Patent Application
20070082658
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle on-board unit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle on-board unit configured and arranged to download voice messages residing in a user's voicemail account using a short range wireless communication.
2. Background Information
Recently, vehicles are being equipped with a variety of informational systems such as navigation systems, Sirius and XM satellite radio systems, two-way satellite services, built-in cell phones, DVD players and the like. These systems are sometimes interconnected for increased functionality. Various informational systems have been proposed that use wireless communications between vehicles and between infrastructures, such as roadside units. These wireless communications have a wide range of applications ranging from crash avoidance to entertainment systems. The type of wireless communications to be used depends on the particular application. Some examples of wireless technologies that are currently available include digital cellular systems, Bluetooth systems, wireless LAN systems and dedicated short range communications (DSRC) systems.
Dedicated short range communications (DSRC) is an emerging technology that has been recently investigated for suitability in vehicles for a wide range of applications. DSRC technology will allow vehicles to communicate directly with other vehicles and with roadside units to exchange a wide range of information. In the United States, DSRC technology will use a high frequency radio transmission (5.9 GHz) that offers the potential to effectively support wireless data communications between vehicles, and between vehicles, roadside units and other infrastructure. The important feature of DSRC technology is that the latency time between communications is very low compared to most other technologies that are currently available. Another important feature of DSRC technology is the capability of conducting both point-to-point wireless communications and broadcast wireless messages in a limited broadcast area.
Accordingly, DSRC technology can be used to provide various information from vehicle-to/from-infrastructure, and from vehicle-to-vehicle, such as providing GPS location, vehicle speed and other vehicle Parameter Identifiers (PIDs) including engine speed, engine run time, engine coolant temperature, barometric pressure, etc. When communications are established from one vehicle to other vehicles in close proximity, this information would be communicated between the vehicles to provide the vehicles with a complete understanding of the vehicles in the broadcast area. This information then can be used by the vehicles for both vehicle safety applications and non-safety applications.
In vehicle safety applications, a “Common Message Set” (CMS) would mostly likely be developed in which a prescribed set of vehicle Parameter Identifiers (PIDs) are broadcast by each vehicle to give relevant kinematical and location information such as GPS location/vehicle position, vehicle speed, vehicle dimensions etc. Once a potential safety concern is determined to exist, a warning system in the vehicles would notify the driver of the potential safety concern so that the driver can take the appropriate action.
In non-safety applications, a DSRC vehicle on-board unit would most likely provide an encrypted User ID that would coordinate with a specific account on a service provider's look-up table. Once the vehicle on-board unit establishes a link to the service provider, the vehicle on-board unit can be provided with various services associated with the specific account such as point of interest notification, map update download, in-route hotel reservations, etc. through a roadside unit in close proximity that is linked to the service provider.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved vehicle on-board unit. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
In recent years, number of non-safety applications with the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to/from-infrastructure communications using DSRC technology has been brainstormed. However, voicemail download/coordination using a DSRC vehicle on-board unit has not been developed or proposed. Many voicemail services these days are digital, which means the voice message has been recorded using digital means and can be transferred/shared similarly to a computer file.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle on-board unit that is configured and arranged to download voice messages stored in user's voicemail accounts residing in external service providers using DSRC technology, to notify the user of the voice messages and to process each voice message in accordance with user input.
In order to achieve the above mentioned object and other objects of the present invention, a vehicle on-board unit is provided that basically comprises a short range wireless communication section, a voice message download section, a voice message storing section, a notification timing setting section and a notification section. The short range wireless communication section is configured to communicate with a roadside unit located within a prescribed communication region using a short range wireless communication. The roadside unit is linked to at least one voicemail account of a user. The voice message download section is configured to download voice messages stored in the at least one voicemail account through the short range wireless communication section. The voice message storing section is configured to store the voice messages downloaded by the voice message download section. The notification timing setting section is configured to set a notification timing for notifying the user that the voice messages were downloaded and stored according to operational conditions of a host vehicle equipped with the vehicle on-board unit. The notification section is configured to notify the user that the voice messages were downloaded and stored at the notification timing set in the notification timing setting section.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following description of the embodiment of the present invention is provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
Specifically, in the present invention, the roadside unit 16 is configured and arranged to establish a link between the vehicle on-board unit 12 of the vehicle 10 and at least one service provider that has a voicemail account of a user of the vehicle on-board unit 12. An example is shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
The control unit 20 of the vehicle on-board unit 12 includes a program that has a voice message download section or component, a notification timing setting section or component, a voice message reviewing section or component and a user response processing section or component. The control unit 20 also includes a voice message storing section or component. The voice message download section is configured to download voice messages residing in the user's voicemail accounts (e.g., the voicemail accounts AA and BB) in the external service providers (e.g., the service providers A and B) through the roadside unit 16. The voice message storing section is configured to store the downloaded voice messages. Although the voice message storing section is shown in
The control unit 20 is configured and/or programmed to execute the processing in the voice message download section, the voice message storing section, the notification timing setting section, the voice message reviewing section and the user response processing section by executing the steps shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 4 to 6 (discussed below) in conjunction with various signals to and from the other components and systems such as the in-vehicle sensors and the navigation system 23.
