System and method for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle

• US 20060168627A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Zeinstra, Mark L., Eadelman, Walter M., Supanich, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A control module for a wireless communication system in a vehicle having a plurality of operational settings includes a memory, a control circuit and a radio frequency transceiver. The memory is configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with at least one mobile wireless communication device. The control circuit is coupled to the memory and is configured to retrieve at least one performance characteristic for a mobile wireless communication device associated with a vehicle occupant and used in conjunction with the wireless communication system. The control circuit is further configured to adjust at least one operational setting of the wireless communication system based on the at least one performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device. The radio frequency transceiver is coupled to the control circuit and is configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A control module for a wireless communication system in a vehicle, the wireless communication system having a plurality of operational settings, the control module comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with at least one mobile wireless communication device;

a control circuit coupled to the memory, the control circuit configured to retrieve at least one performance characteristics for a mobile wireless communication device associated with a vehicle occupant and used in conjunction with the wireless communication system and configured to adjust at least one operational setting of the wireless communication system based on the at least one performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device; and

a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the control circuit, the radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device.

2. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to retrieve a plurality of performance characteristics for a mobile wireless communication device and to adjust at least one operational setting of the wireless communication system based on the plurality of performance characteristics.

3. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device in accordance with the Bluetooth communication standard.

4. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive an identifier from the mobile wireless communication device that is used by the control circuit to identify the plurality of performance characteristic associated with the mobile wireless communication device.

5. A control module according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of performance characteristics includes one of audio cancellation, echo cancellation and noise cancellation.

6. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to retrieve the at least one performance characteristic from the memory.

7. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to retrieve the at least one performance characteristics from a remote server via the radio frequency transceiver and the mobile wireless communication device.

8. A control module according to claim 7, wherein the at least one performance characteristic retrieved from the remote server is stored in the memory.

9. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to be integrated into an interior element of the vehicle.

10. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of performance characteristics are further associated with one of a wireless service provider, a communication network and a carrier.

11. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is a wireless mobile phone.

12. A system for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle, the wireless communication system having a plurality of operational settings, the system comprising:

a remote server configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with at least one mobile wireless communication device;

a mobile wireless communication device associated with a vehicle occupant and configured to communicate with the remote server and the wireless communication system; and

a control module in data communication with the remote server via the mobile wireless communication device, the control module configured to retrieve a plurality of performance characteristics for the mobile wireless communication device from the remote server and to adjust the plurality of operational settings of the wireless communication system based on the plurality of performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is a wireless mobile phone.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the remote server via a wireless communication link.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the control module via a wireless communication link.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the control module includes a memory configured to store the plurality of performance characteristics for the mobile wireless communication device.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the memory is configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics for a plurality of mobile wireless communication devices.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the memory is configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with one of wireless service providers, communication networks and carriers.

19. A method for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle for operation with a mobile wireless communication device having a plurality of performance characteristics, the wireless communication system including a control module and having a plurality of operational settings, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between the control module and the mobile wireless communication device;

receiving an identifier for the mobile wireless communication device via the wireless communications link;

retrieving the plurality of performance characteristics for the mobile wireless communication device from the control module; and

configuring the plurality of operational settings of the wireless communications system based on the plurality of performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device retrieved from the control module.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the wireless communications link is established in response to the initiation of a pairing sequence.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the wireless communications link is established in response to user actuation of an input device.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the wireless communications link may be operated in accordance with a Bluetooth communications standard.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the wireless communications link is established when the mobile wireless communication device comes into proximity of the control module.

24. A method for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle for operation with a mobile wireless communication device having a plurality of performance characteristics, the wireless communication system including a control module and having a plurality of operational settings, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communications link between the control module and the mobile wireless communication device;

receiving an identifier from the mobile wireless communication device via the wireless communications link;

generating a request to retrieve the plurality of performance characteristics for the mobile wireless communication device;

sending the request to a remote server via the wireless communication link and the mobile wireless communication device;

receiving the plurality of performance characteristics from the remote server via the mobile wireless, communication device; and

configuring the plurality of operational settings of the wireless communication system based on the plurality of performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device.

25. A method according to claim 24, further including storing the plurality of performance characteristics in a memory of the control module.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is a wireless mobile phone.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the wireless communication system is a hands free telephone system.