Vehicle display system and control logic for generating digital window clings for networked vehicle applications

Abstract

A vehicle display system for generating digital window stickers for enabling connected vehicle applications is presented, along with a method for manufacturing / using such a display system and a vehicle equipped with such a display system. One method of operating the vehicle display system includes: a passenger cabin telematics unit receiving a selection from a vehicle occupant to execute a desired transaction with a primary party. Upon receiving the occupant's selection, the telematics unit responsively selects a digital window sticker with a virtual barcode to complete the desired transaction. The telematics unit responds to the received occupant selection by determining the real-time position of the host vehicle and determining when the vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action. Upon confirming that the vehicle has completed a dynamic vehicle action and that the vehicle's real-time position is within a predefined proximity to the primary party, the vehicle display system displays the digital window sticker in the occupant's side window.

Description

[0001] INTRODUCTION This disclosure generally relates to display systems for motor vehicles. More specifically, aspects of this disclosure relate to in-cabin vehicle display systems that transparently display or project digital stickers onto vehicle windows.

[0002] Currently manufactured motor vehicles, such as modern automobiles, can be erected using a vehicle body, which is either a body-on-frame or unibody structure. This vehicle body contains the internal passenger compartment for the occupants to sit in and be protected. Between the front A-pillars of the vehicle body is a windshield (called a "windshield" in some countries), which prevents unwanted entry of wind, rain, and debris, while providing an aerodynamically shaped window through which the driver observes the road. Located below the windshield and in front of the driver's seat is the instrument panel (commonly known as the "dashboard" or "IP"), which contains various digital or electromechanical dials, gauges, meters, and indicators to convey vehicle information to the driver. A vehicle telematics and information ("telematics processing") unit can be embedded within the center console section of the instrument panel to provide occupants with an onboard computing device that offers a mix of services, including feedback and control of various in-vehicle subsystems.

[0003] To enhance driver awareness of vehicle system operation and ambient driving conditions, some modern vehicles supplement telematics units and IP with head-up display (HUD) systems. These systems use transparent, "see-through" display panels to display information within the windshield's field of vision. Vehicle HUDs are designed to present information within the operator's forward driving line of sight, reducing unnecessary eye scans and glances at the dashboard and center console. Due to the inherent cost and complexity of a separate transparent display panel integrated with a HUD, some vehicles instead use reflective light-emitting diode (LED) warning displays (RLADs) to present warnings and notifications to the driver by projecting LED light onto the inner surface of the vehicle's windshield. While HUD and RLAD systems provide drivers with real-time feedback on vehicle systems, they typically cannot display information on other vehicle windows or offer connected vehicle functionality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following presents a vehicle display system—which has control logic for generating digital window stickers capable of enabling connected vehicle applications—a method of operating and manufacturing such a vehicle display system, and a motor vehicle equipped with such a display system. As a non-limiting example, a resident vehicle display system employs a transparent display panel or projection display unit to display linear, multi-layer, or matrix barcodes on the driver's side window of a door assembly. This digital barcode can be specific to the host vehicle or vehicle occupant, and the display system can automatically present the digital barcode when the occupant wishes to purchase goods or services from a third-party entity. The vehicle owner, driver, or passenger (collectively, "occupant" or "user") can select which of several digital barcodes to display using an in-vehicle infotainment head unit (IHU) or a dedicated software application ("app") running on the occupant's handheld smartphone or tablet. These user interfaces can also be used to specify when the digital barcode is presented (e.g., by manual selection, based on geographic location or geofence location, selected time / date, etc.) and how it is displayed (e.g., color, size, format, etc.). Digital barcodes can be linked to personal user accounts, through which passengers can pay third-party entities for desired goods / services.

[0005] Historical user behavior data and crowdsourced data can be collected and filtered, and fed into statistical machine learning (ML) algorithms trained to predict user behavior. This user behavior can be used to generate barcode usage options and other system functionalities. To ensure enhanced security, the digital barcode can be displayed directly in response to vehicle occupant confirmation that it is the desired action. Alternatively, the digital barcode can be displayed in response to pre-selected vehicle actions, such as the operation of a gear shift lever or knob (e.g., the driver shifting the vehicle to neutral or park) or the vehicle window being lowered by a predefined threshold distance (e.g., the driver opening the driver's side window three-quarters of its length to facilitate a face-to-face transaction without obstructing the display of the digital barcode). It is desirable that all interactions between the user and the vehicle's digital window sticker features be performed via the vehicle's telematics unit (IHU) and therefore not involve the operation of a personal smartphone or laptop. A third-party entity's personnel can scan the digital barcode to complete the desired transaction; the IHU can simultaneously output a visual or audible confirmation message.

[0006] This disclosure relates to methods for manufacturing and using any of the motor vehicles and vehicle side window display systems described herein. In one example, a method is provided for operating a vehicle display system for this "host" vehicle. The host vehicle has a vehicle body with a passenger compartment, a windshield, and multiple passenger side windows. This representative method includes (the steps can be in any order and can be combined in any way with any of the options and features disclosed above and below): receiving, for example, a selection from a vehicle occupant via a touchscreen display panel, microphone, or other user input device of a telematics unit located in the passenger compartment to perform a desired transaction with the principal party; in response to receiving the occupant's selection, selecting, for example, a digital window sticker via the telematics unit, the digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode created to complete the desired transaction; in response to receiving the occupant's selection, retrieving, for example, location data indicating the real-time location of the host vehicle from a geolocation device via the telematics unit; in response to receiving the occupant's selection, determining, for example, when the host vehicle has completed one or more predefined dynamic vehicle actions via the telematics unit; and in response to the host vehicle completing one or more dynamic vehicle actions and the vehicle's real-time location being within a predefined proximity to the principal party, displaying, for example, the digital window sticker on the occupant's side window via a vehicle display system.

