11/1997 Milani et al. ow... 455/412
`5,684,860 A
`
`3/1998 Spauretal. .......
`5,732,074 A
`3/1998 Seward et al. wc. 343/722
`5,734,352 A *
`5/1998 Morimoto et al.
`.......... 345/156
`5,757,359 A *
`Inventors: Tommy Gustavsson, Greensboro, NC
`
`Seer, AL Sloan Puteaa
`(US); Riley Muse, Chapel Hill, NC
`negoA af685 Cavedlile gl
`(US); Michael Blackard, Madison, NC
`5.894.506 A
`4/1999 Pinter seeecseseeveecceeseee 379/88.23
`(US); Jon Quigley, Kemersville, NC
`Oe ion Oak Ridge, 08: 5,917,408 A
`6/1999 Cardillo et al. wwe 340/439
`
` ........... .. 340/438
`9/1999 Coverdill
`5,957,986 A
`
`
`5,999,882 A * 12/1999 Simpson et al. .........8. 702/3
`6,028,537 A
`2/2000 Sumanetal. ......
`.. 340/988
`
`2/2000 Buckley .........
`.. 701/36
`6,032,089 A
`« 455/412
`6,073,007 A
`6/2000 Doyle ........
`
`6/2000 Ninagawa..........
`-- 340/995
`6,075,467 A *
`.... aaa
`Oren BI * pe Sugiura etal.
`
`3
`ustavsson ........
`3366,
`
`6/2002 Huggett 0... 340/461
`6,407,663 BL *
`8/2003 Coffee et al. oo... 340/438
`6,611,755 B1 *
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`.
`Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.’s Owners’ Manual, pp.
`66, 67, 91, 106-110, 144, 145, 154-157, 160 and 161, date
`unkonwn.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`No.:
`
`No.:
`
`.
`
`Appl.
`PP
`Filed:
`
`21)
`C1)
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC. 1560) by 0 days:
`10/114,626
`°
`Apr. 2, 2002
`
`12
`
`United States Patent
`US 6,828,924 B2
`10) Patent No.:
`9
`9
`Gustavsson et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`
`US006828924B2
`
`INTEGRATED VEHICLE
`COMMUNICATIONS DISPLAY
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`rian
`
`Kidd, Greensboro,
`
`(73) Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.,
`Greensboro, NC (US)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0085819 Al May 8, 2003
`
`(60)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/332,865, filed on Nov. 6,
`2001.
`inte C0 eee eeeeeeseesessneeneeneenes G08G 1/123
`(SV)
`(52) U.S. Ch oe 340/995.1; 340/990; 340/905;
`340/539.13
`(58) Field of Search ..cccccsssssssssssessseeee 440/4955, 435,
`340/436, 438, 903, 905, 988, 439, 539.13
`.
`990, 995.1, 996; 701/1, 2, 21, 36, 49, 209,
`413 07 35: 4032: 543/715 799
`,
`meee
`,
`,
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`4,804,937 A
`........... 340/459
`2/1989 Barbiaux et al.
`
`4,809,177 A
`2/1989 Windle et al.
`......
`TOLL
`
`4,939,652 A
`. 340/438
`7/1990 Steiner ............
`
`5,303,163 A
`4/1994 Ebaughet al... 340/439
`5,544,225 A
`...... 340/431
`8/1996 Kennedy, III et al.
`5,565,874 A * 10/1996 Rode wee eeeeeeeeeee 340/990
`
`examiner
`* cited by
`;
`;
`;
`Primary Examiner—Van T. Trieu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Watts Hoffmann Co.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`.
`.
`.
`Acommunications system for use in a vehicle that allows the
`user of the communicationssystem to safely communicate
`from inside the vehicle. The communications system
`includes a memory
`for storing messages that will
`be trans-
`includ
`ory for
`storing
`messages
`that
`will be
`trat
`mitted by the driver to a receiving party, a sensor for sensing
`movementofthe truck,a display unit coupled to the memory
`and the sensorfor selectively displaying stored messages, a
`selector for selecting at
`least one stored message to be
`communicated to the receiving party, and a transmitter for
`transmitting the one or more stored messages. The display
`unit selectively displays the stored messages based on
`whetheror not the vehicle is stopped preventing the operator
`from being distracted while driving.