The control unit 20 preferably includes a microcomputer with a voicemail download/coordination control program in accordance with the present invention. The control unit 20 also preferably includes other conventional components such as an input interface circuit, an output interface circuit, and storage devices such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) device and a RAM (Random Access Memory) device. The memory circuit stores processing results and control programs such as ones for operation of the two-way wireless communications system 21 that are run by the processor(s). The control unit 20 is capable of selectively controlling any of the components of the vehicle on-board unit 12 as needed and/or desired. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the precise structure and algorithms for the control unit 20 can be any combination of hardware and software that will carry out the functions of the present invention. In other words, “means plus function” clauses as utilized in the specification and claims should include any structure or hardware and/or algorithm or software that can be utilized to carry out the function of the “means plus function” clause.
The two-way wireless communications system 21 includes communication interface circuitry that connects and exchanges information with a plurality of the nearby vehicles 10a that are similarly equipped with the two-way wireless communications system as well as with the roadside units 16 through a wireless network within the broadcast range of the host vehicle 10. The two-way wireless communications system 21 is configured and arranged to conduct direct two way communications between the host vehicle 10 and the nearby vehicles 10a (vehicle-to-vehicle communications) and the roadside units 16 (roadside-to-vehicle communications). Moreover, the two-way wireless communications system 21 is configured to periodically broadcast a signal in the broadcast area. The two-way wireless communications system 21 preferably has both an omni-directional antenna and a multi-directional antenna.
In particular, the two-way wireless communications system 21 is preferably a dedicated short range communications systems, since the latency time between communications is very low compared to most other technologies that are currently available. However, other two-way wireless communications systems can be used if they are capable of conducting both point-to-point wireless communications and broadcast wireless messages in a limited broadcast area so log as the latency time between communications is short enough. When the two-way wireless communications system 21 is a DSRC system, the two-way wireless communications system 21 will transmit at a 75 Mhz spectrum in a 5.9 GHz band with a data rate of 1 to 54 Mbps, and a maximum range of about 1,000 meters. Preferably, the two-way wireless communications system 21 includes seven (7) non-overlapping channels. The two-way wireless communications system 21 will be assigned a Medium Access Control (MAC) address and/or an IP address so that each vehicle in the network can be individually identified.
The notification section 22 preferably includes a display screen 22A, an audio speaker 22B, and an input controls 22C. The notification section 22 constitutes a human machine interface by which the user interacts with the vehicle on-board unit 12. Thus, the notification section 22 is configured and arranged to allow the vehicle on-board unit 12 to inform the user by using the display screen 22A and/or the audio speaker 22B, and to allow the user to control the vehicle on-board unit 12 by accepting user input through the input controls 22C.
Referring now to the flowchart of
In step S1 of
Next, in step S2, the control unit 20 is configured and arranged to determine whether a notification timing for any one of the voicemail accounts from which the voice messages were downloaded has occurred. The notification timing is preferably determined in advance for notifying the user of the vehicle on-board unit 12 that the voice messages were downloaded and stored.