[0007] This disclosure also relates to a computer-readable medium (CRM) containing controller-executable instructions for providing digital window stickers for performing connected vehicle applications. In one example, a non-transitory CRM stores instructions executable by a resident controller of an in-vehicle telematics unit. When executed by the resident controller, these CRM-stored instructions cause the telematics unit to perform operations including: receiving a user selection from a vehicle occupant via a user input device of the telematics unit to perform a desired transaction with a primary party; selecting a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode adapted to complete the desired transaction in response to receiving the user selection; retrieving location data indicating the real-time vehicle position of the vehicle in response to receiving the user selection; determining when the vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action in response to receiving the user selection; and instructing a vehicle display system to display the digital window sticker in the occupant side window in response to the vehicle completing the predefined dynamic vehicle action and the real-time vehicle position being within a predefined proximity to the real-time position of the primary party.

[0008] Additional aspects of this disclosure relate to motor vehicles equipped with an in-vehicle display system for generating digital window stickers to enable connected vehicle applications. As used herein, the terms "vehicle" and "motor vehicle" are used interchangeably and synonymously include any relevant vehicle platform, such as passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, industrial vehicles, tracked vehicles, agricultural equipment, aircraft, ships, etc. In one example, a motor vehicle includes a vehicle body with a passenger compartment, multiple road wheels attached to the vehicle body (e.g., via corner modules coupled to a monocoque or body-on-frame chassis), and other standard initial equipment. A prime mover (which may have the characteristics of an electric traction motor and / or an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly) is located within the vehicle body and drives one or more road wheels to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a windshield spanning the front of the passenger compartment and a driver's side door assembly having an occupant side window located laterally outboard of the driver's seat.

[0009] Continuing with the aforementioned example, the vehicle is also equipped with a vehicle display system installed in the passenger compartment and including a transparent display panel or projection display unit facing the driver's side passenger window. A telematics unit, also located in the passenger compartment, is programmed to receive selections from vehicle occupants to execute a desired transaction with a primary party (e.g., purchasing a product or service from a retail entity). Upon receiving an occupant's selection, the telematics unit responsively selects a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode designed to complete the desired transaction. The telematics unit also responds to the received occupant selection by retrieving location data indicating the vehicle's real-time position and determining when the vehicle has completed one or more predefined dynamic vehicle actions. After confirming that the vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action and that the vehicle's real-time position is within a predefined proximity to the primary party, the telematics unit commands the in-vehicle display system to display the digital window sticker in the passenger side window.

[0010] For any of the disclosed vehicles, systems, and methods, predefined dynamic vehicle actions may include decelerating the vehicle, changing the operating mode of the vehicle's powertrain, and / or moving the position of the occupant side window. For example, changing the operating mode of the vehicle's powertrain may include shifting the vehicle to park or neutral, or turning off the vehicle. Moving the window position may include lowering the window to a predefined threshold position or lowering it beyond a predefined threshold position. On the other hand, decelerating the vehicle may include bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. As another option, selecting a digital window sticker may include generating a digital sticker and an associated virtual barcode in real time, wherein the virtual barcode is customized based on the vehicle occupant and / or the desired transaction. Alternatively, selecting a digital window sticker may include accessing a resident or remote storage device to retrieve a virtual barcode associated with the vehicle occupant's personal user account.

[0011] For any of the disclosed vehicles, systems, and methods, the vehicle display system may include a transparent display panel (e.g., a micro-LED, OLED, or EL transparent display panel) facing the occupant side window and displaying a digital window sticker thereon. Alternatively, the vehicle display system may include a projection display unit (e.g., a miniature pocket projector or holographic projector, a projection film mounted on the window) facing the occupant side window and projecting the digital window sticker onto the window. As another option, the telematics unit may respond to a received user selection by outputting (e.g., via a touchscreen display or audio component) a user-selectable "window sticker" option to complete the desired transaction using the digital sticker. Upon receiving a selection of this option from a vehicle occupant (e.g., by pressing a soft button on a telematics touchscreen or by verbally selecting using an in-cabin microphone), the telematics unit may concomitantly select the digital window sticker. The telematics unit can also respond to the vehicle's real-time location being within a predefined proximity to the principal's real-time location by outputting a user-selectable "Complete Transaction" option; if the vehicle occupant selects this option (e.g., via manual, audible, or visual input), the telematics unit can respond by displaying a digital window sticker in the occupant's side window.

[0012] For any of the disclosed vehicles, systems, and methods, when the vehicle's location breaches a virtual geofence—which, for example, defines the geographical perimeter of a principal's building or storefront—the vehicle's real-time location is considered to be within a predefined proximity to the principal's real-time location. Alternatively, the predefined proximity could be a fixed location such as a parking lot, kiosk, storefront, entrance passage, drive-through window, etc. As another option, the telematics unit can first authenticate the user identity of the vehicle occupant and, once authenticated, responsively display one or more user-selectable options to perform one or more transactions with one or more principals. After displaying the digital window sticker, the telematics unit can receive a wireless notification confirming that a staff member of the principal has scanned the virtual barcode. In this case, the telematics unit can responsively output a visual, tactile, or audible confirmation alarm to the vehicle occupant, indicating that the transaction is expected to be approved / completed.

[0013] For any of the disclosed vehicles, systems, and methods, the host vehicle may also receive historical data on vehicle occupant behavior and / or crowdsourced data on the behavior of third-party participants, and, if desired, aggregate and preprocess the received data (e.g., cleaning, filtering, discretizing, reformatting, etc.). This data is then fed into a trained ML model to predict vehicle occupant behavior, such as which virtual barcode to select for a specific transaction, how to display a digital window sticker, and / or when to display the digital window sticker. As a further option, vehicle occupants may enter one or more user-selectable settings to set one or more system settings that specify when the digital window sticker is displayed. In this case, the display of the digital window sticker is limited at least in part based on one or more system settings selected by the occupant.

[0014] The present disclosure provides the following embodiments.

[0015] 1. A method for operating a vehicle display system of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with occupant side windows, the method comprising: User selections from vehicle occupants are received via user input devices in a telematics unit located in the passenger compartment to execute desired transactions with the primary party; In response to receiving a user selection, a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode adapted to complete the desired transaction is selected via a remote information processing unit; In response to receiving a user selection, location data indicating the real-time vehicle location of the motor vehicle is retrieved via a telematics unit; In response to receiving a user selection, the remote information processing unit determines when the motor vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action; and In response to the motor vehicle completing a predefined dynamic vehicle action and the real-time vehicle position being within a predefined proximity to the main vehicle, a digital window sticker is displayed in the passenger side window via the vehicle display system.

