WO2006133819A1

WO2006133819A1 - Method and device for operating a mobile telephone in a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2006133819A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/005278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Deuschle; Fridjof Goebel; Micha Schaible; Thomas Weiss
Original assignee: Daimlerchrysler Ag
Priority date: 2005-06-15
Filing date: 2006-06-02
Publication date: 2006-12-21
Also published as: DE102005027492A1; DE102005027492B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z) in a vehicle, the mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z) being wirelessly connected to a control unit (3) mounted in the vehicle and being controlled by the control unit (3) using device parameters which characterise the mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z). The control unit (3) comprises a universal driver module (9), which, irrespective of the type of mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z), converts the device parameters transmitted by the particular mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z) into application-specific function signals for one or more applications (11a to 11im) and converts application-specific function calls and/or function parameters activated by the application(s) (11a to 11im) into control signals for functions of the mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z).

Description

Method and device for operating a mobile telephone in a vehicle

The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile telephone in a vehicle, wherein the mobile telephone is connected to a vehicle-fixed control unit and is controlled by means of the control unit on the basis of device parameters characterizing the mobile telephone. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.

When using the Bluetooth communication standard, in particular according to IEEE 802.15.1, for the wireless connection of mobile phones to a hands-free device, it is currently not possible to dispense with a holder (also known as a cradle or docking station). To the

In addition, to keep radiation exposure to the occupants as low as possible and to have an optimal communication connection, when using mobile phones in the vehicle currently can not be dispensed with a connection of the antenna of the mobile phone to the vehicle antenna. This connection is made by the holder.

The essential task of a hands-free device in the vehicle is to establish an optimal voice connection via a mobile phone out of the vehicle or into the vehicle. A special requirement is here the optimal transmission of the language out of the vehicle. The goal is to transmit as few noise as possible while at the same time preserving the language as unadulterated as possible. With the help of digital signal processing, this task can be met with proper adaptation by appropriate digital signal processing of the detected speech signals and their implementation and transmission based on the use of hands-free algorithms.

In the development of such a communication system, both mobile-specific and vehicle-specific parameters are needed to optimally adapt the hands-free algorithms. These parameters must be expediently also for mobile phones that are not yet available at market launch of the vehicle, easily and safely be subsequently integrated into the communication system.

In the prior art, a device for providing a wireless communication channel for at least a first application is known from US 2002/0025832 A1. It has an adapter for connecting to a wireless communication device that can transmit data. The adapter is equipped with information about the capabilities of the communication device. The device also has a so-called docking station, which is connected via the adapter with several applications. The capabilities of the wireless communication device are thereby made available to the application (s) by the adapter. The connection between adapter and docking station can be wired or wireless, in particular according to the Bluetooth standard. A problem with the use of Bluetooth in vehicle environments is that although the Bluetooth standard describes usable functions via so-called profiles, these are not necessarily implemented in any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. In addition, similar functions for which no standard profile exists are realized in several profiles.

This leads to a car handsfree with extended functionality that, depending on the phone, a function despite Bluetooth in the vehicle and on the mobile phone can not be used because at the time of launch of the vehicle is not or not yet known in which profile the new mobile phone appropriate function will provide. This circumstance means either unnecessary and unexpected restrictions for the user of the system or high requirements regarding the capability of updating the hands-free system.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improved method and an improved device of the type mentioned, by means of which it can be reacted to various mobile phones and their functions.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a method having the features specified in claim 1, and by a device having the features specified in claim 8.

Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the respective subclaims. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle-mounted control unit comprising a universal driver module, regardless of the type of mobile phone used the device parameters transmitted by the mobile phone in application-specific function signals for one or more applications as well as by the application or application-specific function calls and / or function parameters activated in Converts control signals for functions of the mobile phone. In other words, based on the device parameters, function calls made by an application and function parameters for functions of the mobile phone are translated into control signals corresponding to a communication protocol associated with the mobile telephone and responses of the mobile telephone in FIG

Function return values implemented for the application. This solution represents a universal driver module with an abstraction layer, which is preferably executed in the form of software.

