2. Description of Related Art In the environment of the motor vehicle, the operation of a portable or cell phone while driving is considered a distraction to driving. Some jurisdictions. have outlawed cell phone use when driving, unless the cell phone incorporates hands-free technology.

At the same time technological advances have been made in the cell phone industry, so to have technological advances been made in the motor vehicle industry.

Specifically, the electronics in a motor vehicle are becoming increasingly powerful.

Features such as Internet access, navigation systems, theater systems, and the like in a motor vehicle are not uncommon. In addition, integrated phone capability also exists. In motor vehicles that do not have phone capabilities integrated therein, there is an audio system capable of broadcasting electronic communications received from a receiver, such as a receiver in a cell phone.

Currently, there is no capability of universally receiving communication from a cell phone and transmitting information therefrom through an audio system of a motor vehicle. Further, the industry lacks the ability for vehicle-integrated phone systems to communicate with non-integrated devices or receive information from a non-integrated cell phone and allow the operator of the motor vehicle to communicate on the non- integrated cell phone using the motor vehicle speaker and microphone system.

Specifically, a phone number stored in a cell phone must be retrieved from the cell phone and input into the vehicle-integrated phone system to use the vehicle-integrated phone system. This redundancy in data input is error prone and may prevent a driver of the motor vehicle from concentrating on driving should such activity be occurring at the time data is being input into the vehicle-integrated phone system. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a central communication system integrated into a motor vehicle that can wirelessly communicate with electronic devices within the car and allow the driver to interact and use those wireless devices through one central integrated system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A communication assembly is used with an electronic device that creates electrical communication signals. The communication assembly is integrated into a motor vehicle having an electronic control system. The communication assembly includes a controller that is electrically connected to the electronic control system. The controller receives electric power from the electronic control system and bidirectionally communicates therewith. Using the bidirectional communication, the controller controls portions of the electronic control system. The communication assembly also includes a transceiver that is electrically connected to the controller. The transceiver bidirectionally communicates with the electronic device using a secure, wireless protocol. This allows the communication assembly to receive electrical communication signals created by the electronic device and to transmit those electrical communication signals to the controller to control portions of the electronic control system. The communication assembly allows a driver to interact with wireless devices, using the invention as a gateway to do so, and thereby reduces distractions while driving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the invention; Figure 3A is a flow chart of a portion of the inventive method detailing the Program Mode portion of the method ; Figure 3B is a flow chart of a portion of the inventive method detailing the ID Authorization portion of the method; and Figure 3C is a flow chart of a portion of the inventive method detailing the User Interaction portion of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, one embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at 10. The invention is a communication assembly 10 that is integrated into an electronic control system 12 of a motor vehicle (not shown) for allowing a driver to interact with the wireless devices within the motor vehicle via one central control unit. The electronic control system 12 includes a primary microprocessor 14 that receives power from a power supply 16. Electrically connected to the primary microprocessor 14 are memory devices 18 and a microphone 20. A non-exhaustive representation of outputs of the microprocessor 14 include an output 22 to a dedicated loudspeaker, an output 24 to loudspeakers of an audio system and an output 26 to an optional vehicle interface 28.

The vehicle interface 28 may be a traditional vehicle interface, e. g. , radio buttons and/or climate control buttons, levers and dials.

The communication assembly 10 is electrically connected to the electronic control system 12 at 30. The communication assembly 10 includes a controller 32. The controller 32 is electrically connected to the electronic control system 12. The controller 32 receives electrical power from the power supply 16 through the microprocessor 14.

The controller 32 also bidirectionally communicates with the microprocessor 14. The communications extending therebetween include commands to operate the microphone 20 and loudspeakers through the outputs 22,24. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any one of the microphone 20 or loudspeakers, dedicated or otherwise, may not be a part of the electronic control system 12 of the motor vehicle. Should any of these elements not be included in an electronic control system 12 of the motor vehicle, the communication assembly 10 will be required to utilize those features provided by a cell phone 34, discussed subsequently.

The communication assembly 10 also includes a transceiver 36. The transceiver 36 is electrically connected to the controller 32 and bidirectionally communicates therewith. The controller 32/transceiver 36 combination are designed to provide secure, wireless communication between the communication assembly 10 and disparate electronic devices 34 such as the cell phone 34 via a short distance data communication system. A short distance data communication system allows the communication assembly 10 to recognize the electronic devices 34 within the car and perform data communication therewith. A secure, wireless protocol contemplated in the invention 10 is the BluetoothTMTM protocol.

BluetoothTMTMwireless technology has been developed to provide short-range connectivity for personal, portable and handheld devices. The technology is based in the radio frequency, removing the line-of-sight requirements typical with WAN and LAN technologies. The BluetoothTMTM wireless technology is omni-directional covering the space around the person using a device incorporating the technology. In this invention, the communication assembly 10, and more specifically, the transceiver 36, uses Bluetooth technology to communicate with the electronic devices 34.