[0016] 2. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the predefined dynamic vehicle actions include decelerating the motor vehicle, changing the operating mode of the motor vehicle's powertrain, and / or moving the position of the passenger side window.

[0017] 3. The method according to embodiment 2, wherein changing the operating mode of the vehicle power system includes switching the vehicle power system to parking or neutral, and wherein moving the window position includes lowering the window to a threshold position or lowering it beyond a threshold position.

[0018] 4. The method according to embodiment 1, wherein selecting a digital window sticker includes generating a virtual barcode in real time, wherein the virtual barcode is customized based on the vehicle occupants and / or the desired transaction.

[0019] 5. The method according to Example 1, wherein selecting a digital window sticker includes retrieving a virtual barcode from a resident or remote storage device, the virtual barcode being linked to a personal user account of a vehicle occupant.

[0020] 6. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the vehicle display system includes a transparent display panel facing the passenger side window and displaying digital window stickers through the passenger side window, or the vehicle display system includes a projection display unit facing the passenger side window and projecting the digital window stickers onto the passenger side window, or onto a polymer projection film mounted on the passenger side window.

[0021] 7. The method according to Example 1 further includes: In response to receiving a user selection, the output device of the telematics unit outputs user-selectable window sticker options to use digital stickers; and The vehicle occupant's selection of the optional window stickers is received via a user input device of the telematics unit, wherein the selection of digital window stickers is further in response to the vehicle occupant's selection of user-selectable window sticker options.

[0022] 8. The method according to Example 7 further includes: In response to the real-time vehicle location being within a predefined proximity to the primary party, the user-selectable transaction completion option is output via the output device of the telematics unit; and The vehicle occupant selects a user-selectable option to complete the transaction via a user input device of the telematics unit, wherein a digital window sticker is displayed in the occupant side window in further response to the vehicle occupant selecting the user-selectable option to complete the transaction.

[0023] 9. The method according to Embodiment 1 further includes: when the real-time vehicle location breaks through the virtual geofence, in response to receiving a user selection, determining via a telematics unit that the real-time vehicle location is within a predefined proximity to the primary party.

[0024] 10. The method according to embodiment 1, further comprising: Authenticating the user identity of vehicle occupants via a telematics unit; and In response to the authentication of the vehicle occupant's identity, the user's selectable options are displayed via the touchscreen display panel of the telematics unit to execute the desired transaction with the principal.

[0025] 11. The method according to embodiment 1, further comprising: After displaying the digital window sticker, a wireless notification is received via the remote information processing unit to confirm that the key party's staff has scanned the virtual barcode; and In response to receiving the wireless notification, a confirmation alarm is displayed via the telematics unit, indicating that the expected transaction has been approved.

[0026] 12. The method according to Embodiment 1 further includes: Receive historical behavioral data of vehicle occupants and / or crowdsourced data from third-party participants; and Predicted user behaviors of vehicle occupants are generated using trained machine learning (ML) models, including which virtual barcode to choose and / or when to display digital window stickers.

[0027] 13. The method according to embodiment 1 further includes: receiving user-selectable setting input from a vehicle occupant via a user input device of a telematics unit, the user-selectable setting input selecting a system setting that specifies when to display a digital window sticker, wherein the display of the digital window sticker is based on the selected system setting.

[0028] 14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by one or more controllers of a telematics unit of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a passenger compartment with occupant side windows, the instructions, when executed by at least one of the one or more controllers, causing the telematics unit to perform an operation, the operation including: receiving a user selection from a vehicle occupant via a user input device of the telematics unit to perform a desired transaction with a principal party; In response to receiving a user selection, select a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode adapted to complete the desired transaction; In response to receiving a user selection, location data indicating the real-time vehicle location of the motor vehicle is retrieved; In response to receiving a user selection, determine when the motor vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action; and In response to the motor vehicle completing a predefined dynamic vehicle action and the real-time vehicle position being within a predefined proximity to the main vehicle, the vehicle display system is commanded to display a digital window sticker in the occupant side window.

[0029] 15. A motor vehicle, comprising: The main body of the vehicle, including the passenger compartment with passenger side windows; Multiple road wheels attached to the vehicle body; A prime mover, attached to the vehicle body and configured to drive one or more of the road wheels, thereby propelling the vehicle; A vehicle display system, installed inside the passenger compartment and comprising transparent display panels or projection display units all facing the occupant side windows; and The telematics unit, located in the passenger cabin, is configured to: The user input device of the telematics unit receives user selections from vehicle occupants to execute the desired transaction with the main party; In response to receiving a user selection, select a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode adapted to complete the desired transaction; In response to receiving a user selection, location data indicating the real-time vehicle location of the motor vehicle is retrieved; In response to receiving a user selection, determine when the motor vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action; and In response to the motor vehicle completing a predefined dynamic vehicle action and the real-time vehicle position being within a predefined proximity to the main vehicle, the vehicle display system is commanded to display a digital window sticker in the occupant side window.

[0030] 16. The motor vehicle according to Embodiment 15, wherein the predefined dynamic vehicle actions include decelerating the motor vehicle, changing the operating mode of the vehicle powertrain, and / or moving the position of the passenger side window.

[0031] 17. The motor vehicle according to embodiment 16, wherein changing the operating mode of the vehicle power system includes switching the vehicle power system to park or neutral, and wherein moving the window position includes lowering the window to a threshold position or lowering it beyond a threshold position.

[0032] 18. The motor vehicle according to embodiment 15, wherein selecting a digital window sticker includes generating a virtual barcode in real time, wherein the virtual barcode is customized according to the vehicle occupants and / or the desired transaction.

[0033] 19. The motor vehicle according to Embodiment 15, wherein the telematics unit is further configured to: In response to receiving a user selection, output the user-selectable window paste options to use digital pastes; and The vehicle occupant selects the optional window sticker option, wherein selecting a digital window sticker further responds to the vehicle occupant selecting a user-selectable window sticker option.

[0034] 20. The motor vehicle according to embodiment 15, wherein the telematics unit is further configured to: when the real-time vehicle location breaks through the virtual geofence, after receiving a user selection, determine that the real-time vehicle location is within a predefined proximity to the primary party.

