Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system includes at least one sensor in the vehicle. A processor receiving information from the at least one sensor, the processor programmed to automatically identify a driver of the vehicle based upon the information from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: An interface between mobile devices and computing devices, such as a PC or an in-vehicle system permits a user to use the better user interface of the computing device to access and control the operation of the mobile device.

Abstract: A driver assessment system includes at least one vehicle sensor on a vehicle gathering vehicle dynamics information. At least one occupant sensor gathers driver information. The at least one occupant sensor may be a wearable device or subdermal device on the driver. At least one computer receives the vehicle dynamics information and the driver information to determine a driver readiness.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system facilitates hands-free interaction with a mobile device in a vehicle or elsewhere. Users interact with the system by speaking to it. The system processes text and processes commands. The system supports wireless technology for hands-free use. The system handles telephone calls, email, and SMS text messages. The user can customize the device via a user profile stored on an Internet web server. The system also includes a plurality of power conservation features.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system includes an accelerometer installed in the vehicle in an unknown orientation. The system infers the orientation of the accelerometer in the vehicle from the acceleration signals. The proposed method detects and corrects the orientation in two steps. In the first step, the gravity vector is used to estimate the orientation in the vertical plane. Then, based on the acceleration data collected during the vehicle movement, the heading of the vehicle is estimated and the orientation within the horizontal plane is corrected.

Abstract: An on-vehicle device for a driver monitoring system can be configured to be isolated from the vehicle bus while connected to the vehicle's OBD port. In a fully-isolated mode, the device only receives power and ground from the vehicle's OBD port and there is no other communication sent or received from the vehicle bus. In a passive mode, the device can obtain some information from the vehicle bus but does not request any information on the vehicle bus. The device may be undetectable on the vehicle bus. Optionally, the device receives commands via a communication interface to be switched among the three modes: fully active mode, fully isolated mode and passive mode. The commands may come from a server and may be communicated over the internet or over a cell network to a communication module on the device.

Abstract: An opportunistic calibration method continuously monitors a smartphone orientation and compensates for its variation, as necessary. The method relies on the probabilistic fusion of built-in sensors; in particular, the GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. The calibration method may utilize a state-machine approach along with an orientation stability detection algorithm to keep track of the smartphone orientation over time and to coordinate the calibration process in an opportunistic manner. An orientation calibration method may rely mainly on the probabilistic fusion of GPS and magnetometer sensory data.

Abstract: A speech recognition system includes a mobile device and a remote server. The mobile device receives the speech from the user and extracts the features and phonemes from the speech. Selected phonemes and measures of uncertainty are transmitted to the server, which processes the phonemes for speech understanding and transmits a text of the speech (or the context or understanding of the speech) back to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of reviewing an email attachment receives at an email server an email message including at least one attachment. A preview portion of the email message is transmitted to a mobile communication device. The preview portion does not include the at least one attachment, and the preview portion is viewable on a computing device in communication with the mobile communications device. An attachment download instruction based on the preview portion is received from the computing device via the mobile communication device. The at least one attachment is transmitted to the computing device based on the attachment download instruction. The attachment is not transmitted to the computing device until the attachment download instruction is received.

Abstract: The behavior-based driving record management program is designed to assist drivers that have received driving penalties or “demerit points” to improve their behavior and “rehabilitate” to recover their driving privileges. Telematics are used to monitor the driving behavior over time and provide feedback to the driver. The system can also be used to implement graduated licensing programs to ensure that only qualified young drivers are graduating from one level to another demonstrating actual driver behavior and driving experience while reducing fraud.

Abstract: A method of initiating a communication from a mobile communication device includes receiving a plurality of spoken letters corresponding to a spelling of at least a portion of a contact name and identifying a contact and associated contact information from a database associated with a mobile communication device in response to the spoken letters. A communication to the contact is initiated from the mobile communication device using the associated contact information. A method of presenting voicemail to a user establishes communication with a mobile communication device. A first voicemail box is checked for messages, the first voicemail box being associated with the mobile communication device. A second voicemail box is checked for messages, the second voicemail box being associated with a second communication device. At least one voicemail message received from at least one of the first and second voicemail boxes is presented to a user via a single interface.

Abstract: A context-based driver scoring system evaluates various aspects of driving and parking behavior while taking into account context-related conditions. The inputs to the system may include driving data, the conditions specifying the current context, and the configuration parameters data. The outputs of the system may be driving scores that characterize the performance of the driver according to the given context. In particular, first the context module is used to calculate a context factor that enables applying the effect of the context conditions to the driving scores.

Abstract: A facility utilization system includes a plurality of vehicles with telematics systems. A server receives telematics information from the plurality of vehicles, including location information of each of the plurality of vehicles. The server compares the location information to a location of at least one facility to determine facility utilization. The server monitors utilization of the at least one facility based upon the comparison of the location information of the plurality of vehicles to the location of the at least one facility.

Abstract: A network including a web portal gathers, compiles and formats information on vehicle usage across a vehicle community. The vehicle community is comprised of a plurality of vehicles whose users and owners have joined the network and communicate through the web portal to allow gathering and accumulation of vehicle operation information for various uses including maintaining a record of vehicle operation and determining energy usage and environmental impact.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system includes a control unit in a vehicle, a vehicle data bus operable to transmit vehicle data to the control unit, and a mobile communication device having data network access. The mobile device has a self-contained mode in which the mobile communication device processes and displays the network data received via the data network and in which the control unit transmits the vehicle data to the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device also has an immersive mode in which the control unit processes the network data received via the data network and in which the control unit converts the vehicle data to audible speech and plays the audible speech in the vehicle.

Abstract: A characterizes vehicle tire and road information using indirect internal vehicle information from emissions, infotainment, and communication subsystems. This approach to characterize vehicle tire and road information eliminates the need for additional sensors within the vehicle or infrastructure, while supporting the analysis across a broad base of existing vehicles. Several examples of this approach are described herein, although other uses could be implemented.

Abstract: A method for presenting a plurality of messages to a user includes constructing a tree of the plurality of messages, wherein each of the plurality of messages is a different node. Each of the plurality of messages is in one of a plurality of threads in the tree. The nodes representing a subset of the plurality of messages that are already read and their ancestor nodes are designated as do-not-read. A reading order of the plurality of messages is determined by traversing the tree in a depth-first manner while appending a tree separator at each terminal node and skipping any do-not-read nodes. The plurality of messages are then presented to the user based upon the reading order.

Abstract: A mobile device includes an inertial sensor generating inertia signals based upon motion of the mobile device. The mobile device further includes a high power module that consumes more power than the inertial sensor. A processor is programmed to determine whether the mobile device is being carried by a user who is walking based upon the inertia signals.

Abstract: The behavior-based driving record management program is designed to assist drivers that have received driving penalties or “demerit points” to improve their behavior and “rehabilitate” to recover their driving privileges. Telematics are used to monitor the driving behavior over time and provide feedback to the driver. The system can also be used to implement graduated licensing programs to ensure that only qualified young drivers are graduating from one level to another demonstrating actual driver behavior and driving experience while reducing fraud.

Abstract: A precision usage-based transportation infrastructure charging service includes a dynamic road and infrastructure usage engine that can fairly assess road usage based on any combination of mileage, time of day, vehicle mass, location, road class, defined zones and other relevant parameters. This flexible service leverages detailed vehicle driving information to generate road usage summaries, detailed validation data, and invoices or bills where appropriate. This service applies not only to movement along road networks, but also includes time-based and complex rules that support usage-based charging within parking lots, and usage-based charging based on per-person transportation efficiency and environmental impact.