In-Vehicle Head Unit Communication Routing via Network Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle head units lack the ability to seamlessly receive and manage communications intended for mobile devices, especially when the devices are not connected or have low battery, limiting user access to important notifications and information.
Innovation Solution
The method involves coupling mobile devices to a vehicle's head unit, initiating an application that executes on the head unit, and sending a message to a network server to associate the head unit with the mobile device, allowing communication directed to the device's number to also be received by the head unit, even if the device is not connected, and enabling priority management of received communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head unit relies on mobile devices to receive communications, then the mobile device must be connected and have sufficient battery, but this limits user access to communications when the device is disconnected or has low battery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network server as an intermediary between the mobile device and the head unit. The server receives communications intended for the mobile device and forwards them to the head unit when the device is disconnected or has low battery. This mediator enables reliable communication access without requiring direct device connection, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
2Productivity
If the head unit sets up communication association with mobile devices, then communications can be received when device is connected, but the system complexity increases when managing multiple devices and connection states
Solution Approach 1:
The network server acts as a central intermediary that manages communication associations with multiple mobile devices. Instead of the head unit directly managing complex connection states with multiple devices, the server handles the association management and routing decisions, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The head unit is designed with multi-functionality to handle various communication scenarios - receiving communications when devices are connected, when disconnected, when battery is low, or when high priority communications are detected. This universal design increases productivity without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same head unit handles all scenarios through coordinated interaction with the network server.
3Reliability
If the head unit manages communication priority for multiple mobile devices, then important notifications can be prioritized, but the processing complexity and time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network server serves as an intermediary that receives communications from multiple mobile devices and automatically determines priority based on predefined criteria before forwarding to the head unit. This pre-processing at the server level reduces the time the head unit needs to spend on priority management, while still ensuring reliable delivery of important communications.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for receiving communication on a head unit, wherein the communication may be sent to a mobile device coupled to the head unit. The head unit may be enabled to receive communication sent to the mobile device by an application on the head unit, wherein the application may communicate with the network in communication with the mobile device. The head unit may be operable to receive communication sent to a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the head unit may prioritize the received communication. Communication sent to the mobile device and/or head unit may comprise calls, messages, emails, and/or data.