WO2011060901A1

WO2011060901A1 - Communication method and communication device for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2011060901A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/006872
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joachim Gring; Matthias Uteschil
Original assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2009-11-21
Filing date: 2010-11-11
Publication date: 2011-05-26
Also published as: DE102009054253A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication device (1) for a vehicle. The communication device (1) comprises a transmitting/receiving device (2) for operating a wireless communication link (14, 15), an operating unit (3) having a display unit (5) and a plurality of operating elements (6-9), and a processing unit (4) which is configured so as to determine a group of mobile terminals (12, 13) which can be coupled to the communication device (1) via the wireless communication link (14, 15) and to assign the mobile terminals (12, 13) respectively to one of the plurality of operating elements (6-9). On the basis of a user actuation of one of the plurality of operating elements (6-9), the user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile terminals (12, 13). If there is a wireless communication link (14, 15) between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) and the transmitting/receiving device (2), the existing wireless communication link (14, 15) is severed. Finally, a wireless communication link (14, 15) is established between the first mobile terminal selected and the transmitting/receiving device.

Description

description

Communication method and communication device for a vehicle

The present invention relates to a communication method and a

Communication device for a vehicle, in particular a communication method and a communication device to a mobile terminal, such. As a mobile phone to use in a vehicle.

In order to improve driving comfort, road safety and compliance with legal requirements are in vehicles such. As passenger cars or trucks, so-called hands-free systems used to allow communication via a mobile phone. A coupling between the hands-free system of the vehicle and a mobile telephone of the user of the vehicle can be established, for example, by means of a wireless communication connection, for example a Bluetooth connection. Advantage of this wireless coupling between the speakerphone and the mobile phone is that the mobile phone does not need to be used in a special holder of the vehicle but only needs to be brought by the user in the vehicle interior. In order to establish the wireless communication connection between the mobile phone and the hands-free system, the mobile phone is to be registered via a corresponding operation of the hands-free kit to the speakerphone. In usual Bluetooth hands-free systems usually one to two mobile phones can be active with the

Handsfree system can be connected. If the vehicle is used by several users with several different mobile phones, so a complex login and logout of mobile phones is required. The same applies in the event that a user several mobile phones, z. As private and business, with you.

If the registration of the own telephone is not carried out before the start of the journey, an incoming call with the mobile telephone can not be taken automatically via the car kit of the vehicle. In the case of an incoming call, the user must first log off any still registered mobile phones in the hands-free system and register his own telephone before he can answer the call via the hands-free system. This process generally takes so long that the incoming call has already ended before the pairing between the mobile telephone and the hands-free system has been established. The user is therefore trying to receive incoming call directly through the mobile phone, causing the

Traffic safety is endangered and if necessary violates legal regulations.

Method for coupling mobile terminals, such. B. mobile phones, at one

Vehicle device, such. As a speakerphone, via a wireless radio link, such. Example, a Bluetooth connection, and, for example, from DE 10 2005 030 458 A1, DE 10 2005 048 427 B3.und DE 10 2006 010 513 A1 known. As described above, however, only one to a maximum of two mobile telephones can be active simultaneously with the

Handsfree can be coupled via the wireless Bluetooth connection. DE 100 45 303 A1 therefore proposes to set up a call diversion in the mobile telephones, which redirects calls to a separate mobile radio connection of the hands-free system of the vehicle. In this way, calls from multiple mobile phones can be answered with the car kit of the vehicle. The disadvantage, however, is that the hands-free system requires its own separate mobile phone connection, which may incur additional costs.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved communication method and an improved communication device for a vehicle, which is a simple use of multiple mobile phones in connection with a

Enable hands-free operation of the vehicle.

This object is achieved by a communication method according to claim 1

A communication method according to claim 4, a communication apparatus according to claim 8 and a communication apparatus according to claim 9. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the present invention, a communication method for a vehicle is provided. In the communication method, a group of mobile terminals, such. B. mobile phones, determined which can be coupled to a communication device of the vehicle, such as a hands-free device of the vehicle via a wireless communication link. The group of mobile terminals is displayed on an operation unit of the communication apparatus, and a user selection by which a user selects a first mobile terminal from a group of mobile terminals is detected. If there is a wireless communication link between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals and the communication device, the existing wireless communication link between that second mobile terminal and the communication device is disconnected. Finally, according to the Communication method automatically establishes a wireless communication link between - the selected first mobile terminal and the communication device.

