(12) United States Patent
`Barnea et al.
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US006396164Bl
`US 6,396,164 Bl
`May 28, 2002
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`INTEGRATING CONTROLS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Michael Barnea, Highland Park; Mark
`A. Ruthenbeck, Gurnee, both of IL
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/421,654
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 20, 1999
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................... B60L 1/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................... 307/10.1; 701/36; 701/49
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 307/9.1, 10.1;
`701/36, 48, 49; 340/825.52
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,032,089 A * 2/2000 Buckley .. ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 701/36
`
`6,114,970 A * 9/2000 Kirson et al. .......... 340/825.52
`6,163,079 A * 12/2000 Miyazaki et al. .......... 307/10.1
`6,189,057 Bl * 2/2001 Schwanz et al. .............. 701/72
`6,236,918 Bl * 5/2001 Sonoda et al. ................ 701/36
`6,240,347 Bl * 5/2001 Everhart et al.
`.............. 701/36
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Josie Ballato
`Assistant Examiner-Sharon Polk
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gary J. Cunningham;
`Steven A May
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Electronic devices (38) are added to the electrical system
`(10) of a motor vehicle and utilize controls (20-26) and
`indicators (14) existing within the vehicle. The add-on
`electronic devices (34-38) interact with a gateway (30), and
`the gateway (30) is coupled to the electrical system (10). The
`function of the controls (20-26) and indicators (14) within
`the vehicle are context controlled relative to the operating
`context of the existing vehicle electronic systems and the
`add-on electronic devices (34-38).
`
`19 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`rlO
`
`28
`
`24
`
`20
`
`18
`
`22
`
`HVAC
`
`52
`
`12
`
`___________ ...J
`
`14
`
`DIC
`
`16
`
`RADIO
`
`42
`
`31
`
`30
`
`44
`
`GATEWAY
`
`52
`
`36
`
`34
`
`PAGER
`
`CELL
`PHONE
`
`DEVICE
`
`40
`
`46
`
`48
`
`33
`
`32
`
`38
`
`Daimler Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 1 of 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`May 28, 2002
`May 28, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
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`Page 2 of 6
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 28, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
`
`US 6,396,164 Bl
`
`100
`
`-
`1 02
`
`~
`
`104
`
`106
`
`-
`108
`
`RECEIVE INPUT
`FROM A CONTROL
`
`, ,
`
`DETERMINE THE
`OPERATING CONTEXT
`
`1
`
`INDENTIFY THE DEVICE
`ASSOCIATED WITH THE
`OPERATING CONTEXT
`
`. '
`MAP CONTROL INPUT
`TO CONTROL DATA
`FOR THE DEVICE
`
`FIG.2
`
`Page 3 of 6
`
`

`

`US 6,396,164 Bl
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`INTEGRATING CONTROLS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to vehicle electri-
`cal systems, and more particularly, to a method and appa(cid:173)
`ratus for integrating control functions within a vehicle
`electrical system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`actually permits such interaction has not been achieved.
`Therefore, each add-on electronic device still requires a set
`of controls and displays separate from the vehicle controls
`and displays.
`Thus there is a need for a method and apparatus of
`integrating the controls and indicators of add-on devices
`with the existing electronic devices within a motor vehicle.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. l is a block diagram illustration of vehicle electronic
`system architecture in accordance with a preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of integrating
`controls and functions in accordance with a preferred
`15 embodiment of the invention.
`
`Motor vehicles have seen a tremendous increase in the use
`of in-vehicle electronics. Many of these in-vehicle electron-
`ics are adapted to provide the vehicle driver and occupants
`with a vast amount and array of data and information via
`wireless communication technology, and to allow them to
`communicate data and information outside of the vehicle
`also using wireless technology. An example of these elec(cid:173)
`tronics devices are on-board navigation systems, remote
`vehicle diagnostic systems, real-time weather service, voice 20
`communication, Internet access, email and paging.
`However, since the design cycle for the typical motor
`vehicle is relatively long as compared to the design cycle for
`new electronic devices, new state-of-the art electronic prod(cid:173)
`ucts are available but may not be readily adaptable to the
`motor vehicle.
`Many motor vehicles are designed with an original equip(cid:173)
`ment manufacturer (OEM) communication bus structure
`that allows the original equipment (OE) electronic devices to
`communicate with each other and with device controllers 30
`and with other vehicle systems connected to the bus. This
`bus structure, however, typically operates using a propri(cid:173)
`etary communication protocol. The OE devices connected to
`the OEM bus are generally designed and engineered or
`specified by the vehicle manufacturer such that they are
`completely compatible with the proprietary protocol.
