System and method for establishing wireless connections between user devices and vehicles

• US 20070238491A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: He, Bin
• Application Number:
  US11/394,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20070238491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

A system and method for a vehicle is disclosed. Memory stores user profiles for a plurality of users. Each of the user profiles includes setting inputs for vehicle components and includes a wireless connection identifier for a wireless user device. The user selects his user profile in a user interface. A controller receives the selection from the user interface and obtains the setting inputs and the wireless connection identifier form the selected user profile in memory. The controller initiates one or more commands to the vehicle components having obtained setting inputs. In addition, the controller initiates a wireless connection between the wireless vehicle device and the wireless user device of the user using the wireless connection identifier.

Claims

1. A wireless connection method, comprising:

receiving one or more setting inputs for one or more vehicle components;

receiving wireless connection identifiers for wireless user devices;

storing the wireless connection identifiers and the setting inputs in user profiles for a plurality of users;

retrieving the user profile for one of the users;

initiating one or more commands to vehicle components having setting inputs in the retrieved user profile; and

initiating a wireless connection between a wireless vehicle system and the wireless user device of the one user using the wireless connection identifier in the retrieved user profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more setting inputs for the one or more vehicle components are selected from the group consisting of a vehicle seat position, a mirror position, a steering wheel tilt, a setting for an entertainment system, a setting for a hands-free system, a setting for a navigation system, a setting for a vehicle climate system, and a setting for a user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless user device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless communication device, a wireless telephone, a wireless portable device, a wireless e-mail device, a wireless portable audio device, a wireless portable video device, and a wireless navigation device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless vehicle system is selected from the group consisting of a communication system, a hands-free system, an entertainment system, and a navigation system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the user profile for one of the users comprises receiving a user input from a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the user profile for one of the users comprises:

automatically detecting a wireless user device within range of the wireless vehicle system, and

retrieving the user profile having the wireless connection identifier associated with the detected wireless user device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the user profile for one of the users comprises:

automatically determining a driver of the vehicle, and

retrieving the user profile for the determined driver.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein automatically determining a driver of the vehicle comprises:

detecting wireless user devices within range of the wireless vehicle system;

comparing histories or designations associated with the detected wireless user devices; and

selecting one of the users as the driver based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless user device comprises a wireless telephone,

the wireless connection identifier comprises unique wireless identification number for the wireless telephone, and

the wireless vehicle system comprises a wireless hands-free system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein initiating a wireless connection between a wireless vehicle system and the wireless user device of the user using the wireless connection identifier in the user profile comprises pairing the wireless telephone with the hands-free system.

11. A system for a vehicle having a wireless vehicle system and one or more vehicle components, the system comprising:

memory for storing user profiles for a plurality of users, each of the user profiles including one or more setting inputs for one or more of the components of the vehicle and including wireless connection identifiers for wireless user devices of the users;

a controller communicatively coupled to the memory, the one or more vehicle components, and the wireless vehicle system, the controller configured to;

retrieve the user profile for one of the users;

obtain the setting inputs and wireless connection identifier form the selected user profile in memory;

initiate one or more commands to vehicle components having obtained setting inputs; and

initiate a wireless connection between the wireless vehicle system and the wireless user device of the user using the wireless connection identifier.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more setting inputs for the one or more vehicle components are selected from the group consisting of a vehicle seat position, a mirror position, a steering wheel tilt, a setting for an entertainment system, a setting for a hands-free system, a setting for a navigation system, a setting for a vehicle climate system, and a setting for a user interface.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless user device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless communication device, a wireless telephone, a wireless portable device, a wireless e-mail device, a wireless portable audio device, a wireless portable video device, and a wireless navigation device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless vehicle system is selected from the group consisting of a communication system, a hands-free system, an entertainment system, and a navigation system.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a user interface for receiving a selection, wherein to retrieve the user profile for one of the users, the controller is configured to receive a selection from the user interface selecting the user profile of the user.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein to retrieve the user profile for one of the users, the controller is configured to:

automatically detect a wireless user device within range of the wireless vehicle system, and

retrieve the user profile having the wireless connection identifier associated with the detected wireless user device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein to retrieve the user profile for one of the users, the controller is configured to:

automatically determine a driver of the vehicle, and

retrieve the user profile for the determined driver.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein to automatically determine a driver of the vehicle, the controller is configured to:

detect wireless user devices within range of the wireless vehicle system;

compare histories or designations associated with detected wireless user devices; and

select one of the users as the driver based on the comparison.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the wireless user device comprises a wireless telephone,

the wireless connection identifier comprises unique wireless identification number for the wireless telephone, and

the wireless vehicle system comprises a wireless hands-free system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein to initiate a wireless connection, the controller is configured to instruct the hands-free system to pair with the wireless telephone having the unique wireless identification number.