U.S. patent application number 14/033603 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-16 for in-vehicle handsfree apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to DENSO CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Denso Corporation. Invention is credited to Takahisa OZAKI.
Application Number | 20140018003 14/033603 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39185181 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140018003 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OZAKI; Takahisa |
January 16, 2014 |
In-Vehicle Handsfree Apparatus
Abstract
If a cellular phone with which a communication link is
established is compliant with PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile), an
in-vehicle navigation apparatus with a handsfree function stores
and arranges, in a work memory device, phone book data transmitted
automatically from the cellular phone. Thus, the newest phone book
data can be made available. On the other hand, if the cellular
phone is not compliant with PBAP, the in-vehicle navigation
apparatus stores and arranges, in the work memory device, phone
book data, which are presently stored in a storage memory device.
Thus, if the presently stored phone book data, which are not
newest, are desirable, they can be made available.
Inventors: |
OZAKI; Takahisa;
(Gamagori-city, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Denso Corporation |
Kariya-city |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
DENSO CORPORATION
Kariya-city
JP
|
Family ID: |
39185181 |
Appl. No.: |
14/033603 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11906978 |
Oct 4, 2007 |
8560022 |
|
|
14033603 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/41.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/6091 20130101;
H04M 1/6075 20130101; H04M 1/2757 20200101; H04M 1/7253 20130101;
H04B 7/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/41.2 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/26 20060101
H04B007/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 6, 2006 |
JP |
2006-275397 |
Claims
1. An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus comprising: a communication
unit configured to establish a communication link with a cellular
phone compliant or noncompliant with a communication protocol,
which specifies automatic transmission of phone book data; a
determination unit configured to execute a determination as to
whether a cellular phone, with which the communication link is
established, is compliant with the communication protocol
specifying automatic transmission of phone book data; and a control
unit configured to; in cases that the determination unit makes a
first determination that the cellular phone is compliant, display
and make available phone book data, which are transmitted
automatically from the cellular phone, and in cases that the
determination unit makes a second determination that the cellular
phone is not compliant, display and make available phone book data,
which are previously stored in the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus,
at a time when the second determination that the cellular phone is
not compliant is made.
2. A method for using phone book data of a cellular phone in a
handsfree apparatus, the method comprising: establishing a
communication link with a cellular phone compliant or noncompliant
with a communication protocol, which specifies automatic
transmission of phone book data; executing a determination as to
whether the cellular phone, with which the communication link is
established, is compliant with the communication protocol
specifying automatic transmission of phone book data; displaying
and making available phone book data, which are transmitted
automatically from the cellular phone, in cases that a first
determination that the cellular phone is compliant is made; and
displaying and making available phone book data, which are
previously stored in the handsfree apparatus at a time when a
second determination that the cellular phone is not compliant is
made.
3. An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus comprising: a communication
unit configured to establish a communication link with either a
cellular phone compliant with a communication protocol or a
cellular phone noncompliant with the communication protocol, the
communication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone
book data; a control unit configured to enable making a phone call
using phone book data in cases that a request for using phone book
data occurs, wherein: (i) in cases that a first determination is
made such that a cellular phone with which the communications link
is established is compliant with the communication protocol
specifying automatic transmission of phone book data, the control
unit enables making a phone call using phone book data which are
automatically transmitted from the cellular phone based on the
communication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone
book data, according to the request for using phone book data; and
(ii) in cases that a second determination is made such that a
cellular phone with which the communications link is established is
not compliant with the communication protocol specifying automatic
transmission of phone book data, the control unit enables making a
phone call using phone data which are stored in a storing unit in
the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus at a time when the second
determination is made such that the cellular phone with which the
communications link is established is not compliant with the
communication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone
book data, according to the request for using phone book data.
4. A method for using phone book data of a cellular phone in a
handsfree apparatus, the method comprising: establishing a
communication link with a cellular phone; executing, when the
communication link is established with the cellular phone, a
determination as to whether the cellular phone is compliant with a
communication protocol, which specifies automatic transmission of
phone book data; enabling making a phone call using phone book
data, which are automatically transmitted from the cellular phone
at a time when a first determination is made such that the cellular
phone with which the communication link is established is compliant
with the communication protocol specifying automatic transmission
of phone book data, according to a request for using phone book
data; and enabling making a phone call using phone data, which are
stored in a storing unit in the handsfree apparatus at a time when
a second determination is made such that the cellular phone with
which the communication link is established is not compliant with
the communication protocol specifying automatic transmission of
phone book data, according to a request for using phone book data.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/906,978 filed on Oct. 4, 2007. This application is
based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent
Application No. 2006-275397 filed on Oct. 6, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle handsfree
apparatus establishing a communication link with a cellular phone
compliant or incompliant with a communication protocol which
specifies automatic transmission of phone book data.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There is a cellular phone which transmits phone book data
automatically. For example, when a user carrying the cellular phone
gets in a vehicle, the cellular phone enters a short range wireless
communication area of an in-vehicle handsfree apparatus. When the
cellular phone and the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establish the
communication link with each other, the cellular phone transmits
the phone book data automatically to the in-vehicle handsfree
apparatus (refer to Patent document 1).