The inventive method allows for various and future applications, such. As new games, currency converter, multimedia applications, Internet applications, e-mail function, appointment and / or travel planner, unified access to the current mobile phone regardless of the model type of the mobile phone. The applications thereby need neither information about which mobile phone is concerned nor about how they are physically connected to the mobile phone.

In addition, there is a possibility that a mobile phone in the implementation of the functions does not behave exactly the same as another. By means of the integrated in the driver block Abstraktionsschicht preferably the parameters, in particular the device and / or function parameters of different types or types of mobile phones are dynamically adjusted. This allows a secure operation of the communication system and the associated communication link and the associated communication protocol, regardless of the type of mobile phone used.

Since the communication system is preferably also capable of conventional, designed on a wire interface handsfree devices and

To support communication links in the vehicle, it is expedient to provide a recognition possibility for this purpose.

As a device parameter or response signal of the mobile phone to the application and a signal emitted by the mobile phone automatically without prior request is considered. Such a signal can be triggered, for example, by external events such as a call received or an incoming text message or by an internal event of the mobile telephone, for example a used-up telephone credit.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one parameter of a hands-free algorithm is set based on a device parameter. In particular, the digital signal processing can be set to the best possible sound and transmission quality and interference reduction. At least one vehicle parameter is advantageously used for setting a parameter of a hands-free algorithm. This allows the communication system to be tuned to vehicle parameters such as the size of the interior or other sound characteristics that affect the signal processing in terms of sound quality.

An activated application-specific function call and / or function parameter is preferably converted into a control signal for a function of the mobile telephone in such a way that a predetermined and possibly stored function profile of the mobile telephone is activated on the basis of the relevant function call or function parameter, on the basis of which the control signals to the mobile telephone corresponding to the associated Communication Protocols are transmitted. Complex functions can be effected with little effort on the basis of the given function profiles for functions of the mobile telephone.

Expediently, the device parameters are read from an active holder of the mobile phone. A mobile phone model is assigned to each such active support, in which the capabilities and characteristics of the mobile phone are stored as device parameters. Such an active mount includes accesses to a network port and / or a wireless port, eg, a Bluetooth interface, power access, Internet access, access to other peripherals, such as the Internet. B. to a personal computer or to a printer. An active holder is also for charging the mobile phone and / or for data synchronization and / or Data synchronization with other peripherals suitable.

The device according to the invention, which has a holder for a mobile telephone and a control unit, provides for carrying out the method according to the invention, that the control unit comprises a universal driver module in the manner of an abstraction layer, regardless of the type of mobile phone, the device parameters transmitted by the mobile phone concerned in application-specific function signals for one or more applications as well as application-specific function calls and / or function parameters implemented by the application (s) into control signals for functions of the mobile telephone.

In a preferred embodiment, the driver module is integrated into a car radio as a software module in the form of an abstraction layer (also called abstraction layer). Integrating the function of the driver module in a car radio ensures that further applications or applications and / or future functions or communication protocols of novel mobile phones can be updated via a universal interface, regardless of the type of mobile phone and its communication interface. In addition, the integration of the driver module in a radio allows the use of provided for the radio or audio equipment parts such. B. digital signal processors. A car radio can also be operated with lower traffic risks than the mobile phone itself.

Conveniently, the control unit is connected to a speakerphone. This can be dispensed with an immediate operation of the phone, which may represent a distraction and a reduction in the concentration of a driver.

Advantageously, the control unit sets a hands-free speakerphone on the basis of the device parameters. This enables optimum sound and transmission quality as well as noise reduction.

In a preferred embodiment, the control unit also sets the hands-free algorithm using a vehicle parameter. Vehicle parameters, such. As the size of the vehicle interior, so can be processed in the execution of the hands-free algorithm and thus used for setting the handsfree for improved communication.

In addition, the car radio is advantageously designed as part of a hands-free kit. This allows parts of the audio system, such. As speakers, are used for the speakerphone. In addition, an automatic muting of the audio playback during voice transmission via the mobile phone with little effort is possible.

Preferably, the controller reads the device parameters from the active holder. Thus, to replace a mobile phone model, only the bracket needs to be replaced, while the control unit can be reused.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment.