[0035] The foregoing summary does not represent every embodiment or aspect of this disclosure. Rather, it provides only a summary of some novel concepts and features set forth herein. The foregoing features and advantages, as well as other features and incidental advantages, of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative examples and representative modes used for carrying out this disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. Furthermore, this disclosure expressly includes any and all combinations and sub-combinations of the elements and features presented above and below. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a partial schematic side view of a representative motor vehicle according to aspects of this disclosure, the vehicle having a resident vehicle display system and a network of in-vehicle controllers, user interface devices and communication devices for providing digital window stickers to perform networked vehicle applications.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a representative vehicle display system for generating digital window stickers according to aspects of this disclosure.

[0038] Figure 3 The flowchart, according to an aspect of this disclosure, illustrates a representative vehicle display system control protocol for generating digital window stickers for connected vehicle applications. This protocol may correspond to non-transitory, memory-stored instructions that can be executed by a resident or remote microprocessor, control module, logic circuit, central controller or other integrated circuit (IC) device, or network of circuits / modules / microprocessors / controllers / devices (collectively, the “controller”).

[0039] This disclosure allows for various modifications and substitutions, and some representative embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the novel aspects of this disclosure are not limited to the specific forms illustrated in the drawings listed above. Rather, this disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, combinations, arrangements, groupings, and substitutions that fall within the scope of this disclosure, for example, as covered by the appended claims. Detailed Implementation

[0040] This disclosure allows for embodiments in many different forms. Representative embodiments of this disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail herein. It is to be understood that these embodiments are provided as examples of the disclosed principles and not as limitations on the broad aspects of this disclosure. In this regard, elements and limitations described, for example, in the abstract, introduction, summary of the invention, description of the drawings, and detailed description but not expressly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims individually or collectively by implication, inference, or otherwise. Furthermore, the use of terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in this specification or claims is not in itself intended to establish ordinal or numerical limitations; unless specifically stated otherwise, these designations may be used only to facilitate reference to similar features in this specification and drawings, and to distinguish between similar elements in the claims.

[0041] For the purposes of this disclosure, unless expressly denied: the singular form includes the plural, and vice versa (e.g., the indefinite article “a (a and an)” should generally be interpreted as “one or more”); the words “and” and “or” should be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the words “any” and “all” should both mean “any and all”; and the words “including,” “containing,” “comprising,” “having,” etc., should all mean “including but not limited to.” Furthermore, approximate words such as “approximately,” “almost,” “substantially,” “largely,” “approximately,” etc., may each be used herein to mean, for example, “within, close to, or almost within,” or “within 0-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances,” or any logical combination thereof. Finally, directional adjectives and adverbs (such as front, rear, inside, outside, starboard, port, vertical, horizontal, up, down, front, back, left, right, etc.) may refer to the motor vehicle, such as the forward driving direction of the motor vehicle when it is operably oriented on a level driving surface.

[0042] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in several views the same reference numerals refer to the same features. Figure 1A representative motor vehicle, generally designated 10, is illustrated herein and, for the purposes of discussion, is depicted as a passenger car-type electric vehicle. The illustrated vehicle 10 (also referred to herein as a "motor vehicle" or simply "vehicle") is merely an exemplary application that can practice aspects of this disclosure. Similarly, the use of the concepts of the invention to display digital window stickers via the driver's side window of a door assembly should be understood as a non-limiting implementation of the disclosed features. Therefore, it should be understood that aspects of this disclosure can be implemented to dynamically display information via other vehicle windows (e.g., windshield, rear and back windows, passenger side windows, etc.), implemented to display other digital information (e.g., driver ID, vehicle VIN, parking pass, entry pass, etc.), and used for any logically related type of motor vehicle. Furthermore, only selected components of the motor vehicle and vehicle display system are shown and described in detail herein. However, the vehicles and systems discussed below may include numerous additional and alternative features, as well as other available peripheral hardware, for performing the various methods and functions of this disclosure.

[0043] Figure 1 The representative vehicle 10 is initially equipped with a vehicle telematics and information (“telematics processing”) unit 14 (also referred to herein as an infotainment head unit (IHU)), which connects to a remotely located cloud computing host service 24 (e.g., via a cellular network, satellite service, wireless-enabled modem, etc.) (to conduct wireless communication.) Figure 1 Some of the other vehicle hardware components 16 generally shown include, but are not limited to, an electronic video display device 18, a microphone 28, one or more audio speakers 30, and a variety of user input controls 32 (e.g., buttons, knobs, switches, touchpads, facial recognition devices, touchscreens, etc.). These hardware components 16 partially serve as a human-machine interface (HMI), enabling users to communicate with the telematics unit 14 and other components residing on and remotely from the vehicle 10. For example, the microphone 28 provides occupants with a means of inputting verbal commands; the vehicle 10 may be equipped with an embedded voice processing unit utilizing audio filtering, editing, and analysis modules. Conversely, the speakers 30 provide audible output to the vehicle occupants and may be a separate speaker dedicated to the telematics unit 14 or part of an in-cabin audio system 22. The audio system 22 is connected to a network connection interface 34 and an audio bus 20 to receive analog information, which is then presented as sound via one or more speaker assemblies.

[0044] Connected communicatively to the telematics unit 14 is a network interface 34, suitable examples of which include a twisted-pair / fiber Ethernet switch, a parallel / serial communication bus, a local area network (LAN) interface, a controller area network (CAN) interface, etc. The network interface 34 enables the vehicle hardware 16 to send and receive signals with each other and with various systems on and outside the vehicle body 12. This allows the vehicle 10 to perform a wide variety of vehicle functions, such as regulating powertrain output, activating friction and regenerative braking systems, controlling vehicle steering, and other automated functions. For example, the telematics unit 14 can exchange signals with the powertrain control module (PCM) 52, the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) module 54, the infotainment control module (ICM) 56, the body control module (BCM) 58, the sensor system interface module (SSIM) 60, and various vehicle ECUs (such as the transmission control module (TCM), engine control module (ECM), brake system control module (BSCM), etc.).