[0004] Patent document 1: JP-2002-193046 A
[0005] The following explains a case where a cellular phone
transmits phone book data automatically by Bluetooth (registered
trademark) communication.
[0006] A cellular phone compliant with PBAP (Phone Book Access
Profile), which specifies automatic transmission of phone book
data, can transmit phone book data automatically to the in-vehicle
handsfree apparatus. In contrast, a cellular phone incompliant with
PBAP cannot transmit phone book data automatically to the
in-vehicle handsfree apparatus. Moreover, when phone book data are
transmitted from the cellular phone, the in-vehicle handsfree
apparatus stores and arranges the transmitted phone book data in
the work memory device. When the user operates to demand a display
of phone book data, the phone book data stored in the work memory
device is displayed. The displayed phone book can be then searched
for a phone number to make a phone call.
[0007] Thus, in the state where the cellular phone compliant with
PBAP exists in the Bluetooth communication area of the in-vehicle
handsfree apparatus, the newest phone book data stored in the
cellular phone can be transmitted automatically to the in-vehicle
handsfree apparatus and stored. The newest phone book data can be
searched for a phone number to make a phone call.
[0008] In contrast, in the state where the cellular phone
incompliant with PBAP exists in the Bluetooth communication area,
the newest phone book data stored in the cellular phone cannot be
transmitted automatically to the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus and
stored. Therefore, if the user does not select transmitting the
phone book data, the newest phone book data cannot be used for
retrieving a phone number for making a phone call. This involves a
disadvantage in usability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is made in view of the above-mentioned
situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an
in-vehicle handsfree apparatus, which can establish a communication
link with a cellular phone compliant or incompliant with a
communication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone
book data and can raise the usability of phone book data regardless
of the type of the cellular phone, being compliant or incompliant
with the communication protocol.
[0010] To achieve the above object, as an example of the present
invention, an in-vehicle handsfree apparatus is provided as
follows. A communication unit is configured to establish a
communication link with either a first cellular phone compliant
with a communication protocol or a second cellular phone
incompliant with the communication protocol, the communication
protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone book data. A
first storing unit is configured to store phone book data
transmitted from the first cellular phone or the second cellular
phone. A second storing unit is configured to store phone book data
transmitted from the first cellular phone or the second cellular
phone. A control unit is configured to use the phone book data
stored in the first storing unit when a request for using phone
book data occurs. Here, the control unit determines whether a
certain cellular phone, with which the communication unit
establishes the communication link, is compliant with the
communication protocol. When determining the certain cellular phone
is compliant, the control unit stores and arranges, in the first
storing unit, phone book data, which are transmitted automatically
from the certain cellular phone based on the communication
protocol. In contrast, when determining that the certain cellular
phone is not compliant, the control unit stores and arranges, in
the first storing unit, phone book data, which are presently stored
in the second storing unit.
[0011] According to another example of the present invention, an
in-vehicle handsfree apparatus is provided as follows. A
communication unit is configured to establish a communication link
with a cellular phone compliant or incompliant with a communication
protocol, which specifies automatic transmission of phone book
data. A determination unit is configured to determine whether the
cellular phone, with which the communication link is established,
is compliant with the communication protocol. A control unit is
configured to (i) display and make available phone book data, which
are transmitted automatically from the cellular phone, when
determining that the cellular phone is compliant, and (ii) display
and make available phone book data, which are previously stored,
when determining that the cellular phone is not compliant.
[0012] According to yet another example of the present invention, a
method is provided for using phone book data of a cellular phone in
a handsfree apparatus. The method comprises: establishing a
communication link with a cellular phone compliant or incompliant
with a communication protocol, which specifies automatic
transmission of phone book data; determining whether the cellular
phone, with which the communication link is established, is
compliant with the communication protocol; displaying and making
available phone book data, which are transmitted automatically from
the cellular phone, when determining that the cellular phone is
compliant; and displaying and making available phone book data,
which are previously stored, when determining that the cellular
phone is not compliant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description made with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The present invention is explained with reference to
drawings about an embodiment applied to an in-vehicle navigation
apparatus with a handsfree function and a Bluetooth communication
function. FIG. 1 indicates a functional block diagram of an
in-vehicle navigation apparatus 1 mounted in a subject vehicle. The
in-vehicle navigation apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2, a
communication unit 3, an operation unit 4, a display unit 5, a work
memory device 6 (as a first storing unit), and a storage memory
device 7 (as a second storing unit).