`
`51 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`RECENED
`
`
`
`
`SAT COMM
`TRACTOR
`RECEIVED
`
`MESSAGES
`
`
`GAUGE MODE
`TRAILER
`
`
`
`TOWING NEEDED
`FUEL ECONOMY
`
`
`
`
`VEHICLE STATUS
`TIME / DIST
`FUEL ECON
`
`
`
`
`
`ROAD SIDE ASST
`FAULTS / MESSAGES
`LEG FUEL
`TIRE
`
`
`
`FREE TEXT
`
`SET-UP MODE
`38:
`ELECTRICAL,
`
`
`
`SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC
`
`AIR SUPPLY
`
`SERVICE STATUS
`ORIVE - TRAIN
`
`
`DATA LOG MODE
`OTHER
`
`PASSWORD INPUT
`
`Pe:ROAD SIDE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(Tanne[AE
`
`
`
`
`TRACTOR
`TRAILER
`TOWING NEEDED
`
`t
`
`9
`
`Subscription
`© Enable
`® Disable
`
`ASSISTANCE
`—_"
`Mode
`© Driving
`@ Stopped
`
`
`
`
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 1
`Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec.7, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
`67
`
`SATCOMM
`
`SERVER
`
`74
`
`GLOBAL SATELITE
`COMMUNICATION
`UNIT
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 2
`Page 2
`
`

`

`
`
`
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`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
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`US 6,828,924 B2
`
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 3
`Page 3
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
`
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 4
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 6
`Page 6
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
`
`
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 7
`Page 7
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 8
`Page 8
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 9
`Page 9
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 10
`Page 10
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 7, 2004
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 6,828,924 B2
`
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Epic Games Ex. 1033
`Page 11
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`
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`

`

`US 6,828,924 B2
`
`1
`INTEGRATED VEHICLE
`COMMUNICATIONSDISPLAY
`
`This application claims benefit of Provisional application
`Ser. No. 60/332,865 filed Nov. 6, 2001.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention concerns mobile communication,
`and moreparticularly, a vehicle communications system that
`includes a display unit integrated into the vehicle instrument
`cluster and provides a convenient interface that allows the
`driver to easily and safely operate the communications
`system.
`
`2
`memory, a motion and/or location sensor, a display unit, a
`selector, and a transmitter. The communications system is
`used to safely send and receive messages in a heavy duty
`truck or a highway tractor. The memory stores messages [or
`transmission by the driver of the truck to a receiving party.
`The sensor senses movementof the truck. The display unit
`is coupled to the memory and the sensor. The display unit
`displays stored messages when the truck is stopped. The
`selector is used to select one or more of stored messagesthat
`are to be transmitted to the receiving party. The transmitter
`transmits the one or more selected messagesto the receiving
`party.
`the communications system is
`In one embodiment,
`adapted to send messages to a receiving party and to receive
`messages from a sending party. One configuration of the
`communications system includes a text display unit that is
`Wireless communications systems on highwaytractors or
`integrated into an instrument panel of the truck. The instru-
`heavy duty trucks are becoming commonplace. The com-
`ment panel displays the status of a plurality of vehicle
`munications systems allow drivers to maintain contact with
`operating parameters. The memory stores a plurality of
`fleet managementfor the purpose of providing updates and
`messages, which include incoming messages from the send-
`requesting instructions. While cellular telephones may be
`ing party and predetermined messages to be sent
`to a
`used to maintain communication with fleet management,
`receiving party. The messages stored in memoryare selec-
`they may entail relatively large roaming fees. In addition,
`tively displayed on a text display unit. A global positioning
`cell phone service does not coverall the areas that highway
`system or a sensor coupled to the transmission or engine of
`tractors travel through. In particular, cell phone coverage is
`the truck senses the movementof the truck. The text display
`sporadic in rural areas in which highwaytractors travel the
`unit is coupled to the memory and to the global positioning
`most. Generally, trucks try to stay away from the heavy
`system or the sensor that is coupled to the engine or the
`traffic areas of major metropolitan areas. Cell phone cover-
`transmission of the truck. The display unit displays the
`age is presently focused on areas surrounding largecities.
`predetermined messages only whenthe truck is stopped or
`Many highwaytractors and heavy duty trucks have incor-
`moving at a very slow speed. The display unit displays
`porated the use of wireless communications systems to send
`priority incoming messages regardless of whetheror not the
`textual messages from the driverto the fleet. These systems
`truck is moving. The display unit displays non-priority
`may be separate communication units that include a key-
`incoming messages only when the truck is stopped.
