Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud; providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device; providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle; and causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer.

Abstract: Course-based place searching systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a system for performing a course-based place search may include a navigation device, a processing device, and a display. The navigation device may be configured to track a location and a course of the vehicle. The processing device may be communicatively coupled to the navigation device and may be configured to request places from a resource based at least in part on the location of the vehicle and the search criterion and to return a first one or more places received from the resource to an occupant of the vehicle. The first one or more places may be based at least in part on the course of the vehicle. The display may be communicatively coupled to the processing device. The first one or more places may be displayed on the display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining geographical location data from multiple sources and aggregating the geographical location data are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving geo-location data from a plurality of geo-location data collectors, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with an in-vehicle geo-location data source, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with a geo-location data source in a mobile device; collecting reliability data corresponding to one or more of a plurality of geo-location data sources corresponding to the plurality of geo-location data collectors; collecting map data including information related to geographical features associated with the geo-location data; and aggregating, by use of a data processor, the geo-location data from the plurality of geo-location data collectors based on the reliability data and the map data to produce a resulting geo-location fix.

Abstract: An example embodiment disclosed herein includes a vehicle teleconferencing system. The vehicle teleconferencing system includes an abstraction and communication device (hereinafter “device”) and a mobile device. The device includes an adaptor configured to interface with a Controller Area Network bus of a vehicle and to abstract vehicle data from the vehicle. The mobile device includes an operation determination module, a clock, and a teleconferencing module. The operation determination module is configured to determine that an operator is operating the vehicle based on a subset of the data. The clock is configured to track actual time. The teleconferencing module is configured to access a teleconference calendar event that includes a scheduled time and teleconference contact information, and when the actual time is within a predetermined threshold of the scheduled time and the operator is operating the vehicle, to prompt the operator to join a teleconference.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for applying different content protection schemes to different segments of digital content. A method for protecting digital content includes determining segments within digital content that is organized to allow presentation in a certain order. Each of the segments is assigned to a category of a group of categories. Each of the categories has a different content protection scheme associated therewith. One of the protection schemes is applied to each segment based on the category associated with the segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining geographical location data from multiple sources and aggregating the geographical location data are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving geo-location data from a plurality of geo-location data collectors, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with an in-vehicle geo-location data source, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with a geo-location data source in a mobile device; collecting reliability data corresponding to one or more of a plurality of geo-location data sources corresponding to the plurality of geo-location data collectors; collecting map data including information related to geographical features associated with the geo-location data; and aggregating, by use of a data processor, the geo-location data from the plurality of geo-location data collectors based on the reliability data and the map data to produce a resulting geo-location fix.

Abstract: Course-based place searching systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a system for performing a course-based place search may include a navigation device, a processing device, and a display. The navigation device may be configured to track a location and a course of the vehicle. The processing device may be communicatively coupled to the navigation device and may be configured to request places from a resource based at least in part on the location of the vehicle and the search criterion and to return a first one or more places received from the resource to an occupant of the vehicle. The first one or more places may be based at least in part on the course of the vehicle. The display may be communicatively coupled to the processing device. The first one or more places may be displayed on the display.

Abstract: Vehicle location sharing systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a system for sharing a location of a vehicle may include a location-determining device and a network-connected device. The location-determining device may be configured to track a location of a vehicle and to determine a location of the vehicle in response to a voice command from an occupant of the vehicle. The network-connected device may be configured to transmit a location description in response to the voice command. The location description may be configured to identify the determined location of the vehicle.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes an automatic pairing system. The automatic pairing system includes a vehicle initialization module, a vehicle pairing module, and a triggering mechanism. The vehicle initialization module is loaded onto a vehicle abstraction device configured to interface with a vehicle. The vehicle pairing module is loaded on the vehicle abstraction device. The vehicle pairing module is configured to be launched by the vehicle initialization module. After being launched, the vehicle pairing module is configured to automatically communicate vehicle pairing data stored on the vehicle pairing module to establish one or more communication channels between the vehicle and a mobile device. The triggering mechanism is configured to trigger the vehicle initialization module to launch the vehicle pairing module.