[0017] The control unit 2 controls an overall operation such as a
communication operation and a data control operation of the
in-vehicle navigation apparatus 1. The communication unit 3
performs communications based on a communication standard of
Bluetooth. If a cellular phone 8, 9 with the Bluetooth
communication function (hereinafter only called "cellular phone")
exists within a Bluetooth communication area, the communication
unit 3 establishes a communication link with the cellular phone 8,
9. In this case, the communication unit 3 establishes the
communication link using a protocol with which the corresponding
cellular phone is compliant. If the cellular phone is compliant
with PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile) which specifies automatic
transmission of phone book data, PBAP is used between the cellular
phone 8 and communication unit 3. If the cellular phone is
incompliant with PBAP, but compliant with OPP (Object Push
Profile), OPP is used between the cellular phone 9 and
communication unit 3.
[0018] The operation unit 4 detects a user's operation to thereby
output a corresponding operation signal to the control unit 2. The
display unit 5 displays a display window based on a display signal
inputted from the control unit 2. The work memory device 6 is
volatile memory and stores phone book data. The phone book data are
transmitted from the cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP
automatically without need of the user's operation, or are
transmitted from the cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP. The
storage memory device 7 is nonvolatile memory and stores the phone
book data transmitted from the cellular phone 9 incompliant with
PBAP.
[0019] Here, the control unit 2 manages storage operation of the
phone book data in the work memory device 6 or the storage memory
device 7. For example, when the user demands a display of the phone
book data (i.e., when a request for displaying phone book data
occurs) via the operation unit 4, the phone book data stored in the
work memory device 6 are displayed on the display unit 5. In
addition, besides the functional blocks in FIG. 1, the navigation
apparatus 1 further includes functional blocks necessary for
navigation as follows: a present position detection unit which
detects a present position of the subject vehicle, a route
retrieval unit which retrieves a route from a present position to a
destination, a map data read unit to read out map data from a
record medium, a VICS receiver which receives information from the
VICS (registered trademark, Vehicle Information and Communication
System) center, and a speech recognition unit which recognizes
speeches uttered by users.
[0020] Moreover, the navigation apparatus 1 starts and stops in
interlock with the ACC (accessory) switch being turned ON and OFF,
respectively. For example, when the ACC switch changes from ON to
OFF according to the user' operation and the supply of the power
thus stops, the phone book data stored presently in the work memory
device 6 are eliminated, but the phone book data stored presently
in the storage memory device 7 are not eliminated (i.e., the stored
data are hold).
[0021] Next, the operation of the configuration described above is
explained with reference to FIG. 2. The control unit 2 determines
that a communication link with a certain cellular phone is
established ("YES" at Step 51) when the certain cellular phone
exists within the Bluetooth communication area of the in-vehicle
navigation apparatus 1. The control unit 2 then determines whether
the certain cellular phone with which the communication link is
established is a cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP or a cellular
phone 9 incompliant with PBAP (Step S2).
[0022] When the control unit 2 determines that the certain cellular
phone is compliant with PBAP ("YES" at Step S2), the communication
unit 3 uses PBAP for communicating with the cellular phone 8
compliant with PBAP and stands ready to receive phone book data
transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 compliant with
PBAP (Step S3). When determining that the phone book data are
transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 ("YES" at Step
S3), the control unit 2 stores and arranges the phone book data
transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 in the work
memory device 6 (Step S4).
[0023] Thus, when the user then demands a display of the phone book
data via the operation unit 4, the newest phone book data stored in
the work memory device 6, i.e., the phone book data transmitted
automatically from the cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP, is
displayed on the display unit 5. Thereafter the newest phone book
data transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 compliant
with PBAP can be used for the user to retrieve a phone number, and
the user can make a phone call using the phone number retrieved
from the phone book data.
[0024] Moreover, when the user amends (adds, deletes, etc.) the
phone book data in the cellular phone 8, the amended phone book
data are transmitted automatically and stored and arranged in the
work memory device 6. The newest phone book data can be thereby
constantly arranged in the work memory device 6.
[0025] On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that
the certain cellular phone with which the communication link is
established is a cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP ("NO" at
Step S2), the communication unit 3 uses OPP, instead of using PBAP,
for communicating with the certain cellular phone 9 incompliant
with PBAP. Thereby the control unit 2 does not stand ready to
receive phone book data transmitted automatically from the certain
cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP, and determines whether
phone book data are presently stored in the storage memory device 7
(Step S5).
[0026] When determining that the phone book data are stored
presently in the storage memory device 7 ("YES" at Step S5), the
control unit 2 stores and arranges, in the work memory device 6,
the phone book data stored presently in the storage memory device 7
(Step S6).
