Vehicle Function Customization Through Validated Developer Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle owners and users have limited opportunities to customize vehicle functions after purchase, and existing platforms lack a safe and reliable way for third-party developers to offer content without compromising vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a developer platform with an API, a content server, and a mobile device allows third-party developers to create and verify vehicle customization content, which is then securely transmitted to the vehicle for installation, ensuring compliance with operation criteria and user authorization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a platform is opened for third-party developers to create and offer customization content, then the quantity and variety of available content increases, but the risk of compromising vehicle operation safety increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a platform server as an intermediary between third-party developers and the vehicle system. The platform server hosts a development environment where content is created, stored, and verified before being transferred to the vehicle. This intermediary layer isolates the vehicle from direct exposure to unverified third-party content, allowing content variety to increase while maintaining operational safety through controlled access and validation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by requiring content to be created, stored, and verified on the platform server before being transferred to the vehicle. The development environment pre-configures the content with necessary metadata and validation rules, and the system verifies content integrity and compatibility before installation. This preliminary processing ensures that only safe, validated content reaches the vehicle, resolving the contradiction between content variety and operational safety.
2Ease of operation
If customization content is transferred and installed remotely, then the ease of operation and convenience for users improves, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform server performs multiple functions: it hosts the development environment for content creation, stores created content, verifies content validity, and manages transfer to the vehicle. By consolidating these functions in a universal platform, the system enables remote customization convenience while managing complexity through centralized control rather than distributing complexity across multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service remote customization where users can independently select, transfer, and install content without visiting service stations. The automated verification and installation processes reduce the need for manual intervention, improving ease of operation. The complexity is managed by having the system perform automated validation and configuration tasks that would otherwise require expert service personnel.
3Loss of time
If service stations are eliminated for content installation, then the loss of time for users is reduced, but the reliability of content verification may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical service station visits with an automated digital verification system. Content verification is performed through software-based validation on the platform server, including checking content integrity, compatibility, and safety criteria. This substitution eliminates travel time and waiting time while maintaining verification reliability through automated validation procedures that can be as rigorous as or more consistent than manual service station processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the platform server continuously monitors and validates content during creation, storage, and transfer. Verification feedback is provided automatically, confirming content validity before installation. This continuous feedback loop ensures that verification reliability is maintained throughout the remote customization process, eliminating the need for time-consuming service station visits while preserving content safety through automated validation.
Data Source
AI summary
The approach relates to a method and system for customizing a vehicle function. The system includes a developer platform configured to create content for a predefined vehicle function and transmit the created content to a content server. The developer platform includes a validation program configured to determine if the created content violates an operation criterion of the vehicle and warn a developer and/or deny a transmission of the created content to the content server when the created content violates an operation criterion of the vehicle. The system also includes a content server configured to receive and store the created content, a mobile device having an application configured to access the content server and provide the stored content of the content server for selection, and a vehicle configured to receive selected content and customize the vehicle function with the received content.