Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing grille shutters includes a drive unit, a wheel driven by the drive unit, and a pair of shafts attached to the wheel and configured for driving the grille shutters to open or close. At least one of the shafts is pivotally coupled to the wheel so that an angle formed between the shafts and the wheel is adjustable.

Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing grille shutters includes a drive unit, a wheel driven by the drive unit, and a pair of shafts attached to the wheel and configured for driving the grille shutters to open or close. At least one of the shafts is pivotally coupled to the wheel so that an angle formed between the shafts and the wheel is adjustable.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for controlling the audio broadcast to users participating in a group conversation. In one embodiment, a communications server employs arbitration logic to decide which of the user has priority to speak, and accordingly mixes only the audio data steams for those users for broadcast to all users. The server can send notification to the user interfaces to inform the users of their current priority status and to allow the users to request that their priority be increased, decreased, eliminated, or passed on for the benefit of another user. A user may also attempt at his user interface to affect the priority of identified other users by informing the arbitration logic of a rating for that user. Additionally, a systems administrator may also arbitrate user priorities, either at his discretion or in conjunction with suggestions provided by the arbitration logic.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for allowing participants within a group conversation on a wireless communication network to at least temporarily break away from a group conversation and hold a side bar conversation. The side bar conversation may comprise several different types, including a public conversation (much like the original group conversation) or may constitute a private conversation (much like a standard phone call) or private text messaging or data exchange. A group conversation user wishing to hold the side bar conversation uses his user interface to alert other group conversation user(s) with whom he would like to hold the side bar conversation. Either the initiating user or the recipient user(s) can recommend the type of side bar conversation to be had using their user interfaces.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for using user IDs to enter a personalized communication profile into a communication user interface, and preferably a vehicle-based communication user interface. In one embodiment, the user IDs correspond to switches, which may comprises switches within the vehicle or on devices in wireless communication with the vehicle, such as a key fob. The key fob code can either constitute the user ID or can be user to retrieve it from either the vehicle's head unit or a communications server. The switch may be dedicated to inputting the user ID, or may comprise switches also serving other functions, such as seat adjustment of the vehicle. The user ID can also be loaded using a display associated with the user interface. Additionally, the user ID may also be retrieved using a voice recognition module, which allows for loading of the communication profile without the necessity of pressing switches.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for organizing communications in a vehicular wireless communication system. In one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for operating a communication system in a first vehicle in which a microphone or microphones are selectively enabled to preferentially pick up the voice of only a particular participant in a vehicle. In other embodiments, user IDs are associated with the speaking participants, which allows a recipient receiving the voice communications to known who in the vehicle is speaking, and to block or modify such communications if necessary.

Abstract: A communications system for a vehicle having a foot pedal useable to control communications at a user interface in the vehicle. By controlling the user interface at least in part through activation of the foot pedal, communications in the vehicle are made more convenient and less dangerous as the user need not use his hands to operate the communications user interface. The foot pedal may perform a dedicated communications control function, or may be programmable to perform a communications control function of a user's choosing. Several foot pedals may be used, either in conjunction with a single seat, or each associated with a particular seat in the vehicle. Foot pedal communication settings may also be stored within the communications user interface for easy retrieval, and may be retrievable through entry of a user ID, such as may come from a key fob.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for organizing communications in a vehicular wireless communication system. In one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for modifying communications broadcast within a vehicle. In one embodiment, the volume of the broadcast communications are scaled or modified in a manner to indicate the distance of the recipient of the communications. In another embodiment, broadcast communications are selectively broadcast through those speakers that are closest to the recipient of the communications in accordance with the angular orientation of the vehicle to the recipient. In another embodiment, the distance or angular orientation of the recipient is displayed on a user interface in the vehicle. In yet another embodiment, only the speakers are engaged in the vehicle that is nearest to the passenger that initiates the communication with the recipient.

Abstract: An improved system and procedure for allowing a user to post a route to another mobile user or to himself. In one embodiment, a user engages his user interface to record and transmit the traveled route to a second user or to himself at a later time. The recipient receives the route in accordance with his user ID and other parameters specified or messages left by the initiating user. The route can be displayed on a map, in text, or audibly broadcast. In an alternative embodiment, the route can be left by a non-mobile user for the benefit of a mobile user using, for example, a home computer.

Abstract: A system and procedure for posting and receiving location-based messages in a wireless communication based network. The system allows messages to be posted to specified users and to be associated with a particular location for which the message is pertinent. The messages can be left when a user passes a particular location, or the user can specify the location for the message even if not present at that location. The messages can then be displayed at a user interface of the recipient either when the recipient nears that location, or they can be reviewed in advance. Such location-based messages can be left either for another user or for the same user that is posting the method. The posted and received messages can be textual, audio, video, or pictorial messages and may be superimposed on computerized maps to make association between the message and the location more meaningful. Regardless, the disclosed system and methods allow messages to be associated with particular locations of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively enabling communications at a user interface using a user profile. The system and methods have particular utility to communication user interfaces in vehicles but may be used with other wireless user interfaces as well. In one embodiment, a user uses his user interface to define a user profile indicative of the types of communication channels he wishes to receive. This user profile is transmitted to a communications server and is used to filter all potential channels so that the user only has access to those channels potentially of interest. User preferences specified in the user profile may be, for example, topical, commercial, weather, traffic, or emergency in nature, and can be stored for future reference. The user may also prioritize preferred or received channels so that they are given precedence at his user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling communications in a wireless communications network on the basis of user-specified locations or orientations, having particular utility to vehicle-based communications. Users of the network broadcast their locations and orientations (headings) to a central server. Using his user interface, a user can specify either a location or a heading and transmit the same to the server. The server will query other system users to determine which correspond to the specified locations or orientations, and the requesting user is then permitted to contact such other users. With such functionality, a given user can, for example, be enabled to communicate with other users at or near his current location, at or near some specified distant location, or that are traveling in the same direction as the user.

Abstract: Method of enabling a remote communications device (106) with a telematics functionality module (150) can include providing a docking apparatus (114) coupled to interface with a vehicle (109). The remote communications device is communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device is non-enabled with a telematics functionality module (150). The docking apparatus and the remote communications device enable the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module.

Abstract: A portable electronic device, like a cellular telephone is capable of detecting collisions between vehicles and notifying the proper authorities. The device includes a microprocessor and memory, in addition to an accelerometer and global positioning systems receiver. The memory includes at least one filter for screening out false positives, which are false collision detections. In one embodiment, the device determines its velocity. It then checks to see if its velocity falls within a range associated with moving vehicles. If so, the device monitors the accelerometer. When acceleration values in excess of a predetermined threshold are detected, the device pauses and again checks its velocity. If the velocity has fallen from the range associated with moving vehicles to a range associated with a vehicle that has sustained a collision, the device notifies emergency personnel that a collision has occurred.