IP Library Granted Patent US 10,951,942
Granted Patent B2
US 10,951,942 · App. 16/773,128 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Method and system for providing audio signals to an in-vehicle infotainment system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,951,942
App. No.
16/773,128
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for audibly displaying an audio signal at an in-vehicle infotainment system received through a mobile device to provide continual access to the content when the user enters a vehicle includes the mobile device comprising a first audio player and a second audio player. The mobile device receives an audio-video signal through a network. The first audio player playing a first audio signal. The mobile device receives a second signal. The second audio player receives a second audio signal based on the second signal and playing the second audio signal. The mobile device communicates the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the in-vehicle infotainment system. The in-vehicle infotainment system audibly displays the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

coupling a mobile device to an in-vehicle infotainment system;

communicating an audio-video signal to the mobile device through a network;

playing a first audio signal from the audio-video signal with a first audio player of the mobile device;

receiving a second signal at the mobile device;

generating at a second audio player of the mobile device, a second audio signal based on the second signal;

playing the second audio signal with the second audio player;

communicating the first audio signal to the in-vehicle infotainment system from the mobile device;

communicating the second audio signal to the in-vehicle infotainment system from the mobile device;

receiving a trigger for triggering playback of the second audio signal at the mobile device, the trigger being received from a secondary source;

displaying the first audio signal through the in-vehicle infotainment system; and

after receiving the trigger and after starting to display the first audio signal, combining and simultaneously displaying the first audio signal and the second audio signal through the in-vehicle infotainment system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving the second audio signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving a text signal, and wherein generating the second audio signal based on the second signal comprises converting the text signal to the second audio signal in a text-to-speech converter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving an advertisement signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the second audio signal comprises receiving a sports play.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprises combining the first audio signal and the second audio signal into a combined signal, wherein communicating the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprises communicating the combined signal and wherein audibly displaying the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprises audibly displaying the combined signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger is received from a head end.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the audio-video signal to the mobile device comprises communicating the audio-video signal to the mobile device from a first source and wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving the second signal from a third source different than the first source.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying sports scores on the mobile device and displaying a program title on a primary screen of the in-vehicle infotainment system.

10. A system comprising:

an in-vehicle infotainment system;

a mobile device coupled to the in-vehicle infotainment system, the mobile device comprising a first audio player and a second audio player, the mobile device receiving an audio-video signal through a network from a first source;

the first audio player playing a first audio signal from the audio-video signal;

the mobile device receiving a second signal;

the second audio player receiving a second audio signal based on the second signal and playing the second audio signal;

the mobile device communicating the first audio signal to the in-vehicle infotainment system;

the mobile device receiving a trigger for triggering playback of the second audio signal, said trigger being received from a secondary source; and

the in-vehicle infotainment system displaying the first audio signal and in response to the trigger, combining and simultaneously displaying the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the second signal comprises the second audio signal.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second signal comprises a text signal and further comprising a text-to-speech converter in the mobile device converting the text signal to the second audio signal.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the second signal comprises an advertisement signal.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the secondary source comprises a head end.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the mobile device receives the second signal from the second source different than the first source.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the second audio signal comprises a sports play description.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the first source communicates the audio-video signal to the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the mobile device displays sports scores and wherein the in-vehicle infotainment system displays a program title on a primary screen.

19. A method comprising:

communicating an audio-video signal to a mobile device through a network from a first source;

playing a first audio signal within the mobile device with a first audio player;

receiving a second signal at the mobile device;

generating a second audio signal based on the second signal at a second audio player;

playing the second audio signal within the mobile device with the second audio player in response to a trigger received at the mobile device, said trigger being received from a secondary source; and

communicating the first audio signal and the second audio signal to an in-vehicle infotainment system from the mobile device so that the first audio signal and the second audio signal are combined after receiving the trigger and after starting to display the first audio signal, and the first audio signal and the second audio signal are displayed simultaneously through the in-vehicle infotainment system.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the secondary source is a head end.

Assignments (6)
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY IN PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 072994/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066371/0690 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058220/0531 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057695/0084 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2021
From: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
To: DIRECTV, LLC
Reel/Frame 057143/0641 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2020
From: CANSINO, DON E.; SHAH, BHAVYANK V.; TSURUTANI, BRADY C.; CHAN, YEUNG K.
To: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 053471/0925 →