Method and device for electronic communication between at least two communication devices

• US 8,571,476 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arndt, Christoph, Kuck, Detlef
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/622,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/569.1, 455/345, 455/41.2, 455/557, 455/422.1, 455/575.9, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/426.36, 340/10.41, 340/5.7, 340/426.28, 340/428, 340/539.1, 307/10.2, 180/287
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for electronic communication between at least two communication devices. To allow reliable connection setup between the devices which are to be provided for communication at the same time as simple handling, a method according to the invention has the following steps: two communication devices intended for communication are associated with one another by means of a first coupling mechanism, and the communication between the mutually associated communication devices is performed by means of a second coupling mechanism, wherein the first coupling mechanism has a shorter range than the second coupling mechanism or is effected by means of physical contact between the communication devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting a device within communication range of a wireless vehicle-based transceiver;

establishing communication with the device over a first, wireless coupling;

requesting identification verification from the device over the first coupling;

receiving identification verification from the device over a second capacitive coupling responsive to the requesting; and

utilizing the identification verification to select the device for establishment of bi-directional communication over the first coupling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the detecting a device includes detecting a plurality of devices, wherein

the establishing communication includes establishing communication with the plurality of devices, wherein

the requesting identification includes requesting identification from the plurality of devices, wherein

the receiving identification includes receiving identification from one of the plurality of devices over the second coupling, and wherein

the utilizing the identification includes utilizing the identification to select the one of the plurality of devices for establishment of bi-directional communication over the first coupling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a BLUETOOTH coupling.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a WiFi coupling.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a WLAN coupling.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a GSM coupling.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless coupling is an optical coupling.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method including:

detecting a device within communication range of a wireless vehicle-based transceiver;

establishing communication with the device over a first, wireless coupling;

requesting identification verification from the device over the first coupling;

receiving identification verification from the device over a second capacitive coupling responsive to the requesting; and

utilizing the identification verification to select the device for establishment of bi-directional communication over the first coupling.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the detecting a device includes detecting a plurality of devices, wherein

the establishing communication includes establishing communication with the plurality of devices, wherein

the requesting identification includes requesting identification from the plurality of devices, wherein

the receiving identification includes receiving identification from one of the plurality of devices over the second coupling, and wherein

the utilizing the identification includes utilizing the identification to select the one of the plurality of devices for establishment of bi-directional communication over the first coupling.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a BLUETOOTH coupling.

11. The non-tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the detecting a device includes detecting a plurality of devices, wherein the establishing communication includes establishing communication with the plurality of devices, wherein the requesting identification includes requesting identification from the plurality of devices, wherein the receiving identification includes receiving identification from one of the plurality of devices over the second coupling, and wherein the utilizing the identification includes utilizing the identification to select the one of the plurality of devices for establishment of bi-directional communication over the first coupling.

12. The non-tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a BLUETOOTH coupling.

13. The non-tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a WiFi coupling.

14. The non-tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a WLAN coupling.

15. The non-tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first, wireless coupling is a GSM coupling.

16. The non-tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first, wireless coupling is an optical coupling.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second, wireless coupling is a WiFi coupling.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the second, wireless coupling is a WLAN coupling.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the second, wireless coupling is a GSM coupling.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the second, wireless coupling is an optical coupling.