A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.

A vehicle infotainment system that adds background sounds to an outgoing call on a mobile device. The infotainment system comprises: i) a database of selectable augmenting audio signals; and ii) audio processing circuitry configured to receive at a first input an uplink signal from the infotainment system and receive at a second input a selected augmenting audio signal. The audio processing circuitry adapts a spectrum of the first selected augmenting audio signal to prevent the selected augmenting audio signal from masking the uplink signal and combines the adapted selected augmenting audio signal and the uplink signal to produce an augmented uplink signal at an output.

A system may include an in-vehicle component, including a first control set to configure the component, configured to identify a device associated with a user approach to the component; and send an interaction request to the device to cause the device to display a user interface for the component including a second control set to configure the component, the second control set including at least one function unavailable in the first control set. A personal device may receive, from an in-vehicle component including a first control set to configure the component, a user interface definition descriptive of a second control set to configure the component; and receive, from the component, a request to display a user interface for the component including the second control set to configure the component, the second control set including at least one function unavailable in the first control set.

A system and method for disabling distracting apps on a driver's personal devices while allowing passengers travelling in the same vehicle to have full use of their personal devices. The system works by first identifying all the personal devices that are in the vehicle and then establishing a loose mesh network between those devices. Once the mesh network is established, the system identifies which of the personal devices is associated with the driver, and ensures that any distracting apps on the driver's personal device are disabled, while allowing full functionality for any passenger's personal devices.

Implementations relate to interactions, over a wireless communication modality, between an automated assistant of an automobile computer system, and separate client device(s). In some of those implementations, the client device(s) can be paired with the automobile computer system, and the client device(s) and the automobile computer system can include separate instances of an automated assistant, which can be associated with different user accounts. In some additional or alternative implementations, particular actions to be performed by a local application of a client device can be advanced via user interaction with the automobile automated assistant, despite a counterpart to the local application not being installed directly on automobile computer system. For example, despite an automobile computer system not having a third-party messaging application installed, the automobile automated assistant can access requested actions to be performed by the third-party messaging application in order to further a requested action. The automobile computer system can transmit, via the wireless communication modality, content to cause the third-party application to further the requested action.

A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.

A method of automatically switching between manners of answering calls by vehicle occupants in a vehicle connects a vehicle-mounted system with terminal device of occupant. Information as to persons in the vehicle is detected. Information as to different occupants allows method to recommend one of a first manner, a second manner, and a third manner of responding to an incoming call, the driver being able to select his preferred manner by pushbutton mounted on steering wheel. Driving safety is improved, and privacy of a personal conversation can be maintained. A vehicle-mounted system applying the method is also disclosed.

This DA device is installed in a vehicle and works in tandem with a portable information terminal in outputting information, said DA device being provided with: a main body section; a display section that can be opened and closed relative to the main body section; a holder part for holding the information terminal, said holder part being connected to the back surface of the display section and opening and closing together with the display section; an electric circuit that is housed in the main body section; and an opening and closing mechanism for switching the display section between an open state in which the holder part is exposed to the outside of a case and a closed state in which the holder part is inside the case.

A vehicle-mounted device installed in a vehicle comprising a mobile terminal communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal located inside the vehicle, and a control unit that provides an interface for operating the vehicle-mounted device from the mobile terminal, wherein the control unit compares a vehicle interior image taken inside the vehicle interior with a facial image of the user of the mobile terminal and changes the interface provided to the mobile terminal based on the determined seating position of the user. The vehicle-mounted device further comprises a display unit, wherein the control unit causes the mobile terminal to display expanded display details on the display unit if the seating position is in a front seat, and causes the mobile terminal to display the same display details as those on the display unit if the seating position is other than one in a front seat.

An HUB system 1 is equipped with an HUB device 10 for displaying a video in front of a vehicle; a communication unit 31 for connecting a mobile device 3 with the HUD device and establishing communication; a speaker 32 for outputting sounds to a driver; a microphone 33 for picking up the voices of the driver; a sound recognition unit 34 for analyzing the picked-up voices; and an in-vehicle camera 35 for photographing the face of the driver. When there is an incoming call at the mobile device, a calling indication of the mobile device 3 is displayed on the display screen of the HUD device, an incoming call sound is outputted from the speaker, and on the basis of a result of an analysis of voices uttered by the driver performed by the sound recognition unit, the conversation operations of the mobile device are started or ended.