In-vehicle communication system and in-vehicle apparatus

• US 8,618,945 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Furuta, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US13/084,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/539.93, 3406931-6934, 3406361-63621, 340/995.19, 340/995.23, 340/995.13, 455/569.2, 455/412.2, 455/572, 713/171, 701/410, 701/468
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An in-vehicle communication system is disclosed. The in-vehicle communication system is configured to connect a short range wireless communication link between an in-vehicle apparatus and a portable device, and predicts a battery level threshold reach time, which is a time when a battery level of a battery of the portable device reaches below a threshold. When it is determined that the battery level threshold reach time is prior to a vehicle travel end time, the in-vehicle communication system notifies the passenger of prompt battery charge information to prompt the passenger to charge the battery of the portable device.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle communication system configured to connect a short range wireless communication link between an in-vehicle apparatus mounted to a vehicle and a portable device capable of being carried by a passenger of the vehicle such that the short range wireless communication link enables the passenger to control an operation of the portable device by manipulating the in-vehicle apparatus, the in-vehicle communication system comprising:

means for predicting a battery level threshold reach time based on a state of the portable device and a battery level of a battery serving as a power source of the portable device, the battery level threshold reach time being a time at which the battery level of the battery reaches below a threshold;

means for predicting a travel end time, the travel end time being a time at which the vehicle ends traveling;

means for causing a notifier device to notify the passenger of prompt battery charge information when the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the predicted travel end time, the prompt battery charge information being information that prompts the passenger to charge the battery;

means for acquiring a present position of the vehicle;

destination designating means for designating a destination; and

means for predicting a destination arrival time based on the acquired present position of the vehicle and the designated destination, the destination arrival time being a time at which the vehicle arrives at the destination,

wherein

the travel end time predicting means uses the predicted destination arrival time as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time when the destination is designated by the destination designating means; and

the travel end time predicting means uses a time that is based on a past travel history of the vehicle as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time, when the destination is not designated by the destination designating means.

2. The in-vehicle communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving information on the state of the portable device and the battery level of the battery, the information being transmitted from the portable device,

wherein;

the in-vehicle apparatus are provided with the reception means and the battery level prediction means, and the in-vehicle apparatus receives the information on the state of the portable device and the battery level of the battery from the portable device and predicts the battery level threshold reach time based on the received information on the state of the portable device and the battery level of the battery.

6. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle apparatus is a vehicle navigation apparatus, the portable device is a cellular phone, and the vehicle navigation apparatus is configured to enable the passenger of the vehicle to control operation of the cellular phone via short range wireless communication link.

7. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the past travel history uses an estimated time of arrival at home as the travel end time, when the vehicle travels on a route to the home and the destination is not designated.

3. An in-vehicle apparatus mounted to a vehicle and usable in an in-vehicle communication system in which the in-vehicle apparatus and a portable device capable of being carried by a passenger are connectable with each other via a short range wireless communication link such that the short range wireless communication link enables the passenger to control an operation of the portable device by manipulating the in-vehicle apparatus, the in-vehicle apparatus comprising:

means for receiving information on a state of the portable device and a battery level of a battery serving as a power source of the portable device, the information being transmitted from the portable device;

means for predicting a battery level threshold reach time based on the information on the state of the portable device and the battery level of the battery received with the reception means, the battery level threshold reach time being a time at which the battery level of the battery reaches below a threshold;

means for predicting a travel end time, the travel end time being a time at which the vehicle ends traveling;

means for causing a notifier device to notify the passenger of prompt battery charge information when the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the predicted travel end time, the prompt battery charge information being information that prompts the passenger to charge the battery;

means for acquiring a present position of the vehicle;

means for designating a destination; and

means for predicting a destination arrival time based on the acquired present position of the vehicle and the designated destination, the destination arrival time being a time at which the vehicle arrives at the destination,

wherein

the travel end time predicting means uses the predicted destination arrival time as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time, when the destination is designated by the destination designating means; and

the travel end time predicting means uses a time that is based on a past travel history of the vehicle as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end, time, when the destination is not designated by the destination designating means.