Showing: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus and

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a as

Abstraction layer trained driver module for the realization of the method.

Corresponding parts are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

1 shows a block diagram of a device 1 for operating a mobile phone 2, which is arranged in a motor vehicle, not shown. The device 1 further comprises a control unit 3 for controlling the communication connections of the mobile telephone 2.

The mobile phone 2 is arranged in the vehicle in an active holder 4. The control unit 3 and the active holder 4 have an associated communication interface 5.a or 5.b for the communication of the mobile telephone 2 with the control unit 3. The communication interfaces 5.a and 5.b are formed, for example, as wireless interfaces according to the so-called Bluetooth standard. The respective

Communication interface 5.a or 5.b can also be used for other applications and / or other users. Also, the control unit 3 and / or the active holder 4 other interfaces - wired or wireless - for further inputs and / or outputs, eg. For example, for an in-vehicle data network, for a power connection, for Internet access, for other peripherals have. Also, the mobile phone 2 itself may have an associated communication interface 5.c, in particular a wireless interface according to the so-called Bluetooth standard.

The control unit 3 is further connected to a microphone 6 and not shown speakers, which are arranged as parts of a non-illustrated speakerphone or a non-illustrated audio system in the interior of the vehicle. The active holder 4 is connected to an external mobile radio antenna 7 of the vehicle and comprises a memory unit 8 for storing the device parameters, in particular the operating capabilities and operating functions of the inserted mobile telephone 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 3 is an integral part of a digital radio, not shown. For controlling the communication and / or the functions F of the mobile telephone 2, the control unit 3 comprises a universal driver module 9, which is shown in more detail in FIG.

The driver module 9 is implemented in the manner of an abstraction layer in the form of a software module as a so-called application-specific interface (English: API = Application Programming Interface) in the control unit 3.

The mobile telephone 2 can be controlled by means of the control unit 3 via the communication interfaces 5.a and 5.b on the basis of a predetermined standardized communication protocol. This example is the Bluetooth standard. For an independent of the type of mobile phone 2 control of the communication links and / or the functions of the currently used in the holder 4 mobile phone 2, the driver module 9 has multiple callable function profiles 10a to 10z for various functions, such. As telephone function, SMS function, phone book function, from various mobile phones 2a to 2n according to the respective associated communication protocol.

Based on the associated function profile 10a, the telephone function is activated, for example, for a mobile telephone 2a. For another mobile phone 2b of another manufacturer, the associated telephone function is also triggered based on the associated device-specific function profile 10b. FIG. 2 shows by way of example three telephone functions for three different types of mobile phones 2a to 2c with associated device-specific function profiles 10a to 10c. For example, games, currency converter, e-mail, calendar, multimedia, Internet connection, further associated function profiles 10d to 10z for associated additional mobile telephones 2d to 2n can be stored for further telephone functions.

In addition, applications IIa to lim, such as. As new games, currency converter, multimedia applications, Internet applications, e-mail function, appointment and / or travel planner, for a uniform access to the inserted mobile phone 2a to 2z on the universal driver chip 9, ie on the abstraction layer, respectively activate the desired telephone function by means of the device-specific function profiles 10a to 10n or disable. For this purpose, the universal driver module 9 converts the application-specific function calls and / or function parameters of the calling application IIa to lim into control signals for the telephone function of the currently wirelessly connected or wired mobile telephone 2a to 2z. Conversely, the device parameters transmitted by the mobile phone 2a to 2z can be converted into application-specific function signals for one of the desired applications IIa to lim.

