Multi-control telematics in a vehicle
An apparatus and method allow either the driver or a passenger in a vehicle to operate a telematic unit in the vehicle. Communication requests may be prioritized, depending upon the type of communication desired and whether the request is being made by the driver or a passenger. Visual display units for the driver and passenger are positioned such that the passenger visual display unit is visible to a passenger seated in the passenger seat and not visible to a driver seated in the driver seat. Information displayed on the driver visual display unit may be restricted to certain types of communications, or include only limited information, so as not to distract the driver. A full display may be provided to the passenger, so that the passenger can assist the driver with verbal instructions based upon information included in the full display, viewable by the passenger but not the driver.
1. A method for operating a telematic unit in a vehicle having a driver seat for a driver and a passenger seat for a passenger, a driver control unit operable by the driver, and a passenger control unit operable by the passenger, the passenger control unit being located out of reach of the driver when the driver is seated in the driver seat, the method comprising:
generating a communication initiation request from one of the driver or passenger control units for initiating communication between the telematic unit and a server; and
prioritizing communication initiation requests from the driver and passenger control units.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein communication initiation requests from the driver control unit always receive priority over requests from the passenger control unit.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes one or more additional passenger seats each having a passenger control unit for that seat operable by a passenger seated in that seat, and the method further comprises prioritizing communication requests from the driver control unit and the passenger control units for each passenger seat.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the vehicle includes a front driver seat, a front passenger seat, and a rear passenger seat, and wherein prioritizing communication requests comprises giving priority to communication requests from the driver control unit, the passenger control unit for the front passenger seat, and the control unit for the rear passenger seat, in that order.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if there is a Communication already in progress between the telematic unit and the server; and
blocking communication initiation requests received while the communication already in progress continues.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the driver and passenger control units are adapted for requesting a first and a second type of communication, and the method further comprises prioritizing the first and second type of communication request.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising giving a request for the first type of communication priority over a request for the second type of communication, such that a request for the second type of communication will be denied if a communication of the first type is in progress.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising giving a request for the first type of communication priority over the second type of communication, such that if a request for the first type of communication is received while a communication of the second type is in progress, the communication of the second type will be terminated and the request for the communication of the first will be processed by the telematic unit.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
storing a request for the second type of communication when the communication of the second type is terminated; and
re-establishing the communication of the second type consistent with the stored request when the communication of the first type ends.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second type of communication includes navigation information.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is presented to the driver via at least one of a heads-up display, speakers, or combinations thereof.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is presented to the passenger via a passenger visual display unit, speakers, or combinations thereof.
13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising prioritizing between sequentially received requests for communications of the same type, such that a second request for a communication of a type already in progress will be denied.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
saving the second request; and
processing the second request after the communication of the same type already in progress ends.
15. The method of claim 6 , further comprising prioritizing between sequentially received requests for communications of the same type, such that a second request for a communication of a type already in progress will terminate the communication already in progress and initiate processing of the second request.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising annunciating in the vehicle a message indicating the disposition of a request for communication.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes driver and passenger visual display units, with the driver visual display unit being positioned to be visible by a driver seated in the driver seat, and the passenger display visual display unit positioned to be visible to a passenger seated in the passenger seat and not visible to a driver seated in the driver seat, and also wherein the driver and passenger control units are adapted for requesting a first and a second type of communication, the method further comprising displaying information relating to the first type of communication on the driver visual display unit.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying limited information relating to the second type of communication on the driver display unit.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the first type of communication is a telephone call and wherein the second type of communication is a navigation information.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting information pertaining to the prioritized communication initiation request in a manner that is suitable for the driver or passenger whose generated request is prioritized.
21. An apparatus for communication in a vehicle having a driver seat for a driver and a passenger seat for a passenger, the apparatus comprising:
a telematic unit in the vehicle;
driver and passenger control units for generating a communication request to initiate a communication between the telematic unit and a server; the driver control unit being operable by the driver, and the passenger control unit operable by the passenger, with the passenger control unit being located out of reach of the driver when the driver is seated in the driver seat; and
means, located in the telematic unit, for prioritizing communication initiation requests received front the driver and passenger control units.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the driver and passenger control units are adapted for requesting a first and a second type of communication, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
driver and passenger visual display units, with the driver visual display unit being positioned to be visible by a driver seated in the driver seat, and the passenger visual display unit being positioned to be visible to a passenger seated in the passenger seat and not visible to a driver seated in the driver seat; and
means for displaying only information relating to the that type of communication on the driver visual display unit.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising means for displaying limited information relating to the second type of communication on the driver display unit.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first type of communication is a telephone call and wherein the second type of communication is a navigation information.
25. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:
a telematic unit including a controller;
a driver control unit, and at least one passenger control unit in communication with the telematic unit wherein the controller is configured to make priority decisions between communication initiation requests from the driver and passenger control units, and between different types of communication.
26. The system of claim 25 , further comprising:
a driver visual display unit in communication with the driver control unit; and
at least one passenger visual display unit in communication with the at least one passenger control unit.