Vehicle to device communication over wired audio connection

• US 9,961,188 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Grover, Joey Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US14/321,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20160006858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 710306-315, 710104-111
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

A vehicle computing system comprising a vehicle auxiliary port and at least one controller. The controller configured to communicate with a nomadic device via a wired connection established between the vehicle auxiliary port and a nomadic device auxiliary port. The controller further configured to transmit data to the nomadic device over the wired auxiliary port connection. The data including one or more control commands for the nomadic device.

Claims

1. A vehicle computing system comprising:

a vehicle headphone jack; and

at least one controller configured to;

communicate with a nomadic device via a wired headphone jack connection established between the vehicle headphone jack and a nomadic device headphone jack; and

transmit packetized data to the nomadic device over the wired headphone jack connection, the data including one or more control commands for the nomadic device.

2. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive metadata from the nomadic device over the wired headphone jack connection, the meta-data providing information relating to a main data stream from the nomadic device.

3. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more commands is a control function via an application protocol interface of one or more applications at the nomadic device.

4. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the wired connection communication is a protocol comprising a pattern of signal input and output that coincides with the nomadic device and the at least one controller.

5. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle headphone jack is configured to receive a connector comprising at least one of a left stereo terminal, a right stereo terminal, a microphone terminal.

6. The vehicle computing system of claim 2, wherein the data stream is music bytes.

7. The vehicle computing system of claim 2, wherein the metadata is at least one of song title, duration of song, and album information.

8. The vehicle computing system of claim 3, wherein the control function is at least one of play, pause, and skip commands.

9. The vehicle computing system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle headphone jack is configured to provide a power source to the nomadic device via the wired connection between the vehicle headphone jack and the nomadic device headphone jack.

10. A mobile device comprising:

at least one controller configured to;

communicate with a vehicle computing system (VCS) via a wired headphone jack connection;

receive an application activation command as packetized data from the VCS over the wired headphone jack connection; and

activate the mobile application responsive to the activation command.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to transmit data based on the mobile application via the wired headphone jack connection.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to receive one or more control commands from a vehicle computing system via the wired headphone jack connection.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the wired headphone jack connection is configured to receive a connector comprising at least one of a left stereo terminal, a right stereo terminal, and a microphone terminal.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the data is metadata providing information relating to a main data stream from the mobile application.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the main data stream is navigation information comprising at least one of audio directions and display directions.

16. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the one or more control commands is a control function via an application protocol interface of one or more applications.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the control function is at least one of destination input, route opinions, and other traffic data.

18. An auxiliary port adapter comprising:

an upper terminal, configured to receive a connector including a left input stereo terminal, a right input stereo terminal, and a microphone input terminal; and

a lower terminal, including a left output stereo terminal, a right output stereo terminal, and a microphone output terminal, wherein the adapter is configured to;

receive a packetized control signal interleaved with raw audio over the right input stereo terminal or the left input stereo terminal, via the upper terminal and pass the signal to the microphone output terminal.

19. The auxiliary port adapter of claim 18, wherein the adapter further includes a processor configured to:

differentiate between received signals intended for a right output stereo terminal, a left output stereo terminal and a microphone output stereo terminal; and

pass the received signals to intended output terminals based on the differentiation.

20. The auxiliary port adapter of claim 19, wherein differentiation is performed based on header information included with the signals.