A method and system for diagnosing and communicating events associated with one or more components of vehicle is described. In general, a vehicle may provide information regarding its recorded and/or monitored system and component states via a self-diagnostic and/or reporting capability.

A method for map updating in a conveyance, said method comprising the steps of: collecting information as it relates to at least one of a road and traffic condition, road position, lane number, or time stamp at a marker from at least one of fixed roadside signal or a data collection module; aggregating with with at least one of a vehicle reading collected for at least one of a first vehicle as it relates to at least one of mapped location, route information, vehicle operator information, vehicle performance, time of operation, route information, duration of route; generating a roadway map comprises information regarding a traffic level along a selected roadway and wherein the map updating module uses the deviations to identify an alternative travel route between the first and second locations (updated roadway map); and delivering at least one of an updated report or updated roadway map to at least the first vehicle.

A system/method adapted to aggregate vehicle or operator data for reconstructing a road event for authority purposes, said system comprising: a storage device with stored data (information) collected from an aggregating device (controller) in communication with at least one of various sensors, data capturing means, image capturing means, or metrics; a reporting module that evaluates collected information stored in the storage device to determine a driving behavior of a driver associated with the vehicle, and determine whether the driving behavior includes one or more triggering events that are one or more of operator-defined or authority-defined for communication to at least one of an authority source; a communication module enabling querying for at least one of said information by at least one of an authority source for reconstructing the road event of interest upon a threshold-grade road event triggered and relaying the reconstructed road event to at least one of an authority source for at least one of the authority purpose; wherein the authorized source is at least one of a Department of Motor Vehicle, insurance company, vehicle manufacturer, or law enforcement; and wherein the authority purpose is at least one of a revocation of license, filing of accident report, increasing or lowering insurance premiums, issuing a violation, or issuing a warning in real-time or postponed.

Methods and systems for a heads-up configurable vehicle dash display are provided. Specifically, a configurable dash may comprise one or more displays that are capable of receiving input from a user. At least one of these displays may be configured to present a plurality of custom applications that, when manipulated by at least one user, are adapted to control and/or monitor functions associated with a vehicle and/or associated peripheral devices. It is anticipated that the function and appearance of the plurality of custom applications may be altered via user and/or processor input.

The present disclosure describes a vehicle implementing one or more processing modules. These modules are configured to connect and interface with the various buses in the vehicle, where the various buses are connected with the various components of the vehicle to facilitate information transfer among the vehicle components. Each processing module is further modularized with the ability to add and replace other functional modules now or in the future. These functional modules can themselves act as distinct vehicle components. Each processing modules may hand-off processing to other modules depending on its health, processing load, or by third-party control. Thus, the plurality of processing modules helps to implement a middleware point of control to the vehicle with redundancy in processing and safety and security awareness in their applications.

A driver interface system includes a steering wheel assembly and a display. The steering wheel assembly includes a variable-function input device. The variable-function input device includes a plurality of assignable functions and a present function being one of the plurality of assignable functions. The display is configured to display an image corresponding to the present function of the variable-function input device. The driver interface system may include a plurality of display modes, and in response to a change in display mode, the driver interface system may change the present function in the plurality of assignable functions. The steering wheel assembly may also include a touchpad configured to receive a handwritten input, and the display may be configured to display an image corresponding to the handwritten input.

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a universal chassis that may be mounted in the head unit of a vehicle. The chassis may accept one or more modules that each have common dimensions. With a common form factor, the universal chassis is configurable as different modules with different functionality may be inserted into the chassis with ease.

A touch input apparatus mounted on a mounting surface includes a protrusion protruding from the mounting surface. A recessed portion is formed in the protrusion. A touch portion is provided on a bottom surface of the recessed portion and receives a user's touch signal. A vehicle having the touch input apparatus includes a display and a controller configured to operate the display according to the users input inputted to the touch input apparatus.

A user interface device, a vehicle having the same, and a method of controlling the same, implement a display unit configured to display a plurality of characters, a dial part configured to select any one character among the plurality of characters, and a touch part configured to be touched by a user. A control unit of the interface is configured to select a handwritten recognition mode as a character input mode when the touch part is touched, and select a dial operation mode as the character input mode when the dial part is operated, thereby improving user convenience.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for a vehicle user interface. The vehicle user interface includes a display for a plurality of menus. The vehicle user interface also includes a steering wheel having a joystick, and a gesture pad having a plurality of available input gestures. The vehicle user interface also includes a processor for modifying the display responsive to input from the steering wheel joystick and gesture pad, wherein at least one input gesture is available for all displayed menus, and availability of at least one input gesture changes based on the menu displayed.