SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ENABLING A CAR MODE IN A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20120289215A1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elliott, Doron M., Miller, Thomas Lee, Hatton, David Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for transmitting information to a personal communication device (PCD) is provided. The system includes a communication module for being positioned in a vehicle. The communication module is configured to generate a vehicle status signal indicative of the vehicle being in a moving state and to generate a device name signal indicative of an identity of the communication module in the vehicle. The communication module is further configured to transmit the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD for limiting the operation of the PCD.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting information to a personal communication device (PCD), the system comprising:

a communication module for being positioned in a vehicle and being configured to;

generate a vehicle status signal indicative of the vehicle being in a moving state; and

generate a device name signal indicative of an identity of the communication module in the vehicle; and

transmit the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD for limiting operation of the PCD.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle status signal corresponds to an ignition status being in run.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle status signal corresponds a transmission of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is in a non-parked state.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle status signal corresponds to a park brake status being in a non-parked state.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle status signal corresponds to a vehicle speed exceeding a predetermined vehicle speed.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD to enable a navigation application and to disable touch entry operations.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the touch entry operations include texting, e-mail, and internet access.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication device is further configured to transmit the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD to provide icons for pre-selected functions on a display thereof and increases a size for each displayed icon.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the device name signal further comprises data indicative of at least one of the type of vehicle and vehicle identification number of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the device name signal further comprises data indicative of at least one of the type of vehicle and vehicle identification number of the vehicle.

10. A method for transmitting information to a personal communication device (PCD), the method comprising:

generating a vehicle status signal indicative of a vehicle being in a moving state;

generating a device name signal, at a communication module positioned in a vehicle, the device name signal indicative of an identity of the communication module; and

transmitting the vehicle status signal and the device name signal, from the communication module, to the PCD for limiting operation of the PCD.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD further comprises transmitting the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD to enable navigation applications and to disable touch entry operations thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the touch entry operations include texting, e-mail, and internet access.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD further comprises transmitting the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to the PCD for providing icons for pre-selected functions on a display thereof and for increasing a size for each displayed icon.

15. An apparatus for receiving information from a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a personal communication device (PCD) for receiving a vehicle status signal and a device name signal from a communication module to limit an operation thereof, the vehicle status signal being indicative of the vehicle being in a moving state and the device name signal being indicative of an identity of the communication module that is positioned in the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein PCD is configured to receive the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to enable a navigation application and to disable touch entry operations.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the touch entry operations include texting, e-mail, and internet access.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the PCD is configured to receive the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to provide icons for pre-selected functions on a display thereof and to increase a size for each displayed icon.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the device name signal further comprises data indicative of at least one of the type of vehicle and vehicle identification number of the vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the PCD is configured to receive the vehicle status signal and the device name signal for selectively displaying one or more allowed icons thereof.