Communication system, vehicle-mounted communication system, communication device, and vehicle-mounted device

• US 6,587,756 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hatakeyama, Takeshi, Kitao, Mitsuru, Kurosaki, Toshihiko, Moriguchi, Kenichi, Tomoda, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/836,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/33, 701/114, 701/117, 701/101, 701/102, 340/438, 340/991, 340/933
• US Class Current: 701/1
• 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: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A communication system, a vehicle-mounted communication system, a communication device, and a vehicle-mounted device, which can easily and simultaneously set plural devices which are connected by a network. A communication terminal (server) comprises a storage medium interface to or from which a storage medium can be inserted or removed, and each of a plurality of devices comprises a control means for controlling reading of setting information from the storage medium which has been inserted into the storage medium interface of the communication terminal (server) or writing of the setting information to the storage medium, via a network, and a setting part for setting the self-device on the basis of the setting information read from the storage medium.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a channel;

a first device comprising a storage medium interface into which a storage medium can be inserted and from which the storage medium can be removed; and

a second device comprising;

a control means for controlling reading of setting information of said second device from the storage medium inserted into said storage medium interface of said first device via said channel, and for controlling writing of setting information of said second device onto the storage medium of said first device via said channel; and

a setting means for carrying out setting of said second device based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium;

wherein;

said first device and said second device are connected by said channel;

said first device and said second device establish communication via said channel; and

the setting information of said second device comprises device information which is information for setting an environment of said second device and which can be set and updated by a user.

3. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, with start-up of said communication system as a trigger, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, with insertion of the storage medium into said storage medium interface as a trigger, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

7. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, with receipt of a message from a third device connected to said channel, for requesting update of setting information as a trigger, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

8. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

when the setting of said second device according to the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium is updated by an operation of the user, said second device writes the setting information of said second device obtained by the setting being updated into the storage medium via said channel.

9. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes setting information for each person.

10. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes user interface setting information concerning setting of a user interface of a Human Machine Interface device, and

when said second device is a Human Machine Interface device, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the user interface setting information which is included in the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

11. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes voice recognition information concerning voice recognition for each person stored in a voice recognition device, and

said second device is a voice recognition device, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the voice recognition information which is included in the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

12. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes executable program information, and

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and executes a program based on the program information which is included in the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

13. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 comprising a relay device which is connected to said channel and to a further channel different from said first channel,

said relay device comprising plural communication means for establishing communications with said channel and said further channel, respectively, and a control means for controlling relay between said channel and said further channel.

14. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

said first device is connected to said channel and to a further channel different from said channel, and performs relay between said channel and said further channel.

15. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the storage medium is a memory card.

16. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the storage medium is a PCMCIA card.

17. The communication system of claim 1 or 2 wherein

the storage medium is an IC card.

18. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, with turning-on of an ignition key or start-up of an engine of the vehicle as a trigger, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

19. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

said first device or said second device analyzes contents of vehicle speed information transmitted from a vehicle speed sensor, and when recognizing that the vehicle speed is higher than a prescribed speed, controls the setting of said second device not to be carried out.

20. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

said first device or said second device analyzes contents of status information indicating an engine operation status transmitted from an engine sensor, and when recognizing that the engine is working, controls the setting of said second device not to be carried out.

21. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes seat position setting information concerning a seat position for each person, and

said second device is a device for setting the seat position of the vehicle, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the seat position setting information which is included in the setting information read from the storage medium.

22. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes mirror position setting information concerning a mirror position of the vehicle for each person, and

said second device is a device for setting the mirror position of the vehicle, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the mirror position setting information which is included in the setting information read from the storage medium.

23. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage means includes handle position setting information concerning a handle position of the vehicle for each person, and

said second device is a device for setting a handle position of the vehicle, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the handle position setting information which is included in the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

24. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes air conditioner setting information concerning an air conditioner environment for each person, and

said second device is an air conditioner device, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the air conditioner setting information of said second device which is included in the setting information read from the storage medium.

25. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes car audio setting information concerning a car audio environment for each person, and

said second device is a car audio device, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the car audio setting information of said second device which is included in the setting information read from the storage medium.

26. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising said communication system of claim 1 or 2 to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein

the setting information of said second device stored in the storage medium includes car navigator setting information concerning a car navigator environment for each person, and

said second device is a car navigator device, said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the car navigator setting information which is included in the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

2. A communication system comprising:

a channel;

a first device comprising a radio interface operable to establish radio communication with a storage medium which includes a radio interface; and

a second device comprising;

a control means for controlling reading of setting information of said second device from the storage medium via said radio interface of said first device, and for controlling writing of setting information of said second device onto the storage medium of said first device via said channel; and

a setting means for carrying out setting of said second device based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium;

wherein;

said first device and said second device are connected by said channel;

said first device and said second device establish communication via said channel; and

the setting information of said second device comprises device information which is information for setting an environment of said second device and which can be set and updated by a user.

5. The communication system of claim 2 wherein

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, with said first device and the storage medium becoming communicable by radio via said radio interface as a trigger, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium.

6. The communication system of claim 2 wherein

said second device establishes communication with said first device via said channel, with said first device and the storage medium becoming communicable by radio via said radio interface as a trigger, and the setting of said second device is carried out based on the setting information of said second device read from the storage medium, and

the setting of said second device is released when said first device and the storage medium become incommunicable by radio via said radio interface as a trigger.

