ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR HANDS-FREE OPERATION OF A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090029744A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Boersma, Johan
• Application Number:
  US11/828,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A system and method for providing an electronic device that facilitates hands-free operation of a portable communication device in a wide range of applications and environments, including use in a vehicle. The electronic device includes a detector to automatically activate at least a wireless interface based on the occurrence of one or more predetermined events. The generates a signal that directs the control circuit of the electronic device to provide power to a wireless interface to facilitate communication between the electronic device and an associated portable communication device. Once a communication link is established between the electronic device and the portable communication device, the electronic device may function as a car kit, vehicle, speakerphone, etc.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a detector for detecting at least one physical parameter associated with an environment in which the electronic device is located and generating a detection signal when at least one predetermined physical parameter is detected;

a wireless interface to facilitate communication between the electronic device and an associated portable communication device;

bands-free communication logic including a microphone for receiving communication signals from the associated user and a speaker for outputting communication signals to the associated user; and

control circuitry operable to provide power from a power source to at least the wireless interface upon receiving the detection signal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 further including a housing at least partially enclosing each of the detector, the wireless interface, hands-free communication logic and the control circuitry.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the power source is at least partially enclosed in the housing.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the power source is a removable power source.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the power source is a battery.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power source is an external power source.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the power source also supplies power to one or more electrical operations of an associated vehicle in which the electronic device is located.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the detector is a motion detector.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the detector is an accelerometer.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the detector is at least one infrared sensor.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is Bluetooth-compatible.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device is removable from one environment to another without detaching any wires and functional for its intended use without attaching any wires.

13. A method for hands-free communication between a portable communication device and an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a housing that at least partially houses a detector for detecting at least one predetermined event;

a local wireless interface adapter to facilitate communication between at least one component of the electronic device and an associated portable communication device;

a removable power source and hands-free communication logic including a microphone for receiving communication signals from the associated user and a speaker for outputting communication signals to the associated user;

determining an occurrence of the at least one predetermined event by the detector;

providing power from the removable power source to the local wireless interface adapter;

transmitting a request from the electronic device to the associated portable communication device;

determining if one or more associated portable communication devices has responded to the request;

establish a communication link between the electronic device and the one or more associated portable communication devices that responded to the request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication link established is a piconet formed using a Bluetooth compatible communication protocol.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the piconet is maintained until the associated portable communication device is outside a communication range of the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein when the associated portable communication device is outside a communication range of the electronic device, the control circuit logically terminates power being supplied from the removable power source to the local wireless interface adapter.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the request is a paging request that seeks a predetermined unique device address from one or more associated devices within a communication range of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the detector is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a motion detector, an accelerometer or at least one infrared detector.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 further including a housing for enclosing the removable power source, the input port, the detector, the wireless interface, the hands-free communication logic and the control circuitry.

19. An electronic device comprising:

a removable power source;

an input port for receiving a power signal from an external power source;

a detector coupled to the removable power source and the input port, wherein the detector determines the occurrence of one or more predefined events and generates a detection signal upon occurrence of the one or more predefined events;

a wireless interface to facilitate communication between the electronic device and an associated portable communication device;

hands-free communication logic including a microphone for receiving communication signals from the associated user and a speaker for outputting communication signals to the associated user; and

control circuitry operable to provide power from the removable power source or the input port, based on the presence of the external power source, to at least the wireless interface and the hands-free communication logic upon the detector generating the detection signal.