# US 10,369,943 B2 · In-vehicle infotainment control systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,943 B2 - Document ID: US10369943B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/621,719 - Filed: 2017-06-13 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-13 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Andre Aaron Melson; John Michael Galan Ferrer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369943B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/023: for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems - B60W 50/10: Interpretation of driver requests or demands - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - H04M 1/72463: to restrict the functionality of the device - B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means} - B60W 2050/146: {Display means} - B60W 2540/043: Identity of occupants - B60W 2540/045: Occupant permissions - H04M 1/6083: {by interfacing with the vehicle audio system} - H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions - H04M 1/72457: according to geographic location - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Example in-vehicle infotainment control systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a request from a mobile device to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle. The method determines whether a speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold and whether the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle. If the vehicle's speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is operated by a passenger, the mobile device is allowed to control the IVI system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a request, from a mobile device, to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle; determining whether a speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold; determining whether the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle; and responsive to determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is operated by a passenger, allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system; wherein determining whether the mobile device is operated by the passenger of the vehicle comprises: sending different audio signals from speakers of the vehicle; determining, from the audio signals as received by the mobile device, a location of the mobile device; and determining whether the location of the mobile device corresponds to a passenger seat location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system includes receiving approval from a driver of the vehicle before implementing a proposed control of the IVI system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving an audible approval. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving a physical input to a display screen associated with the IVI system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system includes: receiving, from the mobile device, a proposed control of the IVI system; requesting approval of the proposed control of the IVI system from a driver of the vehicle; and implementing the proposed control of the IVI system responsive to receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold includes receiving a current vehicle speed from a CAN bus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the IVI system of the vehicle includes mirroring the IVI system controls on the mobile device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing the mobile device from controlling the IVI system if the mobile device is not operated by a passenger. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: receiving a request, from a mobile device, to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle; determining whether a speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold; determining a location of the mobile device within the vehicle; and responsive to determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is located in a passenger seating area of the vehicle: receiving, from the mobile device, a proposed control of the IVI system; requesting approval of the proposed control of the IVI system from a driver of the vehicle; and implementing the proposed control of the IVI system responsive to receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle wherein determining the location of the mobile device within the vehicle comprises: sending different audio signals from speakers of the vehicle; determining, from the audio signals as received by the mobile device, a location of the mobile device; and determining whether the location of the mobile device corresponds to a passenger seat location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving an audible approval. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein receiving approval from the driver of the vehicle includes receiving a physical input to a display screen associated with the IVI system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold includes receiving a current vehicle speed from a CAN bus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing the mobile device to control the IVI system of the vehicle by mirroring the IVI system controls on the mobile device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising preventing the mobile device from controlling the IVI system if the mobile device is not located in a passenger seating area of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 An apparatus comprising: a communication manager configured to receive a request, from a mobile device, to control an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system of a vehicle; a vehicle data processing module configured to receive data associated with a speed of the vehicle and determine whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold; a location identification module configured to determine whether the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle by: sending different audio signals from speakers of the vehicle; determining, from the audio signals as received by the mobile device, a location of the mobile device; and determining whether the location of the mobile device corresponds to a passenger seat location; and a driver approval manager configured to receive, from the mobile device, a proposed control of the IVI system and request approval from a driver of the vehicle if the vehicle's speed exceeds the threshold and the mobile device is operated by a passenger of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver approval manager is further configured to receive a response from the driver regarding whether to implement the proposed control of the IVI system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a data mirroring module configured to mirror the IVI system controls on the mobile device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver approval manager is further configured to prevent the device from controlling the IVI system if the mobile device is not operated by a passenger of the vehicle.