[0027] Thus, when the user demands a display of the phone book data
via the operation unit 4, the phone book data stored in the work
memory device 6, i.e., the phone book data stored just previously
in the storage memory device 7, is displayed on the display unit 5.
Thereafter the phone book data stored just previously in the
storage memory device 7 can be used for the user to retrieve a
phone number, and the user can make a phone call using the
retrieved phone number.
[0028] Subsequently, for example, the control unit 2 displays a
"telephone directory transmission" button on the display unit 5,
asks the user whether to transmit the phone book data, and
determines whether the user selects transmitting the phone book
data (Step S7). When the control unit 2 determines that the user
operates the "telephone directory transmission" button displayed on
the display unit 5 to select transmitting the phone book data
("YES" at Step S7), the control unit 2 demands transmission of the
phone book data to the cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP, and
stands ready to receive the phone book data transmitted from the
cellular phone 9 (Step S8). When determining that the phone book
data are transmitted from the cellular phone 9 ("YES" at Step S8),
the control unit 2 stores and arranges the phone book data
transmitted from the cellular phone 9 in the storage memory device
7 (Step S9) and in the work memory device 6 (Step S10).
[0029] Thus, the newest phone book data stored presently in the
cellular phone 9 can be stored and arranged in the storage memory
device 7. When the communication link is next established with the
cellular phone 9, the newest phone book data stored presently in
the cellular phone 9 will be able to be used for retrieving a phone
number, and the retrieved phone number will be able to be used for
making a phone call.
[0030] Moreover, the user may amend (add, delete, etc.) the phone
book data in the cellular phone 9. In this case, at a time when the
user selects transmitting phone book data, the amended phone book
data are transmitted, and stored and arranged in the storage memory
device 7 and work memory device 6. The storage memory device 7 and
the work memory device 6 can store the newest phone book data at
the time.
[0031] In the in-vehicle navigation apparatus 1 according to the
present embodiment, when the communication link is established with
a certain cellular phone, whether the certain cellular phone is
compliant with PBAP is determined. When the cellular phone is
determined to be compliant with PBAP, the phone book data
transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 is stored and
arranged in the work memory device 6. On the other hand, when the
cellular phone is determined to be incompliant with PBAP, the phone
book data stored presently in the storage memory device 7 is stored
and arranged in the work memory device 6.
[0032] Thereby, if the certain cellular phone with which the
communication link is established is a cellular phone 8 compliant
with PBAP, the newest phone book data transmitted automatically
from the cellular phone 8 can be used for retrieving a phone number
and the retrieved number can be used for a phone call. On the other
hand, the cellular phone with which the communication link is
established may be a cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP. In
this case, if the phone book data stored in the storage memory
device 7 are not newest but desirable, the phone book data can be
used for retrieving a phone number and the retrieved phone number
can be used for making a phone call. Therefore, even if the
navigation apparatus 1 establishes a communication link with either
a cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP or a cellular phone 9
incompliant with PBAP, the usability of the phone book data can be
enhanced.
[0033] Moreover, when the cellular phone with which the
communication link is established is a cellular phone 9 incompliant
with PBAP, the phone book data stored presently in the storage
memory device 7 is stored and arranged in the work memory device 6.
Then, the user is whether to transmit the phone book data. When the
user selects transmitting the phone book data, transmission of the
phone book data is demanded to the cellular phone 9. The phone book
data transmitted from the cellular phone 9 is stored and arranged
in the storage memory device 7 and work memory device 6. Thus, the
newest phone book data stored presently in the cellular phone 9
incompliant with PBAP can be stored and arranged in the storage
memory device 7. When the communication link is next established
with the cellular phone 9, the newest phone book data presently
stored in the cellular phone incompliant with PBAP will be able to
be used.
[0034] The present invention is not limited only to the
above-mentioned embodiment, and can be modified or extended as
follows. The in-vehicle handsfree apparatus can be a handsfree
dedicated apparatus which mainly includes the handsfree function.
The Bluetooth communication between the cellular phone and
in-vehicle handsfree apparatus can be another wireless
communication or a wired communication.
[0035] Each or any combination of processes, steps, or means
explained in the above can be achieved as a software unit (e.g.,
subroutine) and/or a hardware unit (e.g., circuit or integrated
circuit), including or not including a function of a related
device; furthermore, the hardware unit can be constructed inside of
a microcomputer.
[0036] Furthermore, the software unit or any combinations of
multiple software units can be included in a software program,
which can be contained in a computer-readable storage media or can
be downloaded and installed in a computer via a communications
network.
[0037] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made in the above-described embodiments of the
present invention. However, the scope of the present invention
should be determined by the following claims.
* * * * *