U.S. patent application number 13/624616 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-24 for sharing account information and a phone number between personal mobile phone and an in-vehicle embedded phone.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gilad Odinak. Invention is credited to Gilad Odinak.
Application Number | 20130023239 13/624616 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26757558 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130023239 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Odinak; Gilad |
January 24, 2013 |
SHARING ACCOUNT INFORMATION AND A PHONE NUMBER BETWEEN PERSONAL
MOBILE PHONE AND AN IN-VEHICLE EMBEDDED PHONE
Abstract
A phone embedded within a vehicle for automatically using a
service plan of a proximate personal mobile phone. The embedded
phone includes an internal communication component that detects the
presence of the personal mobile phone, and receives a mobile
subscriber identification number from the detected phone. The
embedded phone also includes an external communication component
that sends the received mobile subscriber identification number to
a wireless network authority, and receives an authentication
request to the personal mobile phone via the embedded phone. The
internal communication component sends the authentication request
to the personal mobile phone. The personal mobile phone generates
an authentication signal, and the external communication component
sends the authentication signal to the wireless network
authority.
Inventors: |
Odinak; Gilad; (Bellevue,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Odinak; Gilad |
Bellevue |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
26757558 |
Appl. No.: |
13/624616 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13026407 |
Feb 14, 2011 |
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|
13624616 |
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|
10765720 |
Jan 26, 2004 |
7912512 |
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13026407 |
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10076027 |
Feb 12, 2002 |
6748244 |
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10765720 |
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60332025 |
Nov 21, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/24 20130101;
H04W 4/48 20180201; H04W 12/06 20130101; H04W 12/00403 20190101;
H04L 67/141 20130101; H04M 1/6075 20130101; H04M 2250/02 20130101;
H04W 4/80 20180201; H04M 1/6091 20130101; H04W 8/205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/411 |
International
Class: |
H04W 12/06 20090101
H04W012/06 |
Claims
1. A method for automatically using a service plan of a personal
mobile phone over a phone embedded within a vehicle, the method
comprising: detecting the presence of the personal mobile phone;
sending the mobile subscriber identification number from the
detected phone to the embedded phone; sending the mobile subscriber
identification number from the embedded phone to a wireless network
authority; sending an authentication request to the personal mobile
phone via the embedded phone; authenticating communication; sending
a confirmation of the authentication to the wireless network
authority via the embedded phone; and opening a communication
session with the embedded phone based on the sent confirmation.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the
personal mobile phone is performed based on at least one of a
Bluetooth link, an infrared wireless (IR) link, an 802.11 wireless
network link, or a physical electrical wire link.
3. A phone embedded within a vehicle for automatically using a
service plan of a personal mobile phone, the embedded phone
comprising: an internal communication component for detecting the
presence of the personal mobile phone, and receiving a mobile
subscriber identification number from the detected phone; and an
external communication component for sending the received mobile
subscriber identification number to a wireless network authority,
and receiving an authentication request to the personal mobile
phone via the embedded phone, wherein the internal communication
component sends the authentication request to the personal mobile
phone that generates an authentication signal, the external
communication component sends the authentication signal to the
wireless network authority.
4. The embedded phone of claim 1, wherein the internal
communication component performs interaction with the personal
mobile phone based on at least one of a Bluetooth link, an infrared
wireless (IR) link, an 802.11 wireless network link, or a physical
electrical wire link.
Description
[0001] PRIORITY CLAIM
[0002] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/026,407 filed Feb. 14, 2011,
which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/765,720 filed Jan. 26, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/076,027 filed on Feb. 12, 2002, which
claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
60/332,025, filed Nov. 21, 2001, all of which are herein
incorporated by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to telecommunications and,
more specifically, to wireless telecommunications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Worldwide, regulatory bodies have begun to mandate the use
of hands free systems for phone conversations in vehicles. A hands
free system enables the driver to carry on a phone conversation
without holding a phone to their ear. While some systems
incorporate a headset, typically a hands free system comprises a
microphone and speaker mounted in the vehicle and connected to a
cellular phone mounted in a cradle. Existing systems typically
require pressing keys on the phone or on a separate keypad embedded
in the dashboard to dial a phone number. Newer systems use voice
recognition, implemented as part of the hands free system or
embedded phone system, to enable a true hands free operation. Some
providers of applications attempt to use hands free systems (a.k.a.
hands free kits) in tandem with the user's personal phone to
deliver their service, removing the need for an in-vehicle embedded
phone.
[0005] There exist disadvantages with current systems. A system
based on a portable phone mounted in a cradle is inherently
unreliable as the phone may become detached from its cradle at the
time it is most needed (e.g., because of crash impact.) In
addition, the driver may have forgotten their phone outside of the
vehicle and only discover that when the phone is needed.
[0006] Bluetooth (BT) is a short-range wireless technology
originally designed to replace patch cable between personal
computers and related peripherals. This technology is making its
way into mobile cellular phones to enable them to communicate over
short range with other devices. BT applications may be connected to
a personal phone in an in-vehicle hands free system. In one
scenario, the driver gets into their vehicle and starts driving
without pulling their phone out of their pocket. A BT transceiver
that is part of the in-vehicle hands free system and the BT
transceiver in the phone discover each other and establish a
continuous wireless link. The hands free system now uses the
driver's personal phone to connect with the cellular network.
