Kenneth Allen Schmitt

US Patent:

7181511, Feb 20, 2007

Filed:

Apr 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/122475

Inventors:

Alain Henri Grenier - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kenneth Allen Schmitt - Pinckney MI, US
Satyanarayana Motheramgari - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Yazaki North America, Inc. - Canton MI

International Classification:

G06F 15/173
G06F 15/16
G06F 13/10
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

709223, 709200, 719316, 701 36

Abstract:

The invention is the use of a software object as an interface between a device and a network. Both the network and device are located in a vehicle. The system uses a connectivity subsystem that includes a device management object for interfacing between a device and a network in the vehicle. A discovery subsystem identifies which devices are connected to the network by the connectivity subsystem. The control subsystem can then use the device management object to manage the use of the device. In the application layer of the system resides the software applications to be used by the devices and occupants in the vehicle. In the object interface layer of the system resides the software object that connects the network with the various software applications. The network resides in the network layer.

US Patent:

20050283284, Dec 22, 2005

Filed:

Jun 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/869341

Inventors:

Alain Grenier - Ann Arbor MI, US
Christopher Dow - Clawson MI, US
Kenneth Schmitt - Pinckney MI, US

International Classification:

G01M017/00

US Classification:

701029000, 701033000

Abstract:

Services for a vehicle or fleet of vehicles can be ordered, renewed, modified, managed, configured, and/or cancelled through a common interface. Services may be managed remotely from outside the vehicle as well as from within the vehicle. For example, the driver of a vehicle could access a secure web site from their home computer to subscribe for satellite radio services, cancel a subscription for global positioning information, renew a contract for broadband Internet access in the vehicle, and modify a relationship for remote vehicle security services. Each service that is registered with the system can possess a different status. Such functionality allows devices necessary for various services to be pre-installed in the vehicle. The service management system can also store user profiles that reflect user preferences and patterns of behavior with respect to how the services are performed and configured.