JP2010028602A - Onboard hands-free speaking device, and control method of the onboard hands-free speaking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an onboard hands-free speaking device capable of achieving power saving without interposing any complicated work. <P>SOLUTION: An onboard hands-free speaking device 10 is mounted on a vehicle and enables a hands-free talk via a cellular phone by establishing a wireless communication link to perform voice communication with the cellular phone. A communicable area database 35 stores a communicable area, wherein communication with a base station can be performed using the cellular phone, and a control unit 20 detects whether or not the vehicle enters the communicable area. In a case where it is detected that the vehicle enters the communicable area when the wireless communication link with the cellular phone is not yet established, the wireless communication link is established with the cellular phone to enable the hands-free talk. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is mounted on a vehicle, establishes a wireless communication connection with a mobile phone in the vehicle, and controls a hands-free call via the mobile phone, and control of the hands-free call device Regarding the method.

Conventionally, a hands-free device that is mounted on a vehicle and wirelessly communicates with a mobile phone brought into the vehicle by a user to realize a hands-free call by the user is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this type of hands-free device, a wireless communication link with the mobile phone is established when the hands-free device is activated, and thereafter, the hands-free device is stopped or the wireless communication link is intentionally disconnected by the user. Until now, it is common to maintain the establishment of a wireless communication link.
JP 2002-12091 A

By the way, during the establishment of the wireless communication link, the power consumption of both the hands-free device and the mobile phone is larger than when the wireless communication link is not established. In the conventional hands-free device, after the wireless communication link is established, whether or not the mobile phone can communicate with the base station, that is, whether or not the hands-free call can be performed, Establishment will be maintained. In this case, a hands-free call cannot be performed, and even when it is not necessary to establish a wireless communication link, the wireless communication link may be established, and there is a problem in power saving.
In order to solve this problem, when the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station, the wireless communication link with the mobile phone is disconnected. When the wireless communication link is established again, the user sets the wireless communication link at the intended time. It was necessary to establish it, and the work was complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle hands-free call device that can realize power saving without involving complicated operations.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an in-vehicle hands that is mounted on a vehicle and that establishes a wireless communication link capable of voice communication with a mobile phone to enable hands-free calling via the mobile phone. In a free call device, a communicable area storage means for storing a communicable area that is an area in which communication with a base station by the mobile phone is possible, and a vehicle that detects whether or not the vehicle has entered the communicable area An entry detection means, and the vehicle entry detection means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area when a wireless communication link is not established to enable voice communication with the mobile phone. In this case, a wireless communication link is established so as to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, thereby enabling a hands-free call.
According to this configuration, when the mobile phone's received radio wave intensity is low and a hands-free call is not possible, the user can reduce the mobile phone's received radio wave intensity, for example, by cutting the wireless communication link to save power. When it is possible to make a hands-free call without performing complicated operations such as constantly monitoring to determine whether a hands-free call is possible and intentionally establishing a wireless communication link when a hands-free call is possible Automatically establishes a wireless communication link, enabling hands-free calling. Accordingly, the wireless communication link can be disconnected when communication between the mobile phone and the base station cannot be performed without complicated operations by the user, and power saving can be achieved.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and establishes a wireless communication link capable of voice communication with a mobile phone, thereby enabling a hands-free call via the mobile phone. The in-vehicle hands-free call device is an area that has a power saving mode for establishing a wireless communication link in a state in which voice communication is not possible with the mobile phone, and is capable of communicating with the base station by the mobile phone. A communicable area storing means for storing a communicable area; and a vehicle entry detecting means for detecting whether or not the vehicle has entered the communicable area, and when shifting to the power saving mode, When the vehicle entry detecting means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area, a wireless communication link is established to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, and Characterized in that it allows for free calls.
According to this configuration, when the mobile phone's received radio wave intensity is low and a hands-free call is impossible, for example, when the user attempts to save power by shifting to the power saving mode, the user can reduce the mobile phone's received radio wave intensity. When it is possible to make a hands-free call without performing complicated operations such as constantly monitoring to determine whether a hands-free call is possible and intentionally establishing a wireless communication link when a hands-free call is possible Establishes a wireless communication link so that voice communication can be automatically performed, and hands-free calling becomes possible. Therefore, without going through complicated work by the user, it is possible to shift to the power saving mode only when communication between the mobile phone and the base station is not possible, and power saving can be achieved.

