Microsoft patent details in-car stereo with docking station

Hearing Microsoft's name and "in-car stereo" in the same sentence should elicit any forms of surprise, as we've long since known that Redmond was looking to up the ante of automotive entertainment in a bevy of Ford vehicles later this year. A recent patent was granted to the firm that details a "car stereo including a docking station into which an off-the-shelf handheld computer can be docked," and additionally, it insinuates that a multitude of devices will be supported. Of course, we already knew the iPod would play nice with Sync, and while it doesn't specify if each individual DAP that you cram in this thing will have its own interface to display ID3 tags and the like, it sure seems that the major ones will. Another tidbit is the inclusion of a memory system that will "maintain a record its current state when it is undocked from a particular type of appliance," meaning that when you return and re-dock your handheld, everything should resume without any hassle. Best of all, however, is the insinuation that it won't be limited to just DAPs and PMPs, as "another interface form may allow the user to select from resources such as GPS, internet, a printer over USB, etc."

[Via InformationWeek]

[paloooz @ May 25th 2007 5:19PM]

What an absurd patent. Stereos have had removable faceplates (a.k.a. docks) since the early 90's.

Anyone care to explain how this patent promotes the Progress of Science and useful Arts?

[Kenny Bouy - Naples @ May 25th 2007 5:30PM]

I love MS but this thing looks like a Dumont radio from the 50s...use to set on my great grandmas ice box...I do mean ice box...Love my Pocket MS 5.0 & soon 6.0...got my whole life & biz linked...got a great job too, "Sir, would you like a shopping cart today?"

[L.Rawlins @ May 25th 2007 5:36PM]

This is utter crap.

Wi-Fi Ext-HDD's with integrated headunits for the win. Then I can access my phone from my briefcase from my car... without any of this excess docking shite.

[diulei @ May 25th 2007 5:38PM]

At first glance I thought the diagram was a microwave.

[jim jonze @ May 25th 2007 5:46PM]

So does the GTI I saw at the VW dealer this past weekend with an iPod dock in the armrest (with the track listings displayed on the radio/nav system screen) count as prior art?

[L.Rawlins @ May 25th 2007 5:50PM]

When they filed for this it was probably closer to cutting edge. (One would hope!) Now however, it's... well... wooden spoon blunt.

[Elliott @ May 25th 2007 6:36PM]

Does this mean that my T-Mobile MDA (HTC Wizard) will finally be able to play shoutcast streams through my car stereo sans bluetooth, woohoo who needs satellite radio.

[mike @ May 25th 2007 7:02PM]

Anyone care to explain how this patent promotes the Progress of Science and useful Arts?
-

Because if it weren't for patents, no one would have financial incentive to do anything new?

[Craig @ May 25th 2007 7:40PM]

The Cruchfield catalog I just got in the mail yesterday has a car stereo (Eclipse, I think) that comes with a removable TomTom One GPS unit. When the GPS is inserted into the stereo, its display serves as the stereo's display. If a commercially sold product isn't adequate prior art for this patent to be declined, I give up.

[Zeus the God @ May 25th 2007 7:59PM]

You guys are missing the point. This radio is supposed to link nearly every portable electronic device to the stereo with no adapters and no jerry-rigged set-ups.

If you think about it, there is not other system that does this, so it is wise of them to file a patent for it.

[wellingj @ May 25th 2007 8:36PM]

True no on else has specifically done this but I would hardly call this novel...it's f***ing USB fro your car... wow...gee awesome... I need to get license right away so I can still use my Via Linux box in my trunk that I use to serve up media and log gps...

[tom @ May 25th 2007 8:08PM]

yeah hold on let me sync my ipod to a microsoft car stereo, pshhhh

[Austin @ May 26th 2007 5:20PM]

Maybe I'd consider this, before the whole deal being with FORD.

That says to me, "back away slowly"

[Chris Moroz @ May 25th 2007 8:49PM]

So that's what happened to the Compaq iPaq.

[OddManOut @ May 25th 2007 9:18PM]

"yeah hold on let me sync my ipod to a microsoft car stereo, pshhhh"

If I'm not mistaken (a dubious assumption at best) you won't be syncing your iPod so much as your IPAQ (2215), which is what that device looks for all the world like.

The truly amusing thing is my Ipaq 2215 IS actually what I use for tunes while driving, albeit via a cassette adapter...

As for docking a genuin DAP into some kind of dash-mounted head unit...pshaw...I've been asking for that for years...

[K @ May 25th 2007 9:49PM]

If are actually allowed this patent then this is complete and utter proof that someone is receiving a handjob at the Patent office. Eclipse has a receiver out that has a removable TomTom GPS receiver.

[ruindpzzle @ May 26th 2007 1:02AM]

seriously, this was the first thing I thought of when the UMPC's started rolling out, DUH!

[Phil Collins @ May 26th 2007 11:46AM]

Patent applications aren't published by the Patent Office until they've been on file for at least 18 months, so MSFT filed this one back in 2005, guys.

[Zeus the God @ May 26th 2007 11:13PM]

@wellingj:

"True no on else has specifically done this but I would hardly call this novel...it's f***ing USB fro your car... wow...gee awesome... I need to get license right away so I can still use my Via Linux box in my trunk that I use to serve up media and log gps."

True, but it's USB for your car that comes stock (as in optional) in new Ford vehicles (soon).

[derjames @ May 28th 2007 8:16AM]

this is the dumbest fuckn' idea i've heard at microsoft...

[Gardiner @ Jun 27th 2007 9:37AM]

For us Zune users, this is what we've been waiting for...