`board and text display or monitor. It is knownin the priorart
`In one embodiment, the selector is a lever that extends
`to install a palmtop type computer in a vehicle to provide,
`form the steering column ofthe truck. The lever includes a
`among other things, Internet access and cellular phone
`toggle switch which is moved up and downto highlight one
`control. Prior art palmtop systems are separate from the
`of the predetermined messages whenthetruck is stopped. A
`vehicle instrument panel and include a keyboard. Another
`highlighted predetermined message can be selected by push-
`prior art communications system is a messaging system that
`ing a button on the lever. Operation of the lever also allows
`includes a separate mobile communications terminal. The
`the driver to selectively view priority incoming messages
`mobile communications terminal allowsa driver to send and
`regardless of movement of the truck. Movement of the
`receive free form messages in the form of satellite
`toggle switch on the lever allows the driver to highlight a
`communications,cell phone communications, or e mail. The
`response to the priority incoming message regardless of
`messages are tagged with a designation regarding whether
`movementof the truck. The responseis selected by pushing
`a enter button on the lever. The control lever allows the
`the message is personal or businessrelated so that the driver
`maybebilled for personal messages. The system involves a
`driver to highlight and select any type of messages only
`separate communication unit and the use of free form text to
`whenthe truck is stopped.
`compose messages. Some vehicle communication and
`Movement of the toggle switch allows the driver to
`remote control systems that provide a means of communi-
`highlight alpha numeric characters. An alpha numeric char-
`cation via RI’ signals.
`acter may be selected by pressing the enter button on the
`While these systems provide adequate communication
`lever allowing free text messages to be entered when the
`between the driver and fleet management,
`the keyboard
`truck is stopped. A satellite electronic communication unit is
`consumes a significant amount of cab space. In addition,
`coupled to the display for transmitting and receiving mes-
`cellular phones andprior art wireless communications sys-
`sages. A CB antenna or radio antenna is coupled to the
`tems for highwaytractors can be operated while the drive is
`satellite electronic communications unit for transmitting and
`driving the truck. When a driver is talking on a cellular
`receiving messages to and fromasatellite.
`phoneor using a prior art wireless communications system
`55)
`One embodiment of the communications system allows
`and driving at
`the same time,
`the driver may become
`free text messages to be sent by the driver of the truck,
`distracted, increasing the likelihood that he will be involved
`predetermined stored messages to be communicated by the
`in an accident. Prior art satellite communication units that
`driver of the truck, and messages from a sending party to be
`employ a keyboard are especially dangerous,since the driver
`received. The method of sending free text messages by
`must take his hands off the wheel to type on the keyboard.
`operating a communications system of the present invention
`Whatis needed is a vehicle communications system that
`includes monitoring the speed of the truck. The driver is
`does not take up additional space in the vehicle’s cab and is
`prevented from entering free text messages when the truck
`easy and safe for the driver of the vehicle to operate, and
`is moving. Free text messages are entered by operating a
`does not distract the driver while the vehicle is moving.
`toggle switch and button on the lever that extends from the
`steering columnof the truck whenthe truck is stopped. The
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`free text messages are typed onto the display unit that is
`integral to the vehicle instrument panel when the vehicle is
`stopped by manipulating the toggle switch and the button.
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`Epic Games Ex. 1033
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`25:
`
`30
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`
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`
`60
`
`65
`
`The present invention concerns a communications system
`for use in a truck. The communications system includes a
`
`

`

`US 6,828,924 B2
`
`3
`The free text message is then transmitted to a receiving
`party. In one embodiment, the free text messagesis trans-
`mitted via satellite. In another embodiment, the free text
`message is transmitted via terrestrial towers. In the third
`embodiment,the free text messageis transmittedvia cellular
`phones.
`A method of transmitting predetermined text messages
`from inside the cab of a truck includes monitoring move-
`ment of the truck. Predetermined text messages are stored
`for transmission by a driver to a receiving party. The
`predetermined messagesare prevented from being displayed
`when the truck is moving. The text messages are displayed
`on the display unit that is integral to the vehicle instrument
`panel when the vehicle is stopped. One of the text messages
`is highlighted by operating a toggle switch on the lever that
`extends from the steering columnofthe truck whenthe truck
`is stopped. The message is selected by pressing a return
`button on the lever. The text message is then transmitted to
`the receiving party.
