Automatic call forwarding to in-vehicle telematics system

• US 20070086579A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Elliott, Lorello, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,161,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• 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 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

Cell phone calls are automatically call forwarded to an in-vehicle telematics system when a driver using the cell phone is in their vehicle. Presence of the driver may be detected, e.g., by detection of a key in the ignition and presumption that the driver is in the vehicle while the key is in the ignition. The in-vehicle telematics unit signals that its driver is present. A phone number lookup is performed, e.g., by a third party database service associating cell phone number and wireless carrier with a telematics phone number of the drivers vehicle. A call forwarding request is then made between the telematics network to the relevant wireless carrier providing service to the driver'"'"'s cell phone. The correct wireless carrier network is contacted, and a call forward is established to the telematics system of the driver'"'"'s vehicle. When the driver leaves the vehicle, the call forwarding is terminated.

Claims

1. Apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device, comprising:

an occupant recognition module to detect a presence of a driver within a vehicle; and

an automatic call forwarding module to initiate a wireless sending of a call forwarding request ON command to a wireless carrier providing wireless phone service to said wireless device associated with said driver, upon said detected presence of said driver within said vehicle;

wherein said call forwarding request ON command establishes a call forwarding of future calls to a wireless device associated with said driver.

2. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said call forwarding request ON command is transmitted to a telematics operations center by a telematics unit of said vehicle.

3. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said driver is detected as being present only when said vehicle is in an operating condition.

4. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said wireless device is a cell phone.

5. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said driver recognition module further comprises:

an ignition sensor to detect said presence of said driver within said vehicle when a key associated with said driver is inserted in an ignition of said vehicle.

6. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 5, wherein:

said key is unique to one of a plurality of frequent drivers of said vehicle.

7. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 6, wherein:

said plurality of frequent drivers is two, such that said key detects a presence of either of two frequent drivers of said vehicle.

8. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said driver recognition module further comprises:

a short range radio frequency communication module in said vehicle to detect said presence of said driver within said vehicle when said wireless device associated with said driver communicates with said short range radio frequency communication module.

9. The apparatus to establish transfer of incoming calls to a wireless device according to claim 8, wherein:

said short range radio frequency communication module is a Bluetooth™

communication module.

10. A method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device, comprising:

detecting a presence of an occupant in a vehicle; and

initiating a wireless message to be transmitted from said vehicle requesting transfer of all future calls to a given wireless device associated with said driver to another wireless device associated with said occupant.

11. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 10, wherein:

said another wireless device is a telematics unit in said vehicle.

12. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 10, further comprising:

performing a lookup of at least one phone number to be call forwarded when said occupant is detected present in said vehicle.

13. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said lookup is performed by a third party database service.

14. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

results of said lookup are transmitted via a signaling system No. 7 (SS7) protocol.

15. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

results of said lookup are transmitted via an Internet Protocol (IP).

16. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 15, wherein:

results of said lookup are transmitted via a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

17. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 10, further comprising:

detecting an operating condition of said vehicle.

18. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 10, wherein:

said presence of said occupant is detected by an ignition to said vehicle.

19. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 18, wherein:

said ignition detects a presence of a key associated with said occupant inserted in said ignition.

20. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 10, further comprising:

ending said established call transfer upon detection of said occupant not being present in said vehicle.

21. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 17, further comprising:

ending said established call transfer upon detection of said vehicle no longer being in said operating condition.

22. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wirelesss device according to claim 10, wherein:

said wireless device is a cell phone.

23. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 10, wherein:

said wireless message is transmitted by a telematics unit mounted in said vehicle.

24. The method of establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 23, wherein:

said telematics unit is mounted in said vehicle at a time of manufacture of said vehicle.

25. Apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device, comprising:

means for detecting a presence of an occupant in a vehicle; and

means for initiating a wireless message to be transmitted from said vehicle requesting transfer of all future calls to a given wireless device associated with said driver to another wireless device associated with said occupant.

26. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 25, wherein:

said another wireless device is a telematics unit in said vehicle.

27. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for performing a lookup of at least one phone number to be call forwarded when said occupant is detected present in said vehicle.

28. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 27, wherein:

said lookup is performed by a third party database service.

29. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 27, wherein:

results of said lookup are transmitted via signaling system No. 7 (SS7) protocol.

30. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for detecting an operating condition of said vehicle.

31. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 25, wherein:

said presence of said occupant is detected by an ignition to said vehicle.

32. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 31, wherein:

said ignition detects a presence of a key associated with said occupant inserted in said ignition.

33. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for ending said established call transfer upon detection of said driver not being present in said vehicle.

34. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wireless device according to claim 30, further comprising:

means for ending said established call transfer upon detection of said vehicle no longer being in said operating condition.

35. The apparatus for establishing a call transfer in a wireless network to a wirelesss device according to claim 25, wherein:

said wireless device is a cell phone.