[0045] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The telematics unit 14 is an in-vehicle computing device that provides services both independently and through communication with other networked devices. The telematics unit 14 typically comprises one or more processors 40, each of which may be a discrete microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a dedicated control module. The vehicle 10 can provide centralized vehicle control via a central processing unit (CPU) 36, which is operatively coupled to a real-time clock (RTC) 42 and one or more electronic memory devices 38, each of which may take the form of a CD-ROM, disk, IC device, solid-state drive (SSD) memory, hard disk drive (HDD) memory, flash memory, semiconductor memory (e.g., various types of RAM or ROM), etc.

[0046] Long-range communication (LRC) capability with remote, external devices can be provided via one or more of a cellular chipset / component, navigation and location chipset / component (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) transceiver), wireless modem, or mobile hotspot; all of these components are collectively represented at point 44. Short-range wireless connectivity can be provided via a short-range communication (SRC) device 46 (e.g., The communication equipment is provided with a unit or near-field communication (NFC) transceiver, a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) component 48, and / or dual antennas 50. The aforementioned communication equipment can provide data exchange as part of periodic broadcasts in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems (e.g., vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), vehicle-to-device (V2D), vehicle-to-cloud (V2C), etc.).

[0047] CPU 36 receives sensor data from one or more sensing devices that use technologies such as light detection, radar, laser, ultrasonic, optical, infrared, or other suitable techniques, including short-range communication technologies (e.g., DSRC) or ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology, to perform controller automation (AV / ADAS) driving operations or vehicle navigation services. According to the illustrated example, vehicle 10 may be equipped with one or more digital cameras 62, one or more distance sensors 64, one or more vehicle speed sensors 66, one or more vehicle dynamics sensors 68, and any necessary filtering, classification, fusion, and analysis hardware and software for processing the raw sensor data. The vehicle speed sensors 66 may be mechanical or electromagnetic driveshaft sensors or electronic wheel speed sensors for detecting vehicle speed. The vehicle dynamics sensors 68 may be single-axis or three-axis accelerometers, angular velocity sensors, inclinometers, steering wheel angle sensors, brake sensors, etc. The type, placement, quantity, and interoperability of the distributed array of in-vehicle sensors can be individually or collectively adapted to a given vehicle platform to achieve a desired level of automated vehicle operation.

[0048] To propel the car 10 forward, the vehicle's powertrain is operable to generate traction torque and deliver it to one or more drive wheels 26. Figure 1 In this configuration, the power system is represented by an electric traction motor (M) 78, which is operatively connected to a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), which may have the characteristics of a chassis-mounted traction battery pack 70. The traction battery pack 70 generally consists of one or more battery modules 72, each containing a cluster of cells 74, such as pouch, prismatic, or cylindrical lithium-, zinc-, nickel-, or silicone-based cells. One or more prime movers, such as a traction motor / generator (M) unit 78, draw power from the battery pack 70 and optionally deliver power to it. A power inverter module (PIM) 80 electrically connects the battery pack 70 to the motor(s) 78 and regulates the current transfer between them. The battery pack 70 may include integrated electronic packaging, such as a wirelessly enabled cell monitoring unit (CMU) 76, which enables on-module management, cell sensing, etc.

[0049] During the operation of motor vehicle 10, vehicle occupants (whether driver, owner, passenger, etc.) may wish to complete a transaction with another party (primary party) outside vehicle 10. For example, occupants may expect to purchase products or services from a retail entity, enter a state / national / theme park, enter a secure parking structure, pay tolls, etc. Instead of requiring occupants to use their smartphones or personal wallets / wallets to complete the transaction, this document discloses a vehicle display system with control logic for generating digital window stickers that facilitate the completion of transactions via connected vehicle applications. For example, using… Figure 1 The vehicle's cabin IHU / Telematics Unit 14 allows vehicle occupants to authenticate their identities, navigate via the IHU to locate and select the desired transaction, and then complete the transaction using a digital sticker with a virtual barcode displayed on the window.

[0050] Upon arrival at a key location (e.g., parking lot, drive-through window, kiosk, storefront, entrance security booth, etc.), a digital window sticker with a machine-readable code is displayed through one of the vehicle windows, allowing easy access for key-party associated personnel or automated barcode scanners. The vehicle display system can employ small, lightweight pocket projectors, micro-holographic projectors, micro-LED displays, transparent OLED panels, electroluminescent (EL) transparent displays, or micro-flat panel display units to display the digital sticker with a virtual barcode in the vehicle window. Third-party integration can allow existing retailer codes to be passed to the vehicle manufacturer's system for subsequent display in the window of this "host" vehicle. To ensure compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS), virtual barcode display may require occupant authentication and approval. Additional security can also be provided by restricting the display of the virtual barcode until the host vehicle first arrives at the designated location associated with the key party, the vehicle stops, and the driver's side window is rolled down (e.g., at least three-quarters down) to allow human interaction.

[0051] Digital window stickers with networked application control can utilize transparent / projector display technology to dynamically display standard linear barcodes, two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, or matrix-type quick-response (QR) codes in the passenger side window of a vehicle. This user-specific code can be presented according to passenger-specified settings to ensure the security of goods and services. For some system configurations, passengers can be given the option to select which code to display (e.g., using a mobile app or IHU app). Furthermore, passengers can determine when the code should be presented, for example, based on geofence location, proximity to the retailer's location, a specified time / date, or by manual selection. The display system can utilize trained machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict customer behavior, such as presenting payment options when approaching a specific location or during typical payment transactions. The display of virtual barcodes can be limited to when the passenger confirms it is the desired action to ensure enhanced security. Before the code is displayed, the host vehicle can request the passenger side window to be rolled down for face-to-face transactions while still allowing the code to be displayed. Once the primary party scans the code and completes the transaction, the IHU / Telematics Unit 14 can display a confirmation message, and then the party can deliver the goods or services.

