Abstract: An apparatus structured for installation in a component of a vehicle is provided. The component is rotatable to any of a plurality of angular orientations relative to a remainder of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a sensing element and mounting means structured for coupling to the component so as to move with the component. The mounting means is also structured for operative coupling to the sensing element so as to enable free rotation of the sensing element with respect to the mounting means. Retention means is provided and is structured for coupling to the component. The retention means is operable to prevent rotation of the sensing element with respect to the mounting means.

Abstract: A vehicle can be configured to automatically provide settings for one or more components of the vehicle based on a measured anthropometric feature of a person approaching the vehicle. The vehicle can include a sensor configured to acquire data (e.g., visual data) of a portion of an external environment of the vehicle. The external environment can include a person approaching the vehicle. The vehicle can include a component that can be adjustable across a plurality of settings. The component can have a current setting. A processor can be operatively connected to the sensor and the component. The acquired data can be analyzed to measure an anthropometric feature of the person approaching the vehicle. A target setting of the component can be determined based on the measured anthropometric feature. The current setting of the component can be caused to match the determined target setting.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for child restraint monitoring. Some embodiments include determining that a child restraint seat has been installed in a vehicle seat of a vehicle, determining whether the child restraint seat is being properly utilized, and detecting an issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat. Some embodiments include determining that a guardian is remote from the vehicle and, in response to detecting the issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat and determining that the guardian is remote from the vehicle, sending a communication to a third party, wherein the communication provides an option to contact the vehicle to regarding improper utilization of the child restraint seat.

Abstract: A method of adapting a speech recognition system to its user includes gathering information about a user of a speech recognition system, selecting at least a part of a speech model reflecting estimated speech attributes of the user based on the information about the user, running, in the speech recognition system, a speech model including the selected at least a part of a speech model, and training, in the speech recognition system, other parts of the speech model to reflect identified speech attributes of the user.

Abstract: A method for establishing a wireless mobile communication link between a vehicle communication system and a mobile network includes a vehicle communication system receiving a single continuous user verbal command string consisting of a first verbal command and at least a second verbal command. The first verbal command identifies a selected communication device for establishing the wireless mobile communication link. The communication device is selected from a group including at least two communication devices. The vehicle communication system determines if the selected communication device is communicatively connected to the vehicle communication system and proceeds to establish the wireless mobile communication link using the selected communication device.

Abstract: Disclosed are computing devices, systems, and methods for messaging for mobile devices using a vehicle data communications module (DCM). A computing device associated with a vehicle can receive an incoming message sent to a driver's mobile device using a Bluetooth connection with the mobile device. The message can be presented to the driver over the vehicle's audio system using text-to-speech processing. The driver can compose an outgoing message as a reply, such as using speech-to-text processing, which can be sent to a remote server to forward to the intended third-party recipient. If the third party replies to the outgoing message directly, the remote server can receive the reply and forward it to the vehicle computing device. All related messages can be presented to the driver as a single thread or conversation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is inter alia a channel selection interface includes a plurality of sectors, each of the sectors including a number of tunable service identifiers divided by the plurality of sectors, and a plurality of channel markers that separate the plurality of sectors. The channel selection interface provides an even allocation of channels for a gesture recognition interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for browsing a mobile device are provided. Some embodiments may include determining a location of each of a plurality of media files on the mobile device. The plurality of media files may be organized according to a predetermined configuration and may include at least two identical media files at different locations in the predetermined configuration. Similarly, some embodiments may include receiving a request for a requested media file of the plurality of media files at the vehicle computing device and determining which of the at least two identical media files is more accessible. Still some embodiments may include navigating the mobile device to one of the at least two identical media files that is more accessible and play the requested media file through a vehicle audio system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing broadcast data analysis. One embodiment of a method includes receiving broadcast related data for a discrete content segment from a plurality of vehicles at a plurality of different geographic locations, where the plurality of vehicles receives the discrete content segment at the respective geographic locations. Similarly, the method may include determining whether any of the broadcast related data may be filtered due to overlap of the plurality of different geographic locations, calculating a statistic based on the broadcast related data from the plurality of vehicles and providing information related to the content, based on a comparison of the discrete content segment and other discrete content segments.

Abstract: A method for establishing a wireless mobile communication link between a vehicle communication system and a mobile network includes a vehicle communication system receiving a single continuous user verbal command string consisting of a first verbal command and at least a second verbal command. The first verbal command identifies a selected communication device for establishing the wireless mobile communication link. The communication device is selected from a group including at least two communication devices. The vehicle communication system determines if the selected communication device is communicatively connected to the vehicle communication system and proceeds to establish the wireless mobile communication link using the selected communication device.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer devices, systems, and methods for dynamic microphone switching for a vehicle. A plurality of microphones can be located throughout the vehicle cabin, each biased toward a different seat. When audio is received from the microphones, the volumes of the audio input for each respective microphone can be compared. The microphone with the loudest audio input can be activated and the audio input can be sent to an application, such as a telephone application. The other microphones can be muted and their audio inputs discarded. A baseline threshold can be used to determine if audio input detected by a microphone is intentional or is merely ambient noise. Weight sensors in each seat can also be used to determine whether a microphone should be activated. For example, if nobody is sitting in a particular seat, then that microphone can automatically be muted.

