Abstract: A system for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle may include a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting a steering wheel to a collapsed position. The steering wheel may include a first half and a second half, and the system may include an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal. The actuator may be configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column, and retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.

Abstract: A system within an environment of a vehicle in which one or more electronic control unit(s) (ECU) having its own communications protocol stack (e.g., a TCP/IP stack) can communicate with an ECU gateway that functions as a component of an infotainment system. Each ECU can thereby publish its own data in real time, through an Internet (or similar) connection in the infotainment system, to a broker that can store the data from all connected ECUs of a plurality of vehicles. A backend system can subscribe to certain published data feeds (e.g., all ECU-2 and ECU-3 data from every 2010 model vehicle, or all ECU-2 data from every vehicle) via the broker to pull a specific subset of available data for analysis and/or visualization. The present invention enables users of a backend system to query for data from vehicles that are not connected to the Internet in real time.

Abstract: A vehicle charging method includes receiving data corresponding to a battery status parameter of at least one battery associated with a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered and determining a charging parameter for the at least one battery based on the data. The vehicle charging method also includes determining content to be delivered to a user based on the determined charging parameter and delivering the content to the user via a content delivery system while charging the battery according to the charging parameter.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for assisting vehicular navigation through traffic. In one example, while a first vehicle is stopped, first data is received from a first set of sensors mounted on the first vehicle, the first data indicative of a state of traffic surrounding the first vehicle, and second data is received from a second set of sensors mounted on the first vehicle, the second data indicative of a state of attention of a driver of the first vehicle. Whether the first data and the second data satisfy indication-generation criteria, including a criterion that is satisfied when the second data indicates that the driver is distracted, is determined. In accordance with a determination that the first data and the second data satisfy the indication-generation criteria, the driver of the first vehicle is provided an indication to proceed into a region of a road.

Abstract: A system for operating a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle is operated in a first driving state corresponding to a first set of logic for operating the vehicle, the first set of logic including logic for performing a first action at the vehicle in response to a determination that a first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle. That state change criteria for transitioning from the first driving state to a second driving state are satisfied is determined. In response to the determination, the vehicle is operated in the second driving state corresponding to a second set of logic, different from the first set of logic, for operating the vehicle, the second set of logic including logic for performing a second action, different from the first action, at the vehicle in response to a determination that the first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle.

Abstract: In embodiments of the disclosure, location information can be used to automatically set a parking meter time reminder on a user's mobile device. For example, after determining that the user has parked once a destination has been reached, the user's location can be used to determine if the vehicle has been parked at a parking meter (or other timed parking), and a reminder can be set based on a time limit associated with that parking location. The reminder can display periodic notifications on the user's mobile device until it is detected that the user has driven the vehicle away from the parking spot.

Abstract: A system for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle may include a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting a steering wheel to a collapsed position. The steering wheel may include a first half and a second half, and the system may include an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal. The actuator may be configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column, and retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.

Abstract: A system for operating a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle is operated in a first driving state corresponding to a first set of logic for operating the vehicle, the first set of logic including logic for performing a first action at the vehicle in response to a determination that a first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle. That state change criteria for transitioning from the first driving state to a second driving state are satisfied is determined. In response to the determination, the vehicle is operated in the second driving state corresponding to a second set of logic, different from the first set of logic, for operating the vehicle, the second set of logic including logic for performing a second action, different from the first action, at the vehicle in response to a determination that the first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for assisting vehicular navigation through traffic. In one example, while a first vehicle is stopped, first data is received from a first set of sensors mounted on the first vehicle, the first data indicative of a state of traffic surrounding the first vehicle, and second data is received from a second set of sensors mounted on the first vehicle, the second data indicative of a state of attention of a driver of the first vehicle. Whether the first data and the second data satisfy indication-generation criteria, including a criterion that is satisfied when the second data indicates that the driver is distracted, is determined. In accordance with a determination that the first data and the second data satisfy the indication-generation criteria, the driver of the first vehicle is provided an indication to proceed into a region of a road.

Abstract: In embodiments of the disclosure, location information can be used to automatically set a parking meter time reminder on a user's mobile device. For example, after determining that the user has parked once a destination has been reached, the user's location can be used to determine if the vehicle has been parked at a parking meter (or other timed parking), and a reminder can be set based on a time limit associated with that parking location. The reminder can display periodic notifications on the user's mobile device until it is detected that the user has driven the vehicle away from the parking spot.

Abstract: In embodiments of the disclosure, location information can be used to automatically set a parking meter time reminder on a user's mobile device. For example, after determining that the user has parked once a destination has been reached, the user's location can be used to determine if the vehicle has been parked at a parking meter (or other timed parking), and a reminder can be set based on a time limit associated with that parking location. The reminder can display periodic notifications on the user's mobile device until it is detected that the user has driven the vehicle away from the parking spot.

Abstract: A system within an environment of a vehicle in which one or more electronic control unit(s) (ECU) having its own communications protocol stack (e.g., a TCP/IP stack) can communicate with an ECU gateway that functions as a component of an infotainment system. Each ECU can thereby publish its own data in real time, through an Internet (or similar) connection in the infotainment system, to a broker that can store the data from all connected ECUs of a plurality of vehicles. A backend system can subscribe to certain published data feeds (e.g., all ECU-2 and ECU-3 data from every 2010 model vehicle, or all ECU-2 data from every vehicle) via the broker to pull a specific subset of available data for analysis and/or visualization. The present invention enables users of a backend system to query for data from vehicles that are not connected to the Internet in real time.