Configurable Dash Display Based on Detected Location and Preferences

1 . A method, comprising:

displaying, by a microprocessor executable dash configuration module, in a first area, an instrument display of a vehicle in a first configuration, wherein the instrument display comprises one or more instruments that indicate a state of the vehicle;

determining, by a microprocessor executable traffic law module, that a second configuration of the instrument display is required in a second area, the first and second configurations being different;

determining, by the microprocessor executable dash configuration module, that the vehicle has entered, or is about to enter, the second area; and

in response, displaying, by the microprocessor executable dash configuration module, the instrument display in the second configuration.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument display comprises at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display, wherein the first configuration and the second configuration display the same vehicle state information, and wherein the second configuration of the instrument display is selected from one or more preconfigured instrument display configurations.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the configurable dash display comprises at least one instrument not displayed by the heads-up display.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instruments include at least one of a speedometer, an odometer, a tachometer, a trip odometer, a fuel gage, a coolant temperature gage, and a battery charge meter.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second configuration includes at least one instrument not displayed by the first configuration, wherein determining that the second configuration of the instrument display is required includes changing at least one of: a size; a scale; a unit of measure to one of metric units and non-metric units; and a language of at least one instrument displayed in the first configuration.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration includes at least one instrument not displayed by the second configuration.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting, by a microprocessor executable alert module, an alert on at least one of an instrument display and a communication device, wherein the alert includes information about traffic rules of the second area that are different than traffic rules of the first area, and wherein the alert includes information about the differences between the first configuration and the second configuration.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, one or more traffic laws and vehicle regulations for the second area from an external memory of the vehicle, wherein the traffic law module determines that the second configuration of the instrument display is required in the second area by interpreting the one or more traffic laws and vehicle regulations applicable in the second area.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, that the vehicle is approaching the second area, wherein the microprocessor executable traffic law module determines that the vehicle is approaching the second area after a least one of receiving one or more signals sent from a plurality of sensing elements associated with the vehicle, receiving a location of the vehicle from a vehicle navigation system, receiving the location of the vehicle from a communication device, and receiving a destination of the vehicle entered into the vehicle navigation system; and

selecting, by the dash configuration module, the second configuration.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, one or more signals sent from a plurality of sensing elements associated with the vehicle;

retrieving, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, rules that define a plurality of signal conditions corresponding to the plurality of emergency events;

interpreting, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, the one or more signals using the rules to determine that one of a plurality of emergency events has occurred; and

automatically displaying, by a microprocessor executable alert module, an emergency alert on the instrument display.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the emergency event comprises one of:

the vehicle travelling in a wrong direction in a lane of a road;

the vehicle travelling in a wrong lane of the road;

the vehicle travelling in a restricted lane of the road; and

the vehicle travelling too fast.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, that a second language is used in the second area;

imaging, by one or more sensors of the vehicle, road signs in the second area;

translating, by a microprocessor executable traffic sign translation module, the imaged road signs into the first language of the first area; and

displaying the text of the translated road sign on the instrument display.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by a microprocessor executable network monitoring module, that at least one of data rate and voice rates charged by a service provider will change in the second area;

determining, by the microprocessor executable network monitoring module, if an alternate provider is available in the second area;

providing, by an microprocessor executable alert module, an alert to a driver of the vehicle, wherein the alert includes information associated with:

the change of the at least one data rate and voice rate in the second area;

a way to maximize data and voice usage in the second area; and

the alternate provider; and

switching, by the microprocessor executable network monitoring module, to the alternate provider.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the microprocessor executable network monitoring module, that the second area is associated with an interruption of service for at least one of a data provider and a voice provider;

determining, by the microprocessor executable network monitoring module, if an alternate provider is available in the second area associated with the interruption of service;

providing, by an microprocessor executable alert module, an alert to a driver of the vehicle, wherein the alert includes information associated with:

the interruption of service; and

the alternate provider; and

switching, by the microprocessor executable network monitoring module, to the alternate provider.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is not within the vehicle, and wherein the communication device comprises one or more of a smart phone, a laptop, and a computer.

16 . A tangible and non-transient computer readable medium including microprocessor executable instructions that, when executed, perform at least the following functions:

displaying, by a microprocessor executable dash configuration module, in a first area, an instrument display of a vehicle in a first configuration, wherein the instrument display comprises one or more instruments that indicate a state of the vehicle;

determining, by a microprocessor executable traffic law module, that a second configuration of the instrument display is required in a second area, the first and second configurations being different;

determining, by the microprocessor executable dash configuration module, that the vehicle has entered, or is about to enter, the second area; and

in response, displaying the instrument display in the second configuration.

17 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising:

retrieving, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, one or more traffic laws and vehicle regulations for the second area from an external memory of the vehicle, wherein the microprocessor executable traffic law module determines that the second configuration of the instrument display is required in the second area by interpreting the one or more traffic laws and vehicle regulations applicable in the second area; and

determining by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, that the vehicle is approaching the second area, wherein the microprocessor executable traffic law module determines that the vehicle is approaching the second area after a least one of:

receiving one or more signals sent from a plurality of sensing elements associated with the vehicle, receiving a location of the vehicle from a vehicle navigation system,

receiving the location of the vehicle from a communication device, and

receiving a destination of the vehicle entered into the vehicle navigation system.

18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising:

receiving, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, one or more signals sent from a plurality of sensing elements associated with the vehicle;

retrieving, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, rules that define a plurality of signal conditions corresponding to the plurality of emergency events;

interpreting, by the microprocessor executable traffic law module, the one or more signals using the rules to determine that one of a plurality of emergency events has occurred; and

automatically displaying, by a microprocessor executable alert module, an emergency alert on the instrument display.

19 . A vehicle control system of a vehicle, comprising:

a memory; and

a microprocessor in communication with the memory, the microprocessor operable to:

display, in a first area, an instrument display of the vehicle in a first configuration, wherein the instrument display comprises one or more instruments that indicate a state of the vehicle;

retrieve one or more traffic laws and vehicle regulations for the second area;

determine that a second configuration of the instrument display is required in a second area based on the one or more traffic laws and vehicle regulations for the second area, the first and second configurations being different;

determine that the vehicle has entered, or is about to enter, the second area; and

display the instrument display in the second configuration.

20 . The vehicle control system of claim 19 , wherein the microprocessor is further operable to:

receive one or more signals sent from a plurality of sensing elements associated with the vehicle;

retrieve rules that define a plurality of signal conditions corresponding to the plurality of emergency events;

interpret the one or more signals using the rules to determine that one of a plurality of emergency events has occurred; and

automatically display an emergency alert on the instrument display.