8. The in-vehicle apparatus of claim 3, wherein the in-vehicle apparatus is a vehicle navigation apparatus, the portable device is a cellular phone, and the vehicle navigation apparatus is configured to enable the passenger of the vehicle to control operation of the cellular phone via short range wireless communication link.

9. The in-vehicle apparatus of claim 3, wherein the past travel history uses an estimated time of arrival at home as the travel end time, when the vehicle travels on a route to the home and the destination is not designated.

4. An in-vehicle communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a connection component configured to connect a short range wireless communication link between an in-vehicle apparatus and a portable device, such that the short range wireless communication link enables a passenger of the vehicle to control an operation of the portable device by manipulating the in-vehicle apparatus;

a battery level prediction component configured to predict a battery level threshold reach time based on a state of the portable device and a battery level of a battery of the portable device, the battery level threshold reach time being a time at which the battery level of the battery reaches below a threshold;

a travel end time prediction component configured to predict a travel end time, the travel end time being a time at which the vehicle ends traveling;

a notification control component configured to cause a notifier device to notify the passenger of prompt battery charge information when the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the predicted travel end time, the prompt battery charge information being information that prompts the passenger to charge the battery;

a present position acquisition component configured to acquire a present position of the vehicle;

a destination setting component configured to designate a destination; and

a destination arrival time prediction component configured to predict a destination arrival time based on the acquired present position of the vehicle and the designated destination, the destination arrival time being a time at which the vehicle arrives at the destination,

wherein

the travel end time prediction component uses the predicted destination arrival time as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time, when the destination is designated by the destination setting component; and

the travel end time prediction component uses a time that is based on a past travel history of the vehicle as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time, when the destination is not designated by the destination setting component.

10. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 4, wherein the in-vehicle apparatus is a vehicle navigation apparatus, the portable device is a cellular phone, and the vehicle navigation apparatus is configured to enable the passenger of the vehicle to control operation of the cellular phone via the short range wireless communication link.

11. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 4, wherein the past travel history uses an estimated time of arrival at home as the travel end time, when the vehicle travels on a route to the home and the destination is not designated.

5. An in-vehicle apparatus mountable to a vehicle and usable in an in-vehicle communication system in which the in-vehicle apparatus and a portable device capable of being carried by a passenger are connectable with each other via a short range wireless communication link such that the short range wireless communication link enables the passenger to control an operation of the portable device by manipulating the in-vehicle apparatus, the in-vehicle apparatus comprising:

a reception component configured to receive information on a state of the portable device and a battery level of a battery of the portable device, the information being transmitted from the portable device;

a battery level prediction component configured to predict a battery level threshold reach time based on the information on the state of the portable device and the battery level of the battery received with the reception component, the battery level threshold reach time being a time at which the battery level of the battery reaches below a threshold;

a travel end time prediction component configured to predict a travel end time, the travel end time being a time at which the vehicle ends traveling;

a notification control component configured to cause a notifier device to notify the passenger of prompt battery charge information when the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the predicted travel end time, the prompt battery charge information being information that prompts the passenger to charge the battery;

a present position acquisition component configured to acquire a present position of the vehicle;

a destination setting component configured to designate a destination; and

a destination arrival time prediction component configured to predict a destination arrival time based on the acquired present position of the vehicle and the designated destination, the destination arrival time being a time at which the vehicle arrives at the destination,

wherein

the travel end time prediction component uses the predicted destination arrival time as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time, when the destination is designated by the destination setting component and

the travel end time prediction component uses a time that is based on a past travel history of the vehicle as the travel end time to determine whether the predicted battery level threshold reach time is prior to the travel end time, when the destination is not designated by the destination setting component.

12. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 5, wherein the in-vehicle apparatus is a vehicle navigation apparatus, the portable device is a cellular phone, and the vehicle navigation apparatus is configured to enable the passenger of the vehicle to control operation of the cellular phone via the short range wireless communication link.

13. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 5, wherein the past travel history uses an estimated time of arrival at home as the travel end time, when the vehicle travels on a route to the home and the destination is not designated.