More specifically, in the present invention, the notification timing is preferably set by the user in advance according to the operational conditions of the vehicle 10. For example, the user of the vehicle on-board unit 12 can select one or more operational conditions as the notification timing, which indicate that the vehicle 10 is in a safe environment for the user to be notified of the voice messages (e.g., when the vehicle 10 is parked, when the vehicle 10 is traveling at a speed lower than a prescribed speed, and when an accessory switch of the vehicle 10 is turned on). Alternatively, the user can simply set the notification timing to the operation conditions indicating the vehicle 10 is traveling at any speed so that the user is notified immediately after the voice messages are downloaded. Moreover, in the present invention, the user of the vehicle on-board unit 12 can set different notification timings for different voicemail accounts so that specific filters are created with respect to the notification timing for each voicemail account.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the operational conditions for setting the notification timing are not limited to the conditions explained herein. For example, any operational conditions that can be detected based on the detection signals from the in-vehicle sensors (e.g., the vehicle speed, the accessory switch turned on, etc.) or based on information obtained by the navigation system 23 (e.g., the vehicle 10 entered in a parking lot, the vehicle 10 driving in a low speed limit zone, etc.) may be used to set the notification timing.
Referring back to
The notification to the user in step S3 can occur in various manners. For example,
When the user is notified that the new voice messages are received in the specific voicemail account(s) in step S3, the control unit 20 is configured to provide the user with a plurality of review operation options for reviewing the voice messages stored in the voice message storing section. For example, the control unit 20 is configured to display in the display screen 22A of the notification section 22 three review operation options including a play operation option (“play now”), a remind operation option (“remind me when parked”), and an ignore operation option (“ignore”) as shown in
Then, in step S4 of
A control flow of the voice message reviewing processing is shown in the flow chart of
In step S13, the control unit 20 is configured to prompt the user to select one of the voice messages downloaded in the specific voicemail account (
After the user reviews the voice message, the control unit 20 is configured to execute a user response processing with respect to the reviewed voice message in step S14. The user response processing will be discussed in detail below with referring to the flowchart of
In step S15, the control unit 20 is configured to check if there is any voice massage associated with the specific voicemail account that is left in the voice message storing section and that has not been reviewed by the user. If there is no voice message that is not reviewed by the user in the voice message storing section in step S15, the control unit 20 is configured to end the voice message reviewing processing. If there is a voice message or messages associated with the specific voicemail account in the voice message storing section in step S15, the control unit 20 is configured to repeat steps S13 and S14 for each voice message associated with the specific voicemail account until there is no voice message left in the voice message storing section.
If the review operation option inputted by the user is not the play operation option (“play now”) in step S12, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the control unit 20 is configured to determine whether the review operation option inputted by the user is the remind operation option (“reminder me when parked”).
If the review operation option inputted by the user is the remind operation option in step S16 (YES in step S16), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the control unit 20 is configured to remind the user of the voice messages by using the notification section 22 when a remind condition is satisfied. In the case illustrated in
If the review operation option inputted by the user is not the remind operation option in step S16 (NO in step S16), the control unit 20 is configured to end the voice message reviewing processing since this case occurs when the user selected the ignore operation option (“ignore”).
Referring now to the flowchart of
After the user reviews the selected voice message in step S13 in the flowchart of
In step S21 of
If the control unit 20 determines in step S22 that the user response operation option selected by the user is not the message ignore operation option (NO in step S22), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the control unit 20 is configured to determine whether the user response operation option selected by the user is the save operation option (“save”). If the control unit 20 determines that the user selected the save operation option in step S24 (YES in step S24), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the control unit 20 is configured to save the selected voice message in the voice message storing section. Then, the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing with respect to the selected voice message.
If the control unit 20 determines in step S24 that the user response operation option selected by the user is not the save operation option (NO in step S24), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the control unit 20 is configured to determine whether the user response operation option selected by the user is the message remind operation option (“remind me later”). If the control unit 20 determines that the user selected the message remind operation option in step S26 (YES in step S26), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the control unit 20 is configured to remind the user of the selected voice message when a remind condition is satisfied. Then, the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing with respect to the selected voice message.
The remind condition is preferably set in advance to one or more of the operation conditions of the vehicle 10 including, for example, when the vehicle 10 is parked, when a prescribed period of time has elapsed, when the vehicle 10 is traveling at a speed below a prescribed threshold speed, and the like. Whether the remind condition has been satisfied or not is preferably determined based on the detection signals from the in-vehicle sensors and/or the information obtained by the navigation system 23.