The communication device may comprise a separate operating element, whereby a user, by operating this separate operating element, causes the display of the group of mobile terminals on the operating unit of the communication device. The separate control, for example, a special switch on the

Communication device or, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

By displaying to a user of the vehicle, for example, on request, the group of dockable mobile terminals, and due to a selection of one of the mobile terminals, the selected mobile terminal is automatically coupled to the communication device and optionally an existing connection to another mobile terminal is automatically disconnected fast and easy switching between different mobile devices such. B. a private and a business

Mobile phone allows, without the communication device more wireless

Communication links, such. B. Bluetooth connections, must provide. As a result, a cost-effective implementation of a corresponding communication device is possible.

According to an embodiment of the communication method, if a wireless communication connection between the second mobile terminal and the

Communication device is provided when displaying the group of mobile terminals, the second mobile terminal with a marker. As a result, when displaying the group of mobile terminals, the user immediately obtains an overview of the mobile terminals that can be coupled, as well as an overview of which of the mobile terminals is currently coupled to the communication apparatus.

According to a further communication method of the present invention, a group of mobile terminals that can be coupled to a communication device of the vehicle via a wireless communication link, and determines the thus determined terminals assigned to multiple controls of the communication device such that each mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals one the more

Controls is assigned. The plurality of controls may include, for example, buttons or switches on the communication device or a steering wheel of the vehicle. According to the communication method, a user operation is detected by one of the plurality of operating elements, whereby the user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile terminals. Then automatically a wireless Communication link between the selected mobile terminal and the

.Communication device constructed. If there already exists a wireless communication link between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals and the communication device, this will become wireless

Communication link between the second mobile terminal and the

Communication device previously disconnected automatically.

As described above, the mobile terminal may be, for example, a mobile phone, and the communication device may be, for example, a hands-free device of the vehicle.

By automatically activating a wireless communication link between a selected mobile terminal and the operator by operating one of the plurality of controls

Communication device is constructed and additionally optionally a previously existing wireless communication connection between another mobile terminal and the communication device is automatically disconnected, a quick change between the mobile terminals is possible. So it is possible, for example, when using multiple mobile phones in an incoming call by pressing a

corresponding to the plurality of controls to couple the mobile phone with the incoming call in no time with the handsfree of the vehicle to answer the call through the handsfree of the vehicle. Because there are only a few wireless communication connections, preferably even just a wireless one

Communication connection, at the same time, a cost-effective design of the hands-free system of the vehicle is possible. For example, according to a

Embodiment, a wireless connection according to a Bluetooth standard can be used as a wireless communication link.

According to another embodiment, the process of an automatic

Connection setup and an automatic disconnection on the operating unit of the communication device displayed. If a wireless communication connection between the second mobile terminal and the communication device is automatically disconnected, then this is communicated to the user by means of a corresponding display on the operating unit. Likewise, the user is notified on a display of the operating unit when automatically establishing a wireless communication link between the selected first mobile terminal and the communication device. As a result, the user obtains reliable information about a current connection state of the communication device of the vehicle. According to the present invention, a communication device for a

Vehicle provided. The communication device comprises a transmitting / receiving device for operating a wireless communication link, an operating unit with a display unit and a control element, and a

Processing unit. The processing unit is configured, a group of mobile terminals, which communicates with the communication device via the wireless

Communication link are coupled to determine, and to indicate the particular group of mobile terminals on the display unit. The processing unit is further configured to select a user selection, whereby the user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile terminals to detect on the basis of an actuation of the operating element, and then a wireless communication link between the

selected mobile terminal and the transceiver. If a wireless communication connection between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals and the transceiver at the time of

User selection, the processing unit is further configured to separate the existing wireless communication link between the second mobile terminal and the transceiver. Thereby, the communication device enables a user to establish a wireless communication link between different mobile ones

Easy to change handsets from the group of mobile devices in a simple way. Moreover, the communication device can be manufactured inexpensively because it only needs to provide one wireless communication link at a time.