27. A communication device for establishing communication with a further device via a channel, said communication device comprising:

a storage medium interface into which a storage medium can be inserted and from which the storage medium can be removed;

a communication means for establishing communication with the further device via the channel; and

a control means for;

controlling reading of setting information of the further device from the storage medium inserted into said storage medium interface;

receiving the setting information of the further device from the further device via the channel; and

controlling writing of the received setting information of the further device onto the storage medium;

wherein the setting information of the further device comprises device information which is information for setting an environment of the further device and which can be set and updated by a user.

28. The communication device of claim 27 wherein

said control means reads the setting information of the further device from the storage medium which has been inserted into said storage medium interface to transmit the setting information to the further device, with receipt of a message for requesting the setting information of the further device from the further device as a trigger.

29. The communication device of claim 27 wherein

said control means reads access address information to the storage medium which has been inserted into said storage medium interface to transmit the access address information to the further device, with start-up of the communication device as a trigger.

30. The communication device of claim 27, wherein

said control means reads the setting information of the further device from the storage medium which has been inserted into said storage medium interface to transmit the setting information to the further device, with start-up of the communication device as a trigger.

31. The communication device of claim 27 wherein

said control means transmits a message indicating that the storage medium has been inserted into said storage medium interface, to the further device, with the insertion of the storage medium into said storage medium interface as a trigger.

32. The communication device of claim 27 wherein

said control means reads the setting information of the further device from the storage medium which has been inserted into said storage medium interface to transmit the setting information of the further device to the further device, with the insertion of the storage medium into said storage medium interface as a trigger.

36. A vehicle-mounted device comprising said communication device of claim 27 or 33 to be mounted on a vehicle.

37. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 36 wherein

when vehicle speed information is received from a vehicle speed sensor by said communication means, said control means analyzes contents of the vehicle speed information and when recognizing that the vehicle speed is higher than a prescribed speed, controls the setting information of the further device read from the storage medium which has been inserted into said storage medium interface so as not to be transmitted to the further device.

38. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 36 wherein

when status information indicating an engine operation status is received from an engine sensor by said communication means, said control means analyzes contents of the status information and when recognizing that the engine is working, controls the setting information of the further device read from the storage medium which has been inserted into said storage medium interface so as not to be transmitted to the further device.

33. A communication device for establishing communication with a further device via a channel, said communication device comprising:

a radio interface for establishing radio communication with a storage medium having a radio interface;

a communication means for establishing communication with the further device via the channel; and

a control means for;

controlling reading of setting information of the further device from the storage medium;

receiving the setting information of the further device from the further device via the channel; and

controlling writing of the received setting information of the further device onto the storage medium via said radio interface;

wherein the setting information of the further device comprises device information which is information for setting an environment of the further device and which can be set and updated by a user.

34. The communication device of claim 33 wherein

said control means transmits a message indicating that the storage medium has been found, to the further device, with a trigger being that radio communication becomes possible via the storage medium and said radio interface.

35. The communication device of claim 33 wherein

said control means reads the setting information of the further device from the storage medium via said radio interface to transmit the setting information of the further device to the further device, with a trigger being that radio communication becomes possible via the storage medium and said radio interface.

39. A communication device for establishing communication with a further device via a channel, said communication device comprising:

a communication means for establishing communication with the further device via the channel;

a control means for controlling reading of setting information of said communication device from the further device via the channel, and for controlling writing of the setting information of said communication device onto the further device via the channel; and

a setting means for carrying out setting of said communication device based on the setting information of said communication device which is read from the further device and received by said communication means;

wherein the setting information of said communication device comprises device information which is information for setting an environment of said communication device and which can be set and updated by a user, and when the setting of said communication device is obtained by being set or updated by the user into said communication device, said control means controls writing of the setting information of said communication device obtained by the setting updated by the user, onto the further device.

40. The communication device of claim 39 wherein

said control means creates a message for requesting the setting information to transmit the message to the further device, with start-up of said communication device as a trigger.

41. The communication device of claim 39 wherein

said control means creates a message for requesting access address information required for the communication with the further device to transmit the message by broadcast, with start-up of said communication device as a trigger, and

when said communication means receives the access address information from the further device, said communication means transmits a message for requesting setting information based on the access address information.

42. The communication device of claim 39 wherein

said communication means transmits a message for requesting setting information, with receipt of a message for requesting setting information from a third device which is connected to the channel as a trigger.

43. The communication device of claim 39 further comprising a default setting storage means for containing default setting information of said communication device, wherein

when said setting means receives setting information from the further device, said setting means carries out the setting of said communication device based on the setting information, and when said setting means receives no setting information from the further device, said setting means carries out the setting of said communication device based on the default setting information.

44. A vehicle-mounted device comprising said communication device of claim 39 to be mounted on a vehicle.

45. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 44 wherein

when vehicle speed information is received from a vehicle speed sensor by said communication means, said control means analyzes contents of the vehicle speed information and when recognizing that the vehicle speed is higher than a prescribed speed, controls said setting means so as not to execute the setting of said communication device.

46. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 44 wherein

when status information indicating an engine operation status is received from an engine sensor by said communication means, said control means analyzes contents of the status information and when recognizing that the engine is working, controls said setting means so as not to execute the setting of said communication device.