`The communications system receives incoming messages
`and allows responsesto be selected and transmitted. Motion
`of the truck is monitored. Messages that are received from
`a sending party are stored in the memory. The received
`messagesare prevented from being displayed whenthe truck
`is moving. The received messages are displayed on the
`display unit in the vehicle instrument panel whenthe vehicle
`is stopped. A predetermined response may beselected by
`operating a lever that extends from a steering columnof the
`truck whenthe truck is stopped. The responseis then sent to
`the receiving party.
`One method of communicating from inside the cab of the
`truck includes monitoring the truck engine to determine if
`the truck is running. In one variation of this embodiment,
`signals from a J1587 databus are analyzed to determine
`engine speed. Motion ofthe truck is monitored with a global
`positioning system. High and low priority messages
`received from the sending party are stored by the commu-
`nications system. The low priority messages are prevented
`from being displayed while the truck is moving. The high
`priority messages are displayed on the display unit regard-
`less of whether the truck is moving. A predefined high
`priority responseto the high priority message is highlighted
`by operating a toggle switch on a lever that extends from the
`steering column. The message is selected by pressing a
`return button on the lever. The predefined response to the
`high priority message is then transmitted to a receiving
`party. The low priority messages are only displayed when
`the truck is stopped. While the truck is stopped, a low
`priority response to the low priority messageis highlighted
`by operating the toggle switch on the lever. The response to
`the low priority message is selected by pressing the enter
`button the lever. The low priority response is then transmit-
`ted to the receiving party. The communications system
`stores predetermined text messages for transmission by a
`driver to a receiving party. The predetermined messagesare
`prevented from being displayed when the truck is moving.
`Once the truck is stopped, the predetermined messages are
`selectively displayed on the display unit. The user highlights
`one of the predetermined messages by operating a toggle
`switch on the lever when the truck is stopped. The enter
`button on the lever is selected to select the message. The
`predetermined message is then transmitted to a receiving
`party via satellite.
`In one embodiment, free text messages are entered by
`scrolling through alpha-numeric characters by selectively
`pressing the toggle switch and selecting characters by press-
`ing the lever and are transmitted to a receiving party.
`One embodimentof the communications system is used to
`contact a service center when a vehicle requires roadside
`assistance. In this embodiment, the communications system
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`includes a memory, a satellite communication unit, a world-
`wide webserver, and a roadside assistance button in the cab
`of the truck. The memory stores a roadside assistance
`message that will be transmitted by a driver to the service
`center when the roadside assistance button is pushed. The
`satellite communication unit is in communication with the
`memory. The worldwide web server is in communication
`with the satellite communication unit and the service center.
`The roadside assistance button is coupled to the satellite
`communication unit. When the roadside assistance button is
`pushed,the satellite communication unit sends the roadside
`assistance signal to the satellite, which in turn sendsa signal
`to the worldwide web server that is in communication with
`the service center.
`
`In one embodiment of the communications system, a
`global positioning system is included that locates the truck
`and transmits the coordinates of the truck to the service
`center. In this embodiment, fault codes may be sent from the
`truck to the service center.
`
`The method of communicating a roadside assistance
`message includes storing a roadside assistance messagethat
`will be transmitted to a service center. The roadside assis-
`tance button is then pushed to communicate the roadside
`assistance message to the satellite communication unit. The
`satellite communication unit transmits the roadside assis-
`tance message to the satellite. The satellite transmits the
`roadside assistance message to a worldwide web server,
`where the roadside assistance message may be accessed at
`the service center.
`In one embodimentof the invention, the roadside assis-
`tance signal is also transmitted to a truck company dis-
`patcher. The roadside assistance signal alerts the truck
`company of the condition of the truck.
`Additional features of the invention will become apparent
`and a fuller understanding obtained by reading the following
`detailed description in connection with the accompanying
`drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of communication
`via an integrated vehicle communication system;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an integrated
`vehicle communications system;
`FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a vehicle instrumentpanel;
`FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a lever that extends from
`the steering column of a vehicle;
`FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a vehicle steering
`column;
`FIG. 4 is a depiction of a display showing a representative
`user interface for viewing sent and received messages, as
`well as viewing other vehicle parameters;
`FIG. 5 is a depiction of a display showing a representative
`user interface for viewing sent and received messages, as
`well as viewing other vehicle parameters;
`FIG. 6 is a depiction of a display showing a representative
`user interface for viewing sent and received messages, as
`well as viewing other vehicle parameters;
`FIG. 7 is a depiction of a display showing a representative
`user interface for viewing sent and received messages, as
`well as viewing other vehicle parameters;
`FIG. 8 is a depiction of a display showing a representative
`user interface for viewing sent and received messages, as
`well as viewing other vehicle parameters; and,
`FIG. 9 is a depiction of a display showing a representative
`user interface for viewing sent and received messages, as
`well as viewing other vehicle parameters.
