Abstract: A system and method for managing remote reprogramming of flash memory in a vehicle electronic control unit. A vehicle state manager process is used to first determine if the vehicle conditions are suitable for reprogramming of a particular ECU and, if so, the vehicle state manager then maintains the proper vehicle configuration during the reprogramming operation. The system and method can be used to automatically reprogram a vehicle ECU using new programming received by digital satellite broadcast or other wireless transmission to the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for using a proxy communication module within a vehicle telematics unit to provide external data connectivity for vehicle applications. The method comprises receiving a request from one or more vehicle applications to retrieve data from a server on an external network. In response to the request, a wireless proxy data communication channel is established between the proxy communication module in the vehicle telematics system and the server. The requested data is received from the server via the wireless proxy data communication channel and communicated from the proxy communication module to the one or more vehicle applications.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that facilitates the generation of a safety-optimized route between a starting location and a destination location. A vehicle navigation system configured in accordance with the invention accesses safety data indicative of the relative safety of potential route sections, processes the safety data for a potential route, and generates a proposed navigation plan that favors relatively safe route sections over relatively unsafe route sections.

Abstract: System, methods, and apparatus are provided for wireless vehicle-to-vehicle sharing of multimedia data. The system includes a data storage device configured to store multimedia data packets transmitted by a system broadcast, a processor coupled to the data storage device and configured to determine a non-received group of multimedia data packets based on the stored multimedia data packets of the system broadcast, and a transceiver coupled to the processor. The transceiver is configured to receive multimedia data packets transmitted from the system broadcast and multimedia data packets transmitted from a system vehicle in response to the request signal. The method includes the steps of determining non-received multimedia data packets based on a system broadcast in a first wireless protocol, and requesting multimedia data packets of the non-received multimedia data packets in a second wireless protocol from system vehicles.

Abstract: A method and control system enable at least one adjustable setting of an apparatus in a vehicle to be changed in response to a selection made by a user of the vehicle either from the vehicle or from a location remote to the vehicle. The system has a user actuated input device that provides a control signal in response to a setting selection by the user. A server system stores a program for operating the method and system. A vehicle control system is provided onboard the vehicle. A communication network couples the server system to the vehicle control system so that so that the user can control the setting for the apparatus by operating the input device. The computer system records the vehicle settings in a database.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for an electronic vehicle storage system. The apparatus includes a vehicle electrical infrastructure, a vehicle communications network coupled to the vehicle electrical infrastructure, a controller coupled to the vehicle electrical infrastructure via the vehicle communications network, and a data storage device coupled to the controller and configured to store multimedia files. The controller is configured to communicate with the vehicle electrical infrastructure. The data storage device includes an embedded database containing a list of multimedia file content. The controller is further configured to access the embedded database and associate a recognized multimedia file with a multimedia file content from the list of multimedia file content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a multimedia storage and transfer. The system includes a first data storage device in a first vehicle, a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second data storage device in a second vehicle, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver and first data storage device. The first data storage device has an embedded database configured to store multimedia files. The embedded database has a list of multimedia file content. The controller is configured to remove the list of multimedia file content from the first data storage device and transfer the list of multimedia file content to the second data storage device via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for an electronic vehicle storage system. The apparatus includes a data storage device configured to store multimedia files, a wireless transceiver configured to transfer multimedia files, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver, data storage device, and a vehicle electrical infrastructure. The data storage device has an embedded database containing a first list of multimedia files. The controller is configured to communicate with an external computing device via the wireless transceiver. The external computing device has a second list of multimedia files. The controller is further configured to synchronize the first list of multimedia files with the second list of multimedia files.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for organizing pre-recorded digital compressed audio files for convenient playback on a device installed in a moving vehicle. The apparatus comprises a scanning function that orders the files into categories, such as “Artist” and “Album”, which are each linked to an index of their associated tracks. The indexing scheme provides a user, such as the driver of an automobile, an intuitive method of finding a desired track with minimal distraction.