Abstract: A method and system for providing access to a vehicle and enabling data off-boarding that include associating a primary portable device to the vehicle and granting privileges to the primary portable device. The method and system also include associating at least one secondary portable device to the vehicle by granting privileges to the at least one secondary portable device through the primary portable device. The method and system additionally include providing terms and conditions related to data off-boarding to the primary portable device and providing terms and conditions related to data off-boarding to the at least one secondary portable device when the at least one secondary portable device is linked to the vehicle through the primary portable device. The method and system further include controlling off-boarding of vehicle data of a driver when the terms and conditions are accepted.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to a vehicle and enabling data off-boarding that include associating a primary portable device to the vehicle and granting privileges to the primary portable device. The method and system also include associating at least one secondary portable device to the vehicle by granting privileges to the at least one secondary portable device through the primary portable device. The method and system additionally include providing terms and conditions related to data off-boarding to the primary portable device and providing terms and conditions related to data off-boarding to the at least one secondary portable device when the at least one secondary portable device is linked to the vehicle through the primary portable device. The method and system further include controlling off-boarding of vehicle data of a driver when the terms and conditions are accepted.

Abstract: Systems and methods of application management related to vehicle infotainment systems are discussed. One example system may include one or more application components, with each application component associated with a distinct software application. The example system may also include a history component maintaining a history of recently used applications from among the one or more application components. The history of recently used applications may be ordered based on times of most recent usage of the recently used applications. Additionally, the example system may include an application management component providing an application manager that facilitates selection among the one or more application components. The application manager may present a home screen and the history of recently used applications via an output component. The history of recently used applications may be updated based on user selection among the one or more application components.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing navigation information based on a user request and a user-refined search area are discussed. One such system for navigation search area refinement provides an efficient system and method for refining a navigation information search area based on a default search area and an intuitive gesture input marking an area of a map display. Additionally, a method for navigation search area refinement can include receiving a gesture input originating at a default search area and concluding at a user-refined search area.

Abstract: A method of determining routes for use in navigation is disclosed. The method includes steps of calculating a current route, calculating an alternative route and comparing the difference in times along each route with a minimum time difference. The minimum time difference is calculated using a dynamic threshold value that varies according to the difference in distances along the current route and the alternative route.

Abstract: The embodiments describe an in-vehicle text email method and system. The in-vehicle text email system provides email to a driver in a format that is suitable for output in a vehicle. The format combines audio as well as visual output mechanisms to deliver an email to the driver in a way that minimizes the level of attention needed to digest an email while operating the vehicle.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: The present invention describes an in-vehicle text entry method and system using controls of a steering wheel. The in-vehicle text input system provides a graphical user interface (GUI) keyboard layout that is conducive to memorization.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: A method of determining routes for use in navigation is disclosed. The method includes steps of calculating a current route, calculating an alternative route and comparing the difference in times along each route with a minimum time difference. The minimum time difference is calculated using a dynamic threshold value that varies according to the difference in distances along the current route and the alternative route.

Abstract: A method of estimating travel times for a route for purposes of navigating a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method includes steps of retrieving traffic information for roadways including traffic information. The method also includes steps of calculating congestion factors for roadways not having traffic information according to their proximity to roadways having traffic information. In some embodiments, a map portion is divided into meshes and a congestion factor is calculated for each mesh according to the proximity of the mesh from meshes with roadways including traffic information.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.