Systems, methods and articles for a communications device providing communications and services involving automobile head units

摘要

Network communications, Web-based services and customized services using the Web-based services may be provided to drivers and users via the automobile head unit in the vehicle and via their mobile device. The automobile head unit in the vehicle and the mobile device are communicatively linked via a short range wireless connection. Also, these devices may communicate over a network such as a cellular network to a service provider that provides entertainment and informational services to the mobile device and the head unit of the vehicle. The user's profile and preferences are able to follow the user to various locations and into vehicles because this information is stored at a server accessible by the user's mobile device, and in some embodiments, also the head unit. The mobile device may provide services to the head unit if it does not have wider network connectivity over the short range wireless connection.

主权项

1. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer processor-readable storage medium having computer processor-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a computer processor of a wireless mobile device to:
receive multiple service requests from a head unit of an automobile for streaming media, wherein the wireless mobile device and the head unit are communicating over a short range wireless communications link; evaluate each of the multiple received service requests, to determine, for each of the multiple received service requests how to process the received service request based on a capability and functionality of the head unit to decode and play the streaming media; based on the evaluation, select an option to stream and decode the requested streaming media using the processor if a capability and functionality of the head unit to play the streaming media falls below a particular level, and to stream the requested streaming media for the head unit to decode and play if the capability and functionality of the head unit to play the streaming media does not fall below the particular level; and based on the evaluation, select an option to stream and decode the requested streaming media by streaming the requested streaming media if the capability and functionality of the head unit to play the streaming media falls below a determined level.