SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING VEHICLE INFORMATION TO AN OCCUPANT COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20120119936A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Bennie, Brian, Hatton, David Anthony, Cook, Derrick E., Walser, Douglas Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/60
• 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 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to an occupant communication device (OCD) is provided. The system comprises a communication module positioned within the vehicle. The communication device is configured to receive a transmission status signal indicative of a transmission mode for the vehicle. The communication device is further configured to transmit the transmission status signal over a wireless protocol to the OCD such that the OCD is disabled from being controlled by switches positioned thereon if the transmission mode enables movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to a occupant communication device (OCD);

the system comprising;

a communication module positioned within the vehicle and being configured to;

receive a transmission status signal indicative of a transmission mode for the vehicle; and

transmit the transmission status signal over a wireless protocol to the OCD such that the OCD is disabled from being controlled by switches positioned thereon if the transmission mode enables movement of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to receive at least one voice command and to transmit the voice command over the wireless protocol to the OCD such that the OCD performs a function indicated in the voice command.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to monitor the wireless protocol for the presence of the OCD prior to transmitting the transmission status signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the communication module is further configured to determine whether the OCD has been electronically mated thereto prior to transmitting the transmission status signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit a signal to command the driver to electronically mate the OCD to the communication module in the event the OCD has not been electronically mated thereto such that the communication module is capable of transmitting the transmission status signal to the OCD over the wireless protocol.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to receive the transmission status signal from a controller in the vehicle via a data communication bus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit a driver status signal indicating whether the driver is one of a primary driver and a secondary driver over the wireless protocol to the OCD such that the OCD is disabled from being controlled by the switches positioned thereon if the driver status signal indicates that the driver is the secondary driver and the transmission mode enables movement of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission mode that enables vehicle movement includes one of a neutral mode, a reverse mode, a drive mode and a lock on first gear mode.

9. A method for transmitting vehicle information to a portable occupant communication device (OCD);

the method comprising;

wirelessly transmitting from the vehicle to the portable OCD, one of a transmission status signal indicative of a transmission mode for the vehicle and a speed signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle such that the portable OCD is disabled from being controlled by switches positioned thereon if at least one of the transmission mode enables movement of the vehicle and the speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined speed value.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising wirelessly transmitting a voice command from the vehicle to the portable OCD that is indicative of a command from the driver such that that the portable OCD performs a function as indicated on the voice command.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving the one of the transmission status signal and a speed signal over a data communication bus in the vehicle prior to wirelessly transmitting from the vehicle, to the portable OCD, the one of the transmission status signal and the speed signal.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising wirelessly transmitting from the vehicle, to the portable OCD, a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is one of a primary driver and a secondary driver from the vehicle, wherein the vehicle grants the primary driver greater control over vehicle functionality than the control granted to the secondary driver.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the portable OCD is disabled from being controlled by the switches positioned thereon if the driver status signal indicates that the driver is the secondary driver and the one of the transmission mode enables movement of the vehicle and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined speed value.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining whether the portable OCD has been electronically mated to the vehicle prior to wirelessly transmitting.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting a signal to command the driver to electronically mate the portable OCD to the vehicle in the event the portable OCD has not been electronically mated thereto such that the vehicle is capable of wirelessly transmitting the one of the transmission status signal and the speed signal to the portable OCD.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the transmission mode that enables vehicle movement includes one or a neutral mode, a reverse mode, a drive mode, and a lock on first gear mode.

17. An apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to a portable occupant communication device (OCD);

the system comprising;

a communication module positioned within the vehicle and being configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of a driver for the vehicle being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver, the primary driver having greater control over vehicle functionality than that of the secondary driver;

receive a transmission status signal indicative of a transmission mode for the vehicle; and

transmit the driver status signal and the transmission status signal over a wireless protocol to the portable OCD such that the portable OCD is disabled from being controlled by switches positioned thereon if the driver status signal indicates that the driver is the secondary driver and the transmission mode enables movement of the vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the communication module is further configured to monitor the wireless protocol to detect the presence of the portable OCD prior to transmitting the transmission status signal and the driver status signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the communication module is further configured to determine whether the portable OCD has been electronically mated thereto prior to transmitting the transmission status signal and the driver status signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit a signal to command the driver to electronically mate the portable OCD to the communication module in the event the portable OCD has not been electronically mated thereto such that the communication module is capable of transmitting the transmission status signal and the driver status signal to the portable OCD over the wireless protocol.