Abstract: A method and arrangement remembers a last-played position of a recorded medium by associating an identification number with the medium and storing therewith in memory a last-play position of the medium. The identification number of the recorded medium is analyzed after re-insertion of the medium into the player and play is resumed at the last-play position when the identification number corresponds with the identification number previously stored in memory.

Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft arrangement and method relies on matching vehicle identifiers upon detection of vehicle battery cycling to confirm whether or not the component being protected is still resident in an authorized vehicle. The arrangement and method further includes a facile way for authorized personnel to override the protection mechanism using code word entries retrievable from a component manufacturer generated database.

Abstract: A method for recording and storing a route of a motor vehicle in an undigitized area of a vehicle navigation system comprises determining a first position of the motor vehicle using a Global Positioning System. This first position is then recorded in the vehicle navigation system. A second position of the motor vehicle is determined after the motor vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance from the first position. This second position is also recorded in the vehicle navigation system. The first position is then connected to the second position in order to form a route in the vehicle navigation system. The route has a segment in an undigitized area of the vehicle navigation system. The route is then stored in the vehicle navigation system and may be retrieved at a later time.

Abstract: A method and system for flashing motor vehicle electronic control modules incorporates a networked system to transfer data from an entertainment system associated with the vehicle to electronic control modules. The data is stored on a data storage medium accessed by the entertainment system component and transferred to the database network which then transports the data to the electronic control modules.

Abstract: A method for recording and storing a route of a motor vehicle in an undigitized area of a vehicle navigation system comprises determining a first position of the motor vehicle using a Global Positioning System. This first position is then recorded in the vehicle navigation system. A second position of the motor vehicle is determined after the motor vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance from the first position. This second position is also recorded in the vehicle navigation system. The first position is then connected to the second position in order to form a route in the vehicle navigation system. The route has a segment in an undigitized area of the vehicle navigation system. The route is then stored in the vehicle navigation system and may be retrieved at a later time.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system for a motor vehicle comprises a display screen and an input device. A menu having a plurality of menu items is displayable on the display screen and the menu items are selectable by the input device. The menu has a first configuration when the motor vehicle is stationary, has a second configuration when the motor vehicle is moving, and has the first configuration when the motor vehicle is moving but a passenger occupies the motor vehicle. When the menu is in the first configuration, all of the menu items are selectable by the input device. When the menu is in the second configuration, none or only a portion of the menu items are selectable by the input device.

Abstract: A method of shifting in a manual mode of an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system includes the steps of determining whether a shift lever of a shift lever mechanism is presenting a position error when the shift lever is in a manual position, determining whether at least one switch on the shift, lever mechanism is presenting an error if a shift lever position, error is not determined, determining whether a temperature of an, automatic transmission or engine coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold if the at least one switch is not presenting an error, determining whether the manual position conditions have been met, determining whether an upshift or downshift of the automatic transmission is scheduled if the manual position conditions have been met, and executing either an upshift or a downshift of the automatic transmission based on the determined upshift or downshift being scheduled.

Abstract: A method of displaying a shift lever position for an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system having an automatic transmission, a shift lever mechanism, a transmission controller interconnecting the automatic transmission and the shift lever mechanism, a body controller, and a communication bus interconnecting the transmission controller and a body controller, said method comprising the steps of sending a gear position indicator message from the transmission controller to the body controller, determining from the gear position indicator message whether the transmission system is in an automatic or manual mode of operation, indicating a position of the shift lever mechanism if the transmission system is in the automatic mode of operation, and indicating a gear selected of the automatic transmission if the transmission system is in a manual mode of operation.

Abstract: A method for reinitializing vehicle parameters stored in a memory of a controller in a motor vehicle after a power loss to the controller includes the steps of determining whether predetermined conditions are right for transferring at least one vehicle parameter stored in a volatile memory of a controller, transferring the vehicle parameter stored in the volatile memory to a non-volatile memory if the predetermined conditions are right for transferring the vehicle parameter, determining whether predetermined conditions are right for re-initializing the vehicle parameter after a power loss to the controller, transferring the vehicle parameter from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory if the predetermined conditions are right for re-initializing the vehicle parameter, and initializing the vehicle parameter with a predetermined initial value stored in the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory if the predetermined conditions are not right for re-initializing the vehicle parameter.

Abstract: A method of determining the remaining useful life of automatic transmission fluid used in an automatic transmission or transaxle is provided. A multiplicity of vehicles having the same type of automatic transmission or transaxle are monitored and data on factors bearing on the useful life of automatic transmission fluid are collected. Weighted constants are derived for each factor. The automatic transmission controller is then programmed to monitor the operation of the automatic transmission or transaxle and collect data on the factors that bear on the useful life of the automatic transmission fluid. Based on the collected data and weighted constants, the remaining useful life of the automatic transmission fluid is determined.

Abstract: A method of splaying a shift lever position for an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system having an automatic transmission, a shift lever mechanism, a transmission controller interconnecting the automatic transmission and the shift lever mechanism, a body controller, and a communication bus interconnecting the transmission controller and a body controller, said method comprising the steps of sending a gear position indicator message from the transmission controller to the body controller, determining from the gear position indicator message whether the transmission system is in an automatic or manual mode of operation, indicating a position of the shift lever mechanism if the transmission system is in the automatic mode of operation, and indicating a gear selected of the automatic transmission if the transmission system is in a manual mode of operation.

Abstract: A method of shifting in a manual mode of an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system includes the steps of determining whether a shift lever of a shift lever mechanism is presenting a position error when the shift lever is in a manual position, determining whether at least one switch on the shift lever mechanism is presenting an error if a shift lever position error is not determined, determining whether a temperature of an automatic transmission or engine coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold if the at least one switch is not presenting an error, determining whether the manual position conditions have been met, determining whether an upshift or downshift of the automatic transmission is scheduled if the manual position conditions have been met, and executing either an upshift or a downshift of the automatic transmission based on the determined upshift or downshift being scheduled.

Abstract: An electronic gear display for an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system having an automatic transmission, a shift lever mechanism, a transmission controller interconnecting the automatic transmission and the shift lever mechanism, a body controller, and a communication bus interconnecting the transmission controller and the body controller includes a first set of indicators connected to the body controller to indicate that the shift lever mechanism is in an automatic mode of operation of the automatic transmission, and a second set of indicators connected to the body controller to indicate that the shift lever mechanism is in a manual mode of operation of the automatic transmission.

Abstract: An electric circuit for manual shifting of an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system having a controller and a shift lever includes a first switch, a second switch, and a voltage divider interconnecting the first switch and the second switch and the controller to allow passing of an input signal from either the first switch or the second switch to the controller in response to the shift lever closing the first switch or the second switch.