Here, in the in-vehicle hands-free call device according to the invention, based on the received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone, the communication disabled detection means for detecting that the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station, and the mobile phone When the wireless communication link is established to enable voice communication between the mobile phone and the mobile phone cannot detect communication with the base station, the communication failure detection unit detects that the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station. Wireless communication link releasing means for releasing a wireless communication link capable of voice communication may be provided.
According to this configuration, when the mobile phone's actual received radio wave intensity is low and the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station, and a hands-free call cannot be realized, wireless communication that can automatically perform voice communication is possible. Since the link is released, power saving can be achieved without a complicated operation by the user.
Note that the release of a wireless communication link capable of voice communication means power saving of the in-vehicle handsfree call device and the mobile phone by means such as disconnection of the wireless communication link or transition to a power saving mode. To do.

Further, in the in-vehicle hands-free call device according to the invention, the wireless communication link release means detects the base station by the mobile phone after the vehicle entry detecting means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area. When the communication failure detection means detects that communication with the mobile phone cannot be performed, the wireless communication link may be maintained for voice communication with the mobile phone for a predetermined time.
According to this configuration, when the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station, the wireless communication link is disconnected when the state where the communication is impossible is temporary and recovery is expected immediately. This can prevent the user's convenience.

Further, in the in-vehicle hands-free call device according to the invention, when the vehicle entry detecting means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area, the vehicle has entered the communication area and then exited. The vehicle approach is further provided with a stay time predicting means for predicting a stay time, and the vehicle has entered the communicable area when a wireless communication link is not established for voice communication with the mobile phone. If detected by the detecting means and the stay time predicted by the stay time predicting means is shorter than the time required for performing a hands-free call, voice communication is performed with the mobile phone. The establishment of the wireless communication link may be stopped as possible.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a wireless communication link from being established between the in-vehicle hands-free call device and the mobile phone even though the time required for performing the hands-free call cannot be secured. Electricity can be achieved.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and establishes a wireless communication link capable of voice communication with a mobile phone, thereby enabling a hands-free call via the mobile phone. Control the in-vehicle hands-free communication device, store a communicable area that is an area where communication with the base station by the mobile phone is detected, and detect whether the vehicle has entered the communicable area, When it is detected that the vehicle has entered the communicable area when a wireless communication link is not established to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, the mobile phone can perform voice communication with the mobile phone. It is characterized by establishing a wireless communication link and enabling hands-free calling.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and establishes a wireless communication link capable of voice communication with a mobile phone, thereby enabling a hands-free call via the mobile phone. In addition, it is possible to control an in-vehicle hands-free communication device having a power saving mode for establishing a wireless communication link in a state in which voice communication with the mobile phone is impossible, so that the mobile phone can communicate with a base station. A communicable area that is an area is stored, and whether or not the vehicle has entered the communicable area is detected, and the vehicle has entered the communicable area when shifting to the power saving mode. If detected, a wireless communication link is established so as to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, thereby enabling a hands-free call.

  According to the present invention, when a vehicle enters a communicable area in a state where a wireless communication link has not been established, a wireless communication link is automatically established, so that power saving can be achieved without complicated operations. Can be realized.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a hands-free call system 1 including an in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the hands-free call system 1 includes an in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 mounted on a vehicle 11 and a mobile phone 12 brought into the vehicle 11 by a user. In addition, the mobile phone 12 is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The mobile phone 12 communicates with another mobile phone 15 or a fixed phone (hereinafter referred to as “other mobile phone”) via a mobile communication network 14 including the base station 13, and is provided with a speaker, In addition to a microphone and an antenna for receiving radio waves from the base station 13, a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard is provided.
The in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 is a device that allows a user such as a driver or a passenger to make a hands-free call with another mobile phone or the like without holding the mobile phone 12 in the vehicle 11. By establishing a wireless communication link so that voice communication with the telephone 12 is established, the transmission voice from the user is transmitted to the mobile phone 12, and the reception voice from another mobile phone or the like is received from the mobile phone 12 to receive the vehicle 11. Sounds in. In addition, the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 according to the present embodiment has a navigation function for guiding the route to the destination for the user.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10. As shown in this figure, the in-vehicle hands-free communication device 10 includes a control unit 20, a ROM 21, a RAM 22, a Bluetooth communication control unit 23, a Bluetooth communication data transmission / reception unit 24, a voice processing unit 25, an absolute direction / The position detection unit 26, the user interface unit 27, the display unit 28, the input unit 29, the HDD control unit 30, and the HDD 31 are provided.
The control unit 20 centrally controls each unit of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 and includes a CPU as a calculation means and other peripheral circuits. In addition, the control unit 20 performs various timing operations based on a reference clock generated by an oscillator (not shown).
The ROM 21 stores various programs such as a boot program for starting the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10, a program for realizing a hands-free call function and a navigation function, and various data. The RAM 22 includes a control unit. It functions as 20 work areas.

