Abstract: Example systems and methods for determining application availability are described. In one implementation, a vehicle entertainment system establishes a communication link with a mobile device near the vehicle. The vehicle entertainment system receives, from the mobile device, an identification of currently available applications on the mobile device. The vehicle entertainment system also updates an in-vehicle user interface to display the currently available applications on the mobile device to at least one occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of recommending radio stations including the step of generating a plurality of driver models. Each driver model may correspond to a different driver and documents audio content listened to by that driver while driving. The plurality of driver models may be aggregated to generate a recommendation model correlating radio stations, audio content, and geographic regions. Thereafter, a request for recommendations may be received from a driver while the driver is in a familiar or unfamiliar geographic region. A driver model corresponding to the driver may be compared against other data contained within the recommendation model in order to identify one or more radio stations that present audio content within the geographic region that best matches the audio content documented within the driver model corresponding to the driver. The one or more radio stations may then be communicated to the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors including exterior sensors. Vehicle signals, such as those derived from sensors, are processed to detect alertable conditions and each alertable condition is represented by a created software object. A location is associated with each software object, such as corresponding to a location of an exterior feature that gave rise to the alertable condition. The software object is updated over time according to the vehicle signals, such as by updating the location according to movement of the obstacle. The software objects are processed to drive an array of speakers effective to simulate a sound originating from the location associated with the software object. The sound generated by the speakers may be repeated chimes having a volume and period determined according to the location.

Abstract: A vehicle parking assist system includes at least one processor configured to establish communication with a parking automation system external to a vehicle to assist in a parking maneuver. The parking automation system includes at least one sensor to provide a measured distance value from an object to the vehicle. The processor is further configured to control a brake system of the vehicle based on the measured distance value via the sensor. The processor is further configured to control the vehicle to come to a stop based on the measured distance value being less than a first predefined threshold via the brake system.

Abstract: A system for providing media content in a vehicle includes a content component, a noise component, and a closed captioning component. The content component is configured to receive content from a content provider, wherein the content is configured for rendering by the media system of a vehicle. The noise component is configured to determine a noise level within a cabin of the vehicle. The closed captioning component is configured to, in response to determining that the noise level exceeds a threshold, trigger display of closed captioning for the content.

Abstract: A system may receive historical climate control selections by a user and environmental conditions across a plurality of climate-controlled contexts; identify a correlation of temperature settings in a first of the climate-controlled contexts to temperature settings in a second of the climate-controlled contexts for an environmental condition; and update a user profile of the user according to the correlation. The system may also identify an upcoming user transition from a first climate-controlled context to a second climate-controlled context; and precondition the second context in accordance with the correlation.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors including exterior sensors. Vehicle signals, such as those derived from sensors, are processed to detect alertable conditions and each alertable condition is represented by a created software object. A location is associated with each software object, such as corresponding to a location of an exterior feature that gave rise to the alertable condition. The software object is updated over time according to the vehicle signals, such as by updating the location according to movement of the obstacle. The software objects are processed to drive an array of speakers effective to simulate a sound originating from the location associated with the software object. The sound generated by the speakers may be repeated chimes having a volume and period determined according to the location.

Abstract: A method of recommending radio stations including the step of generating a plurality of driver models. Each driver model may correspond to a different driver and documents audio content listened to by that driver while driving. The plurality of driver models may be aggregated to generate a recommendation model correlating radio stations, audio content, and geographic regions. Thereafter, a request for recommendations may be received from a driver while the driver is in a familiar or unfamiliar geographic region. A driver model corresponding to the driver may be compared against other data contained within the recommendation model in order to identify one or more radio stations that present audio content within the geographic region that best matches the audio content documented within the driver model corresponding to the driver. The one or more radio stations may then be communicated to the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors including exterior sensors. Vehicle signals, such as those derived from sensors, are processed to detect alertable conditions and each alertable condition is represented by a created software object. A location is associated with each software object, such as corresponding to a location of an exterior feature that gave rise to the alertable condition. The software object is updated over time according to the vehicle signals, such as by updating the location according to movement of the obstacle. The software objects are processed to drive an array of speakers effective to simulate a sound originating from the location associated with the software object. The sound generated by the speakers may be repeated chimes having a volume and period determined according to the location.

