Method and system for vehicle-connected operation of mobile device, and such mobile device

• US 9,703,528 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Bokun
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/055,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20140107891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

A vehicle-connected operation system and method includes a vehicle and the mobile device. The vehicle includes an in-vehicle electronic control system activated in response to an ignition start signal, and a vehicle connector coupled to the in-vehicle electronic control system. The mobile device is configured to automatically invoke at least one predefined user function depending on connection or disconnection of the vehicle connector.

Claims

1. A system for vehicle-connected operation of a mobile device, the system comprising:

a vehicle including an in-vehicle electronic control system configured to activate in response to an ignition start signal;

a vehicle connector coupled to the in-vehicle electronic control system; and

a mobile device configured to;

automatically invoke at least one predefined user function from a standby function list in response to a connection of a connector of the mobile device with the vehicle connector and an inactivated state of the in-vehicle electronic control system,

automatically invoke at least one predefined user function from an in-vehicle function list in response to a connection of the connector of the mobile device with the vehicle connector and an activated state of the in-vehicle electronic control system, and

automatically invoke at least one predefined user function from an out-of-vehicle function list in response to a disconnection of the connector of the mobile device with the vehicle connector,

wherein the standby function list, the in-vehicle function list and the out-of-vehicle function list include different sets of functions, and

wherein the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list includes a specific function that is also included in the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list.

2. A mobile device for supporting vehicle-connected operation, the mobile device comprising:

a connector configured to couple to a vehicle connector; and

a hardware control unit configured to;

check a standby function list having at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list in response to a connection of the vehicle connector with the connector and an inactivated state of an in-vehicle electronic control system, and

automatically invoke the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list,

check an in-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list in response to a connection of the vehicle connector with the connector and an activated state of the in-vehicle electronic control system, and

automatically invoke the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list,

wherein the standby function list and the in-vehicle function list include different sets of functions; and

wherein the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list includes a specific function that is also included in the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the control unit is further configured to check an out-of-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list in response to a disconnection of the vehicle connector from the connector, and to automatically invoke the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list.

17. The device of claim 2, wherein the hardware control unit is further configured to:

continue to execute the specific function in response to a connection of the vehicle connector with the connector and a state change of the in-vehicle electronic control system from the inactivated state to the activated state.

18. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list includes a specific function that is also included in the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list;

and

wherein the hardware control unit is further configured to;

continue to execute the specific function in response to a change from a connection to a disconnection of the vehicle connector from the connector and the activated state of the in-vehicle electronic control system.

19. The device of claim 3, wherein the hardware control unit is further configured to at least one of:

in response to a connection of the vehicle connector with the connector and a state change of the in-vehicle electronic control system from the activated state to the inactivated state, inactivate functions registered in the in-vehicle function list but not also registered in the standby function list, and

in response to a change from a connection to a disconnection of the vehicle connector from the connector and the inactivated state of the in-vehicle electronic control system, inactivate functions registered in the standby function list but not also registered in the out-of-vehicle function list.

4. A mobile device for supporting vehicle-connected operation, the device comprising:

a connector configured to connect with a vehicle connector; and

a hardware control unit configured to;

check an out-of-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered therein in response to a disconnection of the vehicle connector from the connector, and to automatically invoke the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list, and

check a standby function list having at least one predefined user function registered therein in response to an in-vehicle electronic control system coupled to the vehicle connector entering an inactivated state, and to automatically invoke the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list,

wherein the standby function list and the out-of-vehicle function list include different sets of functions; and

wherein the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list includes a specific function that is also included in the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the control unit is further configured to check an in-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered therein in response to a reconnection of the vehicle connector with the connector, and to automatically invoke the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list.

6. A method for vehicle-connected operation of a mobile device, the method comprising:

recognizing, by the mobile device, connection of a vehicle connector with a connector of the mobile device;

checking, by the mobile device, a standby function list having at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list, when an in-vehicle electronic control system coupled to the vehicle connector is in an inactivated state;

automatically invoking, by the mobile device, the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list;

checking, by the mobile device, an in-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list when an in-vehicle electronic control system coupled to the vehicle connector is in an activated state; and

automatically invoking, by the mobile device, the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list,

wherein the standby function list and the in-vehicle function list include different sets of functions; and

wherein the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list includes a specific function that is also included in the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the automatically invoking of the user function based on the in-vehicle function list includes at least one of:

invoking a navigation function and outputting a screen associated with the navigation function to a display unit of the mobile device;

invoking a black box function by activating a camera of the mobile device and capturing and storing images by using the camera;

invoking a music play function and playing a predefined music file; and

invoking a broadcast reception function and receiving broadcast data.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

when the in-vehicle function list contains two or more user functions that require a display unit of the mobile device, dividing a screen of the display unit into two or more sections, each section allocated to a corresponding user function.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

recognizing disconnection of the vehicle connector from the connector;

checking an out-of-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered therein; and

automatically invoking the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic invocation of the user function based on the out-of-vehicle function list includes at least one of:

invoking a parking tracking function by activating a location tracking module, collecting location information through the location tracking module, and offering the location information of a parked vehicle; and

invoking a music play function and playing a predefined music file.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic invocation of the user function based on the out-of-vehicle function list includes:

invoking a WiFi access function and performing a radio access point scan.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic invocation of the user function based on the standby function list includes:

invoking a music play function and playing a predefined music file.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic invocation of the user function based on the standby function list includes:

invoking a black box function by activating a camera of the mobile device and capturing and storing images by using the camera.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic invocation of the user function based on the standby function list includes:

invoking a broadcast reception function and receiving broadcast data.

15. A method for vehicle-connected operation of a mobile device, the method comprising:

recognizing, by the mobile device, disconnection of a vehicle connector from a connector of the mobile device;

recognizing, by the mobile device, connection of the vehicle connector from the connector of the mobile device, checking, by the mobile device, an out-of-vehicle function list including at least one predefined user function registered and automatically invoking, by the mobile device, the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list;

recognizing, by the mobile device, connection of the vehicle connector from the connector of the mobile device and an inactive state of an in-vehicle electronic control system;

based upon recognition of the connection of the vehicle connector to the connector of the mobile device and the inactive state of the in-vehicle electronic control system, checking, by the mobile device, a standby function list including at least one predefined user function registered; and

automatically invoking, by the mobile device, the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list; and

wherein the standby function list and an in-vehicle function list includes different sets of functions, and

wherein the at least one predefined user function registered in the standby function list includes a specific function that is also included in the at least one predefined user function registered in the out-of-vehicle function list.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

when the vehicle connector is reconnected with the connector, checking an in-vehicle function list having at least one predefined user function registered therein, and automatically invoking the at least one predefined user function registered in the in-vehicle function list.