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`
`
`The present invention is directed to an integrated com-
`munications system 10 for use in a vehicle 12, such as a
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`US 6,828,924 B2
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`5
`highwaytractor or heavy duty truck. Referring to FIG. 2, the
`communications system includes a memory 14, a sensor 16
`(such as a GPS sensor), a display unit 18, one or more
`selectors 20 and a transmitter 22.
`In the exemplary
`embodiment, the memory 14 and the display unit 18 are
`included in the cluster 24 that is integrated into an instru-
`ment panel 26 of the truck 12 (FIG. 3). In an alternate
`embodiment, memory is included in a satellite ECU. One
`acceptable cluster is model #20410723, produced by Beri-
`fors. In the illustrated embodiment, the CB antenna,or radio
`antenna, are coupled to the ECU by a multiplex box 70. In
`an alternative embodiment, the CB antennaor radio antenna
`is coupled directly to the ECU.
`The memorystores the menu driven program 28 (FIG. 4)
`that is displayed on the display unit 18. The memory also
`stores predetermined messages 19 (FIG. 5) that may be sent
`out by the operator of the communications system 10,
`incoming messagesthat are received by the communications
`unit 10, responses to high priority incoming messages and a
`roadside assistance message. In the exemplary embodiment,
`the operating system for the menudriven display 28 is built
`into the cluster. The menu driven display 28 is programmed
`in a C programming language. The details of programming
`the display 18 to display the menu driven program 28 should
`be readily apparent to those skilled in theart.
`Referring to FIG. 2, the sensor 16 senses movementof the
`truck 12, and in the exemplary embodiment senses the
`position of the truck 12. In the exemplary embodiment, two
`sensors are includedin the integrated communication system
`10. A first sensor 30 is included in the satellite electronic
`communication unit (ECU)32. Thefirst sensor 30 is coupled
`to a vehicle databus 34 which is in communication with the
`engine, transmission, ABS and other vehicle components.
`The databus monitors the main components in the truck to
`allow determination of a component of the truck is not
`functioning properly. In the exemplary embodiment,
`the
`databus monitors the ECU,
`the transmission,
`the engine,
`EBS, the vehicle ECUn (multiplexer) and/or instrumenta-
`tion. The databus 34is also monitored to determine whether
`or not the vehicle is running. Thefirst sensor 30 monitors the
`databus 34 to determine engine RPM, vehicle speed and
`transmission gear ratios. The information collected from the
`databus 34 by the first sensor 30 is used to determine
`whether the vehicle engine is running and whether the
`vehicle is moving.
`The second sensor is a global positioning system (GPS)
`antenna 36 of a GPS 37that is coupled to or included in the
`satellite electronic communications unit 32. The input to the
`GPSantenna 36 can be used to determine whetheror not the
`vehicle is moving, as well as the position of the vehicle. By
`monitoring whether or not the vehicle is running, the com-
`munications system 10 determines whetheror not the system
`10 will allow messages to be sent and received.
`The communication system 10 need not have both a GPS
`and a databus sensor. Either a GPS antenna 36 or input from
`the databus 34 could serve as the sensor 16 by itself. When
`the first sensor 30 is used to collect information from the
`databus 34,
`the engine is monitored to determine if the
`vehicle is running and the transmission is monitored to
`determineif the vehicle is moving. When the GPS37 is used
`by alone, movement of the vehicle is monitored with the
`global positioning system and an indication of whether the
`vehicle is running or not is obtained by monitoring another
`parameter of the vehicle available on the databus, such as
`engine RPM.
`FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B illustrate an instrument panel 26
`included in the vehicle 12. The cluster 24 is integrated into
`the instrument panel 26. The display unit 18 is included in
`the cluster 24. The display unit 18 is coupled to the memory
`14 that is also contained in the cluster 24 in the exemplary
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`embodiment. The display unit 18 is also in communication
`with the GPS antenna 36, the satellite electronic communi-
`cations unit 32 and the selectors 20.
`
`Referring to FIG. 4, the display unit program 28 is menu
`driven, allowing a variety of messages and vehicle param-
`eters to be displayed on a relatively small display unit 18.
