Combined rear view mirror and telephone

• US 8,082,009 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: Akihabara Limited LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Baratono, Ronald, Abbas, Mossad
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US11/932,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/569.2, 455/569.1, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 455/345, 455/344, 455/90.2, 455/575.2, 455/566, 340/425.5, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/426.36, 340/815.73, 340/815.4
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• 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

Abstract

A mobile telephone or cellular telephone unit and a rear view mirror housing of an automobile are combined to provide an improved telephone apparatus that enables a hands-free use by a driver while operating the vehicle, the improved telephone apparatus includes a rear view mirror housing, the housing including a rear view mirror, telephone and SIM card for sending and receiving telephone calls and instant video image, the image display and SIM card are removably connected thereto. A telephone key pad is cooperatively connected to the telephone for dialing the telephone. An attachment bracket attaches the mirror housing to the vehicle. The housing has the electronic circuitry incorporated therewith to which a telephone and video assembly is connectable. A remote device, and computer process to communicate with the motor vehicle without the need for an automated hub, or Network Operating Center (NOC).

Claims

1. A method of providing hands-free communication in a vehicle using an integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a service provider remote to the vehicle using the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus, the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus comprising electronic telephonic circuitry configured to communicate telephone information;

receiving, by the electronic telephonic circuitry, telephone information from said remote service provider;

receiving, using a short range wireless protocol, data from an apparatus in the vehicle, wherein the apparatus is separate from the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus;

rendering, by the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus, user output based on said telephone information from said remote service provider and said data from the apparatus; and

transmitting outgoing telephone information to said remote service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic telephonic circuitry in the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus includes cellular telephonic circuitry for placing telephone calls.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus further comprises video circuitry including a video communication processor, the video circuitry configured to receive and transmit images.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus further comprises a video camera disposed therein, wherein said video camera is in electrical circuit relation with said video circuitry.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving voice and images from said remote service provider;

rendering said voice and images using the electronic telephonic circuitry and said video circuitry;

transmitting voice data to said remote service provider using the electronic telephonic circuitry; and

transmitting images to said remote service provider by sending a field of view received by said video camera using said video circuitry.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the outgoing telephone information comprises caller voice and data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating with a SIM card disposed within the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus to identify a user of the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus and allow continued operation of the apparatus.

8. An integrated rear view mirror and communications apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a rear view mirror housing adapted to be attached to a vehicle;

first communication circuitry configured to receive, using a first short range wireless protocol, first data from a first apparatus in the vehicle, wherein the first apparatus is separate from the integrated rear view mirror and communications apparatus;

second communication circuitry configured to send, using a second short range wireless protocol, second data corresponding to said first data to a second apparatus in the vehicle, wherein the second apparatus is separate from the integrated rear view mirror and communications apparatus; and

cellular telephone circuitry integrated with the mirror housing, the cellular telephone circuitry configured to communicate with a cellular telephone service provider, receive telephone information from said remote service provider, and transmit outgoing telephone information to said remote service provider.

9. The integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an interface to communicatively couple the cellular telephone circuitry with an inboard component of the vehicle that is capable of being controlled by a device remote to the vehicle via a communication between the cellular telephone circuitry and the cellular telephone service provider, wherein the inboard component is in communication with the cellular telephone circuitry via a short range wireless protocol.

10. The integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 9, wherein the short range wireless protocol comprises a Bluetooth wireless protocol.

11. The integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inboard component comprises an inboard vehicle computer.

12. The integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inboard component comprises a sensor of the vehicle.

13. The integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a SIM card reader disposed in the mirror housing, wherein the SIM card reader is communicatively-coupled with the cellular telephone circuitry and wherein the apparatus is enabled to communicate with a cellular telephone service provider upon insertion of a SIM card in the SIM card reader.

14. An integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus for providing hands-free communication in a vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving a signal from a service provider remote to the vehicle using the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus, the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus comprising electronic telephonic circuitry configured to communicate telephone information;

means for receiving telephone information from said remote service provider;

means for receiving, using a short range wireless protocol, data from an apparatus in the vehicle, wherein the apparatus is separate from the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus;

means for rendering user output based on said telephone information from said remote service provider and said data from the paired apparatus; and

means for transmitting telephone information to said remote service provider.

15. The integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cellular telephone circuitry includes an interface to communicatively couple the cellular telephone circuitry with an inboard component of the vehicle that is capable of being controlled by a device remote to the vehicle via a communication between the cellular telephone circuitry and the cellular telephone service provider.

16. An integrated rear view mirror and communications apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a rear view mirror housing adapted to be attached to a vehicle;

first communication circuitry configured to receive, using a first short range wireless protocol, first data from a first apparatus in the vehicle that is separate from the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus; and

second communication circuitry configured to send, using a second short range wireless protocol, second data corresponding to said first data to a second apparatus in the vehicle that is separate from the integrated rear view mirror and telephone apparatus;

wherein the integrated rear view mirror and communications apparatus comprises a display configured to render a portion of said first data.