Abstract: A method includes detecting, with a sensor, a gaze of an occupant of a vehicle. The gaze is directed to at least one vehicle displays. The method also includes determining, with a controller circuit in communication with the sensor, whether one or more features presented on the at vehicle displays are partially obstructed from a view of the occupant. When the one or more features presented on vehicle displays are partially obstructed from the view of the occupant, the controller circuit adjusts a presentation of at least one partially obstructed features to be viewable by the occupant.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, with a sensor, a gaze of an occupant of a vehicle. The gaze is directed to at least one vehicle displays. The method also includes determining, with a controller circuit in communication with the sensor, whether one or more features presented on the at vehicle displays are partially obstructed from a view of the occupant. When the one or more features presented on vehicle displays are partially obstructed from the view of the occupant, the controller circuit adjusts a presentation of at least one partially obstructed features to be viewable by the occupant.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, with a sensor, a gaze of an occupant of a vehicle. The gaze is directed to at least one vehicle displays. The method also includes determining, with a controller circuit in communication with the sensor, whether one or more features presented on the at vehicle displays are partially obstructed from a view of the occupant. When the one or more features presented on vehicle displays are partially obstructed from the view of the occupant, the controller circuit adjusts a presentation of at least one partially obstructed features to be viewable by the occupant.

Abstract: A system for operating a display as a Human Machine Interface suitable to use in an automated vehicle includes a display and a controller. The display is positioned in a vehicle so as to be viewable by an occupant of the vehicle, said display characterized by a display-resolution and a display-size. The controller is in communication with the display. The controller is configured to determine how many widgets can be shown on the display based on the display-size, determine a list of selected-widgets from a list of possible-widgets, wherein each of the possible-widgets is characterized by a critical-factor, and the selected-widgets have a critical-factor greater than critical-threshold, determine a configuration of each selected-widget based on the display-resolution, wherein the configuration includes an aspect-ratio, and operate the display to show the selected-widgets to the occupant.

Abstract: A human machine interface (HMI) system for a vehicle equipped with a plurality of voice activated devices. An occupant monitor is used to determine a gaze direction or gesture of an occupant of the vehicle. The system determines to which of the voice activated devices a voice command is directed based on the gaze direction or gesture.

Abstract: A system for executing a high-reliability application and a third party application is provided. The system includes an application module and a second module. The application module has control logic for executing the high reliability application and the third party application. The high reliability application generates a message sequence. The application module includes a normal operating mode, a high reliability mode, and a high reliability boot. The second module is in communication with the application module, and includes a first control logic for monitoring the message sequence when the application module is operating in the normal operating mode. The second module also includes control logic for initiating the high reliability boot in the application module.

Abstract: A system for executing a high-reliability application and a third party application is provided. The system includes an application module and a second module. The application module has control logic for executing the high reliability application and the third party application. The high reliability application generates a message sequence. The application module includes a normal operating mode, a high reliability mode, and a high reliability boot. The second module is in communication with the application module, and includes a first control logic for monitoring the message sequence when the application module is operating in the normal operating mode. The second module also includes control logic for initiating the high reliability boot in the application module.

Abstract: A technique for providing management of a motor vehicle information system includes a number of steps. Initially, a wake-up message is received from a portable transmitter. In general, the wake-up message, unique to the portable transmitter, is provided responsive to user activation of a button that is electrically coupled to the portable transmitter. Next, it is determined whether power capability of the motor vehicle is adequate responsive to receipt of the wake-up message. When the motor vehicle power capability is adequate, power is provided to a wireless interface, a vehicle information system and a mass storage device, all of which are located within the motor vehicle. Information is then received via the wireless interface and stored in the mass storage device, when the power capability of the motor vehicle is adequate.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining positioning data including the steps of providing a navigation device, obtaining positioning data including at least global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, and communicating with a remote database. The method further includes the step of obtaining and storing positioning data from the remote database based upon the GPS coordinates, which includes at least additional addressing information.

