System for connecting wireless devices to a vehicle

• US 7,079,015 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Gibeau, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/604,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20040264387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.23, 340/686.6, 340/5.2, 340/426.24, 340/426.28, 340/3.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A method and system relating to connecting a wireless device carried by an individual to a vehicle network by providing a hands-free feature for notifying a vehicle module of the presence of a wireless device. In response to the notification, the vehicle module can connect the wireless device to the vehicle network through a wireless link.

Claims

1. A system for use with a vehicle and a wireless phone having capabilities for conducting a phone call over an electronic phone network external to the vehicle, the system comprising:

a hands-free sensor for generating a sensor signal indicating an individual is positioned within a predefined distance relative to the vehicle; and

a vehicle mounted module responsive to the sensor and configured to detect whether the individual is conducting the phone call, and if the individual is conducting the phone call, to establish a wireless link between the wireless phone and an in-vehicle network such that an audio component of the phone call is interfaced through a speaker and microphone connected to the in-vehicle network in order to support hands-free communications between the individual and the wireless phone; and

wherein the wireless phone simultaneously interfaces the audio component of the phone call with the electronic phone network such that no direct communications are required between the in-vehicle network and the electronic phone network, thereby requiring the wireless phone to support simultaneous communications between the module and the external phone network.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising the module being configured to interpret the sensor signal to determine whether the individual desires to sit in the vehicle and whether the individual desires to exit the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising the module being a Bluetooth enabled module configured to create the wireless link between the Bluetooth enabled module and the wireless phone for connecting the wireless phone to the in-vehicle network when the individual is carrying the wireless phone and desires to sit in the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising the Bluetooth enabled module being configured for disconnecting the wireless link when the individual desires to exit the vehicle such that the simultaneous interfacing of the audio component between the wireless phone and the external phone network allows the phone call to be continued in a non-hands-free manner directly between the wireless phone and the external phone network.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising the hands-free sensor being a door switch.

6. The system of claim 2 further comprising the hands-free sensor being a motion detector.

7. The system of claim 2 further comprising the hands-free sensor being a seat weight sensor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the module is further configured to automatically interface the audio component of the phone call to the in-vehicle network so that the phone call is carried out in a hands-free manner without requiring user action to communicate the audio component of the phone call over the speaker and microphone module.

9. A method of interfacing an audio component of a phone call carried out on a wireless phone with a speaker and microphone mounted in a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting whether an individual approaching the vehicle as a function of signals generated by a hands-free sensor;

upon detecting the individual, detecting whether the individual is conducting the phone call on the wireless phone as a function of signals emitted from the phone to a vehicle mounted module;

if the individual is conducting the phone call, simultaneously providing a first wireless link between the wireless phone and the vehicle mounted module and a second wireless link between the wireless phone and an electronic phone network external to the vehicle; and

simultaneously interfacing an audio component of the phone call over both of the first and second communications links in order to support hands-free operation through the speaker and microphone and communications between the wireless phone and the external phone network such that no direct communications are required between the module and the electronic phone network in order to support the hands-free operation.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising detecting whether the individual is approaching the vehicle as a function of a hands-free signal generated by a hands-free sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring the module to interpret the sensor signal to determine whether the individual desires to sit in the vehicle and whether the individual desires to exit the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring the module for executing Bluetooth protocols for creating the wireless link between the module and the wireless phone and connecting the wireless phone to the vehicle network when the individual is carrying the wireless device and desires to sit in the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring the module for disconnecting the wireless link between the module and the wireless phone when the individual desires to exit the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring a door switch for generating the hands-free signal.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring a motion detector for generating the hands-free signal.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring a seat weight sensor for generating the hands-free signal.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising automatically communicating the audio component of the phone call to the vehicle network so that the phone call is carried out in a hands-free manner without requiring user action to communicate the audio component of the phone call over the speaker and microphone module.

18. A system for use with a vehicle for connecting a Bluetooth enabled wireless phone carried by an individual to a vehicle network, the system comprising:

a door sensor for generating a door open signal indicating the opening of a vehicle door;

a module connected to the vehicle network and receiving the door open signal through the vehicle network, wherein the module determines whether the individual is conducting a phone conversation using the wireless phone by transmitting a wireless inquiry signal to the phone upon receipt of the door open signal;

a Bluetooth wireless link between the module and the Bluetooth enabled wireless phone, wherein the wireless link is provided by the module in response to the module receiving the door open signal and determining the individual is conducting the phone conversation with the wireless phone, wherein the wireless link interfaces an audio component of the phone conversation with the network without disconnecting a connection between the wireless phone and a phone network external to the vehicle; and

a speaker module and a microphone module connected to the vehicle network, wherein the audio component of the phone conversation is interfaced through the wireless link to the vehicle network for continuing the phone conversation within the vehicle through the speakers module and the microphone module.