According to the present invention, there is provided another communication device for a vehicle. The communication device comprises a transmitting / receiving device for operating a wireless communication link, an operating unit with a display unit and a plurality of operating elements, and a

Processing unit. The processing unit determines a group of mobile terminals which can be coupled to the communication device via the wireless communication link. The particular mobile terminals of the group of mobile terminals are assigned to the plurality of controls by associating each mobile terminal with the group of mobile terminals to one of the plurality of controls. The

For example, controls may include buttons near the display unit

Be control unit. The assignment of the mobile terminals to the keys can be displayed, for example, on the display unit or the keys can be a corresponding

Have lettering. By user operation of one of the plurality of controls, the user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile terminals. The user operation is performed by the processing unit by monitoring the Detected controls and due to a detected actuation separates the

Processing unit, a wireless communication link between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals and the transceiver, if such a wireless communication link exists, and establishes a new wireless communication link between the selected first mobile terminal and the transceiver. With the help of the communication device thus formed a user is enabled, via a very simple operation of mobile devices such. B. mobile phones, with the communication device of the vehicle, z. B. one

Handsfree of the vehicle to couple. Since the communication device automatically disconnects unneeded wireless communication links, if the communication device is capable of handling a small number of

Communication connections, in particular even only a communication connection to provide. Thereby, the communication device can be manufactured inexpensively.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a communication device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows schematically outputs on a display unit of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically shows outputs on a display unit of a communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will be described below by way of exemplary embodiments of a hands-free device of a vehicle in conjunction with a mobile telephone. However, the present invention is not limited to hands-free and

Mobile phones limited, but can be applied to any communication devices of vehicles that are capable of a wireless

Establish communication connection with a mobile terminal. For example, instead of the hands-free device, the communication device may comprise an entertainment system of the vehicle, and the mobile terminals may use any mobile terminals, such as mobile devices, instead of a mobile phone. As MP3 players, DVD players or notebooks, which can be coupled, for example, for data communication with the communication device via a wireless communication link. FIG. 1 shows a hands-free device 1 for a vehicle, which comprises a transmitting / receiving device 2, an operating unit 3 and a processing unit 4. The operating unit 3 comprises a display unit 5, for example a liquid crystal screen with a touch-sensitive surface, and a plurality of operating elements 6-9, for example buttons, which are arranged adjacent to the display unit 5. The transmitting / receiving device 2 is for operating a wireless communication link, in particular for operating a short-distance radio communication link, such. As a Bluetooth connection, a wireless connection or the like, designed. The

Processing unit 4 is, for example, a microprocessor controller which is coupled to the transceiver 2 and the operation unit 3 to transmit data via the wireless communication link of the transceiver 2 and to output data to the display unit 5 of the operation unit 3, as well

User inputs via the controls 6-9 of the control unit 3 to receive from the control unit 3. The hands-free device 1 may further comprise further operating elements, which are arranged at other locations of the vehicle, such as. B. a (not shown) operating element on a center console of the vehicle or an operating element 10 which is arranged on a steering wheel 11 of the vehicle. The processing unit 4 is in communication with the transceiver 2 capable of one or more wireless

Communication links 14, 15 to mobile terminals 12, 13, such. B.

Mobile phones to set up, disconnect and transmit data about it. The

Data transmission can be carried out, for example, according to standardized protocols, such. B. according to an HFP protocol (Hands Free Profile, Protocol for a

cordless telephony in the car), or an SAP protocol (SIM Access Profile, protocol for accessing a SIM card of a mobile phone).

The transmitting / receiving device 2 of the hands-free device 1 can operate only a limited number of wireless communication links, for example, at most one or two at a time. If a user wishes to use a mobile telephone currently not coupled to the hands-free device 1 in conjunction with the hands-free device 1, an existing wireless communication connection must first be disconnected in order to be able to establish a new wireless communication connection to the desired mobile radio telephone. If a call comes in at the desired mobile telephone not currently connected to the hands-free system, the earliest possible decoupling of an existing wireless communication connection to another mobile telephone and corresponding establishment of a wireless communication connection to the desired mobile telephone in which a call is currently being made is required incoming call is ended. In order to support this rapid change, two exemplary methods in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described below.

