System and method for providing an adapter module

• US 20050197168A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, David William James, Nelson, Thomas Edwin East, Schmitt, Edward D., Mohamed, Ibrahim
• Application Number:
  US11/058,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include a system and method for adapting a wireless device, such as a Bluetooth-enabled mobile device or other Bluetooth-enabled device to a hands-free car kit or similar system. The adapter module is physically configured so that it can be inserted directly into the cradle in place of the phone. Once inserted into the cradle, the adapter module makes electrical contact with the connector in the cradle with a matching connector on one side of the adapter module. The mated connectors provide power to the adapter module and bi-directional communications between the adapter module and the hands-free car kit. The adapter module includes circuitry for communicating with the Bluetooth-enabled mobile device and the hands-free car kit in order to exchange communications signals between the Bluetooth-enabled mobile device and the hands-free car kit.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An adapter module, for use with a wireless device and a hands-free car kit having a cradle, comprising:

communication logic for adapting said hands-free car kit to at least some capabilities of telecommunications devices; and

a housing that substantially encloses said communication logic, wherein said housing is conformed to mate with the cradle of the hands-free car kit and mates with the cradle in place of the wireless device.

27. The adapter module of claim 26, further comprising a connector for providing electrical power to the mobile device.

28. The adapter module of claim 26, further comprising a fastener for holding the mobile device.

29. The adapter module of claim 28, wherein said fastener is a button.

30. The adapter module of claim 28, wherein said fastener is a clip.

31. The adapter module of claim 26, further comprising an adapter cradle for holding the mobile device.

32. An adapter module for use with a hands-free car kit having a cradle and a Bluetooth-enabled wireless device, comprising:

communication logic for adapting said hands-free car kit to at least some capabilities of telecommunications devices;

Bluetooth logic substantially compatible with at least one Bluetooth standard to wirelessly exchange communication signals with a Bluetooth-enabled device;

wherein the adapter module is capable of backward communication with a non-Bluetooth-enabled wireless device.

33. An adapter module, for use with a hands-free car kit having a cradle and a wireless device, comprising:

wireless communication logic to wirelessly exchange communication signals with the wireless device;

communication logic for adapting the hands-free car kit to at least some capabilities of telecommunications devices; and

a housing that substantially encloses the wireless communication logic and the communication logic.

34. The adapter module of claim 33, further comprising:

an adapter connector for transferring electrical power from the hands-free car kit to the adapter module and for exchanging communication signals between the communication logic in the adapter module and the hands-free car kit.

35. The adapter module of claim 33, further comprising:

control logic communicatively coupled to the wireless communication logic and the communication logic,

wherein the control logic provides control signals to the wireless communication logic and the communication logic to control the exchange of communication signals between the wireless device and the hands-free car kit.