If the control unit 20 determines in step S26 that the user response operation option selected by the user is not the message remind operation option (NO in step S26), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S28. In step S28, the control unit 20 is configured to determine whether the user response operation option selected by the user is the forward operation option (“forward”). If the control unit 20 determines that the user selected the forward operation option in step S28 (YES in step S28), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S29. In step S29, the control unit 20 is preferably configured to prompt the user to input a location or forward number to which the selected voice message is forwarded, and accept the user input for the forward number. Then, in step S30, the control unit 20 is configured to forward the selected voice message to the specified forward number using the two-way wireless communication system 21. Then, the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing with respect to the selected voice message. Of course, the vehicle on-board unit 12 can be configured and arranged such that the forward number is selected in advance by the user and stored in the control unit 20. In such case, step S29 can be omitted so that the selected voice message is automatically forwarded to the pre-selected forward number without prompting the user input upon the user selecting the forward response operation option. Moreover, the vehicle on-board unit 12 can be configured and arranged to permit the user to record an add-on message to the selected voice message before forwarding the selected voice message by using the microphone 24. Then, the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing with respect to the selected voice message.
If the control unit 20 determines in step S28 that the user response operation option selected by the user is not the forward operation option (NO in step S28), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S31. In step S31, the control unit 20 is configured to determine whether the user response operation option selected by the user is the delete operation option (“delete”). If the control unit 20 determines that the user selected the delete operation option in step S31 (YES in step S31), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the control unit 20 is configured to delete the selected voice message from the voice message storing section. Then, the control unit 20 is configured establish a link to the service provider from which the selected message was downloaded through the two-way wireless communication system 21 and the roadside unit 16 within the communication region of the two-way wireless communication system 21. Next, in step S32, the control unit 20 is configured to send a command to the service provider to delete the selected voice message from the user's voicemail account. Then, the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing with respect to the selected voice message.
If the control unit 20 determines in step S31 that the user response operation option selected by the user is not the delete operation option (NO in step S31), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the control unit 20 is configured to determine whether the user response operation option selected by the user is the respond operation option (“respond”). If the control unit 20 determines that the user selected the respond operation option in step S34 (YES in step S34), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the control unit 20 is configured to allow the user to record a user response message in response to the selected voice message by using the microphone 24. Next, in step S36, the control unit 20 is configured to send the recorded user response message to a designated location (e.g., an originating number of the selected voice message) through the two-way wireless communication system 21 and the roadside unit 16 within the communication region of the two-way wireless communication system 21. Then, the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing with respect to the selected voice message.
If the control unit 20 determines in step S34 that the user response operation option selected by the user is not the respond operation option (NO in step S34), the control unit 20 is configured to end the user response processing.
Accordingly, with the vehicle on-board unit 12 in accordance with the present invention, upon the vehicle 10 entering the domain of the IP-enabled roadside unit 16, the vehicle on-board unit 12 will be informed that the services from the service providers are available and will establish a link with the service providers such that a file (e.g., voicemail packet(s)) can be downloaded and temporarily stored in the vehicle on-board unit 12. Once the new voice messages are received, the vehicle on-board unit 12 is configured to provide notification to the user. Although the user may believe voicemail to be urgent enough to receive notification while driving the vehicle 10, the user may not wish to review the content until parked and/or located in a safe position. Therefore, the user is provided with the option and/or automatic filter to await the notification of the voice messages until the notification timing occurs. In the present invention, the notification timing can be selected by the user in accordance with the operating conditions of the vehicle 10. Accordingly, with the present invention, the user can receive urgent information in a timely and safe manner.
Moreover, with the vehicle on-boar unit 12 of the present invention, the voice messages can be downloaded from a plurality of voicemail accounts of the user residing in a plurality of service providers so that the multiple voicemail accounts can be coordinated in the vehicle on-board unit 12. The user of the vehicle on-board unit 12 is allowed to select different notification timing for each voicemail account. Furthermore, with the vehicle on-board unit 12 of the present invention, the user is given the option of responding to a voice message after reviewing the voice message.
The term “detect” as used herein to describe an operation or function carried out by a component, a section, a device or the like includes a component, a section, a device or the like that does not require physical detection, but rather includes determining, measuring, modeling, predicting or computing or the like to carry out the operation or function. The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. Moreover, terms that are expressed as “means-plus function” in the claims should include any structure that can be utilized to carry out the function of that part of the present invention. The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Thus, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
