System and method for monitoring apps in a vehicle to reduce driver distraction

摘要

A system and method for monitoring apps in a vehicle to reduce driver distraction is disclosed. A controller operating inside or in combination with the head unit of the vehicle may monitor operation of the vehicle, and generate alerts indicative of operation of the vehicle (such as an alert indicative that the vehicle is operating at a predetermined speed). In response to the alert, the operation of the app in the vehicle may be modified.

主权项

1. A controller of a head unit in a vehicle, the controller configured to:
receive information regarding a current operation or a current environment of the vehicle; determine whether or how to control operation of an app based on the current operation or the current environment of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether or how to control operation of the app by determining a type of app, wherein the type of app comprises whether the app is controllable by the controller in order to reduce distraction to a driver of the vehicle; and control execution of the app by:
in response to determining that the app is controllable by the controller in order to reduce distraction to the driver of the vehicle, maintain execution of the app but modify at least one aspect of the execution of the app; andin response to determining that the app is not controllable by the controller in order to reduce distraction to the driver of the vehicle, halt execution of the app or change display of the app to a background of a display, wherein the app comprises a software application downloaded from a server to the head unit.