Abstract: A vehicle key base station is configured to comprise at least one controller in communication with a key fob and a nomadic device using one or more transceivers. The at least one controller may be configured to receive a security code request from the nomadic device. The at least one controller may be further configured to verify the nomadic device is approved to communicate with vehicle key fob based on a pre-registration configuration. If the nomadic device is approved, the at least one controller may be further configured to transmit the request to the key fob and receive the vehicle security code from the key fob. The at least one controller may be further configured to transmit the vehicle security code to the nomadic device.

Abstract: One or more controller may extract voice commands from retrieved web content, format the web content according to vehicle computing system (VCS) specific formatting information, provide the formatted web content for display by the VCS, and update the recognized voice commands of the VCS according to the extracted voice commands. A server may identify whether a received web request for web content is directed to a vehicle sub-domain for providing an in-vehicle-specific version of the content, identify whether the received web request is for presentation of web content via a VCS, and redirect the web request to the vehicle sub-domain when the request is not directed to the vehicle sub-domain and is for presentation via the VCS.

Abstract: A mobile device may be associated with a vehicle for verification of software updates. The mobile device may be configured to receive a message including an encryption key with which a software update for the vehicle is encrypted, provide a user interface requesting user verification of installation of the software update, and responsive to receipt of the user verification, provide the encryption key to the vehicle to allow the vehicle to decrypt the software update. An update server may be configured to send a software update encrypted using an encryption key to a vehicle, receive a request from the vehicle requesting that the encryption key used to encrypt the software update be provided to a mobile device associated with the vehicle for verification of software updates, and send the encryption key to the mobile device responsive to the request.

Abstract: The present system relates to an exercise system comprising an appliance which acts much like an exercise device able, which is able to be used by an individual to enable repeated movements of one or more limbs, to thus enable the user to achieve a low level aerobic activity (e.g., low level exercise) while performing other non-exercise related tasks. A communication control module communicates with a personal electronic device located at the exercise device. A management subsystem communicates with the communication control module and is configured to track usage of the exercise device by at least one individual, and to implement at least one gamification subsystem. The gamification subsystem uses the tracked usage for the purpose of executing a program to reward usage of the exercise device. The gamification subsystem may also be configured to report information it generates to at least one of the individual or an entity associated with operation of the exercise device.

Abstract: A vehicle computing system (VCS) may include a smart device interface configured to provide VCS applications with access to remote smart device features; a scripting application configured to utilize the smart device interface to execute scripting settings to automate the remote smart device features; and a user interface of the scripting application configured to facilitate editing of scripting settings when driver workload, as determined by the VCS, is below a predetermined threshold value. A configuration server may be configured to receive, via a user interface provided by the server, an action to be performed by a vehicle and a trigger specifying a condition upon which the action should be performed by the vehicle, generate a scripting setting including the action and the trigger, and provide the scripting setting to a vehicle for execution.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing real time information content from a remote content source to an individual travelling in a vehicle over a personal electronic device (PED) of the individual, for playback over a subsystem of the vehicle. A control is designated on the vehicle subsystem which enables the individual to request the information content from the remote content source. A short range wireless link is established between the user's PED and the vehicle subsystem and the PED is used to access the information content from at least one Cloud based information service. The information content is then streamed back to the vehicle subsystem over the PED and played back to the individual, at least substantially in real time, while the individual is traveling in the vehicle.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inserting selected content into a signal being broadcast by a broadcast station, and being received by a vehicle radio system. A vehicle radio system may be incorporated which has a processing system. A personal electronic device (PED) able to be carried by a user is also used. The PED may supply selected content to the processing system. The processing system may detect a first signal in the received broadcast signal that indicates a commercial break period of predetermined duration is to begin, and a second signal in the received broadcast signal that indicates that the commercial break period is to end. The processing system may obtain the selected content from the PED and insert the obtained, selected content into the broadcast signal for seamless playback through the vehicle radio system during the commercial break period.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling access to premium content, obtained via a smartphone, to be controlled by using a vehicle as a “key” to unlock the premium content. In one implementation the user of the vehicle uses her/his smartphone to establish a wireless link with the vehicle's radio system. The vehicle's radio system supplies a unique radio identifier to the smartphone, which the smartphone forwards to a remote authorization server. The authorization server determines from an internal database if the radio identifier is permitted access to any premium content. If so the authorization server forwards a code or command to the smartphone that the smartphone uses when accessing a web-based or cloud-based content provider, which enables the user to receive premium content form the content provider.

