MOBILE TERMINAL, IN-VEHICLE APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20120258702A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuyama, Shigeo
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• 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: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile terminal for communicating with an in-vehicle apparatus includes: a mobile connection detection device for detecting connection between the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus; and a mobile control device for controlling a plurality of functions, each of which is executed by consuming electric power of the mobile terminal. When the mobile connection detection device detects the connection, the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing one of the functions in the mobile terminal. This enables to save power consumption of the mobile terminal without turning off the mobile terminal when it is brought into a vehicle compartment.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal for communicating with an in-vehicle apparatus comprising:

a mobile connection detection device for detecting connection between the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus; and

a mobile control device for controlling a plurality of functions, each of which is executed by consuming electric power of the mobile terminal,

wherein, when the mobile connection detection device detects the connection, the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions, which is equivalent to a function in the in-vehicle apparatus or a communication terminal connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, and

wherein the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal is executed by consuming electric power.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

an equivalent function determination device for determining whether the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal includes the function equivalent to the one of the functions in the mobile terminal, and

wherein the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal when the equivalent function determination device determines that the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal includes the function equivalent to the one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, further comprising:

a mobile input device for accepting an input operation from a user,

wherein the equivalent function determination device determines that the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal includes the function equivalent to the one of the functions in the mobile terminal when the mobile input device accepts the input operation for utilizing the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal as an alternative way to the one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

an operation determination device for determining whether the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal is running,

wherein the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal after the operation determination device determines that the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal is running.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 2,

wherein the mobile control device transmits data for the in-vehicle apparatus to the in-vehicle apparatus when the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 2,

wherein the mobile control device requests the in-vehicle apparatus to transmit data for the mobile terminal when the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

an error information acquisition device for acquiring error information about the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal,

wherein the mobile control device cancels suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal based on the error information so that the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is executed.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 2,

wherein the mobile connection detection device detects disconnection with the in-vehicle apparatus, and

wherein, when the mobile connection detection device detects the disconnection, the mobile control device cancels suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal so that the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is executed.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driving state information acquisition device for acquiring information about a driving state of a vehicle from the in-vehicle apparatus,

wherein the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal in accordance with the information about the driving state.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 10,

wherein the mobile control device increases a degree of suppression of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal as a vehicle speed in the information about the driving state decreases.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 10,

wherein the mobile control device stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal when the driving state information acquisition device acquires the information that the vehicle stops driving.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 10,

wherein the mobile control device stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal when the mobile control device determines that a vehicle speed in the information about the driving state is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile storage device for storing information, which indicates the one of the functions in the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal, which corresponds to the information stored in the mobile storage device.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, further comprising:

a mobile input device for accepting an input operation from a user,

wherein the mobile storage device stores the information, which is input by the user via the mobile input device.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is provided by an application software running on an operating system, which is installed in the mobile terminal, and

wherein the mobile control device suppresses executing the application software by reducing a process repetition, stops executing the application by stopping a process in the application software, or stops executing the application software by terminating an activation of the application software.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the functions in the mobile terminal includes at least one of a screen display function of displaying information on a screen, an audio output function of outputting a sound, an input function of accepting an input operation from a user, an acceleration detection function of detecting acceleration, a gyroscope detection function of detecting a magnitude of rotational motion, a brightness detection function of detecting brightness, a GPS reception function of receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite, and a digital broadcasting reception function of receiving a digital broadcast signal.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a display; and

a mobile illumination device for illuminating the display,

wherein suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to decrease illumination brightness or to turn off the mobile illumination device.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a speaker,

wherein suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to decrease a volume of audio output from the speaker or to stop the audio output.

20. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a mobile input device for accepting the input operation from the user,

wherein stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to stop accepting the input operation.

21. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration,

wherein suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to reduce repetition of detecting the acceleration or to stop detecting the acceleration.

22. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a gyroscope that detects a magnitude of rotational motion,

wherein suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to reduce repetition of detecting the magnitude of rotational motion or to stop detecting the magnitude of rotational motion.

23. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

an illuminance sensor that detects brightness,

wherein suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to reduce repetition of detecting the brightness or to stop detecting the brightness.

24. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a GPS receiver that receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite,

wherein suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to reduce repetition of receiving the radio wave or to stop receiving the radio wave.

25. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a digital broadcasting receiver that receives a digital broadcast signal,

wherein stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is to stop receiving the digital broadcast signal.