[0052] Figure 2 An example of a resident vehicle display system 100 is presented, which can be integrated into motor vehicles (such as...). Figure 1 In the vehicle (10), a digital window sticker is generated, which is designed to help facilitate desired transactions through connected vehicle applications. Figure 2 The vehicle display system 100 can be described as having four main components: an on-board input module 102, an off-board input module 104, a trained ML model module 106, and a system output module 108. These four interoperable control modules are communicatively connected to each other via a data and communication network 110 (such as a network connection interface 34) and communicatively connected to a central on-board computer 112, such as... Figure 1 The in-cabin IHU / Telematics Processing Unit 14. As used herein, the term "module" can be defined individually or in any combination as including any hardware, software, firmware, processing logic, and / or processor device that can be discrete as an individual integrated circuit (IC) device or embedded as a software module within an existing network controller and can be stored in resident storage devices, such as Figure 1 The storage device 38, or the external data server 114, such as a cloud host service 24 database. It should be understood that the vehicle display system 100 may include more or fewer control modules than shown, including combining or separating the illustrated modules 102, 104, 106 and 108.

[0053] The in-vehicle input module 102 includes a set of software application subroutines executable to provide digital window sticker functionality, including a virtual sticker application 116 through which the user can interface with and control selected aspects of the vehicle display system 100, as well as display digital window content. A facial recognition application 118 enables users to input hands-free data using facial expressions and eye movements, and a navigation application 120 uses, for example, GPS, cellular triangulation, or V2X data exchange to provide real-time geolocation tracking of the host vehicle. A mobile device application 122 enables system pairing and communication with the personal computing devices of vehicle occupants, and a cabin monitoring application 124 enables system tracking of occupant presence, location, and personalized occupant-specific characteristics (driver ID, defaults, preferences, etc.). The vehicle infotainment system 126 application implements system integration and interoperability with the vehicle's IHU / Telematics Unit.

[0054] Similar to the onboard input module 102, the offboard input module 104 includes a set of different software application subroutines that can be executed to provide the digital sticker functionality described herein. As a non-limiting example, the Internet interface application 128 acts as a connection gateway for data exchange with the World Wide Web (WWW), while the cellular interface application 130 acts as a resident cellular connection point for managing data flow with cellular tower networks. The cloud wallet payment application 132 enables the system 100 to securely access and retrieve stored payment information from the user's digital wallet, while the GPS application 134 and V2X application 136 respectively implement routine broadcast data exchange with the GPS-based geolocation system and the V2X vehicle communication system.

[0055] Continue to refer to Figure 2The trained ML model module 106—which can be embodied as a trained deep neural network (DNN) predictive analytics platform—can be employed to evaluate user data, identify patterns in the data, derive trends from these patterns, and use these insights to predict future user behavior. For example, the ML module 106 algorithm can determine: (1) which virtual code to display for a given transaction; (2) when to display the virtual code (day, date, time, etc.); (3) where to display the virtual code (location, destination, geofence, context, etc.); and / or (4) user-specific characteristics (e.g., driver, passenger, usage preferences, usage restrictions, appointment calendar, etc.). In a non-limiting example, the ML module 106 can collect historical data on vehicle occupant behavior and / or crowdsourced data on the behavior of third-party participants. If desired, the collected data can be aggregated, then cleaned, filtered, discretized, reformatted, or otherwise “preprocessed,” and then stored in a cache memory. The trained ML model algorithm evaluates the preprocessed data to derive one or more predicted user behaviors for a vehicle occupant, including which virtual barcode the occupant will select and / or when to display a digital window sticker containing the virtual barcode for a specific transaction the occupant expects.

[0056] Using in-vehicle inputs, external inputs, and predictions generated by ML provided by control modules 102, 104, and 106, the central in-vehicle computer 112 of the vehicle display system 100 and Figure 2 The system output module 108 coordinates to display a digital object containing machine-readable codes in the vehicle window. According to the illustrated example, a miniature pocket projector 140 is shown installed in a location in the vehicle's passenger compartment (such as...). Figure 1 The instrument panel (IP) trim 142 at the front of the passenger compartment 11) is placed on top of it, or, if desired, embedded within the instrument panel (IP) trim 142. A polymer projection film 144—which may have the properties of a rigid plate, a flexible panel, or a thin film made of a suitable optical diffuser, transparent phosphor, or transparent holographic material—may be laminated to, or mounted adjacent to, the passenger side window 146. The system output module 108 can selectively activate the pocket projector 140 to optically project a magnified image of the digital window sticker onto the projection film 144, making the QR code embedded within the window sticker visible through the passenger side window 146.

[0057] Next reference Figure 3 The flowchart, according to aspects of this disclosure, generally describes, at 200 points, a method for operating motor vehicles (such as... Figure 1 The vehicle's permanent vehicle display system (such as 10) Figure 2 An improved method or control protocol for the cabin interior window display system 100. Figure 3Some or all of the operations illustrated and further described in detail below may represent algorithms corresponding to non-transitory, processor-executable instructions that may be stored, for example, in main memory, secondary memory, or remote memory (e.g., ...). Figure 1 The instructions reside in one or more resident vehicle storage devices 38 and / or remote cloud host service 24 databases. These instructions may be executed, for example, by a microprocessor, central controller, dedicated control module, programmable logic circuit, or other module or device, or a network of controllers / modules / devices (e.g., the vehicle CPU 36 and / or the back office (BO) server-level computer terminal of cloud host service 24), to perform any or all of the functions described above and below associated with the disclosed concepts. It should be understood that the execution order of the illustrated operation blocks may be changed, additional operation blocks may be added, and some operations described herein may be modified, combined, or eliminated.

[0058] Method 200 begins with computer-readable instructions stored in memory. Figure 3 The “Start” terminal block 201 is used to initialize the digital window sticker control protocol of the motor vehicle. This routine can be initialized in real-time, near real-time, continuously, systematically, occasionally, and / or at predefined time intervals, for example, every 10 or 100 milliseconds during operation of the motor vehicle 10. Alternatively, terminal block 201 can be initialized in response to user command prompts (e.g., via telematics input controls 28, 32), resident vehicle controller prompts (e.g., from CPU 36), or broadcast prompts received from a centralized BO vehicle service system (e.g., from cloud host service 24). In one example, method 200 can automatically initialize in response to a key-on event, in which the driver of vehicle 10 presses the ignition button or the driver presses a corresponding soft key on the touchscreen of the telematics unit 14. Upon completion... Figure 3 After some or all of the control operations presented, method 200 may proceed to the “end” terminal block 231 and temporarily terminate, or alternatively, it may cycle back to terminal block 201 and run continuously (e.g., until vehicle 10 is switched back to park (P) and the engine is turned off (key-off)).