The communication assembly 10 also includes a display interface 40 for communicating the communication assembly 10 information to the operator and allowing the operator to use the communication assembly 10. As shown in Figure 1, the display interface 40 is preferably electronically connected to the communication assembly 10 and receives electrical power from the power supply 16 through the microprocessor 14. The display interface 40 communicates bidirectionally with the communication assembly 10 for operation therewith. The display 40 will display many types of information and prompts for the operator, such information may include communication assembly 10 configuration settings, data from wireless devices including-names, numbers, and addresses, advertising information, calendars, etc.

While the display interface 40 is shown connected to the communication assembly 10, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the display 40 may be connected in any number of ways. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the display interface 40 may be electronically connected to the microprocessor 14 and communicate with the communication assembly 10 through the microprocessor 14. Additionally, it should be appreciated that instead of being hard wired to the microprocessor 14 or the communication assembly 10 for data transfer between the communication assembly 10 and the display 40, such communication may be accomplished in any number of ways, including via a vehicle data bus, a proprietary interface, or wirelessly.

The communication assembly 10 further includes buttons 42 for allowing the operator to use or control the communication assembly 10. These buttons 42 may be physical and located on the display 40 or elsewhere in the passenger compartment within the operator's reach. The buttons could also be displayed as a touch button on a touch screen of the display 40. Preferably, the communication assembly 10 includes buttons to initiate/send, terminate/end, select, and scroll up and down.

In the environment of the motor vehicle, a cell phone 34 may be operated. If the cell phone 34 is enabled to communicate with the communication assembly 10, i. e. , it is Bluetooth enabled, it will be able to transmit voice communication between the cell phone 34 and the electronic control system 12 of the motor vehicle via the communication assembly 10. This will allow the operator of the motor vehicle to utilize the microphone 20 of the motor vehicle to speak to someone that is being communicated with through the cell phone 34. Likewise, the person with which the cell phone 34 has connected is able to speak to the operator of the motor vehicle wherein communications transmitted to the cell phone 34 from the person outside the motor vehicle may be transmitted in from the cell phone 34 to the transceiver 36 to the controller 32 and then out through the loudspeakers via the outputs 22,24. This will allow the operator of the motor vehicle to speak using the cell phone 34 and the electronics of the motor vehicle without having the cell phone 34 physically connected to the electronic control system 12 of the motor vehicle, thereby allowing the operator thereof to concentrate more attention on driving the motor vehicle.

Bluetooth technology is designed to allow multiple electronic devices to communicate with each other to share information therebetween. The sharing of information occurs in a small geographic area, not much larger than what is considered in one's personal space. Should a piconet, a collection or network of Bluetoothm enabled devices, exist within the motor vehicle, the controller 32 must delegate as to which of the devices 34 in the piconet are able to communicate with the communication system 10.

More specifically, should a piconet exist in a motor vehicle that incorporates the invention 10, the communication assembly 10 will have to specify as to which of the cell phones 34 within the piconet it is going to bidirectionally communicate therewith. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the communication assembly 10 cannot practically communicate with one cell phone 34 and then at the same time receive communications from a second cell phone 34 within the motor vehicle should someone be calling the second cell phone 34. While only a cell phone 34 and a PDA 36 are explicitly shown in the Figures, the communication assembly 10 will be able to communication with multiple types of compatible devices, including laptops, headsets, headphones, keyfobs, watches, eyeglasses, etc.

It is contemplated that certain data may be transferred between the devices 34 within the piconet via the communication system 10 as long as the data is not voice data.

For example, one occupant of the motor vehicle may have a cell phone 34 and a second occupant may have a personal digital assistant (PDA) 38 with a phone number. If both the cell phone 34 and the PDA 38 are Bluetooth enabled, the driver of the motor vehicle may make a phone call using the communication assembly 10 and electronic control system 12 of the motor vehicle using the cell phone capabilities of the cell phone 34. Not only may the driver operate the vehicle and complete the call in hands-free mode, but the phone number stored in the PDA 38 may be transferred either directly to the cell phone 34 or to the cell phone 34 through the communication assembly 10 eliminating the need for the driver of the motor vehicle to manually input the number into either the cell phone or the communication assembly 10.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications or variations of the preferred embodiment may be made without varying from the scope of the present invention. For example, the communication assembly 10 may be a stand-alone system or be integrated into a larger instrument cluster or entertainment/information/control system within the vehicle. This includes being able to communicate with a navigation system in the vehicle, thereby allowing the communication assembly 10 to pull an address from a device in the car, such as a PDA 38, provide the address data to the navigation system, which can then map a route to the address for the operator.

The communication assembly 10 may also include voice recognition technology or utilize voice recognition technology included within other components of the electronic control system 12 such that the operator may use voice commands, instead of buttons to operate the communication assembly 10, thereby allowing the driver to remain less distracted during the driving process. Additionally, the communication assembly 10 may include or utilize existing technology to use voice prompts for system output in addition to or instead of the display 40 output, again reducing driver distraction.