  The Bluetooth communication control unit 23 is compliant with the mobile phone 12 and the Bluetooth standard by transmitting and receiving various data to and from the mobile phone 12 via the Bluetooth communication data transmission / reception unit 24 under the control of the control unit 20. Short-distance wireless communication is performed. For example, when establishing a wireless communication link with the mobile phone 12, the Bluetooth communication control unit 23 transmits a control packet requesting establishment of the wireless communication link to the mobile phone 12 via the Bluetooth communication data transmitting / receiving unit 24. . Similarly, when the established wireless communication link is disconnected, the Bluetooth communication control unit 23 transmits a control packet requesting disconnection of the wireless communication link to the mobile phone 12 via the Bluetooth communication data transmitting / receiving unit 24. Further, for example, the Bluetooth communication control unit 23 receives the reception voice received by the mobile phone 12 from another mobile phone or the like via the Bluetooth communication data transmission / reception unit 24, and transmits a voice signal indicating the reception voice to the control unit 20. When a voice signal related to the transmitted voice uttered by the user is input from the control unit 20, the transmitted voice indicated by the voice signal is transmitted to the mobile phone 12.

The audio processing unit 25 is connected to the speaker 32, and digitally / analog converts the audio signal input from the control unit 20 and outputs the audio signal to the speaker 32, thereby emitting sound related to the audio signal to the outside. The audio processing unit 25 is connected to the microphone 33, performs analog / digital conversion on a signal related to the transmitted voice collected by the microphone 33, and outputs the signal to the control unit 20 as an audio signal.
The absolute azimuth / position detection unit 26 includes an antenna that receives GPS radio waves transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and includes a position of the vehicle 11, that is, a coordinate value including the longitude and latitude of the vehicle 11, and an azimuth. Is calculated based on GPS radio waves and output to the control unit 20.

The user interface unit 27 includes an input / output (I / O) control circuit and a driver circuit, and functions as an interface that connects the control unit 20 to the display unit 28 and the input unit 29. Specifically, the user interface unit 27 executes display control of the display unit 28 under the control of the control unit 20 and outputs an operation of the input unit 29 by the user to the control unit 20.
The display unit 28 displays a map for navigation under the control of the user interface unit 27 and various information such as the position of the vehicle 11 on the map, an operation menu, and the like, and is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or EL. A display device such as an (Electro Luminescent) display is provided.
The input unit 29 receives a user input operation and outputs it to the user interface unit 27. The input unit 29 includes a plurality of operators disposed on the front portion of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 and a display provided in the display unit 28. A touch panel (not shown) arranged on the apparatus is provided. Note that the input unit 29 may be configured such that the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 can be remotely operated by a remote controller.

The HDD control unit 30 controls the HDD 31 under the control of the control unit 20, and reads and writes various data to and from the HDD 31.
The HDD 31 is a device that stores various data in a readable and writable manner, and includes a map database 34 and a communicable area database 35 as shown in FIG.
The map database 34 stores data for navigation such as map data and route guidance data.
The communicable area database 35 stores the communicable area 40 (FIG. 3) as polygon data. Polygon data is data indicating a polygonal area defined by connecting a plurality of points indicated by coordinate values composed of longitude and latitude. Here, the communicable area 40 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is an example of a diagram schematically showing the communicable area 40 based on the polygon data stored in the communicable area database 35. This figure shows a state in which the communicable area 40 is displayed superimposed on the map related to the map data stored in the map database.
The communicable area 40 is an area in which the mobile phone 12 can communicate with another mobile phone or the like, and the mobile phone 12 can communicate with the base station 13. 11 is present, a hands-free call is possible normally, and conversely, when the vehicle 11 is not present in the communicable area 40, a hands-free call cannot be realized or due to weak received radio wave intensity. A hands-free call is performed in an unstable state such as when the voice is interrupted.
In the communicable area database 35, a plurality of communicable areas 40 are stored, and in each communicable area 40, the mobile phone 12 can communicate with the base station 13.