`However, since each manufacturer may have its own
`protocol, devices that are typically available as aftermarket
`equipment may not readily interface with the OEM bus. In
`addition, in view of the many governmental requirements
`for vehicle certification, safety, fuel economy, emissions,
`etc., and the possibility of adverse interactions between
`add-on devices with the vehicle systems, many manufactur(cid:173)
`ers restrict the ability to add devices directly to the OEM bus
`even if designed to be compatible. Hence, one will appre(cid:173)
`ciate that while numerous state-of-the-art electronic devices
`are being introduced into the market place, many such
`devices are not easily adapted to the many different motor
`vehicles.
`It has been proposed to provide a gateway to the OEM bus
`that permits a limited amount of interaction between add-on
`electronic devices and the OEM bus. However, having
`generally restricted direct access to the OEM bus, the
`vehicle manufacturers have also, as a result, generally
`restricted access to the various controls and indicators, e.g.,
`switches, buttons, displays, etc., within the vehicle that
`provide control input and feedback to and from the many
`different features and functions contained within the vehicle.
`For example, it is now common to include control switches
`on the steering wheel that allow the vehicle operator to 60
`control such things as the heating, ventilating and air con(cid:173)
`ditioning (HVAC) system, the radio, and the like. It is also
`common to provide vehicle information systems that display
`various information relating to the operation of the vehicle.
`While it has been only suggested to have such a gateway 65
`permit interaction of the OE controls and indicators with the
`add-on devices, a suitable architecture and methodology that
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`In accordance with the invention, electronic devices are
`added to the electrical system of a motor vehicle and utilize
`controls and indicators existing within the vehicle. The
`add-on electronic devices interact with a device bus, and the
`device bus interfaces with the vehicle bus and vehicle
`25 electrical system via a gateway. The function of the controls
`and indicators within the vehicle are context controlled
`relative to the operating state of the existing vehicle elec(cid:173)
`tronic systems and the add-on electronic devices.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle electrical system 10
`includes an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) data
`bus, vehicle bus 12, to which various original equipment
`(OE) electronic devices are coupled. As shown in FIG. 1, at
`least a driver information center (DIC) 14, a radio 16 and an
`HVAC controller 18 are coupled to the vehicle bus 12. The
`35 DIC 14 includes a suitable display, such as a light emitting
`diode (LED) or liquid crystal (LC) display that may provide
`text and graphic information to the driver. Also coupled to
`the vehicle bus 12 are controls 20, 22, 24 and 26, e.g.,
`switches, that as illustrated in FIG. 1 may be provided on a
`40 steering wheel 28 of the vehicle.
`Coupled to the vehicle bus 12 is a gateway 30. The
`gateway 30 couples the vehicle bus 12 with a device bus 32.
`To the device bus 32 is coupled to numerous additional
`electronic devices such as pager 34, cellular telephone 36
`45 and other electronic devices generally indicated as device
`38. The other devices that may be coupled to the device bus
`32, without limiting the number or type of devices, include
`navigation systems, infrared transceivers, personal
`computers, personal digital assistants, communication/data
`50 ports or docking stations, and the like. The devices coupled
`to the device bus 32 may communicate on a peer-to-peer
`basis permitting the device bus 32 to operate without a
`separate bus controller, and each device may further include
`memory for retaining operating information. While the
`55 preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows the electron(cid:173)
`ics devices coupled to the gateway 30 by way of the device
`bus 32, it will be appreciated that the device bus 32 may not
`be necessary and the electronic devices may be coupled
`directly to the gateway 32
`Also coupled to the data bus 32 is an auxiliary control
`assembly 40 including a plurality of controls, 42, 44, 46 and
`48, e.g., switches. The control assembly 40 may also include
`a display or indicators such as a LC display, LEDs, a voice
`synthesizer or an audible signal generator all generally
`illustrated as display 50. As will be described, the devices
`34--38 may be controlled and operated using the vehicle
`controls 20---26 and/or the controls 42-48.
`
`Page 4 of 6
`
`

`

`US 6,396,164 Bl
`
`10
`
`20
`
`3
`The controls 20-26 provide control signals which are
`communicated along a data link 52 to the vehicle bus 12 and
`hence to the gateway 30. In accordance with the invention,
`the controls 20---26 are not associated with the operation of
`any one particular electronic device, e.g., devices 16 and 18
`coupled to vehicle bus 12 or devices 34-38 coupled to the
`device bus 32. Whether the operation of any device is
`effected by manipulation of controls 20-26 depends on the
`current operating context of the electronic system 10.
`Similarly, controls 42-48 are not associated with the opera(cid:173)
`tion of any one particular device. Furthermore, the informa(cid:173)
`tion provided or displayed by either the DIC 14 and/or the
`display 50 may depend on the operating context.
`In a preferred embodiment, the operating context may be
`determined by the gateway 30. The gateway 30 may further
`include a memory 31 in which the various operating con(cid:173)
`texts of the electronic system 10 are stored. Associated with
`each of the operating contexts stored within the memory 31
`is control data. The control data provides a mapping of
`control manipulations to control data appropriate for the
`given device.
