Method and apparatus for providing power and wireless protocol capability to a wireless device, such as a wireless phone

• US 7,006,851 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, David William James, Nelson, Thomas Edwin East
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US10/630,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050176369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/569.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/575.9, 455/572, 455/573
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include a apparatus for coupling with a vehicle having a wireless protocol-enabled device, such as a hands-free car kit, and a power supply and for coupling with a wireless device. The wireless protocol may be a protocol such as Bluetooth, and the wireless device may be a wireless phone. The apparatus comprises a charge cord, a vehicle adapter located at a first end of the charge cord, and a connector located at a second end of a charge cord. The vehicle adapter couples the power supply to the charge cord, and the connector couples the charge cord with the wireless device. The apparatus also comprises a wireless protocol module operably connected to the charge cord, wherein the module comprises logic to exchange communications signals between the wireless protocol-enabled device and the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for coupling a vehicle having a wireless protocol-enabled device and a power supply to a wireless device, the method comprising:

coupling with the vehicle power supply by way of a cigarette lighter adapter or vehicle accessory outlet;

connecting with the wireless device;

providing a conduit for power between the vehicle power supply and the wireless device;

transmitting audio information using the wireless protocol to the wireless protocol-enabled device;

receiving audio information using the wireless protocol from the wireless protocol-enabled device; and

communicating the audio information to and from the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless protocol is Bluetooth.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising translating the audio information to and from the wireless protocol to a form compatible with the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a wireless phone.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless protocol-enabled device is a hands-free car kit.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising wirelessly exchanging signals under a Bluetooth protocol with the wireless protocol-enabled device.

7. A method for manufacturing a connection device, comprising:

integrating a wireless protocol module into a charge cord, wherein the charge cord is adapted to deliver electrical power to a wireless device from a vehicle power supply, and wherein the wireless protocol module is configured to transmit and receive packetized data under the wireless protocol; and

at least partially enclosing the wireless protocol module in a housing.

8. An apparatus for coupling a mobile device to a power supply and a wireless protocol enabled device, comprising:

a charge cord having a first end and a second end, the charge cord for providing power from the power supply to the mobile device;

a power adapter located at the first end of the charge cord, the power adapter for coupling the power supply to the charge cord;

a connector coupled to the second end of the charge cord, the connector for coupling the charge cord to the mobile device; and

a wireless protocol module coupled to the charge cord, the wireless protocol module for wirelessly coupling the mobile device to the wireless protocol enabled device, wherein the wireless protocol module is configured to transmit and receive packetized data under the wireless protocol;

wherein the charge cord also provides power to the wireless protocol module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless protocol is selected from Bluetooth, the IEEE 802.11, and HomeRF.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless protocol enabled device is a vehicle hands-free kit capable of communicating via the wireless protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless protocol enabled device is a headset capable of communicating via the wireless protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the charge cord conveys at least one of data and voice from the connector coupled with the mobile device to the wireless protocol module.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power adapter is a vehicle cigarette lighter adapter.