Abstract: In various embodiments, a user interacts with remotely executing mobile applications from a vehicle. The vehicle may include at least one computer that includes a human machine interface (HMI) for control by the user. The mobile applications may be executing on an application server that is remote from the vehicle and communicating with the at least one computer. Further, the mobile applications may be configured to receive inputs from and transmit outputs to the at least one computer. An HMI application executing on the at least one computer may enable the provisioning of one or more services of the HMI to the mobile applications so that inputs and/or outputs to the mobile applications may be exchanged. Vehicle-based operation of the mobile applications from the at least one computer via the HMI may thus be enabled.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a computer-implemented method and system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic wireless communication device (ND) located within the vicinity of a vehicle. An input may be received at a vehicle computer system (VCS) to pair the VCS with the ND for establishing a wireless communication link. A number of instructions may be received at the VCS from the ND over the wireless communication link. The instructions may include instructions for establishing a connection with an internet radio application and instructions for prompting a user for one or more internet radio application events. A request from the user for the one or more internet radio application events may be received at the VCS and the one or more internet radio application events may be executed.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for wirelessly communicating electronic mail messages at a vehicle. A computer processor is in communication with a memory device having software for an e-mail service, and electronic mail account credentials enabling access to one or more electronic mail accounts. A transceiver is in communication with the computer processor, and is capable of pairing with one or more wireless communication devices (e.g. cellular phone, etc.) for wirelessly communicating data between the processor and electronic mail servers located remotely from the vehicle. The processor operates the transceiver to wirelessly access the one or more electronic mail accounts at the electronic mail server(s) to wirelessly send or receive electronic mail messages at the vehicle. The computer processor convert received electronic mail messages to speech signals for playback.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to access a map, including pre-designated destinations, each destination having a clue associated therewith. The processor is also configured to provide the clue associated with a first destination. The processor is further configured to track the progress of a user towards the first destination using GPS coordinates. Also, the processor is configured to provide a clue associated with a next destination, once the user has reached the first destination. Further, the processor is configured to repeat map access, clue provision, and tracking until the user has reached a pre-designated final destination.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate with a wireless device. In this embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a wireless audio input request through the transceiver, generated by a remote process. The processor is further configured to package and send vehicle audio input to the requesting process responsive to the request.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method and system for testing data defining one or more navigation routes. A starting location may be input at a computer remote from the starting location. A destination location may also be input. Map data including GPS information based on the starting location input and the destination location input may be received. Route data may also be received. Based on the map data and the route data, data defining one or more navigation instructions may be generated for one or more routes. The one or more navigation instructions may be executed at the computer and compared to the map data. Based on the comparison, an accuracy of the navigation instructions may be determined. The data defining the navigation instructions may be corrected if the data is determined to be inaccurate.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: One or more embodiments may include a method and system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic device (ND) located within the vicinity of a vehicle. The system may include a vehicle computer system (VCS). The method may include receiving an input at the VCS to pair the VCS with the ND to establish a wireless communication link over which the VCS may receive one or more instructions from the ND. The one or more instructions may include instructions for establishing a connection with an electronic calendar application executing on the ND and instructions for prompting a user for one or more electronic calendar application events. The method may further include receiving a request from the user for the one or more electronic calendar application events and executing the one or more electronic calendar application events.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method and system for testing data defining one or more navigation routes. A starting location may be input at a computer remote from the starting location. A destination location may also be input. Map data including GPS information based on the starting location input and the destination location input may be received. Route data may also be received. Based on the map data and the route data, data defining one or more navigation instructions may be generated for one or more routes. The one or more navigation instructions may be executed at the computer and compared to the map data. Based on the comparison, an accuracy of the navigation instructions may be determined. The data defining the navigation instructions may be corrected if the data is determined to be inaccurate.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a user interacts with remotely executing mobile applications from a vehicle. The vehicle may include at least one computer that includes a human machine interface (HMI) for control by the user. The mobile applications may be executing on an application server that is remote from the vehicle and communicating with the at least one computer. Further, the mobile applications may be configured to receive inputs from and transmit outputs to the at least one computer. An HMI application executing on the at least one computer may enable the provisioning of one or more services of the HMI to the mobile applications so that inputs and/or outputs to the mobile applications may be exchanged. Vehicle-based operation of the mobile applications from the at least one computer via the HMI may thus be enabled.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system includes a processor that may query a wireless device to determine, among other things, a carrier identity. The carrier identity is the identity of the service provider for the wireless device. If the carrier identity is known, the processor may use a lookup table to determine an access phone number (APN) and a user name and password for provisioning a wireless internet connection through the wireless device. If the carrier identity is unknown, or if more than one APN and/or user name/password combination are associated with a given carrier, the processor is operable to perform a guess and check process to determine the appropriate provisioning information.

Abstract: A vehicle-based computing apparatus includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The apparatus also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless device located at the vehicle. The processor is operable to receive, through the wireless transceiver, a connection request sent from a nomadic wireless device, the connection request including at least a name of an application seeking to communicate with the processor. The processor is further operable to receive at least one secondary communication from the nomadic device, once the connection request has been processed. The secondary communication is at least one of a speak alert command, a display text command, a create phrase command, and a prompt and listen command.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method and system for testing data defining one or more navigation routes. A starting location may be input at a computer remote from the starting location. A destination location may also be input. Map data including GPS information based on the starting location input and the destination location input may be received. Route data may also be received. Based on the map data and the route data, data defining one or more navigation instructions may be generated for one or more routes. The one or more navigation instructions may be executed at the computer and compared to the map data. Based on the comparison, an accuracy of the navigation instructions may be determined. The data defining the navigation instructions may be corrected if the data is determined to be inaccurate.

Abstract: A method of vehicle system sound playback includes uploading a user-selected sound to be associated with a vehicle system to a persistent memory within a vehicle. The method includes associating the sound with the vehicle system based on a pre-selection made by the user. Further, the method includes detecting the activation of the vehicle system and playing the sound associated with the vehicle system through a vehicle audio system.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a computer-implemented method and system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic wireless communication device (ND) located within the vicinity of a vehicle. An input may be received at a vehicle computer system (VCS) to pair the VCS with the ND for establishing a wireless communication link. A number of instructions may be received at the VCS from the ND over the wireless communication link. The instructions may include instructions for establishing a connection with an internet radio application and instructions for prompting a user for one or more internet radio application events. A request from the user for the one or more internet radio application events may be received at the VCS and the one or more internet radio application events may be executed.