Communication system and method for a mobile object

• US 20030020602A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hiroyuki, Hata, Naomichi, Tawada, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US10/180,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A communication system installed in a mobile object includes a communication module designed for data communication data, and a connecting portion to which an audio communication device is connected. When the communication module is installed in the mobile object, it is possible to talk with another without using the communication

Claims

1. A communication system installed in a mobile object, comprising:

a communication module designed for data communication; and

a connecting portion to which an audio communication device is connected that enables audio communication.

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

the audio communication device is connected to the connecting portion via a wire.

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

the audio communication device is connected to the connecting portion in a wireless manner.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hands-free unit designed to talk with a subscriber via the audio communication device.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input device that inputs a request for a predetermined service; and

a transmission device that transmits a request for the predetermined service to a specific subscriber via the communication module if the request for the predetermined service is input.

6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein:

contents transmitted from the specific subscriber in accordance with the request for the predetermined service are received via the communication module.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, further comprising:

an image display unit; and

a display that displays an image on the image display unit on the basis of the contents received via the communication module.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein:

the mobile object is a vehicle, and

a battery installed in the vehicle to start an engine supplies the communication module with an electric power.

9. The communication system according to claim 6, further comprising:

an audio output unit; and

an audio device that outputs music from the audio output unit on the basis of the contents received via the communication module.

10. The communication system according to claim 9, wherein:

the mobile object is a vehicle, and

a battery installed in the vehicle to start an engine supplies the communication module with an electric power.

11. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein:

the mobile object is a vehicle, and

a battery installed in the vehicle to start an engine supplies the communication module with an electric power.

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

the mobile object is a vehicle, and

a battery installed in the vehicle to start an engine supplies the communication module with an electric power.

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

the audio communication device is a cellular phone.

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

the mobile object is a portable terminal.

15. A method of communication for a communication system adapted to a mobile object, comprising the steps of:

communicating data by a communication module; and

audibly communicating by an audio output unit independently from the data communication.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

inputting a request for a predetermined service; and

transmitting the request for the predetermined service to a specific subscriber via the communication module if the request for the predetermined service is input.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

receiving contents transmitted from the specific subscriber in accordance with the request for the predetermined service via the communication module.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

displaying an image on an image display unit on the basis of contents received via the communication module.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

outputting music from the audio output unit on the basis of contents received via the communication module.