Abstract: A system for providing media content in a vehicle includes a vehicle information component, a scene status component, and a content component. The vehicle information component is configured to generate vehicle information about an environment or status of the vehicle based on sensor data from the one or more vehicle sensors. The scene status component is configured to provide the vehicle information to a content provider. The content component is configured to receive content from the content provider, wherein the content is configured for rendering by the media system of the vehicle based on the vehicle information. The content provider also provides the content to the media system of the vehicle for rendering.

Abstract: A system for providing media content in a vehicle includes a content component, a noise component, and a closed captioning component. The content component is configured to receive content from a content provider, wherein the content is configured for rendering by the media system of a vehicle. The noise component is configured to determine a noise level within a cabin of the vehicle. The closed captioning component is configured to, in response to determining that the noise level exceeds a threshold, trigger display of closed captioning for the content.

Abstract: A vehicle computing system includes at least one processor configured to communicate with a remote smoke detector device includes a smart device interface configured to provide access to the remote smoke detector device, a scripting application configured to utilize the smart device interface to execute scripting settings to manage the remote smoke detector, and a user interface of the scripting application configured to output one or more messages from the remote smoke detector.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for determining application availability are described. In one implementation, a vehicle entertainment system establishes a communication link with a mobile device near the vehicle. The vehicle entertainment system receives, from the mobile device, an identification of currently available applications on the mobile device. The vehicle entertainment system also updates an in-vehicle user interface to display the currently available applications on the mobile device to at least one occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: An example mobile device case is described. In one implementation, the mobile device case includes a housing that surrounds at least a portion of a mobile device. A capacitive touch button is disposed on the housing and associated with a vehicle function. A user activation sensor initiates monitoring of the capacitive touch button in response to a user contact. A vehicle control module senses activation of the capacitive touch button and, in response to sensing the activation, initiates the associated vehicle function.

Abstract: An example mobile device case is described. In one implementation, the mobile device case includes a housing that surrounds at least a portion of a mobile device. A capacitive touch button is disposed on the housing and associated with a vehicle function. A user activation sensor initiates monitoring of the capacitive touch button in response to a user contact. A vehicle control module senses activation of the capacitive touch button and, in response to sensing the activation, initiates the associated vehicle function.

Abstract: A vehicle parking assist system includes at least one processor configured to establish communication with a parking automation system external to a vehicle to assist in a parking maneuver. The parking automation system includes at least one sensor to provide a measured distance value from an object to the vehicle. The processor is further configured to control a brake system of the vehicle based on the measured distance value via the sensor. The processor is further configured to control the vehicle to come to a stop based on the measured distance value being less than a first predefined threshold via the brake system.

Abstract: A vehicle recording event method and device to monitor one or more parameters at the vehicle based on a trigger condition during a vehicle drive event. The method may receive, via a vehicle computing system, a configuration from a handheld device to output at least a portion of one or more parameters at a heads-up display (HUD). The method may record the parameters during a vehicle drive event based on a trigger condition. The method may transmit the parameters to the handheld device for storage of the vehicle drive event.

Abstract: A vehicle recording event method and device to monitor one or more parameters at the vehicle based on a trigger condition during a vehicle drive event. The method may receive, via a vehicle computing system, a configuration from a handheld device to output at least a portion of one or more parameters at a heads-up display (HUD). The method may record the parameters during a vehicle drive event based on a trigger condition. The method may transmit the parameters to the handheld device for storage of the vehicle drive event.

Abstract: A system including a vehicle computing platform and a mobile device may synchronize, over a connection between the vehicle computing platform and the paired mobile device, media content retrieved from a hardware source of media content of the vehicle. Responsive to a trigger event indicative of discontinued playback, the system may synchronize a playback position into the media content being played back by the vehicle, to allow the mobile device to continue the playback.

Abstract: A vehicle computing system includes at least one processor configured to communicate with a remote smoke detector device includes a smart device interface configured to provide access to the remote smoke detector device, a scripting application configured to utilize the smart device interface to execute scripting settings to manage the remote smoke detector, and a user interface of the scripting application configured to output one or more messages from the remote smoke detector.