Onboard information system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10180334-B2
Application number	US-201314386522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 19, 2012
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

Provided is a technology for solving a problem of a high cost due to a redundant investment and improving the user's operability. An in-vehicle information system according to one embodiment includes: an in-vehicle information terminal to be mounted in a vehicle; a portable information terminal equipped with a touch panel for providing the in-vehicle information terminal with operation unit and communication unit; the operation unit for enabling a display screen of the in-vehicle information terminal to be operated by operating the touch panel of the portable information terminal when the portable information terminal is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal via an interface; and the communication unit for enabling external communication of the in-vehicle information terminal by using the communication unit of the portable information terminal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An in-vehicle information system, comprising:
an in-vehicle information terminal to be mounted in a vehicle, the in-vehicle information terminal including a first display unit having a first display screen that does not have a function enabling a touch input, an in-vehicle communication unit, and a first control unit ( 112 ); and
a portable information terminal equipped with a touch panel that serves as a second input unit and a second display unit having a second display screen, the portable information terminal including an information terminal communication unit, a second control unit, and an external communication unit ( 216 ),
a combination of the first control unit and the second control unit configured to operate the first display screen of the first display unit of the in-vehicle information terminal by way of a user operation upon the second display screen of the touch panel of the portable information terminal when the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal is connected to the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal via an interface, and
the combination of the first control unit and the second control unit configured to enable the in-vehicle information terminal to carry out external communication via the external communication unit of the portable information terminal when the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal is connected to the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal via the interface.

2. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the interface for connecting the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal to each other comprises a wired or wireless interface; and
the in-vehicle information system is configured to:
stop, when the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal are connected to each other, a screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel of the portable information terminal to switch the screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel from a normal screen of the portable information terminal to a screen dedicated to a touch input for the in-vehicle information terminal; and
return, when the connection between the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal is canceled, the screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel of the portable information terminal to an original screen display to switch the screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel from the screen dedicated to the touch input for the in-vehicle information terminal to the normal screen of the portable information terminal.

3. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 2 , wherein the in-vehicle information system is further configured to:
display, when the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal are connected to each other, a cursor on the first display screen of the first display unit of the in-vehicle information terminal;
display, to a user, a current position pointed on the first display screen of the first display unit by a touch input to the second display screen on the touch panel of the portable information terminal; and
move the cursor on the first display screen in response to the touch input to the second display screen on the touch panel of the portable information terminal.

4. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 3 , wherein:
the in-vehicle information terminal further comprises a microphone and a speaker; and
the in-vehicle information system is further configured to make, when an incoming phone call interrupts under a state in which the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal are connected to each other, a phone call on the in-vehicle information terminal side while avoiding changing display of the portable information terminal or only performing minimal display.

5. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the in-vehicle information terminal further comprises a microphone and a speaker; and
the in-vehicle information system is further configured to make, when an incoming phone call interrupts under a state in which the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal are connected to each other, a phone call on the in-vehicle information terminal side while avoiding changing display of the portable information terminal or only performing minimal display.

6. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the in-vehicle information terminal has a dedicated application provided thereto in advance; and
the in-vehicle information system is capable of making a phone call from the in-vehicle information terminal side under a state in which the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal are connected to each other while avoiding changing display of the portable information terminal or only performing minimal display by using the dedicated application to input a phone number of a called party.

7. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the portable information terminal has a dedicated application provided thereto in advance; and
the in-vehicle information system is configured to:
connect, when the dedicated application is activated, the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal to each other, and stop a screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel of the portable information terminal to switch the screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel from a normal screen of the portable information terminal to a screen dedicated to a touch input for the in-vehicle information terminal; and
finish, when the dedicated application is finished, the connection between the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal, and return the screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel of the portable information terminal to an original screen display to switch the screen display on the second display screen of the touch panel from the screen dedicated to the touch input for the in-vehicle information terminal to the normal screen of the portable information terminal.

8. The in-vehicle information system according to claim 7 , wherein the in-vehicle information system is further configured to:
display, when the in-vehicle communication unit of the in-vehicle information terminal and the information terminal communication unit of the portable information terminal are connected to each other, a cursor on the first display screen of the first display unit of the in-vehicle information terminal;
display, to a user, a current position pointed on the first display screen of the first display unit by a touch input to the second display screen on the touch panel of the portable information terminal; and

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Uchimura Jun

Classifications

• H04M1/72533

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06F2203/0383

  Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN · CPC title

• G01C21/3688 Primary

  Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens · CPC title

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title