[0059] From terminal block 201, method 200 proceeds to "User Authentication" data input block 203 to determine the user's identity and verify whether their identity is authorized to perform the desired transaction using the connected vehicle application (e.g., after entering a unique ID and a distinct personal password). It is envisioned that the host vehicle can pre-authorize the vehicle driver to perform transactions without the driver manually entering their personal identification information, for example, by verifying a handheld key fob carried by the driver, or through biometric facial or voice recognition. For at least some system implementations, user authentication may be a prerequisite for displaying or enabling user-optional options to perform the desired transaction via the connected vehicle application. After completing the initial user pre-authorization agreement, the vehicle occupant can, for example, use... Figure 1 The input control 32 of the telematics unit 14 navigates to the application settings menu. Through this menu, the occupant can activate, deactivate, or modify one or more user-selectable system settings, which may include specifying what digital window stickers to display, when to display digital window stickers, where to display digital window stickers, and how to display digital window stickers.

[0060] Method 200 proceeds to the "Transaction Menu" display block 205 and presents one or more user-selectable transaction options to the vehicle occupants. This is for illustrative purposes only and not as a limitation. Figure 1 The driver of vehicle 10 can use the touchscreen of telematics unit 14 to navigate to the desired IHU connected vehicle application. When selected, the IHU application can present the driver with a variety of options for purchasing goods or services from a retail entity, as indicated at “Transaction Options” display block 207. At this time, the driver can use any user input device described herein to select one or more available transaction options (e.g., takeout food order or car wash) with the associated primary party (e.g., chain restaurant or retail car wash).

[0061] Upon receiving the occupant's selection to perform the desired transaction with the designated primary party, method 200 can respond by presenting the user with various options for completing the transaction. According to one example, method 200 can execute "digital wallet" database block 209 and access the vehicle occupant's locally stored or remotely protected personal digital wallet. The telematics unit 14 simultaneously retrieves and displays the selected contents of the digital wallet to the occupant, along with options for selecting one of the available payment methods stored in their digital wallet. After receiving the user's selection, method 200 proceeds to "digital sticker" decision block 211 to determine whether the occupant wishes to use a windowed virtual code to facilitate completing the desired transaction. Figure 1The telematics unit 14 may, for example, display a user-selectable soft key to "use window sticker" to pay for the desired transaction; the driver may use one of the user input controls 32 of the telematics unit 14 to manually or audibly select the option.

[0062] In response to receiving an occupant's selection of the "Use Window Sticker" option, method 200 automatically executes a "Virtual Code Generation" subroutine 213 and selects a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode designed to facilitate the completion of the desired transaction. For some transactions, the telematics CPU 36 can generate the digital sticker and associated virtual barcode in real time, wherein the resulting virtual barcode is tailored to the vehicle occupant (e.g., a QR code directly linked to a payment account in a digital wallet) and / or tailored to the occupant's desired transaction (e.g., a QR code created to pay a specific amount to a specific retail entity). Alternatively, the telematics CPU 36 can access a resident memory device 38 to retrieve a virtual barcode linked to the vehicle occupant's personal user account (e.g., a linear barcode linked to a payment device stored in the vehicle). It is also envisioned that the telematics unit 14 can solicit the corresponding IHU vehicle application to issue a machine-readable code for completing the passenger's desired transaction; the issued code will then be embedded in a digital sticker for display in one of the passenger windows of the host vehicle.

[0063] Continue to refer to Figure 3 Method 200 proceeds to "Vehicle Tracking" data input block 215 to actively monitor the movement of the host vehicle in order to determine whether and when the host vehicle arrives at the main party's business location. Figure 1 Continuing the example, the telematics unit 14 can respond to a received occupant selection for a desired transaction by prompting the vehicle's resident LRC device 44 to return location data indicating the host vehicle's real-time location. Using the received vehicle location data, the telematics unit 14 determines whether the vehicle's real-time location is within a predefined proximity to the primary party's real-time location. The vehicle's real-time location can be considered to be within the specified proximity to the primary party's real-time location when the vehicle's location breaches a virtual geofence—which defines the geographical perimeter of the primary party's building or storefront. Alternatively, the predefined proximity can be specified as a fixed physical location of the primary party, such as a parking lot, kiosk, storefront, entrance passage, drive-through window, etc.

[0064] When it is concluded that the real-time location of the host vehicle is within a predefined proximity to the real-time location of the primary vehicle, method 200 can respond by executing the "complete transaction" data input block 217 and soliciting confirmation from the vehicle occupants whether they now wish to complete the desired transaction. For example, the center console telematics unit 14 can display a user-selectable "pay now" softkey option, which the driver can choose to complete the desired transaction upon arrival at the drive-thru window of the primary vehicle's physical store. At this time, the driver can use the microphone 28 of the telematics unit 14 or the touchscreen display input device 32 to select the complete transaction option. For at least some system implementations, the telematics unit 14 can automatically initiate the final step of completing the desired transaction, and therefore, data input block 217 can be completely omitted from method 200.

[0065] Subsequently, method 200 proceeds to the "Dynamic Vehicle Actions" subroutine 219 to determine whether and when the vehicle has completed one or more predefined dynamic vehicle actions, which are set as prerequisites for displaying the digital window sticker. The center console telematics unit 14 can communicate with PCM 52, BCM 58, and SSIM 60 to determine: (1) whether the real-time vehicle speed of the host vehicle has decelerated below an allowable speed threshold; (2) whether the current operating mode of the host vehicle's powertrain has changed to one of a set of predefined allowable modes; and / or (3) whether the window position of the passenger side window has moved to a predefined window position. As an example, decelerating the vehicle may include bringing the vehicle to a complete stop (i.e., real-time vehicle speed = ~0 mph). On the other hand, changing the operating mode of the vehicle's powertrain may include shifting the vehicle to park or neutral (i.e., the PRNDL lever is moved to park (P) or neutral (N)) or disabling the powertrain (e.g., turning off the vehicle). Moving the window position may include lowering the occupant side window to a predefined threshold position or lowering it beyond a predefined threshold position (e.g., lowering it by at least three-quarters).