Abstract: An example embodiment disclosed herein includes a predictive vehicle navigation system. The predictive vehicle navigation system includes an abstraction and communication device (hereinafter “device”) and a mobile device. The device includes an adaptor configured to interface with a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of a vehicle and to abstract vehicle data from the vehicle. The mobile device includes an operation determination module configured to determine that an operator is operating the vehicle based on a subset of the data, a clock configured to track actual time, and a navigation module configured to receive the actual time and the determination that the operator is operating the vehicle, to access a calendar event that includes an address and a scheduled time, and when the actual time is within a predetermined threshold of the scheduled time, to predict that the address is a destination of the operator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining geographical location data from multiple sources and aggregating the geographical location data are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving geo-location data from a plurality of geo-location data collectors, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with an in-vehicle geo-location data source, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with a geo-location data source in a mobile device; collecting reliability data corresponding to one or more of a plurality of geo-location data sources corresponding to the plurality of geo-location data collectors; collecting map data including information related to geographical features associated with the geo-location data; and aggregating, by use of a data processor, the geo-location data from the plurality of geo-location data collectors based on the reliability data and the map data to produce a resulting geo-location fix.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud; providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device: providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle; and causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing low overhead remote procedure calls are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating, by use of a data processor, a data packet having a command type header portion and a payload portion; branding, by use of the data processor, the data packet with a command type header from the group: an event type, a remote procedure call (RPC) request type, an RPC response type, and an RPC signal type; packing data into the payload portion based on a data representation corresponding to the command type header, if the command type header is an event type; specifying an interface and a method to invoke on a remote system, if the command type header is an RPC request type; and causing the data packet to he transferred to a subsystem via an inter-process data communication.

Abstract: In an example, a method for projecting content from a mobile device to an external display device is described. The method includes discovering characteristics of the external display device at the mobile device. The method also includes reformatting content at the mobile device according to the discovered characteristics of the external display device. The method also includes transmitting the reformatted content from the mobile device to the external display device for display on the external display device. The external display devices may be vehicular display devices, televisions, projectors, etc. When the external display device is a vehicular display device, the mobile device can be used to display content in the vehicle, thereby enhancing the usefulness of the vehicular display device.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes an abstraction device including a mapping platform, a vehicle transceiver, and a mobile device transceiver. The mapping platform is configured to convert input data messages formatted in a vehicle-specific format to output data messages formatted in a standard mobile device format. The mapping platform is further configured to convert input data messages formatted in the standard mobile device format to output data messages in the vehicle-specific format. The input data messages may have any of multiple data message types, which are communicated from multiple mobile device subsystems, and multiple vehicle subsystems. The vehicle transceiver is configured to transmit the output data messages formatted in the vehicle-specific format to a vehicle via a controller area network (CAN) bus of the vehicle. The mobile device transceiver is configured to transmit the output data messages formatted in the standard mobile device format to a mobile device.

Abstract: Communication of signals between mobile devices and automotive Controller Area Network (CAN) buses. An abstraction and communication device includes a connector, a mapping platform, and a transceiver. The connector is adapted to interface with an automotive CAN bus that communicates data signals in a first automobile-specific format with components of an automobile. The mapping platform is configured to convert a data signal from the first automobile-specific format into a mobile device format defined by an Application Programming Interface (API). Additionally, the transceiver is configured to wirelessly and securely communicate the data signal in the mobile device format to a mobile device.

Abstract: In an example, a method of enforcing regulatory guidelines related to functionality of an electronic device associated with a vehicle when the vehicle is in a drive mode includes interfacing an application of an electronic device associated with a vehicle with an Application Programming Interface (API). The method additionally includes determining that the vehicle is in the drive mode. In the method, the API may modify a functionality of the application of the electronic device in accordance with regulatory guidelines associated with operation of the electronic device when the vehicle is in the drive mode. The modification may be based on the determination that the vehicle is in the drive mode.

Abstract: In an example, a method of modifying functionality of an electronic device associated with a vehicle may include assessing one or more safety parameters associated with an operating state of a vehicle. The method may further include modifying functionality of an electronic device associated with the vehicle based on the one or more safety parameters.

Abstract: An electrical box includes a box portion that surrounds a volume and has an at least partially open back, a mud ring that is coupled to the front of box portion, and structure mounts that extend out beyond a perimeter of the volume enclosed by the box portion. The structure mounts are used to couple to any of a variety of types of structure, such as a stud, an inter-stud bracket, or other structure. The structure mounts may include integral parts of the mud ring, integral parts of the box portion, or separate brackets that are attached to the box portion and/or the mud ring. Advantages for the electrical box include a reduced number of parts, reduced time and labor for installation, and flexibility in installation.

Abstract: A dermatome assembly is operable to harvest a skin graft and includes an ultrasonic dermatome and a power supply. The ultrasonic dermatome includes a body and an ultrasonic blade assembly mounted in the body. The blade assembly includes a frequency generator and a cutting horn powered by the frequency generator. The cutting horn is spaced apart from the body so that the body is restricted from damping vibrational movement of the cutting horn. The dermatome assembly is operable to precisely control the thickness of the cut skin graft and also restrict the cutting horn from overheating.