Remote Invocation of Mobile Phone Functionality in an Automobile Environment

• US 20140106734A1
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Beanco Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Beanco Technology LLC
• Inventors: Lee, Robert Tak-Kuen
• Application Number:
  US14/053,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106734A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A remote invocation device useful in an automobile interior, by way of which advanced functions of a modern mobile telephone handset (i.e., smartphone) can be invoked and carried out via the in-car audio system. The remote invocation device includes wireless BLUETOOTH circuitry that is pairable with a smartphone via a profile different from that with which the smartphone is paired with the in-car audio system. The device has a button that, when pressed, causes a signal to be transmitted to the smartphone to invoke an advanced function, such as a virtual assistant app. Voice commands to, and audio responses by, the smartphone are communicated via the in-car audio system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile telephone handset in an automobile, comprising:

pairing a wireless remote invocation device mounted in the interior of the automobile with the handset via a first profile;

pairing the handset with an audio system in the automobile via a second profile;

responsive to a user pressing a button on the wireless device, wirelessly transmitting a button press signal to the handset via the first profile;

responsive to receiving the button press signal at the handset, enabling the handset to receive voice commands;

then wirelessly transmitting signals corresponding to a voice command received from a microphone in the interior of the automobile to the handset via the second profile; and

responsive to receiving the transmitted signals at the handset, operating the handset to execute program instructions corresponding to the voice command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting steps each comprise transmitting wireless signals under the BLUETOOTH protocol.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second profile corresponds to a BLUETOOTH hands-free profile.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first profile corresponds to a BLUETOOTH human interface device profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the button press signal corresponds to a command, at the handset, equivalent to the pressing-and-holding of a home button on the handset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the button press signal corresponds to a command, at the handset, equivalent to the pressing of a soft key at the handset.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the button press signal, transmitting signals corresponding to a voice command prompt from the handset to the audio system via the second profile.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the handset to execute program instructions comprises:

composing an message corresponding to the received signals; and

sending the message via a communications facility.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the handset to execute program instructions comprises:

transmitting signals to the audio system, via the second profile, the signals corresponding to an audio conversion of an email message received by the handset over a communications facility.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the handset to execute program instructions comprises:

invoking a virtual assistant application.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of operating the handset to execute program instructions further comprises:

obtaining directions to the desired destination address from a current location of the automobile via communications over a communications facility;

transmitting signals to the audio system, via the second profile, the signals corresponding to an audio translation of the directions to the desired destination address.

12. A remote invocation device for wirelessly communicating with a mobile telephone handset, comprising:

a housing;

a switch disposed at a surface of the housing;

an antenna;

processor circuitry coupled to the switch and to the antenna;

program memory coupled to the processor circuitry, the program memory storing program instructions that, when executed by the processor circuitry, cause the processor circuitry to perform a plurality of operations comprising;

pairing the device with the handset according to a selected profile; and

responsive to actuation of the switch, wirelessly transmitting a corresponding signal to the handset according to the selected profile.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the transmitting operation comprises transmitting wireless signals under the BLUETOOTH protocol.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the profile corresponds to a BLUETOOTH human interface device profile.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the transmitted signal corresponds to a command, at the handset, equivalent to the pressing and holding of a home button on the handset.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the transmitted signal corresponds to a command, at the handset, equivalent to the pressing of a soft key at the handset.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the switch is the only switch disposed at the surface of the housing.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

an indicator for indicating actuation of the switch.

19. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for attaching the housing to a location in the interior of an automobile.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the attaching means comprises:

a visor clip.