Referring to Figures 3A-3C, portions of the method for securely interfacing a portable electronic device with a communication system of a motor vehicle are shown in flow chart form. Figure 3A outlines the Program Mode, Figure 3B outlines the ID Authorization portion, and Figure 3C outlines the User Interaction portion of the method.

Each of these portions is described in more detail below.

Referring to Figure 3A, the Program Mode is the portion of the method which allows the user to program into the system those devices authorized to communicate with the communication assembly 10. Such programming is necessary to avoid cross talk from alien devices within the automobile or near the automobile. The Program Mode begins at 50 where the operator views the display 40 corresponding to the communication assembly 10. Then, at 52, the operator begins the Program Mode. The Program Mode may be initiated by pressing a single button 42 or a combination of buttons 42 on the display interface 40. The buttons 42 may be physical or may be on a touch screen if the display 40 incorporates a touch screen. Further, such selection could be made via a voice command, if voice recognition technology is incorporated into the communication assembly 10. Once the user has initiated the Program Mode, the method continues at 54 where the method locates and interrogates each of the wireless devices present within the range of the short distance data communication system. Specifically, the communication assembly 10, which includes the controller 32 and the transceiver 36, communicates with all the wireless devices, such as cell phone 34 and PDA 38, within the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and relays the ID information obtained from them to the communication assembly 10.

Once the communication assembly 10 has identified all wireless devices within its range capable of communicating with the communication assembly 10, the next step in this portion of the method as shown at 56 involves displaying the available devices 34 on the display 40. Once displayed, the user then has the option to choose those wireless devices from the list that he wishes to store into the communication assembly 10 ID Database, as shown at 58. Once stored in the ID Database, those devices will be authorized to interact with the assembly 10 when present within the passenger compartment. To determine those devices present, the communication assembly 10 uses the ID Authorization portion shown in Figure 3B. Once the device IDs are stored, the Program Mode of the method ends at 60.

The ID Authorization portion of the method is shown in Figure 3B. The ID Authorization portion is utilized to identify the devices present in the car and determine which of those have been stored and are therefore authorized to communicate with the communication assembly 10. The ID Authorization portion of the method begins with the invention query loop at 70. At decision step 72, the method determines whether there are compatible wireless devices within the range of the short distance data communication system. If there are no such devices, the method returns to the beginning of the invention query loop at 70. If there are compatible devices present, the method then advances to decision block 74 wherein the method determines whether those devices are registered/programmed with the communication assembly 10. To do this, the ID Database at 76 is queried. If the device is not present in the ID Database 76, the device is not authorized to communicate with the communication assembly 10 and therefore the method returns to the Invention Query loop 70. If, on the other hand, the device is present in the ID Database 76, the device is programmed and therefore authorized to communicate with the invention, therefore, the communication assembly 10 "handshakes"or connects with the device at 78.

After the authorized device and the communication assembly 10 are connected, the communication assembly 10 and the device may bidirectionally exhange data or wait for user interaction at 80. The User Interaction portion of the method as shown in Figure 3C is further explained below. While the communication assembly 10 remains active and the device remains within range, the communication assembly 10 continues to maintain a network connection with the device as shown at 82.

Referring to Figure 3C, the User Interaction portion of the method is shown. The User Interaction portion is utilized to relay information and prompts relative to the system on a display 40 for the operator. This portion of the method begins at 90 when the communication assembly 10 is in an active network state. At 92, the network receives device interaction either from the user or from the device itself and relays such information to the communication assembly 10. Then, at 94 the user is notified or prompted via the display 40 as to whether the user wishes to complete the action. At 96, the method waits for a response to the prompt from the user. If no response if received from the user in a predetermined time, the method returns to the network active state at 90 and waits for another interaction to be initiated. If, on the other hand, a response is received from the user, the method continues at 98 where the requested interaction is performed by running the necessary process. Once the process is complete, it is terminated at 100 and the communication assembly 10 enters network active state 102 and returns to network active state 90 to wait for another interaction. One skilled in the art will appreciate that while processing an interaction with one device it would not be possible to interact with other devices.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications may be made to the instant method while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the method may be adapted to receive voice commands from the operator or outpout voice prompts to the operator. The ID Authorization portion of the method could be modified to prompt the operator to store any alien devices within the range of the communication assembly 10, but that are not registered/stored. Further, the ID Authorization portion of the method may be modified to interface with vehicle personality settings such that certain sets of devices are stored for particular users of the car. For example, if there are two users of the car, A and B, each using the respective key fob, then each time key fob A is used to operate the car, those devices stored by operator A would be authorized to use the communication assembly 10. Likewise, if key fob B is used, then operator B's devices would be authorized to use the assembly 10.

As Bluetoothm technology advances and becomes more prevalent, it is anticipated that there will be BluetoothTM-enabled kiosks alongside roadways, etc.

Theses kiosks will be capable of transmitting and receving information and advertisements to compatible devices. Therefore, as indicated at 74 in Figure 3B, the method anticipates that in querying for devices present, such a kiosk or"open access point"will be present. If present, the method allows for the communication assembly 10 to bidirectionally transfer data with the open access point.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.