Method for using a communication system connected to a plurality of mobile devices and prioritizing the mobile devices, communication system, and use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9313311-B2
Application number	US-71806410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2010
Priority date	Mar 5, 2010
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A method and a communication system is disclosed for using a communication system connected to at least a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein the communication system is operable in at least a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein the connection of the communication system to the first mobile device is prioritized in the first operating state and wherein the connection of the communication system to the second mobile device is prioritized in the second operating state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Method for using a communication system connected to at least a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein the communication system is operable in at least a first operating state and a second operating state corresponding to different situations where a user operates the communication system, wherein the connection of the communication system to the first mobile device is most highly prioritized in the first operating state, wherein the connection of the communication system to the second mobile device is most highly prioritized in the second operating state,
wherein the communication system is an in-vehicle communication system comprising a first mobile device for placing or receiving a telephone call and/or a media system and/or a navigational system and/or an entertainment system and/or a display system and/or a control system in one of the first or second operating states,
wherein the in-vehicle communication system further comprises a display means configured to display data related to a control of vehicle functions and/or another user interaction means configured to facilitate controlling various vehicle functions, wherein the first and second operating states comprise a use of the communication system and/or the first or second mobile device for:
placing a telephone call;
receiving a telephone call;
writing a message according to a standard for mobile communication;
conducting a navigational task;
listening to music or another audio and/or video and/or multimedia content; or
conducting a financial transaction;
wherein the prioritization of the mobile devices is initially configurable by means of a user input to the communication system by means of a menu structure of a functions menu of the communications system, wherein the operating state is changed in dependency of the vehicle driving condition and/or a capability or a software application of the prioritized mobile device.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the prioritization of the mobile devices is dependent on the user that is actually using the vehicle.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the operating state is changed in dependency of an information input by a user.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the operating state is changed in dependency of a communication event or in dependency of an operating condition of one of the mobile devices.

5. Method for using a communication system connected to at least a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein the communication system is operable in at least a first operating state and a second operating state corresponding to different situations where a user operates the communication system, wherein the connection of the communication system to the first mobile device is most highly prioritized in the first operating state and wherein the connection of the communication system to the second mobile device is most highly prioritized in the second operating state,
wherein the communication system is an in-vehicle communication system comprising a first mobile device for placing or receiving a telephone call and/or a media system and/or a navigational system and/or an entertainment system and/or a display system and/or a control system in one of the first or second operating states,
wherein the in-vehicle communication system comprises a display means configured to display data related to a control of vehicle functions and/or another user interaction means configured to facilitate controlling various vehicle functions, wherein the first and second operating states comprise a use of the communication system and/or the first or second mobile device for:
placing a telephone call;
receiving a telephone call;
writing a message according to a standard for mobile communication;
conducting a navigational task;
listening to music or another audio and/or video and/or multimedia content; or
conducting a financial transaction; and
wherein the prioritization of the mobile devices dependent on the operating state of the communication system is defined automatically by using the communication system and the mobile devices, wherein the operating state is changed in dependency of the vehicle driving condition and/or a capability or a software application of the prioritized mobile device.

6. Communication system connectable to at least a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein the communication system is operable in at least a first operating state and a second operating state corresponding to different situations where a user operates the communication system, wherein the connection of the communication system to the first mobile device is most highly prioritized in the first operating state and wherein the connection of the communication system to the second mobile device is most highly prioritized in the second operating state wherein the communication system is an in-vehicle communication comprising a first mobile device for placing or receiving a telephone call and/or a media system and/or a navigational system and/or an entertainment system and/or a display system and/or a control system in one of the first or second operating states,
wherein the in-vehicle communication system comprises a display means configured to display data related to a control of vehicle functions and/or another user interaction means configured to facilitate controlling various vehicle functions, wherein the first and second operating states comprise a use of the communication system and/or the first or second mobile device for:
placing a telephone call;
receiving a telephone call;
writing a message according to a standard for mobile communication;
conducting a navigational task;
listening to music or another audio and/or video and/or multimedia content; or
conducting a financial transaction;

wherein the prioritization of the mobile devices is initially configurable by means of a user input to the communication system by means of a menu structure of a functions menu of the communications system, wherein the in-vehicle communication system is fixedly built in the vehicle by the Original Equipment Manufacturer, wherein the operating state is changed in dependency of the vehicle driving condition and/or a capability or a software application of the prioritized mobile device.

7. Use of a communication system according to claim 6 for communicating and/or being entertaining while steering the vehicle.

Assignees

• Anderson Elisabet A
• Zeinstra Mark
• Sims Michael J
• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Anderson Elisabet A
• Zeinstra Mark
• Sims Michael J

Classifications

• H04M1/6091 Primary

  including a wireless interface · CPC title

• H04M2250/02

  including a Bluetooth® interface · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04W4/70 Primary

  Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] · CPC title