Abstract: A method for processing and presenting information to a vehicle occupant via a vehicle interface system is provided. The method includes presenting information to the vehicle occupant via at least one electronic display of the vehicle interface system and running a plurality of software applications on the vehicle interface system. The method further includes connecting a user device to the vehicle interface system and identifying a non-vehicle-specific version of one of the plurality of software applications installed on the user device. The method further includes installing a vehicle-specific version of the identified software application on the vehicle interface system in response to identifying the non-vehicle-specific version of the software application installed on the user device.

Abstract: A computer system for integration with a vehicle user interface includes a processing system. The processing system includes a multi-core processor. The processing system is configured to provide virtualization for a first guest operating system in a first core or cores of the multi-core processor. The processing system is also configured to provide virtualization for a second guest operating system in a second and different core or cores of the multi-core processor. The first guest operating system is configured for high reliability operation. The virtualization prevents operations of the second guest operating system from disrupting the high reliability operation of the first guest operating system.

Abstract: A vehicle interface system includes at least one electronic display configured to present information to an occupant of the vehicle. The system includes a processing circuit including one or more processors and memory. The memory stores a plurality of software applications configured to provide display data for presentation via the electronic display. The processing circuit includes a display mapper configured to generate a plurality of adjustable virtual operating fields and to assign each of the virtual operating fields to one of the software applications. Each of the virtual operating fields covers a non-overlapping portion of the electronic display and presents the display data provided by the software application to which the virtual operating field is assigned.

Abstract: A vehicle interface system includes a graphics processing unit and a plurality of processing domains. The processing domains execute vehicle applications and generate tasks for the graphics processing unit. The system further includes a task scheduler configured to receive the tasks generated by the processing domains and to determine an order in which to send the tasks to the graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit processes the tasks in the order determined by the task scheduler and generates display data based on the tasks. The system further includes an electronic display configured to receive the display data generated by the graphics processing unit and to present the display data to a user.

Abstract: A system for outputting speech from speech data that may include an application, an internal speech data module, and an external speech data module is provided. The internal speech module stores default speech data that defines which speech data is compatible with the application. The external speech module, which may include a data carrier, may provide optional speech data, including a sequence identifier, separately from the application. To determine whether optional speech data fits the application, the application generates a sequence of one or more segment designators designating speech segments, and associating with them a sequence identifier. The application may also compare the sequence identifier generated by the application with that of the optional speech data. If a predetermined result occurs, the optional speech data may be used. Otherwise, the default speech data may be used. This method may be used to update default speech data with optional speech data.

Abstract: A method for data transmission via several data channels in a network linking several units to one another, where the units can function as data sources, data sinks or transceivers, includes the steps of arbitrarily assigning a first data channel to a first predetermined one or more connection segments; arbitrarily assigning the first channel to a second predetermined one or more connection segments other than the first predetermined one or more connection segments; and simultaneously transmitting data between two units across the first predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel, and between two or more other units across the second predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel. The data are transmitted in a first direction over the first predetermined at least one connection segment, and the data are transmitted in a second direction over the second predetermined at least one connection segment, where the first ands second directions are the same.

Abstract: This invention provides a signal synchronizer that is capable of minimizing the effects of multi-path reception. The signal synchronizer provides signal samples from a first signal source and a second signal source for generating an output signal. The signal synchronizer includes a memory for storing signal samples obtained from a first signal source and for storing signal samples obtained from a second signal source. Circuitry in the synchronizer determines a signal transit time difference between the first signal source and the second signal source. A readout controller then determines a memory offset from the signal transit time difference. The memory offset specifies a location in the memory from which to begin reading the signal samples obtained from the second signal source.

Abstract: A telephone system for a motor vehicle includes a transmit/receive unit that transmits data over a wireless communication channel, and receives data over the wireless communication channel and provides a received signal. The system also includes a control unit that communicates with the transmit/receive unit; a first memory device; and a computing device. The computing device receives the received signal and automatically stores the received signal data in the first memory device when the telephone system is configured in a stand-by mode, which allows incoming data to be stored in the memory device while selectively preventing the transmission of outgoing calls originated by the control unit to the transmit/receive unit. Data can be sent to the motor vehicle telephone system and can be stored there for retrieval by the operator when he returns to the vehicle. The data may include audio and/or video data.

Abstract: A method for data transmission via several data channels in a network linking several units to one another, where the units can function as data sources, data sinks or transceivers, includes the steps of arbitrarily assigning a first data channel to a first predetermined one or more connection segments; arbitrarily assigning the first channel to a second predetermined one or more connection segments other than the first predetermined one or more connection segments; and simultaneously transmitting data between two units across the first predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel, and between two or more other units across the second predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel. The data are transmitted in a first direction over the first predetermined at least one connection segment, and the data are transmitted in a second direction over the second predetermined at least one connection segment, where the first ands second directions are the same.

Abstract: An apparatus determines an optimal antenna and frequency combination by selecting the optimal antenna from among a plurality, N, of antennas associated with a receiver and also selects the optimal frequency from among a plurality, M, of alternative receiving frequencies transmitted from a transmitter. This is achieved by determining all N×M possible antenna/frequency combinations, by determining the received signal quality at each combination, by comparing the N×M received signal qualities, and by selecting the one antenna/frequency combination having the optimal received signal quality.