`Operating context may be established in a number of
`ways. For example, a default context may exist wherein
`manipulation of the controls 20-26 and 42-48 control a
`default electronic device or devices. For example, controls
`20 and 22 may, in the default context, control the volume, up
`or down, respectively, of the radio 16. The operating context
`may be selectable. For example, from the default context
`control 24 may manipulate a scrolling list of operating
`context choices on either or both of DIC 14 and display 50 30
`while control 26 may permit selection of a particular oper(cid:173)
`ating context. Upon selection, the electronic system 10
`enters the operating context.
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`invention, the operating context may be automatically 35
`selected based upon activation or operating state of a device.
`For example, if a page, e.g., data from an external source, is
`received by the pager 34, the pager 34 may send a message
`to the gateway 30 via the data link 52 indicating that a page
`has been received. The gateway 30 then automatically enters 40
`the operating context for the pager 34. If the previous
`operating context was the default operating context, the
`control 20 and 22 may be modified such that instead of
`effecting upon actuation radio volume, manipulation now
`provides for page acknowledgment and page read functions, 45
`respectively. That is, upon actuating control 20, a signal is
`received by the gateway 30. According to the operating
`context for the pager 34, the gateway 30 maps the input from
`control 20 to control data for the pager 34 that instructs the
`pager 34 to acknowledge the page. The gateway 30 then 50
`sends the data to the pager 34 via the link 52 and the device
`bus 32. Similarly, an input received from control 22 is
`mapped to control data for pager 34 to read the page. Upon
`receiving the control data to read the page, the pager 34
`places the page data on the device bus 32. With the operating 55
`context established for the pager 34, the page data received
`by the pager 34 is provided to the DIC 14 and/or the display
`50 and appropriately displayed.
`The default operating context may be returned to follow(cid:173)
`ing a time-out period. For example, once the page data has 60
`been displayed, after the time-out period the operating
`context may revert back to the default operating context.
`Alternatively, the vehicle operator may select a new oper(cid:173)
`ating context, for example, if in response to the page the
`vehicle operator wants to make a call using the cell phone 65
`36. Still, activation of another device may cause the elec(cid:173)
`tronic system to enter a different operating context.
`
`4
`It will be appreciated that some operating contexts may
`have priority over others such that a current operating
`context is maintained even in light of a change in a device
`operating state. Alternatively, hybrid or temporary operating
`5 contexts may be created. For example, if the current oper(cid:173)
`ating context is that associated with the cell phone 36,
`controls 20 and 22 may control the speaker volume for the
`cell phone 36. If a page is received by the pager 34, a
`temporary mapping may be established by the gateway 30 so
`that control 20 provides control inputs to the pager 34 to
`acknowledge the page, after which control 20 again provides
`speaker volume control.
`Auxiliary control assembly 40 and the associated controls
`42-48 may provide operation similar to controls 20---26. That
`15 is, control 42 may provide the same function as control 20,
`control 44 the same as control 22 and so on. Alternatively,
`controls 42-48 may provide different functions. Whether the
`controls 42-48 provide the same or different function as
`controls 20-26 is again dependent on the operating context.
`For example, in the default context, it may be preferred to
`have the controls 42-48 operate one or more of the devices
`34--38 while the controls 20---26 operate one or more of the
`devices 16 and 18. It should be further appreciated that
`certain controls may have fixed functions. That is, certain
`25 controls may provide the same function regardless of oper(cid:173)
`ating context. Of course, each device may still have its own
`set of dedicated controls; however, it should be appreciated
`that these controls too may be made flexible in accordance
`with the invention.
`With reference to FIG. 2, a method 100 in accordance
`with the invention begins at step 102 with receipt of an input
`from at least one of the controls 20---26 and 42-48. The
`gateway 30 then determines the operating context of the
`electronic system 10, step 104. Depending on the operating
`context, i.e., which device the operating context is associ(cid:173)
`ated with, step 106, the input is mapped to control data for
`the appropriate device, step 108. Thus, the invention pro(cid:173)
`vides a method of utilizing the controls already within a
`vehicle to control devices that are later added to the vehicle.
`As described, the gateway 30 may retain the data neces(cid:173)
`sary to determine the current operating context as well as the
`data necessary to map inputs from the controls 20-26 and
`42-48 to control data for the appropriate device. When a
`device is added to the device bus 32, the device may
`preferably report data to the gateway 30 that defines the
`device's operating context and associated control data. Thus,
`new devices are easily added to the electronic system 10
`utilizing the controls and indicators already associated with
`the electronic system 10.
