Automotive information system and method of controlling the same, recording medium storing control program, disk playback apparatus, and semiconductor integrated circuit
First Claim
1. An automotive information system, comprising:
- a main unit having means for detecting a start signal, and means for turning on a power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal; and
at least one device connected to said main unit and having means for detecting that a predetermined condition has been satisfied, and means for sending said start signal to said main unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive information system has a main unit including a CPU and component units connected to the main unit through a universal serial BUS (USB), such as a car audio system including a CD-ROM auto-changer, a security control system, and a telephone system. At least one of the USB-connected component device, e.g., the security control system and/or the telephone system, has a detecting unit that detects occurrence of an event such as illegal approach to the automobile or receipt of telephone call. The USB-connected component device also has a start signal transmitting unit that transmits a start signal to the main unit when occurrence of the event is detected by the detecting unit. The main unit has a start signal receiving unit and a power control unit that serves turn on the power supply to the main unit in response to the start signal received by the start signal receiving unit. The main unit also has an inquiring unit which inquires the USB-connected component devices whether these component devices have sent the start signal. The USB-connected component device has an answering unit which answers the inquiry.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An automotive information system, comprising:
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a main unit having means for detecting a start signal, and means for turning on a power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal; and
at least one device connected to said main unit and having means for detecting that a predetermined condition has been satisfied, and means for sending said start signal to said main unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An automotive information system comprising a main unit, and a security control unit and a wireless telephone unit that are connected to said main unit,
wherein said security control unit includes: -
a sensor for sensing an extraordinary event; and
means for sending a start signal to said main unit;
wherein said main unit includes;
means for detecting said start signal;
means operative to turn on power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal; and
means for sending, when said power supply is turned on in response to said start signal received from said security control unit, a notification request signal to said wireless telephone unit to request said wireless telephone unit to send a notification of occurrence of the extraordinary event; and
wherein said wireless telephone unit includes;
means for detecting said notification request signal; and
means for activating the telephone function of said wireless telephone unit in response to said notification request signal to notify a user of the occurrence of the extraordinary event.
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5. An automotive system comprising a main unit, a wireless telephone unit connected to said main unit, a speaker, and a microphone;
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wherein said wireless telephone unit includes;
means for detecting receipt of a telephone call; and
means for sending a start signal to said main unit upon detection of the receipt of the telephone call;
wherein said main unit includes;
means for detecting said start signal;
means for turning on power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal;
means for informing a user of the receipt of the telephone call when said power supply to said main unit is turned on in response to said start signal received from said wireless telephone unit;
means for detecting a responding operation of the user for responding to the telephone call; and
means for sending, when said responding operation is detected, connecting instruction to said wireless telephone unit to request said wireless telephone unit to connect the telephone call to said main unit;
wherein said wireless telephone unit further includes;
means for detecting said connecting instruction; and
means responsive to said connecting instruction, for connecting the telephone call to said main unit; and
wherein said main unit further includes means for enabling the user to communicate with the telephone caller by means of said speaker and said microphone.
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6. A method of controlling an automotive information system having a main unit and at least one device connected to said main unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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enabling said device to detect that a predetermined condition has been satisfied;
causing said device to send a start signal to said main unit when the satisfaction of said predetermined condition is detected;
causing said main unit to detect said start signal; and
enabling said main unit to turn on power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method of controlling an automotive information system having a main unit, and a security control unit and a wireless telephone unit that are connected to said main unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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enabling said security control unit to sense an extraordinary event;
causing, when the extraordinary event is sensed, said security control system to send a start signal to said main unit;
enabling said main unit to detect said start signal;
enabling said main unit to turn on power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal;
causing, when said power supply is turned on in response to said start signal received from said security control unit, said main unit to send a notification request signal to said wireless telephone unit to request said wireless telephone unit to send a notification of occurrence of the extraordinary event;
causing said wireless telephone unit to detect said notification request signal; and
activating a telephone function of said wireless telephone unit in response to said notification request signal to notify a user of the occurrence of the extraordinary event.
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9. A method of controlling an automotive system having a main unit, a wireless telephone unit connected to said main unit, a speaker, and a microphone, said method comprising the steps of:
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enabling said wireless telephone unit to detect receipt of a telephone call;
causing said wireless telephone unit to send a start signal to said main unit upon detection of the receipt of the telephone call;
enabling said main unit to detect said start signal;
enabling said main unit to turn on power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal;
enabling said main unit to inform a user of the receipt of the telephone call when said power supply to said main unit is turned on in response to said start signal received from said wireless telephone unit;
enabling said main unit to detect a responding operation of the user for responding to the telephone call;
causing said main unit to send connecting instruction to said wireless telephone unit to request said wireless telephone unit to connect the telephone call to said main unit;
causing said wireless telephone unit to detect said connecting instruction; and
causing said wireless telephone unit to connect the telephone call to said main unit in response to said connecting instruction; and
causing said main unit to enable the user to communicate with the telephone caller by means of said speaker and said microphone.
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10. An information processing apparatus, comprising a main unit and at least one device connected to said main unit, wherein said device includes:
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means for detecting that a predetermined condition has been satisfied; and
means for sending a start signal to said main unit upon detection of satisfaction of the predetermined condition; and
wherein said main unit includes;
means for detecting said start signal;
means for turning on power supply to said main unit in response to said start signal; and
means for inquiring, when the power supply is turned on in response to said start signal, said device whether said device has sent said start signal; and
wherein said device includes means for answering the inquiry.
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11. An automotive information system cable for connecting main unit of an automotive information system and a device included in said automotive information system, comprising:
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a first power line that enables electrical power to be supplied from said main unit to said device when the power supply to said main unit ahs been turned on;
a data line for enabling exchange of data between said main part and said device;
a second power line for enabling backup power to said device at least when the power supply to said main unit has not been turned on; and
a signal line for transmitting a start signal from said device to said main unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 19)
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12. An electronic device to be connected to a control unit of an automotive information system, comprising:
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means for detecting that a predetermined condition has been satisfied;
means for sending a start signal to said control unit upon detection of satisfaction of said predetermined condition; and
means for answering an inquiry given by said control unit as to whether said electronic device has sent said start signal.
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13. An automotive information system control unit implementing an automotive information system in cooperation with at least one electronic device connected thereto, said automotive information system control unit comprising:
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means for detecting a start signal sent from said electronic device;
means for turning on power supply to said main unit upon detection of the start signal; and
means for inquiring, when the power supply is turned on in response to said start signal, said electronic device whether said electronic device has sent said start signal.
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14. A disk playback apparatus comprising:
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means for reading audio data and digital data from recording mediums, and a decoder for converting both the read audio data and digital data into output data in the same protocol format. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30)
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27. A disk playback method comprising the steps of:
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reading audio data and digital data from recording mediums, and converting both the read audio data and digital data into output data in the same protocol format.
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Specification