Hands-free wireless communication in a vehicle

• US 6,377,825 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Farrell, David J., Durian, Michael B., Kennedy, Patrick J., Spaur, Charles W., Poplawsky, Ralph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lockett, Eric D
• Application Number:
  US09/507,175
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/517, 455/88, 455/563, 455/90, 455/557, 455/575, 455/345, 455/550, 455/556, 379/454, 379/446, 379/428, 379/455, 379/449
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• 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 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means

Abstract

Wireless communications relative to a vehicle using a wireless communications device, a pocket for holding the wireless communication device and an interface module in communication with the pocket are provided. The pocket can include a processor for translating communications between the wireless communications device and the interface module. The interface module has processing capability and can communicate with different pockets and thereby different wireless communications devices. In at least one embodiment, the interface module manages voice recognition and text-to-speech commands to facilitate hands-free communications in the vehicle. The interface module can function as a communications hub involving a number of vehicle subsystems. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle subsystems are separately addressable using the interface module and/or other processing hardware/software. However, in communicating over the Internet, a vehicle IP address is utilized.

Claims

1. A system for communicating in a vehicle having a vehicle audio system and being able to use a first communication device and a second communication device having at least physical characteristics different from the first communication device, comprising:

a first holding assembly that can be physically and electrically connected to the first communication device and including a first holding assembly processor;

a second holding assembly that can be physically and electrically connected to the second communication device but not the first communication device and including a second holding assembly processor;

a microphone for receiving voice information;

an interface module that can communicate with each of the first and second communication devices and including at least an interface module processor and an interface module memory, said interface module involved with a number of functions when said first holding assembly is in communication with said interface module and the first communication device is physically and electrically connected to said first holding assembly including;

receiving first voice information;

converting using said interface module processor said first voice information to first digital information compatible with a common communications language used by said interface module;

sending said first digital information in said common communications language to said first holding assembly using at least a first communications bus;

translating said first digital information from said common communications language to a first communications format compatible with the first communication device using said first holding assembly processor to produce a first communication device signal; and

providing said first communication device signal to the first communication device using said first holding assembly processor;

wherein when said second holding assembly is joined with the second communication device and second voice information is received, said second voice information is converted to second digital information compatible with said common communications language and, after sending said second digital information to said second holding assembly, said second holding assembly processor translates said second digital information from said common communications language to a second communications format compatible with the second communications device and with said second communications format not being compatible with the first communication device.

2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said number of functions of said interface module includes canceling acoustic echos, line echos and noise from said audio information.

3. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said interface module includes a programmable power supply, and wherein said number of functions of said interface module includes providing at least one of a constant current or a constant voltage to said communication device.

4. A system, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a vehicle bus operatively associated with said interface module, said vehicle bus in communication with a number of peripheral devices in the vehicle for transferring information relative to each of said peripheral devices.

5. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first communications link includes a first communications bus and said holding assembly includes a processor, with said processor of said holding assembly communicating with said interface module processor using at least said first communications bus, said holding assembly processor receiving communications device control signals from said communications device and translating said communications device control signals to be compatible with said interface module.

6. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first communications bus includes at least a first conducting line that carries digital information different from said first and second digital information to said interface module from said first holding assembly independently of said first holding assembly processor.

7. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first holding assembly includes a memory in communication with said first holding assembly processor, said first holding assembly memory storing at least one of said first and second digital information.

8. A method involving communications in a vehicle, comprising:

providing a first communication device for at least temporary use in the vehicle, a first holding assembly for holding said first communication device at least while said first communication device is in the vehicle and an interface module, and with said first communication device, said first holding assembly and said interface module being electrically interconnected, said first holding assembly being configured to operate with a first set of functionalities and said interface module being configured to operate with a main set of functionalities, said first communication device being configured to operate with a second set of functionalities, said main set of functionalities including said first set of functionalities and said second set of functionalities, said first set of functionalities being different from said second set of functionalities wherein one of the following exists;

(i) all of said second set of functionalities not being supported by said first set of functionalities and (ii) all of said first set of functionalities not being supported by said second set of functionalities.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

at least when said first holding assembly is holding said first communication device, said interface module supports functionalities of said second set that are included in said first set while not supporting functionalities of said second set that are not included in said first set.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 8, further including:

using a second holding assembly to hold said first communication device, with said second holding assembly being configured to operate with a third set of functionalities having more functionalities than said first set; and

supporting communications by said interface module between said second holding assembly and said interface module including supporting said third set of functionalities.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 8, further including:

preparing a first communication at a site remote from the vehicle, said first communication involving a first vehicle subsystem in the vehicle and said first communication including a vehicle IP address associated with the vehicle, with said first vehicle subsystem being associated with first identifier-related information different from said vehicle IP address;

transmitting said first communication over the Internet to the vehicle using said vehicle IP address;

receiving said first communication by the vehicle;

determining in the vehicle that said first communication involves said first vehicle subsystem; and

sending at least portions of said first communication to said first vehicle subsystem using said first vehicle subsystem identifier-related information.