`Still other modifications and alternative embodiments of
`the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in
`view of the foregoing description. This description is to be
`construed as illustrative only, and is for the purpose of
`teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out
`the invention. The details of the structure and method may
`be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of
`the intention, and the exclusive use of all modifications
`which come within the scope of the appended claims is
`reserved.
`We claim:
`1. A method of controlling a vehicle electronic system, the
`vehicle electronic system comprising a plurality of elec(cid:173)
`tronic devices coupled by a gateway to an original equip(cid:173)
`ment manufacturer (OEM) control, the method comprising
`the steps of:
`establishing one of a plurality of operating contexts of the
`vehicle electronic system, wherein each operating con-
`
`Page 5 of 6
`
`

`

`US 6,396,164 Bl
`
`10
`
`5
`text of the plurality of operating contexts is associated
`with an operation of an electronic device of the plu(cid:173)
`rality of electronic devices;
`receiving an input from the OEM control;
`determining whether the operating context is an operating 5
`context associated with a first electronic device of the
`plurality of electronic devices; and
`modifying the OEM control for providing control data
`appropriate to the operation of the first electronic
`device when the operating context is the operating
`context associated with the first electronic device.
`2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
`controlling the first electronic device from the original
`equipment manufacturer (OEM) control.
`3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating context
`is established by an activation of the first electronic device.
`4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating context
`is established by receipt from an external source of data by
`the first electronic device.
`5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of
`providing from the first electronic device context informa(cid:173)
`tion to the gateway, the context information identifying the
`operating context associated with the first electronic device
`and the control data associated with the operation of the first
`electronic device.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic system
`further comprises at least one indicator coupled to the
`gateway, and the method further comprises the steps of:
`providing indication data from the first electronic device 30
`and
`indicating the indication data on the indicator.
`7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication data
`indicates the operating context.
`8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining
`comprises a step of determining whether the operating
`context is an operating context associated with a first elec(cid:173)
`tronic device of the plurality of electronic devices or with a
`second electronic device of the plurality of electronic
`devices, and wherein the step of modifying comprises steps 40
`of:
`modifying the control for providing control data appro(cid:173)
`priate to the operation of the first electronic device
`when the operating context is the operating context
`associated with the first electronic device; and
`modifying the control for providing control data appro(cid:173)
`priate to the operation of the second electronic device
`when the operating context is the operating context
`associated with the second electronic device.
`9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first electronic 50
`device is operably coupled to the gateway via a device bus
`and wherein the second electronic device is operably
`coupled to the gateway via a vehicle bus.
`10. A vehicle electronic system comprising:
`an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) control;
`a gateway operably coupled to the OEM control;
`a plurality of electronic devices coupled to the gateway;
`
`6
`the vehicle electronic system having at least one operating
`context associated with each electronic device of the
`plurality of electronic devices; and
`wherein the gateway contains data identifying the oper(cid:173)
`ating context associated with each electronic device
`and further contains control data associated with the
`operation of the electronic device, and within the
`operating context, provides control data to the elec(cid:173)
`tronic device responsive to an input from the OEM
`control, allowing the OEM control to control each
`device based on the operating context.
`11. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, wherein the
`original equipment manufacturer OEM control comprises
`one or more of a vehicle control and an auxiliary control,
`15 wherein the vehicle control is operably coupled to the
`gateway via a vehicle bus, wherein the auxiliary control is
`operably coupled to the gateway via a device bus, wherein
`a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices
`is coupled to the vehicle bus, wherein a second electronic
`20 device of the plurality of electronic devices is coupled to the
`device bus, and wherein each of the vehicle control and the
`auxiliary control is capable of operating each of the first
`electronic device and the second electronic device.
`12. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, wherein a
`25 first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices
`comprises a vehicle device operably coupled to the via a
`vehicle bus, and wherein the gateway contains data identi(cid:173)
`fying an operating context associated with the vehicle device
`and control data associated with the operation of the vehicle
`device.
`13. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, further
`comprising at least one indicator operably coupled to the
`gateway.
`14. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, wherein at
`35 least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic
`devices comprises one of the group of devices consisting of
`a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal computer, a personal
`digital assistant, a navigation system, an infrared interface,
`an entertainment device and a data port.
`15. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, further
`comprising a device bus coupled to the gateway and wherein
`at least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic
`devices is coupled to the device bus.
`16. The vehicle electronic system of claim 15, further
`45 comprising a vehicle bus and wherein at least one electronic
`device of the plurality of electronic devices is coupled to the
`vehicle bus.
`17. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, wherein the
`original equipment manufacturer (OEM) control comprises
`a switch device.
`18. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, wherein the
`original equipment manufacturer OEM control comprises a
`switch in an OEM auxiliary control assembly.
`19. The vehicle electronic system of claim 10, wherein the
`55 original equipment manufacturer OEM control comprises a
`switch on a steering wheel.
`
`* * * * *
`
`Page 6 of 6
`
`