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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A phone embedded within a vehicle for automatically using a service
plan of a proximate personal mobile phone. The embedded phone includes
an internal communication component that detects the presence of
the personal mobile phone, and receives a mobile subscriber identification
number from the detected phone. The embedded phone also includes
an external communication component that sends the received mobile
subscriber identification number to a wireless network authority,
and receives an authentication request to the personal mobile phone
via the embedded phone. The internal communication component sends
the authentication request to the personal mobile phone. The personal
mobile phone generates an authentication signal, and the external
communication component sends the authentication signal to the wireless
network authority.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method for automatically using a service plan of a personal
mobile phone over a phone embedded within a vehicle, the method
comprising: detecting the presence of the personal mobile phone;
sending the mobile subscriber identification number from the detected
phone to the embedded phone; sending the mobile subscriber identification
number from the embedded phone to an authority of a wireless network;
sending an authentication request to the personal mobile phone via
the embedded phone; authenticating communication; sending a confirmation
of the authentication to the wireless network authority via the
embedded phone; ending communication between the personal mobile
phone and the embedded phone; and opening a communication session
between the embedded phone and the wireless network based on the
sent confirmation.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the
personal mobile phone is performed based on at least one of a Bluetooth
link, an infrared wireless (IR) link, an 802.11 wireless network
link, or a physical electrical wire link.
3. A phone embedded within a vehicle for automatically using a
service plan of a personal mobile phone, the embedded phone comprising:
an internal communication component for detecting the presence of
the personal mobile phone, and receiving a mobile subscriber identification
number from the detected phone; and an external communication component
in communication with the internal communication component for sending
the received mobile subscriber identification number to a wireless
network authority, and receiving an authentication request for the
personal mobile phone, wherein the internal communication component
sends the authentication request to the personal mobile phone that
generates an authentication signal in response to the authentication
request, the generated authentication signal is sent to the external
communication component via the internal communication component,
the internal communication component then ends communication with
the personal mobile phone, and the external communication component
sends the authentication signal to the wireless network authority.
4. The embedded phone of claim 3, wherein the internal communication
component performs interaction with the personal mobile phone based
on at least one of a Bluetooth link, an infrared wireless (IR) link,
an 802.11 wireless network link, or a physical electrical wire link.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to telecommunications and, more
specifically, to wireless telecommunications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Worldwide, regulatory bodies have begun to mandate the use of hands
free systems for phone conversations in vehicles. A hands free system
enables the driver to carry on a phone conversation without holding
a phone to their ear. While some systems incorporate a headset,
typically a hands free system comprises a microphone and speaker
mounted in the vehicle and connected to a cellular phone mounted
in a cradle. Existing systems typically require pressing keys on
the phone or on a separate keypad embedded in the dashboard to dial
a phone number. Newer systems use voice recognition, implemented
as part of the hands free system or embedded phone system, to enable
a true hands free operation. Some providers of applications attempt
to use hands free systems (a.k.a. hands free kits) in tandem with
the user's personal phone to deliver their service, removing the
need for an in-vehicle embedded phone.
There exist disadvantages with current systems. A system based
on a portable phone mounted in a cradle is inherently unreliable
as the phone may become detached from its cradle at the time it
is most needed (e.g., because of crash impact.) In addition, the
driver may have forgotten their phone outside of the vehicle and
only discover that when the phone is needed.
Bluetooth (BT) is a short-range wireless technology originally
designed to replace patch cable between personal computers and related
peripherals. This technology is making its way into mobile cellular
phones to enable them to communicate over short range with other
devices. BT applications may be connected to a personal phone in
an in-vehicle hands free system. In one scenario, the driver gets
into their vehicle and starts driving without pulling their phone
out of their pocket. A BT transceiver that is part of the in-vehicle
hands free system and the BT transceiver in the phone discover each
other and establish a continuous wireless link. The hands free system
now uses the driver's personal phone to connect with the cellular
network.
The above solution suffers from limitations similar to the cradle
solution and more severe. For example, wireless connections are
inherently unreliable. On occasions the two systems do not establish
a connection when the driver enters the car. Unlike when placing
a phone into a cradle, there is no physical, tangible cue to the
driver to indicate a likely connection failure. Even after the initial
connection has been established, it may be dropped at any time;
even in the middle of a conversation. In addition, the phone may
be placed at a location in the vehicle with poor cellular reception
(e.g. below glass window level) that does not have access to a vehicle
mounted external antenna. Lastly, in dense traffic and given BT
security issues, conversation privacy may be compromised as it may
leak over the BT network to other vehicles in close proximity.
Therefore, there exists a need to provide a more reliable, less
costly, hands free vehicle phone system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a phone embedded within a vehicle for
automatically using a service plan of a personal mobile phone. The
embedded phone includes an internal communication component that
detects the presence of the personal mobile phone, and receives
a mobile subscriber identification number from the detected phone.