First, the processing unit 4 determines a group of mobile telephones 12, 13, which can be coupled to the hands-free device 1 via a wireless communication link 14, 15. The determination of the group of mobile phones which can be coupled can be effected, for example, by a configuration of the user via the operating unit 3 or by the hands-free device 1 automatically picking up all the Bluetooth-capable mobile radio telephones in the vehicle into the group.

For the further description below, it is initially assumed that the mobile telephone 12 (A) is coupled to the hands-free device 1 via a Bluetooth connection 14. Starting from this state, the user wants an incoming telephone call on the mobile telephone 13 (B) via the handsfree 1

answer. For this purpose, the user, as shown in Figure 2a, selects from a main menu of the hands-free device 1, which is displayed on the display unit 5, the item "telephone selection" with, for example, a touch-sensitive surface of the display unit 5. Further choices of the main menu of the handsfree 1 are, for example "Dial number", "dial name" and "voice control". By the

User Selection "Telephone Selection" displays a telephone selection menu on the display unit 5. In the "Telephone Selection Menu", as shown in Figure 2b, the telephones A-D of the previously designated group of mobile telephones are each displayed on a control panel for selection by the user. The mobile telephone A, which currently has an active wireless communication connection, is accordingly marked "(active)"

characterized. In the telephone selection menu, the user can select the mobile telephone to which a wireless communication connection is to be made. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 2b, the user selects "Telephone B." Then, as shown in Fig. 2c, a "telephone change" information display appears on the display unit 5 informing the user that a wireless communication connection to the telephone A is disconnected and a wireless communication link is established to the telephone B. In this way is a simple change of

Communication link between the handsfree 1 and more

Mobile phones 12, 13 possible. In order to provide an even faster change, the hands-free device 1, for example, the separate control element 10, which, as described in connection with Figure 1, for example, may be attached to the steering wheel 11 of the vehicle. By actuating the operating element 11, the telephone selection menu is displayed directly on the display unit 5 of the hands-free device 1, as shown in FIG. 2b. By selecting the desired phone in the Telephone selection menu disconnects an existing wireless communication connection and establishes a wireless communication connection to the desired telephone.

In connection with Figures 1 and 3, a further embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The operating unit 3 of the hands-free device 1 comprises a plurality of operating elements 6-9, which are arranged below the display unit 5, for example. The controls 6-9 may be, for example, push button. After the processing unit 4, as described above, has determined the group of mobile telephones which can be coupled to the hands-free device 1, the

Processing unit 4 to each paired mobile phone to one of Box 6-9. The assignment can for example be carried out automatically by the processing unit 4 or be configured by a user via the operating unit 3.

If the user wants a ^" wireless communication connection to one of the

Set up mobile phones of the particular group, so he simply presses one of the keys 6-9. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3a, the user actuates the key 8 to couple the telephone C to the hands-free device 1. Due to the actuation of the key 8, as indicated by the arrow 16, on the display unit 5 of the operating unit 3 information about the telephone change is output, which indicates that an existing

Connection to a mobile phone A is disconnected and the desired wireless

Communication connection to the telephone C is made (Fig. 3b). In addition, a telephone change can also be carried out via a menu displayed on the display unit 5. As shown in Figure 3a, for example, in a main menu of

Handsfree 1 displays a selection of paired phones as well as a

Possibility of branching into "further menu items." For example, a touch-sensitive control panel is shown on the display unit 5 for each dial-up telephone The mobile telephone, which is currently coupled to the hands-free system 1 via a wireless communication connection, is marked "(active)". Mistake. By pressing one of the control surfaces, for example the control surface "telephone C", an existing communication connection is disconnected and the one communication connection to the desired telephone is set up (arrow 17) .This process becomes, as in FIG

shown in a telephone exchange display on the display unit 5.

