System and method for providing an adapter module

• US 7,610,016 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmitt, Edward D., Mohamed, Ibrahim, Nelson, Thomas Edwin East
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US11/051,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20050202853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/90.3, 455/575.9, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.6, 455/563, 455/557, 455/566, 455/345
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Embodiments include a system and method for adapting a wireless device, such as a Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset or other Bluetooth-enabled device to a car radio and associated speaker system to effect a hands-free car kit or similar system. The adapter module is physically and electrically coupled to the car radio by making electrical contact with a connector on the car radio with a matching connector on one side of the adapter module. The mated connectors provide communications from the adapter module to the car radio. The adapter module includes circuitry for communicating with the Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset and the car radio in order to exchange communications signals between the Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset, and a microphone and the car radio.

Claims

1. An adapter module for use with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and a car radio, comprising:

Bluetooth logic substantially compatible with at least one Bluetooth standard to wirelessly exchange communication signals with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset;

car radio communications logic substantially compatible with the car radio to transmit communication signals to the car radio, wherein the Bluetooth logic is communicatively coupled to the car radio communications logic to exchange communication signals, and

wherein the Bluetooth logic and car radio communications logic are configured to permit hands-free communications with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset.

2. The adapter module of claim 1, further comprising:

a user control interface, the user control interface controlling at least one LED to indicate a state of the adapter module; and

control logic, the control logic having memory and being communicatively coupled to the Bluetooth logic, the car radio communications logic and the user control interface;

wherein the control logic provides control signals to the Bluetooth logic and the car radio communications logic to control the exchange of communication signals between the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and the car radio.

3. An adapter module for use with a wireless device and an audio stereo system of an automobile, comprising:

wireless communications logic, the wireless communications logic being substantially compatible with the wireless device to exchange communication signals with the wireless device; and

automobile audio communications logic, the automobile audio communications logic being configured to be substantially compatible with the automobile audio stereo system to transmit signals to the automobile audio stereo system, the automobile audio communications logic being operatively coupled to the wireless communications logic to receive communication signals from the wireless communications logic.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the wireless device communicates substantially according to IEEE 802.11.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the wireless device communicates substantially according to a Bluetooth standard.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the wireless device communicates substantially as a short range wireless network.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the wireless device communicates substantially according to at least one standard associated with contactless smart cards.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the wireless device communicates substantially according to at least one IrDA standard.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the wireless device communicates substantially according to a Home RF standard.

10. A method of adapting a car radio for communications with a wireless handset, comprising:

receiving communication signals from the wireless handset;

converting the communication signals from a first form used by the handset to a second form used by the car radio; and

wirelessly transmitting the communications signals in the second form to the car radio under a short range wireless communication protocol.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication signals from the wireless handset are received substantially according to IEEE 802.11.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication signals from the wireless handset are received substantially according to a Bluetooth standard.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication signals from the wireless handset are received substantially according to at least one IrDA standard.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication signals derived from the wireless handset are received substantially according to a Home RF standard.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication signals derived from the wireless handset are received substantially according to at least one standard associated with contactless smart cards.