Methods and systems are disclosed relating to in-vehicle entertainment, information presentation, and/or processing. Aspects of multimedia in-vehicle entertainment systems that may incorporate removable and/or portable tablet-type computing devices are described. In certain configurations, a hinged tablet computer carrier includes guide rails into which a portable tablet computer may slide while in an open position, and which can hinge into a closed or locked position that holds the tablet computer in place, positions it for viewing, and effects mechanical and electrical coupling of the tablet computer with other components of the in-vehicle entertainment system. Exemplary placement could include headrest, seatback, overhead, or in-dash mounting. Hinging or sliding could be vertical or horizontal. Various other mechanical, electronic, and electro-mechanical aspects of the methods and systems are described.

A device interaction method for achieving a portable display device to interact with a vehicle as a in-vehicle display screen comprises: detecting whether the vehicle is accessed to the portable display device, obtaining a current connection position of the vehicle connected with the portable display device, obtaining a vehicle operation authority matched with the current connection position, receiving a vehicle operation request, and determining whether to interact with the vehicle in accordance with the vehicle operation request based on the vehicle operation authority matched with the current connection position. The portable display device and a non-transitory storage medium are also disclosed.

A vehicle settings transfer system includes a computing device that receives, at a secure server, registration information associated with a user and a first vehicle. Personalized vehicle settings of the first vehicle associated with the user are stored at the secure server. A request to transfer the personalized vehicle settings associated with the first vehicle to a second vehicle is received. A confirmation is made, at the secure server, that the second vehicle is registered to the user of the first vehicle. Based on the confirming, the personalized vehicle settings associated with the first vehicle are sent from the secure server to the second vehicle. The personalized vehicle settings associated with the first vehicle are loaded to the second vehicle.

Methods and systems are disclosed relating to in-vehicle entertainment, information presentation, and/or processing. Aspects of multimedia in-vehicle entertainment systems that may incorporate removable and/or portable tablet-type computing devices are described. In certain configurations, a hinged tablet computer carrier includes guide rails into which a portable tablet computer may slide while in an open position, and which can hinge into a closed or locked position that holds the tablet computer in place, positions it for viewing, and effects mechanical and electrical coupling of the tablet computer with other components of the in-vehicle entertainment system. Exemplary placement could include headrest, seatback, overhead, or in-dash mounting. Hinging or sliding could be vertical or horizontal. Various other mechanical, electronic, and electro-mechanical aspects of the methods and systems are described.

A method for operating a vehicle having at least one functional unit for performing a driving function, wherein the functional unit is controllable by a control unit of the vehicle to execute the driving function in an automated driving mode. The method includes carrying out an initialization process to activate a manual driving mode for externally controlling the driving function via an operating device. Additionally, the disclosure pertains to a computer program product and a system associated with the vehicle.

A method of controlling a color display screen aboard a motor vehicle includes performing, via a host computer, a color calibration test of a user of the motor vehicle in which the user is subjected to a calibrated set of color-coded test information. The method includes receiving a color perception response of the user to the calibrated set of color-coded test information via the host computer. Additionally, the method includes mapping a reduced visual gamut of the user via the host computer using the color perception response, and then commanding adjustment of user-specific color settings of the motor vehicle using the reduced visual gamut to thereby accommodate a color perception deficiency of the user.

A vehicular display apparatus is provided. The vehicular display apparatus includes a driving device installed in a housing, a display module configured to move to an inner portion or an outer portion of the housing, based on a mechanical operation of the driving device, and a controller unit configured to control the mechanical operation of the driving device. The driving device includes a gear configured to move the display module to the inner portion or the outer portion of the housing and a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor facing each other with the gear therebetween. The light receiving sensor senses an optical signal of the light emitting sensor passing through a region between gear teeth of the gear, and the controller unit counts the number of gear teeth of the gear passing through a region between the light emitting sensor and the light receiving sensor on a basis of a sensing result of the light receiving sensor and controls movement of the display module, based on the counted number of gear teeth.

A method and system couples a first user interface with a second user interface. The first user interface is implemented in the form of a mobile terminal or one or more back-end components. The second user interface is implemented in the form of a control device of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: registering one or more elements of the first user interface; determining one or more display elements based on first heuristics and the one or more elements, wherein the one or more display elements are configured to reproduce at least one portion of the one or more elements; and displaying the one or more display elements on the second user interface. The system has the control device and/or the one or more back-end components, wherein the control device and/or the one or more back-end components are configured to carry out the method.

A system for detecting a vehicular collision (i) receives occupant data from at least one internal sensor; (ii) receives external data from at least one external sensor; (iii) determines positional information for at least one occupant of a vehicle; and (iv) generates a virtual reconstruction of the vehicle collision. The virtual reconstruction indicates a severity of vehicle damage and a severity of injury to the at least one occupant caused by the vehicle collision. The system may also utilized vehicle occupant positional data, and internal and external sensor data to detect potential imminent vehicle collisions, take corrective actions, automatically engage autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle systems, and/or perform at least one action to reduce a severity of a potential injury.

A program update system includes a server device, a central ECU installed in a vehicle, and a terminal device carried by an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the server device is configured to obtain state information indicating the state of a starter switch that starts the vehicle from the vehicle, and send announcement information inquiring whether or not to permit updating to an update program to one of the central ECU and the terminal device based on the state information, the central ECU is configured to display the announcement information on a touch panel provided in the vehicle if the central ECU receives the announcement information, and the terminal device is configured to display the announcement information on the touch panel of the terminal device if the terminal device receives the announcement information.