1. A method for conditioning one or more aspects of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a departure time;
(b) sensing a vehicle condition;
(c) executing a conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the departure time and the vehicle condition to determine a conditioning start time; and
(d) conditioning one or more aspects of the vehicle at the conditioning start time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the departure time from a user who provides the departure time via a user interface located in the vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the departure time from a user who provides the departure time via wireless communication with a communications module located in the vehicle.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises sensing at least one vehicle condition selected from the group consisting of: outside temperature, outside humidity, outside precipitation, cabin temperature, cabin humidity, component temperature, component settings, battery pack or fuel cell temperature, battery pack or fuel cell voltage, battery pack or fuel cell amperage, and engine temperature.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the departure time and a conditioning preference; and step (c) further comprises executing the conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the departure time, the conditioning preference, and the vehicle condition to determine the conditioning start time.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the conditioning preference and the vehicle condition to determine a conditioning duration, and then the conditioning algorithm subtracts the conditioning duration from the departure time to determine the conditioning start time.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the conditioning algorithm inputs the conditioning preference and the vehicle condition into a look-up table which outputs a conditioning energy needed to condition the one or more aspects of the vehicle with a vehicle component, and the conditioning algorithm then divides the conditioning energy by a conditioning power for the vehicle component to determine the conditioning duration.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the departure time and a plurality of conditioning preferences; step (c) further comprises executing the conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm determines a conditioning duration for the most onerous of the plurality of conditioning preferences, and uses the conditioning duration for the most onerous conditioning preference to determine a single conditioning start time; and step (d) further comprises conditioning the one or more aspects of the vehicle at the single conditioning start time.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the departure time and a plurality of conditioning preferences; step (c) further comprises executing the conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm determines a plurality of conditioning durations for the plurality of conditioning preferences, and uses the plurality of conditioning durations to determine a plurality of staggered conditioning start times; and step (d) further comprises conditioning the one or more aspects of the vehicle at the plurality of staggered conditioning start times.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
waking up the vehicle and sensing a new vehicle condition at a conditioning check time that is before the conditioning start time, if the vehicle conditions differ by a certain degree then executing the conditioning algorithm again to determine a new conditioning start time, and if the vehicle conditions do not differ by a certain degree then keeping the initial conditioning start time.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises conditioning the one or more aspects of the vehicle at the conditioning start time, and the conditioning start time is determined by using at least one of the following time sources: global positioning system (GPS) time and code division multiple access (CDMA) time.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises conditioning an aspect of the vehicle at the conditioning start time by activating at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a heated or cooled seat, a heated steering wheel, a heated engine block, a heated mirror, a cabin HVAC system, a heating or cooling element for a battery pack, a heating or cooling element for a battery charger, and a heating or cooling element for a fuel cell.
13. A method for conditioning one or more aspects of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a departure time;
(b) receiving a conditioning preference;
(c) executing a conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the departure time and the conditioning preference to determined a conditioning start time; and
(d) conditioning one or more aspects of the vehicle at the conditioning start time.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of sensing a vehicle condition; and step (c) further comprises executing the conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the departure time, the conditioning preference, and the vehicle condition to determine the conditioning start time.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle condition is selected from the group consisting of: outside temperature, outside humidity, outside precipitation, cabin temperature, cabin humidity, component temperature, component settings, battery pack or fuel cell temperature, battery pack or fuel cell voltage, battery pack or fuel cell amperage, and engine temperature; and
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the conditioning preference and the vehicle condition to determine a conditioning duration, and then the conditioning algorithm subtracts the conditioning duration from the departure time to determine the conditioning start time.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the conditioning algorithm inputs the conditioning preference and the vehicle condition into a look-up table which outputs a conditioning energy needed to condition the one or more aspects of the vehicle with a vehicle component, and the conditioning algorithm then divides the conditioning energy by a conditioning power for the vehicle component to determine the conditioning duration.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:
waking up the vehicle and sensing a new vehicle condition at a conditioning check time that is before the conditioning start time, if the vehicle conditions differ by a certain degree then executing the conditioning algorithm again to determine a new conditioning start time, and if the vehicle conditions do not differ by a certain degree then keeping the initial conditioning start time.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein step (d) further comprises conditioning an aspect of the vehicle at the conditioning start time by activating at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a heated or cooled seat, a heated steering wheel, a heated engine block, a heated mirror, a cabin HVAC system, a heating or cooling element for a battery pack, a heating or cooling element for a battery charger, and a heating or cooling element for a fuel cell.
