Method and apparatus for connecting a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016197782-A1
Application number	US-201514633007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2015
Priority date	Jan 1, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a removable device, adapted to connect a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle and comprising: a first communication module having a first transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the head unit; a second communication module having a second transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the mobile communication device; and a control unit configured to provide at least one service to the head unit via the first communication module based on data received via the second communication module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A removable device adapted to connect a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle, the device comprising:
a first communication module having a first transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the head unit; a second communication module having a second transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the mobile communication device; and a control unit configured to provide at least one service to the head unit via the first communication module based on data received via the second communication module.

2 . The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to process the data received via the second communication module.

3 . The removable device according to claim 1 ; further comprising:
a memory unit storing
an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device,
wherein the control unit comprises at least one processing unit adapted to execute the API.

4 . The removable device according to claim 2 ; further comprising:
a memory unit storing
an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device,
wherein the control unit comprises at least one processing unit adapted to execute the API.

5 . The removable device according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is further configured to provide the at least one service by executing the API.

6 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a decoding unit configured to decode data received from at least one of the mobile communication device and the head unit; and an encoding unit configured to encode data to be transmitted to at least one of the head unit and the mobile communication device.

7 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an authentication unit configured to perform an authentication process with the head unit via the first communication module.

8 . The removable device according to claim 1 ;
wherein the first communication module comprises a first connector adapted to connect the removable device with the head unit, and the second communication module comprises a second connector adapted to connect the removable device with the mobile communication terminal.

9 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply connector configured to receive power supplied by the vehicle.

10 . The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication module is further configured for communication with an auxiliary infotainment device that comprises a front-view camera, a rear-view camera, or a head-up display.

11 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third communication module configured for bi-directional communication of data with a wireless network.

12 . The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein data stored on the mobile communication device is accessed from the head unit via the removable device.

13 . The removable device according to claim 11 , wherein control signals are transmitted from the head unit to the mobile communication device via the removable device.

14 . A method for connecting a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle, the method comprising:
establishing a first connection between a removable device and the head unit for bi-directional communication of data via a first communication module of the removable device; establishing a second connection between the removable device and the mobile communication device for bi-directional communication of data via a second communication module of the removable device; and providing at least one service to the head unit via the first communication module based on data received via the second communication module using a control unit of the removable device.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
processing the data received via the second communication module.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
executing an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device, on at least one processing unit of the removable device.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
executing an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device, on at least one processing unit of the removable device.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one service is provided by executing the API.

19 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one of:
decoding data received from at least one of the mobile communication device and the head unit by the removable device; and encoding data to be transmitted to at least one of the head unit and the mobile communication device by the removable device.

20 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
performing an authentication process between the head unit and the removable device via the first communication module.

21 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
establishing a third connection between the removable device and an auxiliary infotainment device the comprises a front-view camera, a rear-view camera, or a head-up display; and receiving data from the auxiliary infotainment device at the removable device; and transmitting data from the removable device to the auxiliary infotainment device.

22 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
establishing a connection between the removable device and a wireless network for bi-directional communication of data.

Assignees

• Harman Becker Automotive Sys

Inventors

• Hort Christian
• Huber Andreas
• Vogt Herbert
• Sundaram Vishnu
• Slump David
• Surhigh Stephen L

Classifications

• H04L41/0809 Primary

  Plug-and-play configuration · CPC title

• H04L67/12 Primary

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• H04L41/0889

  Techniques to speed-up the configuration process · CPC title

• H04L67/565 Primary

  Conversion or adaptation of application format or content (adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561) · CPC title

• G06F9/4411

  Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers · CPC title