Abstract: One or more controller may extract voice commands from retrieved web content, format the web content according to vehicle computing system (VCS) specific formatting information, provide the formatted web content for display by the VCS, and update the recognized voice commands of the VCS according to the extracted voice commands. A server may identify whether a received web request for web content is directed to a vehicle sub-domain for providing an in-vehicle-specific version of the content, identify whether the received web request is for presentation of web content via a VCS, and redirect the web request to the vehicle sub-domain when the request is not directed to the vehicle sub-domain and is for presentation via the VCS.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inserting stored advertising content into broadcast content being played over an audio system. The system may have a smartphone in wireless communication with the audio system which runs an application relating to a specific broadcast station that is broadcasting the broadcast content. The audio system may have a processing system for detecting breaks in program content that forms part of the broadcast content. The audio system may further be configured to obtain predetermined advertisements and to play back the predetermined advertisements over the audio system during each break in the program content, in place of advertisements contained in the broadcast content.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing supplemental information to a user receiving a broadcast of audio information. A radio system is used for wirelessly receiving broadcast content. The broadcast content may be provided with a signal component indicating that supplemental information is available for the broadcast content. A smartphone is in communication with the radio system. The radio system and the smartphone communicate to enable supplemental information from the smartphone to be presented to the user, upon a user selection, while the radio system buffers the broadcast content for playback after the supplemental information has concluded.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) is disclosed for interfacing a vehicle electronic component with a smartphone, wherein the vehicle electronic component and the smartphone each make use of a short range wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the other, and wherein the smartphone includes an application running thereon. The API has an interconnect API disposed in the electronic component. The interconnect API also has a software library of command and function definitions that are able to be implemented by the API. A connect library is also used which resides within the smartphone and which is configured to communicate with the application running on the smartphone. The interconnect API and the connect library cooperatively operate as a translation mechanism to implement a plurality of functionalities when communicating with the application, according to the electronic device's capabilities.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) is disclosed for interfacing a vehicle electronic component with a smartphone, wherein the vehicle electronic component and the smartphone each make use of a short range wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the other, and wherein the smartphone includes an application running thereon. The API has an interconnect API disposed in the electronic component. The interconnect API also has a software library of command and function definitions that are able to be implemented by the API. A connect library is also used which resides within the smartphone and which is configured to communicate with the application running on the smartphone. The interconnect API and the connect library cooperatively operate as a translation mechanism to implement a plurality of functionalities when communicating with the application, according to the electronic device's capabilities.

Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly connecting a smartphone to a remote FM radio system, for controlling playback of audio content delivered wirelessly to the smartphone via a wide area network, on the remote FM radio system. An apparatus housing receives a DC power signal from a remote DC power source. A control panel has a display and controls for controlling playback of the audio content on the remote FM radio system, at least one of the controls performing a function in common with a playback control appearing on a display of the smartphone. An electronic subsystem communicates with the control panel and wirelessly receives audio content from the smartphone, and communicates the audio content as an FM signal via a user playback command input at the controls of the control panel, to the remote FM radio system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which involves using an identifier which may be stored in an electronic component of a vehicle. A short range, wireless protocol connectivity system of the vehicle may establish a wireless link with a personal electronic device (PED) of a user when the user enters the vehicle with the PED powered on. The link may be used to automatically transmit the identifier to the PED. The PED then transmits the identifier to a remote authorization source which checks if the identifier is valid and, if so, sends an unlock code back to the PED. The PED uses the unlock code to unlock an application on the PED which enables access to the remote content source.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing real time information content from a remote content source to an individual travelling in a vehicle over a personal electronic device (PED) of the individual, for playback over a subsystem of the vehicle. A control is designated on the vehicle subsystem which enables the individual to request the information content from the remote content source. A short range wireless link is established between the user's PED and the vehicle subsystem and the PED is used to access the information content from at least one Cloud based information service. The information content is then streamed back to the vehicle subsystem over the PED and played back to the individual, at least substantially in real time, while the individual is traveling in the vehicle.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically restarting an application running on a smartphone present in a predetermined environment, after the application has been paused. A hardware interconnect apparatus may be configured to establish a first communications link with the smartphone, and also to establish a second communications link with an electronic device present at the predetermined environment. A processor executable auto launch application may be adapted to run on the smartphone to detect when a previously selected application has been at least one of stopped or paused, and to automatically re-start the previously selected application without a command being physically entered on the smartphone by a user of the smartphone.

Abstract: A portable media player and a car media player are disclosed. In either implementation the media player may be used to record digital content as it is streamed over a wide area network (WAN). The recorded digital content may then be played back using the media player and associated controls on the media player. In one implementation the media player makes use of a stored program and an external computer so that digital content recorded by the computer may then transferred from the computer on to the media player for storage and playback.

Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure is directed to a media system having a base unit and a portable media player. The base unit may be adapted to playback and record media content being received from an external media source. The base unit may further be adapted to analyze the media content and to automatically extract therefrom, without intervention by a user of the system, intermittent, designated portions of the media content as the media content is received by the base unit, and to store the designated portions of the media content as media files for subsequent playback. The portable media player may be docked to the base unit so that stored media files from the base unit may be uploaded to the portable media player.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing advertising (AD) content to a radio system of a vehicle. A smartphone may have a stored application thereon related to a specific broadcast station. A utility application may be associated with the radio system (RS) and used to inform the smartphone when the RS is tuned to the specific broadcast station. The RS may have a processor for detecting a start maker and a stop marker in a broadcast signal being received from the specific broadcast station, and to inform the smartphone when the start marker is detected. The start marker and the stop marker define a time interval where at least one advertisement is present in the broadcast signal. The smartphone may provide AD content to the RS which is inserted for playback during the time interval.