Method of Enabling A Remote Communications Device with A Telematics Functionality Module

• US 20110105198A1
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Published: 05/05/2011
• 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: Van Bosch, James A., Grivas, Nick J., Peterson, David P., Walby, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• 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

1-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A method, comprising:

providing a docking apparatus coupled to interface with a vehicle;

communicatively coupling a remote communications device to the docking apparatus; and

the docking apparatus communicating with the remote communications device to include a telematics functionality module in a memory of the remote communications device, including;

(i) the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device, or (ii) the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to download the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location, wherein the telematics functionality module provides telematics functionality that is specific to the vehicle and that is based on vehicle-identification information that the docking apparatus associates to the remote communication device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the telematics functionality module comprises one or more telematics related applications including at least one of a personal telematics application, a security application, a hands-free application, and an air bag system notification application.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the hands-free application is specific to the vehicle.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the hands-free application uses a noise-cancellation application that is configured to cancel vehicle noise during hands-free operation, wherein the noise-cancellation application is specific to a noise signature of the vehicle.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the docking apparatus is a car kit.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

the remote communications device detecting the docking apparatus;

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data that comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

the docking apparatus detecting the remote communications device; and

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

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

48. The method of claim 40, wherein the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device comprises the docking apparatus rewriting at least a portion of the memory of the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module.

49. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

erasing the telematics functionality module from the memory of the remote communications device when the remote communications device ceases being communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to download the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location comprises:

the remote communications device downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location supplied by the docking apparatus.

51. A docking apparatus configured to interface with a vehicle, the docking apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions configured to be executed by the processor, the computer instructions comprising instructions (i) configured to communicatively couple a remote communications device to the docking apparatus, and (ii) configured to cause the docking apparatus to communicate with the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module in a memory of the remote communications device, including;

(i) the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device, or (ii) the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to download the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location, wherein the telematics functionality module provides telematics functionality that is specific to the vehicle and that is based on vehicle-identification information that the docking apparatus associates to the remote communication device.

52. The docking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the telematics functionality module comprises one or more telematics related applications including at least one of a personal telematics application, a security application, a hands-free application, and an air bag system notification application.

53. The docking apparatus of claim 52, wherein the hands-free application is specific to the vehicle.

54. The docking apparatus of claim 53,

wherein the hands-free application uses a noise-cancellation application that is configured to cancel vehicle noise during hands-free operation, wherein the noise-cancellation application is specific to a noise signature of the vehicle.

55. The docking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the docking apparatus is a car kit.

56. The docking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions for the docking apparatus exchanging capability data with the remote communications device when the remote communications device detects the docking apparatus, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

57. The docking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions for the docking apparatus detecting the remote communications device and for the docking apparatus exchanging capability data with the remote communications device.

58. The docking apparatus of claim 57, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

59. The docking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the instructions for the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device comprise instructions for the docking apparatus rewriting at least a portion of the memory of the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module.