Method of enabling a remote communications device with a telematics functionality module

• US 20050130723A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Grivas, Nick J., Peterson, David P., Walby, James, Bosch, James A. Van
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.900
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

Method of enabling a remote communications device (106) with a telematics functionality module (150) can include providing a docking apparatus (114) coupled to interface with a vehicle (109). The remote communications device is communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device is non-enabled with a telematics functionality module (150). The docking apparatus and the remote communications device enable the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a docking apparatus coupled to interface with a vehicle;

communicatively coupling a remote communications device to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device is non-enabled with a telematics functionality module; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the telematics functionality module comprises at least one of a vehicle specific application, a personal telematics application, a routing guidance application, a security application, a hands-free application, a noise cancellation application, an air bag system, and an emergency notification application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus is a car kit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling using at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the remote communications device detecting the docking apparatus; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the docking apparatus detecting the remote communications device; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises rewriting at least a portion of a memory of the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises downloading the telematics functionality module.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the docking apparatus associating a vehicle identification number to the remote communications device that has downloaded the telematics functionality module.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises enabling the telematics functionality module in the remote communications device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises downloading the telematics functionality module into a memory of the remote communications device while the remote communications device is communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus, and wherein erasing the telematics functionality module from the memory when the remote communications device ceases being communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the docking apparatus querying the remote communication device for the presence of the telematics functionality module;

the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to obtain the telematics functionality module; and

downloading the telematics functionality module.

15. A method, comprising:

providing a docking apparatus coupled to interface with a vehicle;

communicatively coupling a non-telematics enabled remote communications device to the docking apparatus; and

the docking apparatus and the non-telematics enabled remote communications device operating to transform the non-telematics enabled remote communications device into a telematics enabled remote communications device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling using at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the non-telematics enabled remote communications device detecting the docking apparatus; and

the docking apparatus and the non-telematics enabled remote communications device exchanging capability data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration;

a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the docking apparatus detecting the non-telematics enabled remote communications device; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein transforming comprises rewriting at least a portion of a memory of the non-telematics enabled remote communications device to include a telematics functionality module.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein transforming comprises downloading a telematics functionality module.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein transforming comprises enabling a telematics functionality module in the non-telematics enabled remote communications device.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein transforming comprises downloading a telematics functionality module into a memory of the non-telematics enabled remote communications device only while the non-telematics enabled remote communications device is communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the docking apparatus querying the non-telematics enabled remote communication device for the presence of a telematics functionality module;

the docking apparatus supplying the non-telematics enabled remote communications device with a download location to obtain the telematics functionality module; and

downloading the telematics functionality module.

26. A docking apparatus coupled to interface with a vehicle, comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions for instructing a processor to perform a method of enabling a remote communications device with a telematics functionality module, the instructions comprising:

communicatively coupling a remote communications device to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device is non-enabled with the telematics functionality module; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module.

27. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein the telematics functionality module comprises at least one of a vehicle specific application, a personal telematics application, a routing guidance application, a security application, a hands-free application, a noise cancellation application, an air bag system, and an emergency notification application.

28. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein the docking apparatus is a car kit.

29. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling using at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link.

30. The docking apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

the remote communications device detecting the docking apparatus; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

31. The docking apparatus of claim 30, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

32. The docking apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

the docking apparatus detecting the remote communications device; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

33. The docking apparatus of claim 32, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

34. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises rewriting at least a portion of a memory of the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module.

35. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises downloading the telematics functionality module.

36. The docking apparatus of claim 35, further comprising the docking apparatus associating a vehicle identification number to the remote communications device that has downloaded the telematics functionality module.

37. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises enabling the telematics functionality module in the remote communications device.

38. The docking apparatus of claim 26, wherein enabling the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module comprises downloading the telematics functionality module into a memory of the remote communications device while the remote communications device is communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus, and wherein erasing the telematics functionality module from the memory when the remote communications device ceases being communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus.

39. The docking apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

the docking apparatus querying the remote communication device for the presence of the telematics functionality module;

the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to obtain the telematics functionality module; and

downloading the telematics functionality module.