Communication system, in-vehicle apparatus, and program product

• US 9,707,902 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/901,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20160280149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A communication system includes an in-vehicle apparatus, a portable information terminal, and a communication auxiliary apparatus that assists communication between the in-vehicle apparatus and the portable information terminal. The communication auxiliary apparatus is provided in a vehicle compartment, and includes a proximity wireless I/F part and a concavity. The proximity wireless I/F part is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, receives data transmitted from the portable information terminal by proximity wireless communication, and also transmits data received from the in-vehicle apparatus to the portable information terminal by the proximity wireless communication. The concavity holds the portable information terminal and enables the proximity wireless communication with the proximity wireless I/F part. The portable information terminal restricts executable applications when the proximity wireless communication with the proximity wireless I/F part is being performed.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

an in-vehicle apparatus that is connected to a plurality of vehicular instruments of a vehicle and is mounted on the vehicle;

a portable information terminal capable of executing a plurality of first applications; and

a communication auxiliary apparatus assisting communication between the in-vehicle apparatus and the portable information terminal, the communication auxiliary apparatus including (i) a communication part that is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, and is capable of receiving data transmitted from the portable information terminal by proximity wireless communication and transmitting data from the in-vehicle apparatus to the portable information terminal by the proximity wireless communication, and (ii) a holding part that is provided in a compartment of the vehicle, holds the portable information terminal, and enables the proximity wireless communication between the portable information terminal that is held and the communication part, wherein;

the portable information terminal restricts an executable application to at least one predetermined second application, the at least one predetermined second application relating to the vehicle, on condition that the portable information terminal is held in the holding part and is performing the proximity wireless communication with the communication part;

the portable information terminal displays, to execute the respective first applications, an initial screen image displaying first application images corresponding to the respective first applications on a screen of the portable information terminal, in response to determining that the portable information terminal is not performing the proximity wireless communication with the communication part; and

the in-vehicle apparatus transmits a command to the portable information terminal via the communication auxiliary apparatus, in response to determining that the portable information terminal is performing the proximity wireless communication with the communication part,

the command making the portable information terminal rewrite the initial screen image to a different screen image on the screen by

deleting, from the screen of the portable information terminal, any unnecessary application image that has been displayed in the initial screen image and is other than at least one second application image corresponding to the at least one predetermined second application to which the executable application is restricted, and

making the different screen image on the screen of the portable information terminal display only the at least one second application image corresponding to the at least one predetermined second application to which the executable application is restricted.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the holding part is a concavity formed on at least either an instrument panel or a dashboard of the vehicle; and

the communication part is disposed in proximity of the concavity.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined second application manipulates one of the vehicular instruments of the vehicle.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined second application is an application that displays information of the vehicle on the screen of the portable information terminal.

5. A program product that includes an instruction of causing the portable information terminal of the communication system according to claim 1 to function, the program product being stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the unnecessary application image, which has been displayed by occupying a displayed area in the initial screen image on the screen of the portable information terminal, is invisible in the different screen image such that the unnecessary application image occupying the displayed area in the initial screen image disappears by being deleted from the screen of the portable information terminal altogether.

7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle apparatus transmits the at least one predetermined second application whose second application image is displayed in the different screen image when transmitting the command to the portable information terminal to cause the portable information terminal to switch, on the screen, from the initial screen image into the different screen image.

8. A communication system, comprising:

an in-vehicle apparatus that is mounted in a vehicle and connected to a plurality of vehicular instruments in the vehicle;

a portable information terminal executing a plurality of first applications used in the portable information terminal; and

a communication auxiliary apparatus assisting communication between the in-vehicle apparatus and the portable information terminal, the communication auxiliary apparatus including (i) a communication part that is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, and is capable of receiving data transmitted from the portable information terminal by proximity wireless communication and transmitting data from the in-vehicle apparatus to the portable information terminal by the proximity wireless communication, and (ii) a holding part that is provided in a compartment of the vehicle, holds the portable information terminal, and enables the proximity wireless communication between the portable information terminal that is held and the communication part,

wherein;

the portable information terminal is enabled to execute second applications that are different from the first applications, the second applications relating to the respective vehicular instruments in the vehicle, on condition that the portable information terminal is held in the holding part and is performing the proximity wireless communication with the communication part;

the portable information terminal displays, to execute the respective first applications used in the portable information terminal, a first screen image that is an initial screen image displaying first application images corresponding to the respective first applications by accommodating the first application images on a screen of the portable information terminal, in response to determining that the portable information terminal is not performing the proximity wireless communication with the communication part; and

the in-vehicle apparatus transmits a command to the portable information terminal via the communication auxiliary apparatus to make the portable information terminal execute the second applications relating to the respective vehicular instruments, in response to determining that the portable information terminal is performing the proximity wireless communication with the communication part,

the command making the portable information terminal switch, on the screen of the portable information terminal, from the first screen image into a second screen image,

the second screen image displaying only second application images corresponding to the second applications respectively relating to the vehicular instruments such that the first applications having been accommodated in the first screen image disappear by being deleted from the screen of the portable information terminal.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein

the in-vehicle apparatus transmits the second applications whose second application images are displayed in the second screen image when transmitting the command to the portable information terminal to cause the portable information terminal to switch, on the screen, from the first screen image into the second screen image.

10. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein:

the holding part is a concavity formed on at least either an instrument panel or a dashboard of the vehicle; and

the communication part is disposed in proximity of the concavity.

11. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the second applications operate the respective vehicular instruments in the vehicle.

12. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the second applications display information of the respective vehicular instruments in the vehicle on the screen of the portable information terminal.