Robert A Inman

US Patent:

6993423, Jan 31, 2006

Filed:

Dec 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/324468

Inventors:

Robert R. Inman - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robin Stevenson - Bloomfield MI, US
Clark E McCall - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 49, 701 45, 701 46, 701 47, 701 36, 280735, 280734, 2807281, 180271, 180273, 180268, 307 101, 318286, 318466, 318467, 318468

Abstract:

A method for adjusting a plurality of vehicle cockpit devices via a two-part process that utilizes device position constraints to determine candidate arrangements and then, ultimately, recommended arrangements of the vehicle cockpit devices to determine a desired setting of the various devices. The position constraints are determined using positioning data obtained from an occupant. An exploratory search routine is used to determine the candidate arrangements with the cockpit devices being moved to each candidate arrangement so that the occupant can be queried concerning the desirability of each such arrangement. The occupant's responses are then stored for later retrieval. Thereafter, a plurality of recommended arrangements of the cockpit devices are determined using a meta-heuristic pattern search along with a neural network search accelerator that permits screening of each recommended arrangement. The occupant can then select one of the recommended arrangements as a final positioning arrangement of the cockpit devices.

US Patent:

20110153494, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Dec 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/643464

Inventors:

David J Gonsalvez - Birmingham MI, US
Robert R. Inman - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G06Q 40/00

US Classification:

705 39, 705 35

Abstract:

System and methods associated with a distributed financing model. The distributed financing model distributes financing responsibility and risk among members of a value chain to finance certain buyers of goods or services, including those who are unable to get financing through financial institutions in the traditional manner. As a result, customers are better able to buy goods or services, sellers are able to sell more, and manufacturers or service providers can produce more.