System and method for automatically enabling a car mode in a personal communication device

• US 8,938,224 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEAN, JR, JOSEPH E
• Application Number:
  US13/446,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 340/989, 340/905, 345/204
• 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. An apparatus for receiving information from a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a personal communication device (PCD) being configured to receive a vehicle status signal and a device name signal from a communication module including a processor and memory 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 a vehicle, wherein the PCD is further configured to provide at least icon at a first size for at least one pre-selected function on a display thereof and to provide the at least one icon at a second size for the at least one pre-selected function on the display in response to the vehicle status signal and the device name signal, wherein the second size is greater than the first size.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein PCD is configured to receive the vehicle status signal and the device name signal to simultaneously enable a navigation application and to disable touch entry operations.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the touch entry operations include texting and email.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device name signal further comprises data indicative of at least one of a type of vehicle and vehicle identification number of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the PCD is a cellphone.