The present invention has previously been described in conjunction with exemplary

Embodiments described in detail. However, other embodiments and variations are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, two mobile phones a control such. B. a button 10 on the steering wheel 11 of the vehicle to be assigned, with which between the two mobile phones can be switched back and forth.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Communication device, hands-free device

Transmitting / receiving device

operating unit

processing unit

display unit

-10 operating element

1 steering wheel

2 mobile device, mobile phone A

3 mobile device, mobile phone B

4 ^■ wireless communication connection, bluetooth connection5 wireless communication connection, bluetooth connection6, 17 arrow

Claims

P a te n d e p o rt

A communication method for a vehicle, comprising:

Determining a group of mobile terminals (12, 13) which are connected to a

Communication device (1) of the vehicle via a wireless

Communication link (14, 15) are coupled,

Displaying the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) on an operating unit (3) of the communication device (1),

Detecting a user selection by which a user makes a first mobile

Selects a terminal from the group of mobile terminals (12, 13),

if a wireless communication link (14, 15) between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 3) and the

Communication device (1), automatically disconnecting the existing wireless communication link (14, 15) between the second mobile terminal (12, 13) and the communication device (1), and

- automatically establishing a wireless communication link (14, 15) between the selected first mobile terminal (12, 13) and the communication device

(1).

2. Communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Communication device (1) comprises a separate control element (6- 0), and that due to an operation of the separate operating element (6-10) by a user, the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) on the control unit (3) of the

Communication device (1) is displayed.

3. A communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, if a wireless communication link (14, 15) between the second mobile

Terminal and the communication device (1), the second mobile terminal is provided when displaying the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) with a marker.

4. A communication method for a vehicle comprising:

Determining a group of mobile terminals (12, 13) which are connected to a

Communication device (1) of the vehicle via a wireless

Communication link (14, 15) are coupled, Assigning the mobile terminals of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) to a plurality of operating elements (6-9) of the communication device (1), wherein each mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) belongs to one of the several

Associated with operating elements (6-9),

Detecting a user operation of one of the plurality of operating elements (6-9) by which a user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile terminals (12, 13),

if a wireless communication link (14, 15) between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) and the

Communication device (1) consists, automatically separating the existing wireless communication link (14, 15) between the second mobile terminal and the communication device (1), and

- automatically establishing a wireless communication link (14, 15) between the selected first mobile terminal and the communication device (1).

5. Communication method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in

that at least one mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) comprises a mobile radiotelephone, and

in that the communication device (1) comprises a hands-free device of the vehicle.

6. Communication method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the wireless communication link (14, 15) is a

Wireless connection according to a Bluetooth standard.

A communication method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising displaying on the operation unit (3) of the communication device (1),

that the second mobile terminal is automatically disconnected from the communication device (1), and / or

the first mobile terminal is automatically coupled to the communication device (1).

8. A communication device for a vehicle, comprising:

- A transmitting / receiving device (2) for operating a wireless

Communication link (14, 15),

- An operating unit (3) with a display unit (5) and a control element (6-10), and

a processing unit (4) which is designed a group of mobile terminals (12, 13) connected to the

Communication device (1) via the wireless communication link are coupled (14, 15) to determine

to display the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) on the display unit (5),

to detect a user selection due to an operation of the operating element (6-10), whereby the user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) ^' ,

if a wireless communication link (14, 15) exists between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) and the transceiver (2), the existing wireless communication link (14, 15) between the second mobile terminal and the transmitting / receiving device (2) to separate, and

establish a wireless communication link (14, 15) between the selected first mobile terminal and the transceiver (2).

9. A communication device for a vehicle, comprising:

- A transmitting / receiving device (2) for operating a wireless

Communication link (14, 15),

- An operating unit (3) with a display unit (5) and a plurality of operating elements (6- 9), and

- A processing unit (4), which. is designed

a group of mobile terminals (12, 13) connected to the

Communication device (1) via the wireless communication link (14, 15) are coupled to determine

assigning the mobile terminals of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) to the plurality of operating elements (6-9), each mobile terminal being assigned to one of the plurality of operating elements (6-9) of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13),

detecting a user operation of one of the plurality of controls (6-9), whereby the user selects a first mobile terminal from the group of mobile

Selects terminals (12, 13),

if a wireless communication link (14, 15) exists between a second mobile terminal of the group of mobile terminals (12, 13) and the transceiver (2), the existing wireless communication link (14, 15) between the second mobile terminal and the transmitting / receiving device (2) to separate, and establish a wireless communication link (14, 15) between the selected first mobile terminal and the transceiver (2).

10. Communication device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in dasä-the communication device (1) for carrying out the communication method according to one of claims 1-7 is configured.