The embedded phone also includes an external communication component
that sends the received mobile subscriber identification number
to a wireless network authority, and receives an authentication
request to the personal mobile phone via the embedded phone. The
internal communication component sends the authentication request
to the personal mobile phone. The personal mobile phone generates
an authentication signal, and the external communication component
sends the authentication signal to the wireless network authority.
In accordance with farther aspects of the invention, the internal
communication component performs interaction with the personal mobile
phone based on a Bluetooth link, an infrared wireless (IR) link,
an 802.11 wireless network link, or a physical electrical wire link.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention
are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of the present invention;
and
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred process performed
by the system shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is a system and method for enabling an in-vehicle
embedded phone to use the account, calling plan and phone number
of a personal mobile phone. A vehicle 20 is equipped with a Telematics
Control Unit (TCU) 30 and an embedded vehicle phone 40. Embedded
vehicle phone 40 may be independent from or integral with TCU 30.
TCU 30 includes a wireless communication module 32 capable of short
range wireless communication with other compatible devices, such
as a personal mobile phone 50. TCU 30 includes hands-free components
(not shown) directly linked to embedded phone 40. Hands-free components
can also be included in embedded vehicle phone 40. The hands-free
components may include a microphone, speakers, and speech recognition
and synthesizing software. TCU 30 retrieves information from compatible
mobile wireless phone 50 for allowing embedded phone 40 to provide
access to the wireless communication network using the retrieved
information.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. First,
at block 100, communication module 32 detects the presence of a
compatible phone, such as personal mobile phone 50. Detection can
be performed a number of ways, for example, personal mobile phone
50 transmits a short range identification signal or communication
module 32 transmits a short range signal that requests a response
from any compatible phone within a proximity. When a compatible
personal mobile phone 50 is detected, the user (a driver or passenger
in the vehicle) is informed about the detected phone (block 102).
At block 104, TCU 30 asks the driver if they wish to use the service
associated with the detected phone in embedded vehicle phone 40.
Asking the driver can be performed by presenting a query on a display
or outputting a voice query over a speaker. If the driver approves
of using the detected phone's account information, mobile subscriber
identification number from the detected phone is sent to vehicle
phone 40 via the communication module 32 (block 106). At block 108,
embedded vehicle phone 40 sends the mobile subscriber identification
number to a wireless network access authority. At block 110, the
wireless network access authority returns a request for authentication
to the embedded vehicle phone. Embedded vehicle phone 40 sends the
request for authentication to the detected phone (block 112). The
detected phone performs authentication in response to the request
and sends an authentication response to embedded vehicle phone 40
(block 114). At block 116, the embedded vehicle phone sends the
session key to the wireless network access authority. After the
wireless network access authority receives the session key, the
access authority opens a session with embedded vehicle phone 40
(block 118).
Once a session is opened or interaction is begun with embedded
vehicle phone 40, the embedded vehicle phone operates as if it were
the detected phone. Because embedded vehicle phone 40 includes hands-free
components within vehicle 20, or is coupled to hands-free components
of TCU 30, the driver vocalizes all instructions for operating the
embedded phone. The hands-free components may include a voice recognition
processor for converting voice into operating commands.
Once the link is established, the vehicle user bypasses the personal
phone and directly uses the vehicle phone--albeit with the account
information from the personal phone. In alternative embodiments,
the account link between personal mobile phone 50 and embedded vehicle
phone 40 may be terminated based on certain trigger events associated
with the vehicle or driver, such as when the engine is turned off
or the vehicle is locked. Triggers may also include safety related
events, such as sudden stops or reaching excessive speeds.
In an alternative embodiment, personal mobile phone 50 may electrically
connect to TCU 30, either mounted in a cradle or connected via a
short cable. TCU 30 detects the personal mobile phone's presence
when the phone is placed into the cradle or connected via a cable.
In another embodiment, personal mobile phone 50 communicates with
TCU 30 over an Infrared wireless (IR) link, or an 802.11 Wireless
LAN to establish communication between TCU 30 and personal mobile
phone 50.
From time to time the network may request re-authentication. TCU
30 forwards all requests in the above-described manner to personal
mobile phone 50. If that operation fails, TCU 30 optionally notifies
the driver and then reverts to using its own account. In the absence
of such an account, TCU 30 notifies the driver of its inability
to make the call, save for emergency calls (e.g., in the United
States, 911 calls and all other phone numbers defined as `emergency
numbers`), which may be made even in the absence of a TCU account.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated
and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,
various alternate embodiments of the present invention may be implemented
using a variety of telecommunication protocols, such as GSM, TDMA,
CDMA, iDEN, etc. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not
limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. |