The abstraction layer or the driver module 9 serves as an intermediary between one or more applications IIa to lim and the communication protocol of the respective mobile phone 2a to 2z. In this way, the control unit 3 performs the method according to the invention. For example, the driver module 9 initially determines, once wireless or wired connection of the mobile phone 2a to 2z, which mobile phone model is connected. The driver module 9 then reads the mobile telephone-specific device parameters from the active holder 4, in particular from a memory unit 8. The driver module 9 then uses these device parameters to parameterize the hands-free algorithms implemented in the control unit 3 in digital signal processors, for example, for optimum sound and optimum transmission. Subsequently, the driver module 9 initializes itself with regard to the functional communication to the mobile telephone 2a to 2z and then reports "Initialization completed" to one or more higher-level applications IIa to lim.Then an access of one or more applications IIa to lim to the relevant mobile telephone 2a to 2z possible. If an application IIa is triggered, for example by an operation "call number", it calls a corresponding function "dial telephone number" of the driver module 9. The driver module 9 converts the parameters passed by the application IIa into a data format corresponding to the communication protocol of the mobile telephone 2a. It then calls the necessary for the associated command execution path to the mobile phone 2a with appropriate control signals and executes the command over him.

The execution path can be, for example, functional profiles 10a to 10n for carrying out a Bluetooth standard communication protocol or functional profiles with a wired access and an associated communication protocol. Finally, the driver module 9 converts response signals of the mobile telephone 2a to 2z, which correspond to the associated communication protocol, into one or more function signals or return values into a data format defined for the associated application IIa to lim and transmits them to the respective application IIa to lim. The function signal or return value may be, for example, a telephone book entry stored in the mobile telephone 2a to 2z. This can then be displayed by the application IIa to lim in a display of the control unit 3.

Apart from a control of the mobile phone 2a to 2z by the control unit 3, the mobile phone 2a to 2z can automatically transmit information to the control unit 3. It may be, for example, a signal about an incoming call or an incoming text message act. One or all of the applications 11 a to lim can be informed directly of such a signal in the case of an event-based execution of the application IIa to lim. Otherwise, an application IIa to 11z can detect such a signal by polling the driver module 9 as a buffered return value.

In addition to the functional profiles 10a to 10z, further functions of the respective mobile telephone 2a to 2n can be found in further layers 12 of the relevant mobile telephone

Communication standards, eg. B. the Bluetooth standard.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 mobile phone

2a to 2z different types of mobile phones

3 control unit

4 active holder

5.a communication interface control unit 5.b communication interface mobile phone 5. c communication interface holder

6 microphone

7 mobile antenna

8 storage unit

9 driver module (abstraction layer) 10a to 10n functional profiles

IIa to lim applications

12 more layers of a communication protocol

Claims

claims

1. A method for operating a mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) in a vehicle, wherein the mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) with a vehicle-fixed control unit (3) is wirelessly connected and by means of the control unit (3) based on device parameters, the characterize the mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z), characterized in that the control unit (3) comprises a universal driver module (9), regardless of the type of mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) from the respective mobile phone (2 2a to 2z) into application-specific function signals for one or more applications (IIa to lim) as well as applications (IIa to lim) activated application-specific function calls and / or function parameters in control signals for functions of the mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z ).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (3), in particular the

Driver module (9) is integrated in a digital car radio.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that by means of the universal driver module (9) a corresponding type of the mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) associated communication protocol for the transmission and implementation of the device parameters and the control signals is activated.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that based on at least one of the device parameters at least one parameter of a speakerphone is set.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that for setting a parameter of a

Handsfree algorithm at least one vehicle parameter is used.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control signal in the form of a call of a predetermined function profile (10a to 1On) of the mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) is used.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device parameters from an active holder (4) of the mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) are read.

8. Device (1) for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising an active Holder (4) for a mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z), wherein the active holder (4) with a vehicle-fixed control unit (3) is wirelessly connected, characterized in that the control unit (3) comprises a universal driver module (9), irrespective of the type of mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z) transmits the device parameters transmitted by the mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z) into application-specific function signals for one or more applications (IIa to lim) and of the one or more applications (IIa to lim) activates activated application-specific function calls and / or function parameters into control signals for functions of the mobile telephone (2, 2a to 2z).

9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (3), in particular the driver module (9) is integrated in a car radio.

10. Device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the control unit (3) with a hands-free system for the mobile phone (2, 2a to 2z) is connected.

11. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the control unit (3) sets a hands-free speakerphone of at least one of the device parameters.

12. Device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the control unit (3) sets the hands-free algorithm based on a vehicle parameter.

13. Device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the car radio is formed as part of a hands-free system.