to a detected distance of the object from
`the vehicle.
`15. A method according to claim 14 including varying a
`tone of the warning Signal according to the detected distance
`of the object from the vehicle.
`16. A method according to claim 14 including outputting
`the warning Signal in different speaker locations in the
`vehicle associated with different locations where the object
`is detected.
`17. A method according to claim 16 including:
`outputting the warning Signal from a front right Speaker
`when the object is detected generally along a front right
`corner of the vehicle;
`outputting the warning Signal from both the front right
`Speaker and a rear right Speaker when the object is
`detected generally along a right Side of the vehicle;
`
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`US 2002/01961.34 A1
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`Dec. 26, 2002
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`outputting the warning Signal in the rear right Speaker
`when the object is detected generally around a rear
`right corner of the vehicle;
`outputting the warning Signal in a left rear Speaker and the
`right rear Speaker when the object is detected generally
`along a rear end of the vehicle;
`outputting the warning Signal in the rear left Speaker when
`the object is detected generally along a left rear corner
`of the vehicle;
`outputting the warning Signal in the rear left Speaker and
`a front left Speaker when the object is detected gener
`ally along a left Side of the vehicle;
`outputting the warning Signal in a front left Speaker when
`the object is detected generally along a front left corner
`of the vehicle; and
`outputting the warning Signal in the front left Speaker and
`the front right Speaker when the object is detected
`generally along a front end of the vehicle.
`18. A method according to claim 14 including detecting
`mobile audio Sources that are moved into, or next to, the
`vehicle and automatically displaying the mobile audio
`Sources along with any hardwired audio Sources and any
`audio output devices on a graphical user interface.
`19. A method according to claim 18 including controlling
`which of the audio Sources are output from the audio output
`devices by dragging icons on the graphical user interface
`representing the audio Sources over icons on the graphical
`user interface representing the audio output devices.
`20. A method according to claim 18 including detecting
`the mobile audio Sources using a Sensor that detects wireleSS
`Signals output by the mobile audio Sources.
`
`21. A method according to claim 20 including:
`detecting Speakers in the mobile audio Sources,
`displaying the Speakers on the graphical user interface;
`and
`connecting any of the audio Sources detected in the
`Vehicle to any of the detected Speakers in the mobile
`audio devices by dragging icons on the graphical user
`interface representing the audio Sources over icons on
`the graphical user interface representing the Speakers.
`22. A method according to claim 14 including automati
`cally patching-in a warning Signal to all audio Sources in the
`vehicle when a collision condition is detected.
`23. An audio Syst