Abstract: A technique for providing management of a motor vehicle information system includes a number of steps. Initially, a wake-up message is received from a portable transmitter. In general, the wake-up message, unique to the portable transmitter, is provided responsive to user activation of a button that is electrically coupled to the portable transmitter. Next, it is determined whether power capability of the motor vehicle is adequate responsive to receipt of the wake-up message. When the motor vehicle power capability is adequate, power is provided to a wireless interface, a vehicle information system and a mass storage device, all of which are located within the motor vehicle. Information is then received via the wireless interface and stored in the mass storage device, when the power capability of the motor vehicle is adequate.

Abstract: A multi-context speech recognition system includes a device for providing phrase based speech recognition and keyword based speech recognition from a single user utterance. A first speech recognition engine coupled to a phrase based dictionary is used for searching out matches between the utterance and one or more entries in the phrase based dictionary. A second speech engine is coupled to a keyword based dictionary for searching out matches between the utterance and one or more entries found in a keyword based dictionary.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system uses a simple graphic user interface (GUI) to display a route formed by a sequence of route segments. At any given time, the vehicle navigation system displays a single route segment, defined either as the distance between consecutive turn points or as a fixed distance. The vehicle navigation system also displays a graphic representation of the vehicle. The user can scroll backward and forward through the sequence of route segments using a simple control, such as a knob or a keypad. As a result, the user can view the entire route easily without having to mentally adjust to different frames of reference, such as between an overview map and a detailed map.

Abstract: An improved application processing system (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E) which utilizes both on-board components and off-board components connected via wireless data transfer devices (62, 64). On-board the vehicle is a user interface, or a microphone (22), which receives data in the form of human speech from the user (20), and components for digitization (56) and feature extraction (58) of the data with the data then being sent to an off-board processing system (66), which may include a speech recognition system (72) and a voice-enabled program application (74). After the data has been processed by the off-board system (66), the data is retransmitted to the on-board system, where the processed data (76) is converted from text to speech (78), reconstructed as speech (79), or displayed. The display or speech is then distributed to the drive or occupants by a radio (80), handheld device, or a display unit (84).

Abstract: A security system including a vehicle based security manager processor and a communications module linked to the security manager processor. The communications module is capable of communicating to a remote call center by way of an internet communication link. If certain security protocols are breached, the call center communicates a shutdown command to the vehicle by way of the internet communications link and the vehicle initiates a shutdown procedure for incapacitating the vehicle.

Abstract: A low signal detection circuit for use in an electronic tolling system which wakes up a receiver circuit associated with the tolling system based upon the type of signal received. An RF signal transmitted by the electronic tolling system is Manchester encoded and will therefore have a frequency within predetermined values. The system will detect the incoming RF signals or count the rising and falling edges of the baseband signal and apply the counts to a threshold circuit which will compare the number of counts to a predetermined value. If the number of counts falls within a predetermined range, then a signal indicating the presence of a valid RF signal will be output from the wake-up circuit. A power management circuit receives a clock signal from an oscillator circuit and provides a power signal which will wake up the detection circuitry for only a minimum predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An AM stereo input signal is processed by an envelope detector, an in-phase detector and a quadrature phase detector to yield outputs which may carry short noise impulses. Each output is low pass filtered to derive an average signal level and each output is ratiometrically compared to the corresponding average to detect a tic or modulation substantially above the average. In response to a tic a hold circuit generates a flag for a period which depends on the quality of the input signal. A dual mode deemphasis and sample/hold circuit normally filters the audio signal in each channel and is effective for the duration of the flag to hold the existing signal in the circuit to blank out the noise impulse.

Abstract: An adaptive audio processor for stereo AM broadcast signals includes independent signal processing paths. Each path has a variable lowpass filter and a matrix and variable Q 10 kHz notch filter to form LEFT and RIGHT channel signals with a 10 kHz notched pass band determined by adjacent channel noise. A 10 kHz pass band signal representative of adjacent channel noise from one of the signal processing paths is compared to a reference to generate a correction signal that is fedback to control the lowpass and notch filters. The correction signal adjusts the pass band and Q of the lowpass and notch filters so that the effects of adjacent channel noise are minimized. Other receiver signals which are reflective of the quality of the received broadcast signal, e.g., the AGC signal, an excess modulation signal, and a receiver microprocessor signal are similarly employed to control the lowpass and notch filters.