Method of enabling a remote communications device with a telematics functionality module

• US 7,894,861 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Grivas, Nick J., Peterson, David P., Walby, James, Van Bosch, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US10/737,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,625 Days
• Field of Search: 4555691-5692, 455/557, 455/420, 455/575.9, 455/556.1, 455/563, 455/570, 455/474.9
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

Method of enabling a remote communications device (106) with a telematics functionality module (150) can include providing a docking apparatus (114) coupled to interface with a vehicle (109). The remote communications device is communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device is non-enabled with a telematics functionality module (150). The docking apparatus and the remote communications device enable the remote communications device with the telematics functionality module.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a docking apparatus coupled to interface with a vehicle;

communicatively coupling a remote communications device to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device does not include a telematics functionality module; and

the docking apparatus communicating with the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module in a memory of the remote communications device, including;

(i) the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device, or (ii) the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to download the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location, wherein the telematics functionality module provides telematics functionality that is specific to the vehicle and that is based on vehicle-identification information that the docking apparatus associates to the remote communication device;

wherein the docking apparatus communicating with the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module in the memory of the remote communications device, further includes;

the docking apparatus querying the remote communications device regarding the presence of the telematics functionality module and determining that a telematics functionality module that is compatible with the vehicle is not present in the remote communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the telematics functionality module comprises one or more telematics related applications including at least one of a personal telematics application, a security application, a hands-free application, and an air bag system notification application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hands-free application is specific to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein the hands-free application uses a noise-cancellation application that is configured to cancel vehicle noise during hands-free operation, wherein the noise-cancellation application is specific to a noise signature of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus is a car kit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling using at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the remote communications device detecting the docking apparatus; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the docking apparatus detecting the remote communications device; and

the docking apparatus and the remote communications device exchanging capability data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device comprises the docking apparatus rewriting at least a portion of the memory of the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

erasing the telematics functionality module from the memory of the remote communications device when the remote communications device ceases being communicatively coupled to the docking apparatus.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to download the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location comprises:

the remote communications device downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location supplied by the docking apparatus.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the telematics functionality that is specific to the vehicle includes at least one of:

door unlocking, remote access, and remote start.

15. A docking apparatus coupled to interface with a vehicle, the docking apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions for execution by the processor, the computer instructions comprising instructions (i) configured to communicatively couple a remote communications device to the docking apparatus, wherein the remote communications device does not include a telematics functionality module and (ii) configured to cause the docking apparatus to communicate with the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module in a memory of the remote communications device, including;

(i) the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device, or (ii) the docking apparatus supplying the remote communications device with a download location to download the telematics functionality module into the memory from the download location, wherein the telematics functionality module provides telematics functionality that is specific to the vehicle and that is based on vehicle-identification information that the docking apparatus associates to the remote communication device;

wherein the instructions configured to cause the docking apparatus to communicate with the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module in the memory of the remote communications device further comprise;

instructions configured to cause the docking apparatus to query the remote communications device regarding the presence of the telematics functionality module and to determine that a telematics functionality module that is compatible with the vehicle is not present in the remote communications device.

16. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the telematics functionality module comprises one or more telematics related applications including at least one of a personal telematics application, a security application, a hands-free application, and an air bag system notification application.

17. The docking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the hands-free application is specific to the vehicle.

18. The docking apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the hands-free application uses a noise-cancellation application that is configured to cancel vehicle noise during hands-free operation, wherein the noise-cancellation application is specific to a noise signature of the vehicle.

19. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the docking apparatus is a car kit.

20. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling through at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link.

21. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions for the docking apparatus exchanging capability data with the remote communications device when the remote communications device detects the docking apparatus.

22. The docking apparatus of claim 21, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

23. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions for the docking apparatus detecting the remote communications device and for the docking apparatus exchanging capability data with the remote communications device.

24. The docking apparatus of claim 23, wherein the capability data comprises at least one of a software configuration, a hardware configuration, identification data and security data.

25. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions for the docking apparatus downloading the telematics functionality module into the memory of the remote communications device comprise instructions for the docking apparatus rewriting at least a portion of the memory of the remote communications device to include the telematics functionality module.

26. The docking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the telematics functionality that is specific to the vehicle includes at least one of:

door unlocking, remote access, and remote start.