Method and apparatus for indicating an operable or non-operable connection between a portable radio and a vehicle kit

• US 5,754,962 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Griffin, Lee Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/508,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/95, 455/99, 455/345, 455/346, 455/351, 455/344, 455/127, 455/67.7, 455/569, 455/571, 379/58, 379/420, 379/446, 379/447, 379/455
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for indicating to a user that an operable-connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit forming a mobile communication system. The system determines if an operable-connection has been made by determining if a hands-free-request signal, an external power signal, and an external antenna signal are present. Detection of the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal are indicative that the portable radio and vehicle kit are operably connected such that the mobile communication system is fully operational. An operable-connection alert indicative of an operable connection between the portable radio and vehicle kit is generated by a radio display and an external speaker in response to a determination that the hands-free signal, external power signal and external antenna signal are present. In the preferred embodiment, the external antenna signal is determined by either comparing a measured received signal strength indicating (RSSI) with a reference RSSI value or detecting an increase in RSSI after inserting the portable radio into the cradle of the vehicle kit.

Claims

1. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if a hands-free-request signal is present;

b) determining if an external power signal is present;

c) determining if an external antenna signal is present;

d) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal; and

e) wherein the first alert is indicative of an operable-connection and is generated in response to a determination that the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal are present, and further including the step of generating a second alert signal indicative of a non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to a determination that the external power signal and hands-free-request signal are present and that the external antenna signal is not present.

2. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if a hands-free-request signal is present;

b) determining if an external power signal is present;

c) determining if an external antenna signal is present, wherein the step of determining if an external antenna signal is present includes the steps of;

(i) determining a pre-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made prior to determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(iii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value;

(iv) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

d) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal.

3. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if a hands-free-request signal is present;

b) determining if an external power signal is present;

c) determining if an external antenna signal is present, wherein the step of determining if an external antenna signal is present includes the steps of;

(i) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with a predetermined reference RSSI value;

(iii) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the reference RSSI value; and

d) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal.

4. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if a hands-free-request signal is present;

b) determining if an external power signal is present;

c) determining if an external antenna signal is present;

d) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal; and

e) wherein the step of determining if an external antenna signal is present includes the steps of;

(1) determining if the hands-free-request signal and external power signal are present within a predetermined time period after turning-on the power of the portable radio;

(2) if the hands-free-request signal and external power signal are present within the predetermined time period, determining the presence of the external antenna signal with steps comprising;

(i) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with a predetermined reference RSSI value;

(iii) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the reference RSSI value;

(3) if the hands-free-request signal and external power supply signal are not present within the predetermined time period, determining the presence of the external antenna signal with steps comprising;

(i) determining a pre-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made prior to determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(iii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

(iv) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value.

5. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if an external antenna signal is present;

b) wherein the step of determining if an external antenna signal is present includes the steps of;

(i) determining a pre-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made prior to determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(iii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

(iv) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

c) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the external antenna signal.

6. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if an external antenna signal is present;

b) wherein the step of determining if an external antenna signal is present includes the steps of;

(i) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with a predetermined reference RSSI value;

(iii) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the reference RSSI value; and

c) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the external antenna signal.

7. A method for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising the steps of:

a) determining if an external antenna signal is present;

b) wherein the step of determining if an external antenna signal is present includes the steps of;

(1) determining if the hands-free-request signal and external power signal are present within a predetermined time period after turning-on the power of the portable radio;

(2) if the hands-free-request signal and external power signal are present within the predetermined time period, determining the presence of the external antenna signal with steps comprising;

(i) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal,

(ii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with a predetermined reference RSSI value,

(iii) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the reference RSSI value;

(3) if the hands-free-request signal and external power supply signal are not present within the predetermined time period, determining the presence of the external antenna signal with steps comprising;

(i) determining a pre-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made prior to determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(iii) comparing the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

(iv) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

c) generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the external antenna signal.

8. A portable radio for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising:

a) means for determining if an external antenna signal is present;

b) wherein the means for determining if an external antenna signal is present includes;

(i) means for determining a pre-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made prior to determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) means for determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(iii) means for comparing the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value;

(iv) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the pre-connection RSSI value; and

c) means for generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the external antenna signal.

9. A portable radio for indicating whether an operable connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit, comprising:

a) means for determining if an external antenna signal is present;

b) wherein the means for determining if an external antenna signal is present includes;

(i) means for determining a post-connection RSSI value indicative of an RSSI measurement made after determining the presence of the hands-free-request signal and external power signal;

(ii) means for comparing the post-connection RSSI value with a predetermined reference RSSI value;

(iii) wherein the presence of the external antenna signal is determined in response to the comparison of the post-connection RSSI value with the reference RSSI value; and

c) means for generating a first alert indicative of an operable connection or non-operable connection between the portable radio and the vehicle kit in response to the determination of the presence of the external antenna signal.