VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR MANAGING EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

• US 20130045689A1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grost, Timothy J., Hansen, Cody R., Highstrom, Matthew M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A hands-free system for a vehicle is provided, where the hands-free system sends and receives communication from a personal electronic device. The hands-free system includes a vehicle control module that is in communication with at least one vehicle system for determining if the vehicle is in a condition to receive input regarding operation, a display, and a hands-free control module. The hands-free control module is in communication with the display and the vehicle control module. The hands-free control module is in communication with the personal electronic device for sending and receiving an external communication from the personal electronic device. The hands-free control module has a memory and a message delivery filter algorithm.

Claims

1. A hands-free system for a vehicle, the hands-free system sending and receiving communication from a personal electronic device, comprising:

a vehicle control module that is in communication with at least one vehicle system for determining if the vehicle is in a condition to receive input regarding operation;

a display; and

a hands-free control module in communication with the display, the vehicle control module, and the personal electronic device, the hands-free control module sends and receives an external communication from the personal electronic device, the hands-free control module having a memory, the hands-free control module including a message delivery filter algorithm comprising;

a control logic for monitoring the vehicle control module for a driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation;

a control logic for monitoring the personal electronic device for the external communication;

a control logic for receiving the external communication from the personal electronic device;

a control logic for determining if the external communication contains a break-through string, wherein the break-through string indicates that the external communication is to be shown on the display even if the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation;

a control logic for sending a display data signal to the display for generating graphical images that are shown on the display indicating the content of the external communication, wherein the display data signal is sent if the external communication contains the break-through string; and

a control logic for storing the external communication in the memory of the control module if the external communication does not contain the break-through string and if the vehicle control module sends the driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation.

2. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the break-through string is one of a telephone number, a caller'"'"'s name, a word, a string of words, and a code.

3. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the external communication is in the form of one of a text message, a voice call, and an Internet-based application.

4. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for monitoring a system control module for at least one driving condition.

5. The hands-free system of claim 4, wherein the at least one driving condition is at least one of a vehicle speed, vehicle location, the presence of passengers within the vehicle, proximity of the vehicle to another vehicle, the presence of a maneuver during driving, the presence of cruise control activation, time of day, usage of the personal electronic device, and external weather conditions.

6. The hands-free system of claim 4, wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for determining if the at least one driving condition meets at least one specified value, and wherein the hands-free control module includes a control logic for sending the data signal to the display for generating graphical images that are shown on the display indicating the content of the external communication, wherein the data signal is sent if the external communication contains the break-through string and if the at least one driving condition meets the at least one specified value.

7. The hands-free system of claim 1, comprising a user input device in communication with the hands-free control module, wherein the user input device is configured for receiving an input.

8. The hands-free system of claim 7, the hands-free control module including control logic for monitoring the user input device for the input, and wherein the hands-free control module includes a password stored in the memory of the hands-free control module, and wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for comparing the input to the password stored in the memory, the message delivery filter algorithm being activated if the input is the same as the password.

9. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the hands-free control module is in wireless communication with a remotely located computing device, and wherein the remotely located computing device sends a data signal to the hands-free control module to activate the message delivery filter algorithm.

10. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for communicating one of a text message and a pre-recorded telephone call to the personal electronic device indicating a driver is currently unavailable if the external communication does not contain the break-through string.

11. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control module is one of an engine control module and a transmission control module.

12. The hands-free system of claim 1, wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for sending an audio data signal to an audio system from the personal electronic device, wherein the audio data signal is sent to the audio system if the external communication contains the break-through string.

13. A vehicle having a hands-free system for sending and receiving communication from a personal electronic device, comprising:

a vehicle control module that is in communication with at least one vehicle system for determining if the vehicle is in a condition to receive input regarding operation;

a display; and

a hands-free control module in communication with the display, the vehicle control module, and the personal electronic device, the hands-free control module sends and receives an external communication from the personal electronic device, the hands-free control module having a memory, the hands-free control module including a message delivery filter algorithm comprising;

a control logic for monitoring the vehicle control module for a driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation;

a control logic for monitoring the personal electronic device for the external communication;

a control logic for receiving the external communication from the personal electronic device;

a control logic for determining if the external communication contains a break-through string, wherein the break-through string indicates that the external communication is to be shown on the display even if the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation;

a control logic for sending a display data signal to the display for generating graphical images that are shown on the display indicating the content of the external communication, wherein the display data signal is sent if the external communication contains the break-through string;

a control logic for storing the external communication in the memory of the control module if the external communication does not contain the break-through string and if the vehicle control module sends the driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation; and

a control logic for communicating one of a text message and a pre-recorded telephone call to the personal electronic device indicating a driver is currently unavailable if the external communication does not contain the break-through string.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the break-through string is one of a telephone number, a caller'"'"'s name, a word, a string of words, and a code.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the external communication is in the form of one of a text message, a voice call, and an Internet-based application.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for monitoring the vehicle for at least one driving condition.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the at least one driving condition is at least one of a threshold vehicle speed, vehicle location, the presence of passengers within the vehicle, proximity of the vehicle to another vehicle, the presence of a maneuver during driving, the presence of cruise control activation, time of day, usage of the personal electronic device, and external weather conditions.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the hands-free control module includes control logic for determining if the at least one driving condition meets at least one specified value, and wherein the hands-free control module includes a control logic for sending the data signal to the display for generating graphical images that are shown on the display indicating the content of the external communication, wherein the data signal is sent if the external communication contains the break-through string and if the at least one driving condition meets the at least one specified value.

19. The vehicle of claim 13, comprising a user input device in communication with the hands-free control module, wherein the user input device is configured for receiving an input.

20. A vehicle having a hands-free system for sending and receiving communication from a personal electronic device, comprising:

a vehicle control module that is in communication with at least one vehicle system for determining if the vehicle is in a condition to receive input regarding operation;

a display;

an audio system;

a user input device configured for receiving an input; and

a hands-free control module in communication with the display, the vehicle control module, the audio system, and the personal electronic device, the hands-free control module sends and receives an external communication from the personal electronic device, the external communication in the form of one of a text message, a voice call, and an Internet-based application, the hands-free control module having a memory that stores a password, the hands-free control module including a message delivery filter algorithm comprising;

a control logic for monitoring the user input device for the input;

a control logic for comparing the input to the password stored in the memory, the message delivery filter algorithm being activated if the input is the same as the password;

a control logic for monitoring the vehicle control module for a driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation;

a control logic for monitoring the personal electronic device for the external communication;

a control logic for receiving the external communication from the personal electronic device;

a control logic for determining if the external communication contains a break-through string, wherein the break-through string indicates that the external communication is to be shown on the display even if the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation, and wherein the break-through string is one of a telephone number, a caller'"'"'s name, a word, a string of words, and a code;

a control logic for sending a display data signal to the display for generating graphical images that are shown on the display indicating the content of the external communication, wherein the display data signal is sent if the external communication contains the break-through string;

a control logic for sending an audio data signal to the audio system from the personal electronic device, wherein the audio data signal is sent to the audio system if the external communication contains the break-through string;

a control logic for storing the external communication in the memory of the control module if the external communication does not contain the break-through string and if the vehicle control module sends the driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation; and

a control logic for communicating one of a text message and a pre-recorded telephone call to the personal electronic device indicating a driver is currently unavailable if the external communication does not contain the break-through string.