26. An in-vehicle apparatus for communicating with a portable mobile terminal, comprising:

an in-vehicle connection detection device for detecting connection between the in-vehicle apparatus and the mobile terminal; and

an in-vehicle control device for transmitting an instruction signal to the mobile terminal,

wherein the instruction signal represents a control of a plurality of functions in the mobile terminal, the functions executed by consuming electric power of the mobile terminal, and

wherein, when the in-vehicle connection detection device detects the connection, the in-vehicle control device transmits the instruction signal to the mobile terminal so as to suppress or stop executing one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

27. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein the in-vehicle control device transmits the instruction signal to the mobile terminal so as to suppress or stop executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal, which is equivalent to a function in the in-vehicle apparatus or a communication terminal connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, and

wherein the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal is executed by consuming electric power.

28. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 27,

wherein the in-vehicle control device transmits the instruction signal to the mobile terminal so as to suppress or stop executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal after the in-vehicle control device controls the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal to activate the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal, which is equivalent to the one of the functions in the mobile terminal.

29. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:

an error detection device for detecting an error concerning the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal,

wherein the in-vehicle control device transmits the instruction to the mobile terminal so as to cancel suppression or stoppage of the one of the functions in the mobile terminal so that the one of the functions in the mobile terminal is executed, the one of the functions being equivalent to the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal, in which the error detection device detects the error.

30. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 27,

wherein the in-vehicle connection detection device detects disconnection with the mobile terminal, and

wherein, when the in-vehicle connection detection device detects the disconnection, the in-vehicle control device recovers the function in the in-vehicle apparatus or the communication terminal equivalent to the one of functions in the mobile terminal so that a state before the in-vehicle connection detection device detects the connection is recovered.

31. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

a driving state detection device for detecting a driving state of a vehicle,

wherein the in-vehicle control device transmits the instruction to the mobile terminal so as to suppress or stop executing the one of the functions in the mobile terminal in accordance with the driving state.

32. A communication system comprising:

an in-vehicle apparatus mounted on a vehicle; and

a mobile terminal for communicating with the in-vehicle apparatus,

wherein the in-vehicle apparatus includes;

a vehicle connection detection device for detecting connection between the in-vehicle apparatus and the mobile terminal; and

an in-vehicle control device that controls a first function in the in-vehicle apparatus, the first function executed by consuming electric power,

wherein the mobile terminal includes;

a mobile connection detection device for detecting connection between the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus; and

a mobile control device for controlling a second function in the mobile terminal, the second function executed by consuming electric power of the mobile terminal, and equivalent to the first function,

wherein, when the vehicle connection detection device detects the connection, the in-vehicle control device controls the first function to be active, and

wherein, when the mobile connection detection device detects the connection, the mobile control device controls the second function to suppress or stop executing the second function.

33. The communication system according to claim 32,

wherein the in-vehicle apparatus includes a driving state detection device for detecting a driving state of the vehicle;

wherein the mobile terminal includes a driving state information acquisition device for acquiring information about the driving state from the in-vehicle apparatus;

wherein the in-vehicle control device controls the first function to be active based on the driving state, and

wherein the mobile control device suppresses or stops executing the second function based on the information about the driving state.

34. The communication system according to claim 32,

wherein the in-vehicle apparatus includes an error detection device for detecting an error in the first function,

wherein the mobile terminal includes an error information acquisition device for acquiring error information about the first function from the in-vehicle apparatus,

wherein the in-vehicle control device stops executing the first function when the error detection device detects the error in the first function, and

wherein the mobile control device controls the second function to be active when the error information acquisition device acquires the error information.

35. A computer readable medium comprising instructions being executed by a computer, the instructions including a computer-implemented method for controlling a mobile terminal to communicate with an in-vehicle apparatus mounted on a vehicle, wherein the mobile terminal includes:

a mobile connection detection device for detecting connection between the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus; and

a mobile control device for controlling a plurality of functions, each of which is executed by consuming electric power of the mobile terminal, the instructions including;

controlling the mobile control device to suppress or stop executing one of functions in the mobile terminal when the mobile connection detection device detects the connection.

36. A method for controlling a plurality of functions in a mobile terminal, which communicates with an in-vehicle apparatus mounted on a vehicle, the functions executed by consuming electric power of the mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting connection between the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus; and

suppressing or stopping execution of one of the functions in the mobile terminal when the connection is detected between the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus.