Systems and methods for regulating control of a vehicle infotainment system

Abstract

One or more embodiments include systems and methods for regulating control of a vehicle infotainment system. In one embodiment, a vehicle computing system includes a user interface which has one or more output components and one or more input components. Software executing in memory of the vehicle computing system may be programmed with rules to reduce driver distraction such as preventing inputs or outputs during vehicle operation. Inputs may be intercepted from the one or more input components of the user interface. Additionally or alternatively, outputs may be intercepted to the output components of the user interface. The intercepted inputs or intercepted outputs may be evaluated for one or more violations based on the rules. If the one or more violations are detected, the inputs or outputs may be prevented during vehicle operation.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vehicle computing system comprising:
 a user interface comprising one or more output components and one or more input components; and   software executing in memory of the vehicle computing system programmed with rules to reduce driver distraction, the rules configured to prevent inputs or outputs during vehicle operation, the software being configured to:
 intercept inputs from the one or more input components of the user interface; 
 intercept outputs to the output components of the user interface; 
 evaluate the intercepted inputs or intercepted outputs for one or more violations based on the rules; and 
 prevent inputs or outputs during vehicle operation if the one or more violations are detected. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the inputs are a button press, a turn of a rotary dial, a touchscreen button press, a capacitive button press, a voice input, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the outputs are graphical outputs, audible outputs, textual outputs, flashing outputs, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the rules define an input count allowed during vehicle operation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the rules define rules for outputs allowed during vehicle operation selected from the group consisting of an output volume level, output text count, an output count of bytes associated with graphics, an output time, flashing outputs, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the rules define a vehicle operational status. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the vehicle operation status includes a threshold speed of the vehicle, wherein the software being configured to evaluate is further configured to:
 receive a speed of the vehicle; and 
 determine if the speed of the vehicle exceeds the threshold speed. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the software is further configured to generate a notification message of the violation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the software is artificial intelligence software. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for controlling operation of a vehicle computing system by a user, the method comprising:
 communicating with a device having installed one or more software applications configured to execute one or more services or operations via the vehicle computing system;   receiving at the vehicle computing system one or more predefined limits associated with inputs to the vehicle computer system or outputs from the vehicle computing system;   receiving one or more inputs at the vehicle computing system for input to the one or more software applications or one or more outputs from the one or more software applications for output through the vehicle computing system;   determining an operational status of a vehicle;   determining if the inputs or outputs are limited based on the vehicle operational status;   if limited, executing the one or more predefined limits; and   preventing communication with the one or more software applications upon executing the one or more predefined limits.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the device is a nomadic device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein communicating with the device includes communicating through at least one of Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein determining an operational status of the vehicle includes determining a speed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the method is carried out by software executing in memory of the vehicle computing system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising transmitting a violation notification message. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the violation notification message is a voice based notification message. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-program product embodied in a computer readable medium including instructions for:
 receiving inputs from an input device on a vehicle computer or outputs for output from the vehicle computer;   executing rules for reducing driver distraction defining an input/output count permitted during vehicle operation;   counting the inputs or outputs for detecting a rule violation; and   preventing inputs or outputs upon detecting the violation.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising instructions for resetting the input/output count permitted during vehicle operation after a period of inactivity. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17  further including instructions for detecting a rule violation based on a count of two or more inputs or outputs. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17  further including instructions for calculating a count value for when inputs or outputs will be prevented before counting the inputs or outputs.