Compact Display Unit

Abstract

A compact display unit including a mobile application server. The mobile application server is mounted in the vehicle for receipt and transmission of communications. The mobile application server is operatively connected to the compact display unit. The compact display unit presents to a vehicle operator a plurality of pre-selected permissive communications for intercommunication between the vehicle and a remote base station located outside of the vehicle. A touch screen connects to the monitor and presents the programmed permissible communication options to the vehicle operator. The permissible communications options are capable of being masked by the remote base station, and cannot be unmasked by the vehicle operator.

1 . A vehicle-mountable display unit, comprising:
 a housing; and   a display mounted in the housing, the display being configured to present a plurality of programmable permissible communication options to a vehicle operator for intercommunication between at least one remote base station located outside of said vehicle and the vehicle, wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being masked by said at least one remote base station, further wherein masked ones of said permissible communications options cannot be unmasked by the vehicle operator.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being individually masked by said at least one remote base station. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a masked programmed permissible communications option is masked from the vehicle operator's view. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is configured such that it is not connectable with a keyboard for data entry such that the vehicle operator is precluded from entry of data into the display unit. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an array of buttons positioned on the housing to activate the display unit.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a separate media display unit, which is provided with a keyboard for data entry into said separate media display unit.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 6 , wherein said separate media display unit is a primary means of communication to said remote base station across a mobile satellite communications system, and wherein said display unit is a secondary means of communication to said remote base station across said mobile satellite communications system. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mobile server mounted in the vehicle and connected to the display, wherein the mobile server transmits and receives messages for intercommunication between at least one remote base station and the vehicle operator across a mobile satellite communications system.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 8 , further comprising one or more programs in the mobile server to transmit to, and receive messages from, a mobile satellite communications system. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 9 , further comprising one or more programs in the mobile server to detect either removal or attempted removal of the display unit and mobile server from the vehicle, or to detect unauthorized misappropriation of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a text-to-speech engine to control text-to-speech signals.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is operable by a vehicle operator while the vehicle is either stationary or moving. 
     
     
         13 . A vehicle-mountable display unit, comprising:
 means for housing; and   means for displaying a plurality of programmable permissible communication options to a vehicle operator for intercommunication between at least one remote base station located outside of said vehicle and the vehicle, wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being masked by said at least one remote base station, further wherein masked ones of said permissible communications options cannot be unmasked by the vehicle operator.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 means for transmitting and receiving messages for intercommunication between at least one remote base station and the vehicle operator across a mobile satellite communications system, wherein the means for transmitting and receiving messages is connected to the means for displaying the plurality of programmable permissible communication options.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 14 , wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being individually masked by said at least one remote base station. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle-mountable display unit according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 means for displaying media, which is provided with a keyboard for data entry into said means for displaying media, wherein said means for displaying media is a primary means of communication to said remote base station across a mobile satellite communications system, and wherein said means for displaying the plurality of programmable permissible communication options to a vehicle operator is a secondary means of communication to said remote base station across said mobile satellite communications system.   
     
     
         17 . A system for displaying pre-selected vehicle communications options, comprising:
 a mobile application server mountable in the vehicle for receipt and transmission of the communications in conjunction with a mobile satellite communications system for intercommunication between at least one remote base station and the vehicle; and   a compact display unit operatively connectable to the mobile application server for presenting a plurality of pre-selected permissible communications options between the vehicle and the remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle, wherein the compact display unit includes:   a display for presenting the pre-selected permissible communications options to a vehicle operator for said intercommunication between a remote server and the vehicle operator, wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being masked by said at least one remote base station, and wherein masked ones of said permissible communications options cannot be unmasked by the vehicle operator.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being individually masked by said at least one remote base station. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein a masked permissible communications option is masked from the vehicle operator's view. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the display unit is configured such that it is not connectable with a keyboard for data entry such that the vehicle operator is precluded from entry of data into the display unit. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the mobile server transmits and receives messages for intercommunication between at least one remote base station and the vehicle operator. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the compact display unit further comprises an array of buttons positioned adjacent said display to activate the display unit. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a separate media display unit, which is provided with a keyboard for data entry into said separate media display unit.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said separate media display unit is a primary means of communication to said remote base station across said mobile satellite communications system, and wherein said display unit is a secondary means of communication to said remote base station across said mobile satellite communications system. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at least one program in the mobile server to transmit to and receive messages from a mobile satellite communications system.   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 at least one program in the mobile server to detect at least one of removal of the display unit and mobile server from the vehicle, attempted removal of the display unit and mobile server from the vehicle, and unauthorized misappropriation of the vehicle.   
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a text-to-speech engine to control text-to-speech signals.   
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the display unit is operable by a vehicle operator while the vehicle is either stationary or moving. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 17 , further comprising means for operatively connecting the compact display unit to the mobile application server. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the means for operatively connecting the compact display unit to the mobile application server includes a communications path between the compact display unit and the mobile application server. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the communications path includes a serial port mounted in the mobile application server. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the communications path includes a virtual network computing link operatively connected via the serial port to the compact display unit. 
     
     
         33 . A method for providing communication options, comprising the steps of:
 installing in a vehicle a mobile application server capable of receipt and transmission of communications in conjunction with a mobile satellite communications system for intercommunication between at least one remote base station located outside of said server and the vehicle; and   providing a compact display unit operatively connectable to the mobile application server for presenting a plurality of pre-selected permissible communications options between the vehicle and the remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle, wherein the compact display unit includes:
 a display for presenting the pre-selected permissible communications options to a vehicle operator for said intercommunication between a remote server and the vehicle operator, wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being masked by said at least one remote base station, and wherein masked ones of said permissible communications options cannot be unmasked by the vehicle operator. 
   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said permissible communications options are capable of being individually masked by said at least one remote base station. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein a masked, permissible communications option is masked from a vehicle operator's view. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the display unit is configured such that it is not connectable with a keyboard for data entry such that the vehicle operator is precluded from entry of data into the display unit. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 providing a separate media display unit, which is provided with a keyboard for data entry into said separate media display unit.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said separate media display unit is as a primary means of communication to said remote base station across said mobile satellite communications system, and wherein said display unit is a secondary means of communication to said remote base station across said mobile satellite communications system. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the step of installing in a vehicle a mobile application server capable of receipt and transmission of communications includes the substeps of:
 providing a communications path between the compact display unit and the mobile application server;   installing a serial port in the mobile application server; and   including a virtual network computing link operatively connected via the serial port to the compact display unit.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of providing a compact display unit operatively connectable to the mobile application server for presenting a plurality of pre-selected permissible communications between the vehicle and a remote server by a vehicle operator during operation of the vehicle includes the substep of arranging one or more buttons on the compact display unit for activating the compact display unit.