12. A method for communicating involving an interface module having at least a first interface module processor, and a plurality of pockets including at least first and second pockets, said first and second pockets including a first pocket processor and a second pocket processor, respectively, said first pocket being used with a first telephone and said second pocket being used with a second telephone having at least physical characteristics different from the first telephone, comprising:

joining the first telephone with said first pocket;

generating a first voice command that is input to a microphone;

converting using said first interface module processor said first voice command to first digital command information in a common communications language used by said interface module;

sending said first digital command information to said first pocket using said common communications language;

translating said first digital command information from said common communications language to a first communications format compatible with the first telephone using said first pocket processor to produce a first telephone command signal; and

providing said first telephone command signal to the first telephone using said first pocket processor;

wherein when said second pocket is joined with the second telephone and a second voice command is generated, said second voice command is converted to second digital command information in said common communications language and, after sending said second digital command information to said second pocket, said second pocket processor translates said second digital command information from said common communications language to a second communications format compatible with the second telephone and with said second communications format not being compatible with the first telephone.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 12, further including:

receiving at least one of analog audio signals and digital signals and when said analog audio signals are received, said first pocket manipulates said analog audio signals and when said digital signals are received said first pocket passes said digital signals directly to said interface module without manipulation.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said interface module performs signal processing on said analog audio signals including at least one of acoustic echo cancellation, line echo cancellation, noise reduction and frequency equalization.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first pocket has a first set of functional capabilities and said second pocket has a second set of functional capabilities different from said first set and each of said first and second sets of functional capabilities being operable with said interface module and said second set of functional capabilities including related to at least two of the following;

audible prompts, digital data, voice commands, text-to-speech, and voice memo recording.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said interface module and said first pocket are located in a vehicle having a vehicle ignition switch and a vehicle audio system and additional signals are provided including at least one of the following;

a programming signal related to programming or re-programming said first processor, an ignition signal related to a position of the vehicle ignition switch and a mute signal related to muting an output from the vehicle'"'"'s audio system.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said interface module is located in a vehicle having a number of vehicle subsystems including first and second vehicle subsystems and in which the vehicle has an Internet protocol (IP) address and said first vehicle subsystem has a first identifier and said second vehicle subsystem has a second identifier and, when communications are conducted involving the first vehicle subsystem, said IP address is used together with said first identifier and when communications are conducted involving the second vehicle subsystem, said IP address is used together with said second identifier.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 12, further including:

executing a text-to-speech module using said interface module.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said interface module is located in a vehicle having at least a first external subsystem and said interface module causes a translation to said common communications language based on a communication from said first external subsystem.

20. A method for communicating involving an interface module, having at least a first interface module processor, and a plurality of pockets including at least first and second pockets, said first pocket being used with a first telephone and said second pocket being used with a second telephone having at least physical characteristics different from the first telephone and in which said first pocket is unable to be used with the second telephone and said second pocket is unable to be used with the first telephone, comprising:

providing first voice command information with said interface module that is compatible with the first telephone and second voice command information that is compatible with the second telephone, with said first voice command information not being compatible with the second telephone and said second voice command information not being compatible with the first telephone;

joining said first pocket with the first telephone;

generating a first voice command that is input to a microphone;

obtaining said first voice command information using said interface module based on said first voice command; and

sending said first voice command information to said first pocket using said interface module;

wherein when said second pocket is joined to the second telephone and a second voice command is generated, said second voice command information is obtained using said interface module and provided to said second pocket.

21. A method involving communications using a first communication device, a first holding assembly for holding said first communication device and an interface module, and with said first communication device, said first holding assembly and said interface module being electrically interconnected, said first holding assembly being configured to operate with a first set of functionalities and said interface module being configured to operate with a main set of functionalities, said first communication device being configured to operate with a second set of functionalities, said main set of functionalities including at least said first set of functionalities and said second set of functionalities, and with all of said first set of functionalities not being supported by said second set of functionalities and including the step of supporting communications between said first holding assembly and said interface module by said interface module including supporting said first set of functionalities.