Abstract: A method for data transmission via several data channels in a network linking several units to one another, where the units can function as data sources, data sinks or transceivers, includes the steps of arbitrarily assigning a first data channel to a first predetermined one or more connection segments; arbitrarily assigning the first channel to a second predetermined one or more connection segments other than the first predetermined one or more connection segments; and simultaneously transmitting data between two units across the first predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel, and between two or more other units across the second predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel. The data are transmitted in a first direction over the first predetermined at least one connection segment, and the data are transmitted in a second direction over the second predetermined at least one connection segment, where the first ands second directions are the same.

Abstract: A tire pressure diagnostic system for vehicles is provided for diagnosing tire pressure for at least one of the tires based on the traveled distance of the vehicle and input indicative of the tire movement. The diagnosis of the tire pressure may be based on comparing the traveled distance of the vehicle with a distance determined based on the output from a tire sensor and a predetermined radius of the tire under proper inflation. The diagnosis of the tire pressure may also be based on comparing an actual radius of the tire, determined by the traveled distance of the vehicle, with a predetermined radius of the tire under proper inflation. The diagnosis of the tire pressure may further be based on comparing the number of wheel rotations, determined from the tire movement input, with a number of rotations determined based on the traveled distance and the predetermined radius of the tire under proper inflation.

Abstract: A database system for a global positioning (GPS) vehicular navigation device having a first database including street information data and a second database, including location information data that is independent of the first data. The database system includes a working memory unit including a first memory area and a second memory area separate from the first memory area. The first data includes street information stored in the first memory area and the second data includes location information stored in the second memory area.

Abstract: A navigation system for use in a motor vehicle receives starting position data and destination position data and computes driving directions between the starting and destination positions. The navigation system includes a first memory unit that stores a basic navigation database including road map information, and a receiver that receives supplemental navigation data including digital road maps, and provides received supplemental navigation data that is stored in a second memory unit. A navigation computer computes driving directions between the starting position and the destination position using information from the basic navigation database and the received supplemental navigation data, and outputs driving directions for presentation to a user.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment and information processing (VEIP) system may allow a user to listen to quality broadcast signals while moving through regions of varying signal strength. The VEIP system includes a navigation unit, a tuning receiver, and a system controller to analyze broadcast signals based on a broadcast station database. The VEIP system may switch to alternate broadcast stations when the broadcast signal degrades because of terrain, position of the vehicle, or other driving conditions.

Abstract: A telephone system for a motor vehicle includes a transmit/receive unit that transmits data over a wireless communication channel, and receives data over the wireless communication channel and provides a received signal. The system also includes a control unit that communicates with the transmit/receive unit; a first memory device; and a computing device. The computing device receives the received signal and automatically stores the received signal data in the first memory device when the telephone system is configured in a stand-by mode, which allows incoming data to be stored in the memory device while selectively preventing the transmission of outgoing calls originated by the control unit to the transmit/receive unit. Data can be sent to the motor vehicle telephone system and can be stored there for retrieval by the operator when he returns to the vehicle. The data may include audio and/or video data.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a navigation module, a memory, and a processor. The navigation module provides a vehicle velocity signal. An audio control program resides in the memory. The processor is programmed to execute the audio control program to adjust an audio parameter in the vehicle system.

Abstract: This invention provides a signal synchronizer that is capable of minimizing the effects of multi-path reception. The signal synchronizer provides signal samples from a first signal source and a second signal source for generating an output signal. The signal synchronizer includes a memory for storing signal samples obtained from a first signal source and for storing signal samples obtained from a second signal source. Circuitry in the synchronizer determines a signal transit time difference between the first signal source and the second signal source. A readout controller then determines a memory offset from the signal transit time difference. The memory offset specifies a location in the memory from which to begin reading the signal samples obtained from the second signal source.

Abstract: A telephone system for a motor vehicle includes a transmit/receive unit that transmits data over a wireless communication channel, and receives data over the wireless communication channel and provides a received signal. The system also includes a control unit that communicates with the transmit/receive unit; a first memory device; and a computing device. The computing device receives the received signal and automatically stores the received signal data in the first memory device when the telephone system is configured in a stand-by mode, which allows incoming data to be stored in the memory device while selectively preventing the transmission of outgoing calls originated by the control unit to the transmit/receive unit. Data can be sent to the motor vehicle telephone system and can be stored there for retrieval by the operator when he returns to the vehicle. The data may include audio and/or video data.

Abstract: A method for the reproduction of information, as well as an arrangement therefor, are proposed, in which upon the arrival of information from a first information source, that information is recorded; if no information from a further information source is present, the information from the first information source is reproduced; if information from a further information source is present, that information is reproduced on a priority basis before the information from the first information source; and if, during the reproduction of information from the first information source, information from a further information source arrives, reproduction of the information from the first information source is interrupted, and the information from the further information source is reproduced, in which after completion of the reproduction of the information from the further information source, any information from the first information source not reproduced or not completely reproduced can be reproduced from the recording sy