[0066] After confirming that the vehicle has reached the position of the main vehicle and completed one or more predefined dynamic vehicle actions, method 200 can responsively execute the "code display" process block 221 and display a digital window sticker with a virtual barcode in the occupant side window. As described above, resident vehicle display systems (such as...) Figure 2The cabin interior window display system 100 can employ a transparent display panel or projection display unit to project digital window stickers onto, through, or onto a polymer projection film mounted on the passenger side window. Once displayed, a staff member associated with the primary party or an automatic barcode scanner can scan the virtual barcode, as indicated in the “Scan Code” process block 223. Thereafter, method 200 proceeds to the “Process Transaction” subroutine 225 and performs the final steps to complete the transaction (e.g., processing payment, issuing a physical receipt, etc.).

[0067] After displaying the digital window sticker and processing the transaction, method 200 executes "Transaction Confirmation" data output block 227 to present verification to the vehicle occupants that the expected transaction has been processed and approved. For example, telematics unit 14 can receive a wireless notification from the primary party's payment processing engine confirming that the virtual barcode has been scanned and payment for the expected transaction has been approved. Upon receiving this notification, telematics unit 14 can display or announce a confirmation alert indicating that the expected transaction has been approved. At "Transaction Completed" process block 229, any expected goods / services associated with the expected transaction are delivered. Method 200 can then proceed to "End" terminal block 231 and temporarily terminate, or alternatively, it can loop back to terminal block 201 and run continuously in a loop.

[0068] In some embodiments, aspects of this disclosure may be implemented by computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, which are generally referred to as software applications or applications executed by any of the controllers described herein or variations thereof. In non-limiting examples, the software may include routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform specific tasks or implement specific data types. The software may form an interface enabling the computer to respond to an input source. The software may also cooperate with other code segments to initiate various tasks in response to received data, in conjunction with the source of the received data. The software may be stored on any of a variety of memory media, such as CD-ROMs, disks, and semiconductor memories (e.g., various types of RAM or ROM).

[0069] Furthermore, aspects of this disclosure can be implemented in various computer systems and computer network configurations, including multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframes, etc. Additionally, aspects of this disclosure can be implemented in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by resident and remote processing devices linked via communication networks. In distributed computing environments, program modules can reside in local and remote computer storage media, including memory storage devices. Therefore, aspects of this disclosure can be implemented in computer systems or other processing systems using various hardware, software, or combinations thereof.

[0070] Any method described herein may include machine-readable instructions for execution by (a) a processor, (b) a controller, and / or (c) any other suitable processing device. Any algorithm, software, control logic, protocol, or method disclosed herein may be embodied as software and stored on a tangible medium such as flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) memory, hard disk drive (HDD) memory, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), or other storage devices. The entire algorithm, control logic, protocol, or method and / or portions thereof may alternatively be executed by a device other than a controller and / or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware (e.g., implemented by application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable logic devices (FPLDs), discrete logic, etc.). Furthermore, while specific algorithms may be described with reference to the flowcharts and / or workflow diagrams depicted herein, many other methods may be used alternatively to implement the example machine-readable instructions.

[0071] Various aspects of this disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments; however, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited to the precise construction and composition disclosed herein; any and all modifications, alterations, and variations apparent from the foregoing description are within the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, this concept explicitly includes any and all combinations and sub-combinations of the foregoing elements and features.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle display system of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with occupant side windows, the method comprising: User selections from vehicle occupants are received via user input devices in a telematics unit located in the passenger compartment to execute desired transactions with the primary party; In response to receiving a user selection, a digital window sticker containing a virtual barcode adapted to complete the desired transaction is selected via a remote information processing unit; In response to receiving a user selection, location data indicating the real-time vehicle location of the motor vehicle is retrieved via a telematics unit; In response to receiving a user selection, the remote information processing unit determines when the motor vehicle has completed a predefined dynamic vehicle action; and In response to the motor vehicle completing a predefined dynamic vehicle action and the real-time vehicle position being within a predefined proximity to the main vehicle, a digital window sticker is displayed in the passenger side window via the vehicle display system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined dynamic vehicle actions include decelerating the vehicle, changing the operating mode of the vehicle's powertrain, and / or moving the position of the passenger side window.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the operating mode of the vehicle power system includes switching the vehicle power system to park or neutral, and wherein moving the window position includes lowering the window to a threshold position or lowering it beyond a threshold position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the digital window sticker includes generating a virtual barcode in real time, wherein the virtual barcode is customized based on the vehicle occupants and / or the expected transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a digital window sticker includes retrieving a virtual barcode from a resident or remote storage device, the virtual barcode being linked to a personal user account of a vehicle occupant.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle display system includes a transparent display panel facing the passenger side window and displaying digital window stickers through the passenger side window, or the vehicle display system includes a projection display unit facing the passenger side window and projecting the digital window stickers onto the passenger side window, or onto a polymer projection film mounted on the passenger side window.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: In response to receiving a user selection, the output device of the telematics unit outputs user-selectable window sticker options to use digital stickers; and The vehicle occupant's selection of the optional window stickers is received via a user input device of the telematics unit, wherein the selection of digital window stickers is further in response to the vehicle occupant's selection of user-selectable window sticker options.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: In response to the real-time vehicle location being within a predefined proximity to the main party, the user-selectable option to complete the transaction is output via the output device of the telematics unit; and The vehicle occupant selects a user-selectable option to complete the transaction via a user input device of the telematics unit, wherein a digital window sticker is displayed in the occupant side window in further response to the vehicle occupant selecting the user-selectable option to complete the transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: When the real-time vehicle location breaks through the virtual geofence, in response to receiving the user's selection, the telematics unit determines that the real-time vehicle location is within a predefined proximity to the main party.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: The user identity of vehicle occupants is authenticated via a telematics unit; and In response to the authentication of the vehicle occupant's identity, the user's selectable options are displayed via the touchscreen display panel of the telematics unit to execute the desired transaction with the principal.

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