Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of a motor vehicle
An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of a motor vehicle. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The motor vehicle owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the motor vehicle. Once the desired settings have been made, they are transferred to the motor vehicle using a portable transfer device, which may comprise a key for operating the motor vehicle.
1. A method of controlling an automobile sound system comprising:
providing a server on a global computer network with a graphical user interface tailored to an automobile sound system and the programmable features thereof;
accessing the server with a user's computer and operating the graphical user interface to program a selected automobile sound system function;
transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function to an automobile sound system remote from the user's computer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the automobile sound system.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the automobile sound system.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the automobile sound system via telephonic communications.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile sound system function comprises transferring the data from the user's computer directly to the automobile sound system.
6. A method of controlling an automobile heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
providing a server on a global computer network with a graphical user interface tailored to an automobile HVAC system and the programmable features thereof;
accessing the server with a user's computer and operating the graphical user interface to program a selected automobile HVAC system function;
transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function to an automobile HVAC system remote from the user's computer.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function comprises transferring the data to a transfer device and then transferring the data from the transfer device to the automobile HVAC system.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function comprises transferring the data from the server to the automobile HVAC system.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data is transferred from the server to the automobile HVAC system via telephonic communications.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring data representative of the selected automobile HVAC system function comprises transferring the data from the user's computer directly to the automobile HVAC system.