`The illustrated menu driven display 28 includes a primary
`menu 38 with satellite communications, gauge mode, fuel
`economy, time and distance, false and messages, set up
`mode, system diagnostic, service status, dialog mode, and
`password input options. Selecting the satellite communica-
`tions option allows the driver to send and receive messages
`via satellite. Selecting the gauge mode option allows the
`driver to access various gauges of the truck. Selecting the
`fuel economy option allows the driver to display the fuel
`economy of the truck for a trip or for current operating
`conditions. Selecting the time/distance option allows the
`driver to view the current
`time and view the distance
`traveled for the current
`trip. The faults/messages option
`allows the driver to view messages and detected faults of
`various vehicle components. Selecting set-up mode allows
`the driver to set-up the display. Selecting system diagnostic
`causes the display to perform a diagnostic test on the cluster.
`Selecting service status causes the next required service to
`be displayed. In one embodiment, selecting the data log
`modeoption enables the user to view the logged data in the
`vehicle. Selecting the password input option allows the
`driver to enter his or her password.
`Referring to FIG. 4, the subscription enable or disable
`status may not be shown on the display. The subscription
`enable or disable status is initially set up and may be
`changed by access through the world wide web. Similarly,
`the driving mode, driving/stopped,is not typically shown on
`the display. In the exemplary embodiment,
`the driving/
`stopped mode is set by one or more sensors that detect
`motion of the truck.
`
`When the satellite communications option is selected
`from the primary menu 38,a satellite communications menu
`40 appears on the display. The satellite communications
`menu 40 gives the operator the option to read messages or
`send messages. When read message option is selected from
`the communications menu 40 a read message menu 42
`appears.
`In one embodiment,
`if the truck is moving a
`response may be sent to a high priority message. In this
`embodiment, a response may only be sent to a low priority
`message if the truck is stopped. The read message menu 42,
`displays whether or not messages have been received.If a
`message has been received, a response menu 44 can be
`opened which allows the operator of the vehicle to select a
`response to the received message.
`In the exemplary
`embodiment,
`the predefined responses are “YES/OK”,
`“NO”, and “RESPOND AT NEXT STOP.”
`In the exemplary embodiment, messages which are
`received by the integrated communications system 10 are
`coded as priority messages and non-priority messages. An
`example of a priority message is “Urgent, please call home
`as soon as possible.” An example of a non-priority message
`is “Please call home when you have time.” The operator of
`the vehicle is prevented from viewing non-priority messages
`while the vehicle is moving by the communication ECU.
`The operatorof the vehicle can view priority messages while
`the vehicle is moving, but can only send the very limited
`responses of “YES/OK”, “NO” and “RESPOND AT NEXT
`STOP”while the vehicle is moving.
`Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, when the send message
`option is selected from the satellite communications menu
`40 a message type menu 46 appears on the display unit 18.
`In the exemplary embodiment, the menu driven software 28
`only allows the driver to enter the message type menu 46
`whenthe vehicle is stopped, thereby preventing the operator
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`US 6,828,924 B2
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`7
`from selecting or inputting messages while the vehicle is
`moving. In the illustrated embodiment, the message type
`menu 46 includes vehicle status, roadside assistance, and
`free text options. Whenthe vehicle status option is selected,
`the vehicle status submenu 48 appears on the display unit 18
`(FIG. 5). The vehicle status submenu 48 allows the operator
`of the vehicle to select a predefined message that is associ-
`ated with the vehicle status. In the illustrated embodiment,
`the messages that may be selected from the vehicle status
`submenu 48 are load picked-up, load delivered, late arrival
`greater than 30 minutes, late arrival less than 30 minutes,
`available for load, not available for load and customer
`defined messages.
`Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, when the roadside assis-
`tance option is selected from the message type menu 46, a
`roadside assistance submenu 50 appears on the display unit
`18. The roadside assistance submenu 50 includestractor,
`trailer and towing needed options. When the tractor option
`is selected, a tractor submenu 52 appears on the display unit
`18. The tractor submenu 52 includes tire, electrical, air
`supply, drive train and other options. When one ofthe
`options of the tractor submenu 52 is selected, a predeter-
`mined message corresponding to that selection is selected
`and transmitted. Fault codes are also transmitted when
`roadside assistance messages are transmitted.
`When the trailer option of the roadside assistance sub-
`menu 50 is selected, a trailer submenu 54 appears on the
`display unit 18. The trailer submenu 54 also includestire,
`electrical, air supply