In-vehicle handsfree apparatus

• US 9,026,184 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US12/378,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20090209297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/569.1, 455/567, 455/412.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establishes a handsfree profile connection with a first cellular phone and a second cellular phone simultaneously. It is assumed that while the first cellular phone is in a calling state, the second cellular phone receives an incoming call. When a user operates a response to the second cellular phone in the incoming call receiving state, a suspension request signal is transmitted to the first cellular phone in the calling state to thereby switch the call link of the first cellular phone to a suspending state. In contrast, an incoming call response request signal is transmitted to the second cellular phone to thereby switch the call link of the second cellular phone from the incoming call receiving state to a calling state. The connection partner of a call sound path is changed from the first cellular phone to the second cellular phone.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus comprising:

a handsfree connection section configured to

establish a handsfree communication protocol connection with a cellular phone having a function to

(i) switch a call link, which is in a calling state, to a suspending state when a suspension request signal or an interruption incoming call response request signal is issued, and

(ii) switch a call link, which is in an incoming call receiving state, to a calling state when an incoming call response request signal or an interruption incoming call response request signal is issued;

a control section configured to,

in cases where there is an incoming call when a first cellular phone is in a calling state, the first cellular phone being included in a plurality of cellular phones with which the handsfree connection section establishes a handsfree communication protocol connection simultaneously,

(i) determine whether the first cellular phone in the calling state is receiving the incoming call or a second cellular phone different from the first cellular phone is receiving the incoming call, the second cellular phone being included in the plurality of cellular phones, and

(ii) perform

(a) a notice of a different phone interruption incoming call, when determining that the second cellular phone is receiving the incoming call, and

(b) a notice of an identical phone interruption incoming call, when determining that the first cellular phone in the calling state is receiving the incoming call;

a different phone interruption incoming call response operation section configured for a user to perform a response operation to the different phone interruption incoming call in response to the notice of the different phone interruption incoming call; and

an identical phone interruption incoming call response operation section configured for the user to perform a response operation to the identical phone interruption incoming call in response to the notice of the identical phone interruption incoming call,

the control section being further configured to;

(i) when the user performs the response operation to the difference phone interruption incoming call,

(a) issue a suspension request signal to the first cellular phone in the calling state and an incoming call response request signal to the second cellular phone in the incoming call receiving state and

(b) switch a connection partner of a call sound path from the first cellular phone to the second cellular phone, the call sound path via which the handsfree connection section carries a transmission sound and a reception sound; and

(ii) when the user performs the response operation to the identical phone interruption incoming call,

(a) issue an interruption incoming call response request signal to the first cellular phone that is in the calling state.

2. The in-vehicle handsfree apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a call partner switching operation section configured for a user to operate a call partner switching,

the handsfree connection section being further configured to establish a handsfree communication protocol connection with a cellular phone having a function to switch a call link from a suspending state to a call state when a suspension release request signal is issued,

the control section being further configured to,

in case that the user operates the call partner switching via the call partner switching operation section when the first cellular phone is in the suspending state and the second cellular phone is in the calling state,

(i) issue a suspension request signal to the second cellular phone in the calling state and a suspension release request signal to the first cellular phone in the suspending state, and

(ii) switch the connection partner of the call sound path from the second cellular phone to the first cellular phone.

3. A method for an in-vehicle handsfree apparatus to switch call links of a first cellular phone and a second cellular phone included in a plurality of cellular phones with which the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus simultaneously establishes a handsfree communication protocol connection, the method comprising:

determining, in cases where there is an incoming call when the first cellular phone is in a calling state, whether the first cellular phone in the calling state is receiving the incoming call or a second cellular phone different from the first cellular phone is receiving the incoming call;

performing a notice when it is determined that a different phone interruption incoming call takes place by determining that the second cellular phone is receiving the incoming call when the first cellular phone is in the calling state;

then receiving a response operation to the different phone interruption incoming call in response to the notice of the different phone interruption incoming call;

then issuing, in response to the received response operation,

(i) a suspension request signal to the first cellular phone to switch a call link of the first cellular phone, which is in the calling state, to a suspending state, and

(ii) an incoming call response request signal to the second cellular phone to thereby switch a call link of the second cellular phone, which is in an incoming call receiving state, to a calling state;

then switching, in response to the received response operation, from the first cellular phone to the second cellular phone a connection partner of a call sound path via which a transmission sound and a reception sound is carried in the calling state;

performing a notice when it is determined that an identical phone interruption incoming call takes place by determining that the first cellular phone in the calling state is receiving the incoming call;

then receiving a response operation to the identical phone interruption incoming call in response to the notice of the identical phone interruption incoming call; and

then issuing, in response to the received response operation,

(i) an interruption incoming call response request signal to the first cellular phone to switch a call link of the first cellular phone, which is in the calling state, to a suspending state while switching a call link of the first cellular phone, which is in the incoming call receiving state, to a calling state.