SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PRIVACY MODE OPERATION IN A VEHICLE

• US 20120122525A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Bennie, Brian, Elliott, Doron M., Hatton, David Anthony, Jablonski, Gary
• Application Number:
  US13/384,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20120122525A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

In at least one embodiment an apparatus that includes a communication module is provided. the communication module is configured to enable a driver to control the operation of a portable occupant communication device (OCD) in a hands free mode and to transmit a first command to the portable OCD to disable the hands free mode and to activate a privacy mode for enabling the driver to control the OCD via switches positioned on the OCD. The communication module is further configured to receive a driver performance signal that is indicative of the driver'"'"'s performance while the privacy mode is active and to transmit a second command to the portable OCD to deactivate the privacy mode and to reactivate the hands free mode based on the driver performance signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication module positioned within a vehicle and being configured to;

enable a driver to control the operation of a portable occupant communication device (OCD) in a hands free mode;

transmit a first command to the portable OCD to disable the hands free mode and to activate a privacy mode for enabling the driver to control the OCD via switches positioned on the OCD;

receive a driver performance signal that is indicative of the driver'"'"'s performance while the privacy mode is active; and

transmit a second command to the portable OCD to deactivate the privacy mode and to reactivate the hands free mode based on the driver performance signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit at least one of the first command and the second command over a wireless protocol to the portable OCD.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected electronic stability control event.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected forward collision warning event.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected blind spot monitoring event.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected tailgate warning event.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to a rating that is below a predetermined threshold level that is a measure of the driver'"'"'s potential to drift from a lane or drive off of the road.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to receive a driver status signal indicating whether the driver is one of a primary driver and a secondary driver such that the OCD is further configured to transmit the second command to the portable OCD to deactivate the privacy mode and to reactivate the hands free operation based on the driver status signal indicating that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver and the driver performance signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vehicle grants greater control over vehicle functionality to the primary driver than the control granted to the secondary driver.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to determine if the portable OCD is electronically mated thereto and to transmit a signal to command the driver to electronically mate the portable OCD to the communication module prior to enabling a driver to control the operation of a portable occupant communication device (OCD) in the hands free mode.

11. A method comprising:

electronically enabling a driver to control the operation of a portable occupant communication device (OCD) in a hands free mode;

transmitting a first command to the portable OCD to disable the hands free mode and to activate a privacy mode such that the driver controls the OCD via switches positioned on the OCD;

receiving a driver performance signal that is indicative of the driver'"'"'s performance while the privacy mode is active; and

transmitting a second command to the portable OCD to deactivate the privacy mode and to reactivate the hands free mode based on the driver performance signal.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the first command further comprises transmitting the first command to the OCD on a wireless protocol from the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the second command further comprises transmitting the second to command to the OCD on a wireless protocol from the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected electronic stability control event.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected forward collision warning event.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected blind spot monitoring event.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to at least one detected tailgate warning event.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the driver performance signal corresponds to a rating that is below a predetermined threshold level that is a measure of the driver'"'"'s potential to drift from a lane or drive off of the road.

19. A vehicle apparatus comprising:

a driver status controller configured to receive a wireless signal from a transmitter indicating whether a driver of a vehicle is one of a primary driver and a secondary driver and to transmit a driver status signal over a vehicle communication bus indicating that the driver is the secondary driver;

a communication module configured to;

receive the driver status signal over the vehicle communication bus;

enable the secondary driver to control the operation of a portable occupant communication device (OCD) in a hands free mode;

wirelessly transmit a first command to the portable OCD to disable the hands free mode and to activate a privacy mode for enabling the secondary driver to control the OCD via switches positioned thereon;

receive a driver performance signal over the vehicle communication bus that is indicative of a driving performance for the secondary while the privacy mode is active; and

wirelessly transmit a second command to the portable OCD to deactivate the privacy mode for one of disabling the OCD and reactivating the hands free mode based on the driver'"'"'s performance signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the apparatus grants greater control of vehicle functionality to the primary driver than the amount of control granted to the secondary driver.