Auto-Launch Smartphone App via Vehicle Interconnect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of smartphones experience inconvenience when they need to manually restart applications after exiting and re-entering a vehicle, as the applications are paused or stopped, particularly for individuals who frequently stop and start their vehicles during the day.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a hardware interconnect apparatus and a processor-executable auto-launch application that automatically restarts a user-selected application on a smartphone when it is brought back into proximity with a vehicle's electronic device, establishing wireless communications links to resume the application without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user manually restarts the application each time they re-enter the vehicle, then the application can be resumed, but the user convenience deteriorates due to frequent manual interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the smartphone automatically detect when the user re-enters the vehicle and autonomously restart the paused application without requiring any manual user intervention. The hardware interconnect apparatus triggers the auto-launch application to resume the previous application state automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the auto-launch application to remember the previous application state before the user leaves the vehicle. When the user returns, the system already has the necessary information prepared and only needs to execute the restart, eliminating the need for the user to manually search for and relaunch the application.
2Ease of operation
If the application is automatically restarted without user intervention, then the user convenience improves, but the system complexity increases due to additional hardware and software components
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware interconnect apparatus serves multiple functions: it acts as both the communication bridge between the vehicle and smartphone, and as the trigger mechanism for the automatic application restart. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auto-launch application acts as an intermediary software layer that mediates between the hardware interconnect apparatus and the user's smartphone applications. It receives the trigger signal from the hardware interconnect, determines which application needs to be restarted, and executes the restart automatically, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Productivity
If the user frequently stops and starts the vehicle during the day, then productivity can be maintained, but the time lost to manual application restarts accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by automatically maintaining the application state across vehicle stop-start cycles. The application pauses when the user exits the vehicle and automatically resumes when the user returns, eliminating interruptions and ensuring continuous productivity without time loss to manual restarts.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for automatically restarting an application running on a smartphone present in a predetermined environment, after the application has been paused. A hardware interconnect apparatus may be configured to establish a first communications link with the smartphone, and also to establish a second communications link with an electronic device present at the predetermined environment. A processor executable auto launch application may be adapted to run on the smartphone to detect when a previously selected application has been at least one of stopped or paused, and to automatically re-start the previously selected application without a command being physically entered on the smartphone by a user of the smartphone.