System allowing hands free use of a mobile phone in conjunction with a vehicle transceiver

• US 8,244,307 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Tilgner, Rainer, Dietrich, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US09/568,675
• Time in Patent Office: 4,478 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/350, 455/349, 455/344, 455/345, 455/569, 455/550, 455/552, 455/66, 455/11.1, 455/431, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455 91- 96, 379/56.3
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A communications system for a motor vehicle in which the hands-free device for a mobile phone is integrated into an audio or information system of the motor vehicle such as a car radio. The voice and/or data transmission between the mobile phone and the hands-free device takes place over an additional short-range radio link. A transceiver for this short-range radio link is contained both in the car radio and in the mobile phone. The need to install additional connection interfaces is thus eliminated. In addition, the need to couple the mobile phone to the hands-free device using a cable is eliminated. This has the advantage that the mobile phone can remain, for example, in the driver'"'"'s pocket. The coupling between the mobile phone and car radio occurs automatically if the mobile phone moves into the range of the short-range radio link of the car radio.

Claims

1. A communications system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a mobile phone removable from the motor vehicle and capable of operation when removed from the motor vehicle, having control elements, a display and a first transceiver for communicating on a first radio link between the mobile phone and an external stationary transceiver,

a second transceiver integrated into the mobile phone communicating over a short-range wireless electromagnetic link with a further transceiver located within the motor vehicle;

a speaker and microphone coupled to the further transceiver allowing for hands free transmission of audio signals to and from the mobile telephone; and

an audio system coupled to the further transceiver which has a third receiver unit which receives radio signals in the FM and AM frequency bands, the audio system being configured to play back radio broadcasts received by the third receiver, and wherein transmission between the mobile phone and the further transceiver takes place on an electromagnetic frequency outside the frequency bands of the radio signals;

wherein the mobile phone is operable by control elements in the audio system.

2. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission over the short-range wireless electromagnetic link takes place on a frequency that is different from the frequency of the first radio link.

3. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission over the short-range wireless electromagnetic link is at a frequency of more than 2 GHz.

4. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the range for the short-range wireless electromagnetic link is not more than 100 m.

5. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle further comprises a navigation system.

6. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microphone is permanently installed in the vehicle.

7. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microphone is a directional microphone.

8. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microphone is connected to the further transceiver via a further wireless link.

9. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission over the short-range wireless electromagnetic link is performed in accordance with Bluetooth®

.

10. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a navigation system having at least one control element for accepting data which is received at the mobile phone.

11. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of an audio and an information system which is operated by the control elements of the mobile phone.

12. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is linked with a voice recognition system.

13. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a voice recognition system is integrated into the mobile phone.

14. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio system is connected to a navigation system.

15. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile phone receives driving or route information and the information is routed to a navigation system via the short-range wireless electromagnetic link.

16. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile phone can control vehicle functions by transmitting commands over the short range wireless electromagnetic link.

17. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is in communication with a position-determining means that filters relevant traffic information.

18. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the range for the bi-directional short range radio link is approximately 10 m.

19. A radio unit for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an input unit;

an audio output unit;

a receiver coupled to the audio output unit for receiving radio signals within specific frequency bands and means for converting the received radio signals into audio signals output through the audio output unit, the radio unit being constructed as an independent device; and

a further receiver unit coupled to a transmitter unit, the further receiver unit and the transmitter unit being additionally integrated into the radio unit and being configured to wirelessly connect an independent external device over a bi-directional short range wireless radio link;

wherein voice signals which are received by the further receiver unit are output through the audio output unit;

wherein transmissions over the bi-directional short range wireless radio link utilizes signals that are different from the specific frequency bands; and

wherein if the external device is a mobile phone and the radio unit is utilizable as a hands-free device, and if the mobile phone and the hands-free device are configurable to mutually identify the radio unit and the mobile phone, then, when said mobile phone enters a radio coverage area of the radio unit, the hands-free device is switched to standby mode, status messages are transmitted over the bi-directional short range radio link and the hands-free device is activated for transmission of incoming or outgoing mobile radio data or voice calls between the mobile phone and the radio unit.

20. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the transmission over the bi-directional short range radio link occurs at frequencies of more than 2 GHz.

21. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the range for the bi-directional short range radio link is not more than 100 m.

22. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the transmitter device of the radio receiver is connected to a microphone.

23. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the microphone is an integral portion of the radio unit.

24. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the microphone is a directional microphone.

25. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein transmission from the microphone signal employs a further wireless link.

26. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, further comprising at least one control element for accepting instructions received at the mobile phone.

27. The radio unit as claimed in claim 26, wherein the at least one control element sends at least one signal to either a personal computer, a headset, an external display, or a door opener.

28. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein transmission over the bi-directional short range radio link is performed in accordance with Bluetooth®

.

29. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of control elements for operating a plurality of external devices.

30. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a voice recognition system for processing voice commands.

31. The radio unit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the voice recognition system is integrated into at least one external device.

32. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a navigation system.

33. The radio unit as claimed in claim 32 further comprising a means for transmitting to the navigation system traffic, driving or route information.

34. The radio unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the range for the bi-directional short range radio link is approximately 10 m.

35. A radio unit for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an input unit;

an audio output unit;

a receiver coupled to the audio output unit for receiving radio signals within specific frequency bands and means for converting the received radio signals into audio signals output through the audio output unit, the radio unit being constructed as an independent device; and

a further receiver unit coupled a transmitter unit, the further receiver unit and the transmitter unit being additionally integrated into the radio unit and being configured to wirelessly connect an independent external device over a bi-directional short range wireless radio link;

wherein voice signals which are received by the further receiver unit are output through the audio output unit;

wherein transmissions over the bi-directional short range wireless radio link utilizes signals that are different from the specific frequency bands;

wherein if the external device is a mobile phone and the radio unit is utilizable as a hands-free device, and if the mobile phone and the hands-free device are configurable to mutually identify the radio unit and the mobile phone, then, when said mobile phone enters a radio coverage area of the radio unit, the hands-free device is switched to standby mode, status messages are transmitted over the bi-directional short range radio link and the hands-free device is activated for transmission of incoming or outgoing mobile radio data or voice calls between the mobile phone and the radio unit; and

wherein a voice call transfer between the mobile phone and hands-free device is possible.

36. A radio unit for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an input unit;

an audio output unit;

a receiver coupled to the audio output unit for receiving radio signals within specific frequency bands and means for converting the received radio signals into audio signals output through the audio output unit, the radio unit being constructed as an independent device; and

a further receiver unit coupled a transmitter unit, the further receiver unit and the transmitter unit being additionally integrated into the radio unit and being configured to wirelessly connect an independent external device over a bi-directional short range wireless radio link;

wherein voice signals which are received by the further receiver unit are output through the audio output unit;

wherein transmissions over the bi-directional short range wireless radio link utilizes signals that are different from the specific frequency bands; and

wherein if the external device is a mobile phone and the radio unit is utilizable as a hands-free device, and if the mobile phone and the hands-free device are configurable to mutually identify the radio unit and the mobile phone, then, when said mobile phone enters a radio coverage area of the radio unit, the hands-free device is switched to standby mode, status messages are transmitted over the bi-directional short range radio link and the hands-free device is activated for transmission of incoming or outgoing mobile radio data or voice calls between the mobile phone and the radio unit; and

wherein a telephone number of a calling party is communicated to the audio output unit or an information system and can be output on a display unit.