COMMUNICATION DEVICE, METHOD AND VEHICLE

• US 20130324088A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: JORDAN, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/798,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication device, in particular in a vehicle or for a vehicle, with a detection unit configured to automatically detect the presence of at least one mobile electronic device in the environment of the communication device, with an interrogator configured to automatically request an input from a user, the input comprising permitting or denying the communication with one of the detected mobile electronic devices, and with a control unit configured to establish a communication connection with the corresponding detected mobile electronic device as a function of the requested input. The present invention also comprises a method and a vehicle.

Claims

1. A communication device in a vehicle or for a vehicle, comprising:

a detection unit which is configured to automatically detect the presence of at least one mobile electronic device in the environment of the communication device;

an interrogator which is configured to automatically request from a user an input comprising permitting or denying the communication with one of the detected devices; and

a control unit which is configured to establish a communication connection with the corresponding detected device as a function of the requested input.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interrogator is configured not to request the input from a user until the respective detected device has been detected for a specified period of time.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the interrogator is configured not to request the input from a user until the respective detected device has been detected for a movement of the communication device over a specified distance.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the interrogator is configured not to request the input from a user until the respective detected device has been detected at least during two operating cycles of the communication device.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein a memory is provided, which is configured to store an identifier of the detected devices and/or the corresponding inputs requested from the user.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to check during detection of one of the devices, whether an input has been stored in the memory relating to the corresponding detected device, and if this input has been stored, to establish a communication connection with the detected device as a function of the stored input.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein a Bluetooth interface is provided for communication with the devices, for which the requested input comprises a permission.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate to, or receive from, the detected devices at least one of digital data and audio data via the Bluetooth interface, if the requested input for these devices comprises a permission.

9. A data communication method for a vehicle or in a vehicle, for execution with a communication device, comprising:

automatically detecting the presence of at least one mobile electronic device in the environment of a communication device;

requesting an input from a user, which input comprises permitting or denying the communication with the respective detected device; and

establishing a communication connection with the detected mobile electronic device as a function of the requested input.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the input from a user is not requested, until the device has been detected for a specified period of time.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the input from a user is not requested, until the device has been detected during a movement of the communication device over a specified distance.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the input from a user is not requested, until the respected detected device has been detected at least during two operating cycles of the communication device.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of identifiers of the detected devices and the corresponding inputs requested from the user are stored.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein during detection of a device it is checked whether a corresponding input has been stored in the memory for the detected device, and if this has been stored, a communication with the detected device is established as a function of the stored input.

15. A motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one communication device including;

a detection unit which is configured to automatically detect the presence of at least one mobile electronic device in the environment of the communication device;

an interrogator which is configured to automatically request from a user an input comprising permitting or denying the communication with one of the detected devices; and

a control unit which is configured to establish a communication connection with the corresponding detected device as a function of the requested input,

wherein the interrogator is configured not to request the input from a user until the respective detected device has been detected for a specified period of time.