  In this communicable area 40, for example, a telecommunications carrier provides map information including the distribution of the strength of the received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12 for the mobile phone 12 that provides the telecommunications service. A case can be defined based on this map information. Furthermore, when the telecommunications carrier distributes the map information as described above so that it can be received by the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10, the communication stored in the communicable area database 35 based on the distributed map information. The definition of the possible area 40 can be updated. In addition, when the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 is configured to be able to read a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a recording medium on which map information is recorded is provided. The communicable area 40 can be defined based on the map information recorded on the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, the strength of the received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12 is divided into level 3, level 2, and level 1 in descending order, and the communicable area 40 can communicate according to the level of the received radio wave intensity. The area LV3, the communicable area LV2, and the communicable area LV1 are defined separately. When a specific example is shown using FIG. 3, the above-described communicable area 40 is defined on the map, and within the communicable area 40, the communicable area LV3 having a received radio wave intensity level 3 and communicable at level 2 Area LV2 and level 1 communicable area LV1 are defined.

Next, the operation of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 when the vehicle 11 does not exist in the communicable area 40. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a wireless communication link with the mobile phone 12 has not been established as a premise of the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. Moreover, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the control part 20 functions as a vehicle approach detection means and a stay time prediction means.
First, the control unit 20 monitors whether or not the vehicle 11 has entered the communicable area 40 (step SA1). Specifically, the control unit 20 determines the coordinate value related to the polygon data indicating each communicable area 40 stored in the communicable area database 35 and the position of the vehicle 11 input from the absolute azimuth / position detection unit 26. Are compared with each other, and it is monitored whether or not the vehicle 11 has entered any communicable area 40 based on the comparison result.

When the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40 (step SA1: YES), the control unit 20 predicts the stay time from when the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40 until the vehicle 11 exits the communicable area 40. (Step SA2). Specifically, the control unit 20 can communicate with the position of the vehicle 11 input from the absolute heading / position detection unit 26, the shape of the roadway on which the vehicle 11 is calculated, calculated from the map data in the map database 34, and communication. The stay time is predicted based on the shape of the communicable area 40 stored in the area database 35. For example, when the vehicle 11 traveling along the point PA1 of the road A in FIG. 3 toward the traveling direction YA reaches the point PA2, the control unit 20 calculates the shape of the road A from the map data in the map database 34. The vehicle 11 is predicted to leave the communicable area 40 through the point PA6 via the point PA3, the point PA4, and the point PA5, and the travel distance from the point PA2 to the point PA6 is calculated. Based on the predicted speed of the vehicle 11, the staying time is predicted.
When the stay time is predicted, not only the position of the vehicle 11, the shape of the roadway, and the shape of the communicable area 40, but also the speed of the vehicle 11, for example, VICS (registered trademark) (Vehicle Information and Communication System: roadway) Roadway traffic information based on a traffic information communication system) may be referred to.

After predicting the stay time, the control unit 20 compares the predicted stay time with a predetermined time T1 determined in advance, and determines whether or not the stay time exceeds the predetermined time T1 (step SA3). . Here, the predetermined time T1 is at least a time required for the user to perform a hands-free call, and for example, 1 minute is set.
When the predicted stay time exceeds the predetermined time T1 (step SA3: YES), the control unit 20 establishes a wireless communication link with the mobile phone 12 (step SA4).
A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 3. When the vehicle 11 is traveling on the point PA1 on the road A toward the traveling direction YA, the vehicle 11 communicates when the vehicle 11 reaches the point PA2. It is detected that the vehicle has entered the possible area 40, and the staying time during which the vehicle 11 stays in the communicable area 40 is predicted. In this case, if the stay time in the communicable area 40 of the vehicle 11 is predicted to be 5 minutes and the predetermined time T1 is set to 1 minute, the stay time exceeds the predetermined time T1, The control unit 20 establishes a wireless communication link.

