Vehicular telephone and method including an improved user interface
First Claim
1. A vehicular telecommunications system, comprising:
- a telephone comprised in a vehicle, and adapted for use by a passenger, wherein said telephone includes a first call notification circuit and said telephone is adapted to receive telephone calls from sources external to the vehicle in which said telephone is installed; and
an audio system operably coupled to said telephone, said audio system comprising;
a headset connector positioned near the passenger and adapted to receive audio signals;
a headset adapted to be coupled to said headset connector and provide said audio signals to the passenger; and
a second call notification circuit;
wherein said vehicular telecommunications system is configured to provide call notification via said first call notification circuit in a first mode of operation in which said headset is not coupled to said headset connector and via said second call notification circuit in a second mode of operation in which said headset is coupled to said headset connector.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular passenger telephone 37 according to the present invention includes an improved passenger call notification mechanism 154, 534 and user interface. A passenger telephone 37 is provided which includes a handset 506, a credit card reader 508 and a housing 507 for the handset 506 and credit card reader 508. In addition, either the handset 506 or the housing 507 includes a ringer or other call notification circuit 509. The passenger telephone 37 is operative in a first mode such that call notification is provided by the handset or housing ringer 509. The passenger telephone 37 is operative in a second mode such that the vehicle=s entertainment system 150 is employed to provide private call notification. In a first embodiment, call notification is provided via an audio headset 152. In a second embodiment, call notification is provided via a video display terminal 252.
101 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A vehicular telecommunications system, comprising:
-
a telephone comprised in a vehicle, and adapted for use by a passenger, wherein said telephone includes a first call notification circuit and said telephone is adapted to receive telephone calls from sources external to the vehicle in which said telephone is installed; and an audio system operably coupled to said telephone, said audio system comprising; a headset connector positioned near the passenger and adapted to receive audio signals; a headset adapted to be coupled to said headset connector and provide said audio signals to the passenger; and a second call notification circuit; wherein said vehicular telecommunications system is configured to provide call notification via said first call notification circuit in a first mode of operation in which said headset is not coupled to said headset connector and via said second call notification circuit in a second mode of operation in which said headset is coupled to said headset connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method for providing call notification in a vehicular telecommunication system including an entertainment system and a telephone system, comprising:
-
receiving an incoming telephone call wherein the incoming telephone call is intended for one of a plurality of telephones; identifying which one of the plurality of telephones is to receive said incoming telephone call; determining whether an entertainment unit corresponding to said one of the plurality of telephones is active; and providing notification of said incoming telephone call via said entertainment unit if said entertainment unit is active. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A vehicular telecommunications system, comprising:
-
a telephone, including a first call notification circuit, said telephone adapted to receive telephone calls from sources external to a vehicle in which said telephone is installed; and an entertainment system operably coupled to said telephone having a second call notification circuit, wherein said vehicular telecommunications system is configured to provide call notification via said first call notification circuit in a first mode of operation in which said entertainment system is not active and via said second call notification circuit in a second mode of operation in which said entertainment system is active. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A vehicular telecommunications system comprising:
a telephone configured to receive incoming telephone calls; and
an entertainment system operably coupled to said telephone, wherein;the entertainment system includes a video display device; and notification of incoming telephone calls is provided over the video display device.
Specification