[0007] The above solution suffers from limitations similar to the
cradle solution and more severe. For example, wireless connections
are inherently unreliable. On occasions the two systems do not
establish a connection when the driver enters the car. Unlike when
placing a phone into a cradle, there is no physical, tangible cue
to the driver to indicate a likely connection failure. Even after
the initial connection has been established, it may be dropped at
any time; even in the middle of a conversation. In addition, the
phone may be placed at a location in the vehicle with poor cellular
reception (e.g. below glass window level) that does not have access
to a vehicle mounted external antenna. Lastly, in dense traffic and
given BT security issues, conversation privacy may be compromised
as it may leak over the BT network to other vehicles in close
proximity.
[0008] Therefore, there exists a need to provide a more reliable,
less costly, hands free vehicle phone system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is a phone embedded within a vehicle
for automatically using a service plan of a personal mobile phone.
The embedded phone includes an internal communication component
that detects the presence of the personal mobile phone, and
receives a mobile subscriber identification number from the
detected phone. The embedded phone also includes an external
communication component that sends the received mobile subscriber
identification number to a wireless network authority, and receives
an authentication request to the personal mobile phone via the
embedded phone. The internal communication component sends the
authentication request to the personal mobile phone. The personal
mobile phone generates an authentication signal, and the external
communication component sends the authentication signal to the
wireless network authority.
[0010] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the
internal communication component performs interaction with the
personal mobile phone based on a Bluetooth link, an infrared
wireless (IR) link, an 802.11 wireless network link, or a physical
electrical wire link.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of the present
invention; and
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred process
performed by the system shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] The present invention is a system and method for enabling an
in-vehicle embedded phone to use the account, calling plan and
phone number of a personal mobile phone. A vehicle 20 is equipped
with a Telematics Control Unit (TCU) 30 and an embedded vehicle
phone 40. Embedded vehicle phone 40 may be independent from or
integral with TCU 30. TCU 30 includes a wireless communication
module 32 capable of short range wireless communication with other
compatible devices, such as a personal mobile phone 50. TCU 30
includes hands-free components (not shown) directly linked to
embedded phone 40. Hands-free components can also be included in
embedded vehicle phone 40. The hands-free components may include a
microphone, speakers, and speech recognition and synthesizing
software. TCU 30 retrieves information from compatible mobile
wireless phone 50 for allowing embedded phone 40 to provide access
to the wireless communication network using the retrieved
information.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention.
First, at block 100, communication module 32 detects the presence
of a compatible phone, such as personal mobile phone 50. Detection
can be performed a number of ways, for example, personal mobile
phone 50 transmits a short range identification signal or
communication module 32 transmits a short range signal that
requests a response from any compatible phone within a proximity.
When a compatible personal mobile phone 50 is detected, the user (a
driver or passenger in the vehicle) is informed about the detected
phone (block 102). At block 104, TCU 30 asks the driver if they
wish to use the service associated with the detected phone in
embedded vehicle phone 40. Asking the driver can be performed by
presenting a query on a display or outputting a voice query over a
speaker. If the driver approves of using the detected phone's
account information, mobile subscriber identification number from
the detected phone is sent to vehicle phone 40 via the
communication module 32 (block 106). At block 108, embedded vehicle
phone 40 sends the mobile subscriber identification number to a
wireless network access authority. At block 110, the wireless
network access authority returns a request for authentication to
the embedded vehicle phone. Embedded vehicle phone 40 sends the
request for authentication to the detected phone (block 112). The
detected phone performs authentication in response to the request
and sends an authentication response to embedded vehicle phone 40
(block 114). At block 116, the embedded vehicle phone sends the
session key to the wireless network access authority. After the
wireless network access authority receives the session key, the
access authority opens a session with embedded vehicle phone 40
(block 118).
[0016] Once a session is opened or interaction is begun with
embedded vehicle phone 40, the embedded vehicle phone operates as
if it were the detected phone. Because embedded vehicle phone 40
includes hands-free components within vehicle 20, or is coupled to
hands-free components of TCU 30, the driver vocalizes all
instructions for operating the embedded phone. The hands-free
components may include a voice recognition processor for converting
voice into operating commands.
[0017] Once the link is established, the vehicle user bypasses the
personal phone and directly uses the vehicle phone--albeit with the
account information from the personal phone. In alternative
embodiments, the account link between personal mobile phone 50 and
embedded vehicle phone 40 may be terminated based on certain
trigger events associated with the vehicle or driver, such as when
the engine is turned off or the vehicle is locked. Triggers may
also include safety related events, such as sudden stops or
reaching excessive speeds.
[0018] In an alternative embodiment, personal mobile phone 50 may
electrically connect to TCU 30, either mounted in a cradle or
connected via a short cable. TCU 30 detects the personal mobile
phone's presence when the phone is placed into the cradle or
connected via a cable. In another embodiment, personal mobile phone
50 communicates with TCU 30 over an Infrared wireless (IR) link, or
an 802.11 Wireless LAN to establish communication between TCU 30
and personal mobile phone 50.
[0019] From time to time the network may request re-authentication.
TCU 30 forwards all requests in the above-described manner to
personal mobile phone 50. If that operation fails, TCU 30
optionally notifies the driver and then reverts to using its own
account. In the absence of such an account, TCU 30 notifies the
driver of its inability to make the call, save for emergency calls
(e.g., in the United States, 911 calls and all other phone numbers
defined as `emergency numbers`), which may be made even in the
absence of a TCU account.
[0020] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
example, various alternate embodiments of the present invention may
be implemented using a variety of telecommunication protocols, such
as GSM, TDMA, CDMA, iDEN, etc. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred
embodiment.
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