20. A method for conditioning one or more aspects of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a departure time;
(b) receiving a conditioning preference;
(c) sensing a first vehicle condition;
(d) executing a conditioning algorithm, wherein the conditioning algorithm uses the conditioning preference and the first vehicle condition to determine a conditioning duration, and the conditioning algorithm uses the departure time and the conditioning duration to determine a conditioning start time;
(e) waking up the vehicle and sensing a second vehicle condition at some time before the conditioning start time, if the first and second vehicle conditions differ by a certain degree then executing the conditioning algorithm again to determine a new conditioning start time, and if the first and second vehicle conditions do not differ by a certain degree then keeping the initial conditioning start time; and
(f) conditioning one or more aspects of the vehicle at the conditioning start time.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for transmitting data via frequency modulation (FM) of electromagnetic radiation; the apparatus comprising:
a. a first FM transmitter configured to transmit a first FM signal on a first FM channel characterized by a first carrier frequency, the first FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more first alternative frequencies (AFs);
b. a second FM transmitter configured to transmit a second FM signal on a second FM channel characterized by a second carrier frequency, the second FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more second AFs;
c. a first receiver configured to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation associated with at least one of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;
d. a second receiver configured to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at least at one or more frequencies outside of the first FM channel and the second FM channel; and
e. a controller operatively connected with the first FM transmitter, the second FM transmitter, the first receiver and the second receiver, the controller configured to determine the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon incoming electromagnetic radiation; the controller further configured to separately control activation and deactivation of the first FM transmitter and the second FM transmitter.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising one or more data interfaces for obtaining at least some of the data via an operative connection with a data repository.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the apparatus is included in a media player that comprises the data repository.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data repository is provided by a media player that is external to the apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiver is at least in part controllable by the controller.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second receiver is at least in part controllable by the controller.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises audio data intended for receipt by a receiving device configured to convert the audio data for audible perception by a user.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first FM signal and the second FM signal include metadata for receipt by a receiving device configured to convert the metadata for display.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises an audio program, and wherein the controller is configured to: monitor the audio program for an opportune break; suspend transmission by the first FM transmitter during said opportune break; and cause the first receiver to measure electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range including the first carrier frequency during said opportune break.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises an audio program, and wherein the controller is configured, upon encountering interference in the first FM channel to: monitor the audio program for an opportune break; and manipulate the first FM signal so as to stimulate an external FM receiver to tune from the first FM channel to the second FM channel during said opportune break.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first receiver to obtain a measurement of total electromagnetic radiation on the first FM channel during transmission of the first FM signal, and to subtract from said measurement an amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first FM transmitter, thereby obtaining a measurement of electromagnetic radiation in the first FM channel due to sources other than the first FM transmitter.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause an audible instruction to tune a remote FM receiver to a specified frequency, said audible instruction emitted by the apparatus or carried by the data to be emitted by the remote FM receiver.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recovered version of at least a portion of the first FM signal is obtained from electromagnetic radiation received by the first receiver, the controller is configured to compare aspects of the recovered version of said portion of the first FM signal to corresponding aspects of the first FM signal as transmitted by the first FM transmitter, and quality of the first FM channel is determined from said comparison.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recovered version of the data is obtained from electromagnetic radiation received by the first receiver, the controller is configured to compare the recovered version of the data to the data as provided for transmission, and quality of the first FM channel is determined from said comparison.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon occurrence of one or more predetermined events including one or more of energization of the apparatus, re-initialization of the apparatus, interference in excess of a predetermined threshold, expiry of a predetermined time interval, occurrence of a predetermined time, and localization of the apparatus within one or more predetermined geographical regions by a geographical localization system for determining the position of the apparatus.
16. A method for transmitting data via frequency modulation (FM) of electromagnetic radiation; the method comprising:
a. providing at least one of a first FM signal and a second FM signal, the first FM signal associated with a first FM channel characterized by a first carrier frequency, the first FM signal including the data and optionally an indication one or more first alternative frequencies (AFs); the second FM signal associated with a second FM channel characterized by a second carrier frequency, the second FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more second AFs;
b. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation associated with at least one of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;
c. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation at least at one or more frequencies outside of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;
d. determining the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon incoming electromagnetic radiation; and
e. separately controlling activation and deactivation of the first FM transmitter and the second FM transmitter.
17. A computer program product comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing a method for transmitting data via frequency modulation (FM) of electromagnetic radiation; the method comprising:
a. providing at least one of a first FM signal and a second FM signal, the first FM signal associated with a first FM channel characterized by a first carrier frequency, the first FM signal including the data and optionally an indication one or more first alternative frequencies (AFs); the second FM signal associated with a second FM channel characterized by a second carrier frequency, the second FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more second AFs;
b. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation associated with at least one of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;
c. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation at least at one or more frequencies outside of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;
d. determining the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon incoming electromagnetic radiation; and
e. separately controlling activation and deactivation of the first FM transmitter and the second FM transmitter.