Apple Granted Patent for Synchronizing Mobile and Vehicle Devices

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to synchronizing mobile and vehicle devices. It's a patent that could be considered a foundational one supporting Apple's forthcoming "iOS for the Car" service that will be available on more than twenty makes of vehicles in the second half of 2014. Apple's patent covers the technology supporting such Apple apps as Maps, Contacts and integrated telephony for iPhone. 

Mapping devices include appropriately configured personal computers as well as dedicated mobile devices, including those found in automobiles, aircraft, and watercraft. Newer mobile devices may integrate mapping features with one or more other functions previously found only in standalone devices, such as computing functions, personal data assistants, cellular telephone service, network access, camera functions, and the ability to play media files and games.

According to one aspect, there is disclosed a computer-implemented method. The method includes receiving, at a mobile device, location information stored in a memory of a vehicle device, and updating a mobile device based on the location information, where the mobile device is proximate to the location of the vehicle device. The method also includes receiving sensor data from at least one sensor measuring movement of the mobile device, and calculating an estimated location of the mobile device based at least in part on the location information and the sensor data.

One or more of the following features may also be included. The vehicle device can include a GPS system and/or a GPS receiver. The at least one sensor can be located within the mobile device, and can be an accelerometer, gyro, and/or compass. Additionally, the mobile device can be in communication with the vehicle device during the updating of the mobile device. The mobile device can be in communication with the vehicle device via a wireless communication and/or via a communication link. Additionally, the location information can include the current location of the vehicle device, the location of a desired destination, the location of an object, or navigation information.

According to another aspect, there is disclosed a computer-implemented method. The method includes transmitting to a vehicle device location information stored in a memory of a mobile device, and updating the vehicle device based on the location information, where the mobile device is proximate to the location of the vehicle device, and where the location information is accessible to a user via at least one interface with the vehicle device.

According to yet another aspect, there is disclosed a computer-implemented method that includes transmitting to a vehicle device contact information stored in a memory of a mobile device, and updating the vehicle device based on the contact information, where the mobile device is proximate to the location of the vehicle device, and where the contact information is accessible to a user via at least one interface with the vehicle device.

According to a feature, the contact information can include a telephone number, an address, a name, and/or an email address.

Apple credits former VP of iOS software Scott Forstall and team members Gregory Christie, Robert Borchers and Kevin Tiene as the inventors of this granted patent 8,538,462 which was filed in Q4 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. It should be noted that Apple was originally granted a patent for this technology in 2008. To review today's granted patent with 18 claims and details, see Apple's patent.

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