Abstract: Disclosed are computing devices, systems, and methods for messaging for mobile devices using a vehicle data communications module (DCM). A computing device associated with a vehicle can receive an incoming message sent to a driver's mobile device using a Bluetooth connection with the mobile device. The message can be presented to the driver over the vehicle's audio system using text-to-speech processing. The driver can compose an outgoing message as a reply, such as using speech-to-text processing, which can be sent to a remote server to forward to the intended third-party recipient. If the third party replies to the outgoing message directly, the remote server can receive the reply and forward it to the vehicle computing device. All related messages can be presented to the driver as a single thread or conversation.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for child restraint monitoring. Some embodiments include determining that a child restraint seat has been installed in a vehicle seat of a vehicle, determining whether the child restraint seat is being properly utilized, and detecting an issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat. Some embodiments include determining that a guardian is remote from the vehicle and, in response to detecting the issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat and determining that the guardian is remote from the vehicle, sending a communication to a third party, wherein the communication provides an option to contact the vehicle to regarding improper utilization of the child restraint seat.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for child restraint monitoring. Some embodiments include determining that a child restraint seat has been installed in a vehicle seat of a vehicle, determining whether the child restraint seat is being properly utilized, and detecting an issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat. Some embodiments include determining that a guardian is remote from the vehicle and, in response to detecting the issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat and determining that the guardian is remote from the vehicle, sending a communication to a third party, wherein the communication provides an option to contact the vehicle to regarding improper utilization of the child restraint seat.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for child restraint monitoring. Some embodiments include determining that a child restraint seat has been installed in a vehicle seat of a vehicle, determining whether the child restraint seat is being properly utilized, and detecting an issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat. Some embodiments include determining that a guardian is remote from the vehicle and, in response to detecting the issue with the utilization of the child restraint seat and determining that the guardian is remote from the vehicle, sending a communication to a third party, wherein the communication provides an option to contact the vehicle to regarding improper utilization of the child restraint seat.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide are provided. Some embodiments include receiving a radio signal that includes an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion, determining whether the vehicle is in operation, and in response to determining that the vehicle is not in operation, providing the auxiliary information display portion for display in the vehicle. In response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, some embodiments may be configured to create an altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion, provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle, and provide the altered auxiliary information for display in the vehicle, wherein the altered auxiliary information includes only a subset of features from the auxiliary information display portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for altering an in-vehicle presentation are provided. One embodiment includes receiving a media signal at a vehicle that includes content, providing an in-vehicle presentation of the content for viewing as the media signal is being received, and determining a triggering action to alter output of the in-vehicle presentation in a predetermined manner. Some embodiments include altering the in-vehicle presentation in the predetermined manner in response to receiving the triggering action, beginning recording of the content in response to altering the in-vehicle presentation, and providing an option to store the content that is being recorded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an in-vehicle image supplement are disclosed. One embodiment includes receiving a broadcast media signal that includes a content portion and a metadata portion, determining whether a primary image is included in the metadata portion, and in response to determining that the primary image is included in the metadata portion, providing the primary image for display. Additionally, in response to determining that the primary image is not included in the metadata portion, some embodiments include determining whether the primary image is otherwise available and in response to determining that the primary image is otherwise available, retrieving the primary image and providing the primary image for display. In response to determining that the primary image is not otherwise available, some embodiments include determining whether a secondary image is available, retrieving the secondary image, and providing the secondary image for display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for browsing a mobile device are provided. Some embodiments may include determining a location of each of a plurality of media files on the mobile device. The plurality of media files may be organized according to a predetermined configuration and may include at least two identical media files at different locations in the predetermined configuration. Similarly, some embodiments may include receiving a request for a requested media file of the plurality of media files at the vehicle computing device and determining which of the at least two identical media files is more accessible. Still some embodiments may include navigating the mobile device to one of the at least two identical media files that is more accessible and play the requested media file through a vehicle audio system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide are provided. Some embodiments include receiving a radio signal that includes an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion, determining whether the vehicle is in operation, and in response to determining that the vehicle is not in operation, providing the auxiliary information display portion for display in the vehicle. In response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, some embodiments may be configured to create an altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion, provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle, and provide the altered auxiliary information for display in the vehicle, wherein the altered auxiliary information includes only a subset of features from the auxiliary information display portion.