On the other hand, when the predicted stay time is less than the predetermined time T1 (step SA3: NO), the control unit 20 ends the process without establishing a wireless communication link with the mobile phone 12.
A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 3. When the vehicle 11 is traveling on the point PB1 on the road B toward the traveling direction YB, the vehicle 11 communicates when the vehicle 11 reaches the point PB2. It is detected that the vehicle has entered the possible area 40, and the staying time during which the vehicle 11 stays in the communicable area 40 is predicted. In this case, if the stay time in the communicable area 40 of the vehicle 11 is predicted to be 10 seconds, and the predetermined time T1 is set to 1 minute, the stay time is less than the predetermined time T1, The control unit 20 ends the process without establishing a wireless communication link.

  As described above, in this embodiment, after the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40, when it is predicted that the vehicle 11 will stay in the communicable area 40 for a time exceeding the predetermined time T <b> 1, wireless communication is performed with the mobile phone 12. When it is predicted that the link is established and the communication area 40 is expected to stay for less than the predetermined time T1, the wireless communication link is not established with the mobile phone 12, for the following reason.

  If the vehicle 11 is expected to stay in the communicable area 40 for a time exceeding the predetermined time T <b> 1 after entering the communicable area 40, a wireless communication link is established with the mobile phone 12. Thereby, when the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40 in a state where the wireless communication link is not established between the in-vehicle hands-free communication device 10 and the mobile phone 12, the wireless communication link is automatically established. Hands-free calling is possible. Therefore, when the mobile phone 12 is low in received radio wave strength and a hands-free call is not possible, if the wireless communication link is cut to save power, the user continuously monitors the received radio wave strength of the mobile phone 12, for example. Automatically determines when a hands-free call is possible without determining the possibility of a hands-free call and without having to perform complicated operations such as intentionally establishing a wireless communication link when a hands-free call is possible. With this, a wireless communication link is established and a hands-free call becomes possible. Accordingly, the wireless communication link can be disconnected only when communication between the mobile phone 12 and the base station 13 cannot be performed without a complicated operation by the user, and power saving can be achieved.

On the other hand, after the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40, if it is predicted that the vehicle 11 stays in the communicable area 40 for a time less than the predetermined time T <b> 1, the wireless communication link is not established with the mobile phone 12. This prevents a wireless communication link from being established between the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 and the mobile phone 12 even though the time required for the user to perform a hands-free call cannot be secured. Power saving can be achieved.
In the present embodiment, the condition for not establishing the wireless communication link is that the staying time is less than the predetermined time T1, but other conditions can be added to this condition. For example, the stay time may be less than the predetermined time T1, and the vehicle 11 may be predicted to travel only in the communicable area LV1 in the communicable area. For example, the stay time may be less than the predetermined time T1. And it is good also as a condition that it is predicted that a vehicle runs only in communicable area LV1 or communicable area LV2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 when the vehicle 11 exists in the communicable area 40 and the wireless communication link with the mobile phone 12 is established. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 20 functions as a communication failure detection unit and a wireless communication link release unit.
First, the control unit 20 monitors whether or not the mobile phone 12 can communicate with the base station 13 based on the actual received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12 so that the call communication with another mobile phone or the like is possible. (Step SB1). Specifically, while the wireless communication link is established, the mobile phone 12 is configured to transmit a signal indicating its received radio wave intensity to the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10. Then, the in-vehicle hands-free communication device 10 that has received the signal indicating the received radio wave intensity is based on the received radio wave intensity indicated by the signal, and if the received radio wave intensity is higher than a predetermined threshold, If the received radio wave intensity is weaker than the threshold, it is determined that the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station 13.

  When the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13 (step SB1: NO), the control unit 20 stores the position of the vehicle 11 detected by the absolute azimuth / position detection unit 26 and the communicable area database 35. Based on the communicable area 40, it is determined whether or not the vehicle 11 exists within the receivable area (step SB2). When the vehicle 11 does not exist in the communicable area 40 (step SB2: NO), the control unit 20 releases the wireless communication link capable of voice communication by disconnecting the wireless communication link with the mobile phone 12 (step SB2). SB3). This is because if the vehicle 11 is not in the communicable area 40 and the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13, the mobile phone 12 can communicate with the base station 13 in a short time. This is because it is better to save power by disconnecting the wireless communication link.

On the other hand, when the vehicle 11 exists in the communicable area 40 (step SB2: YES), the control unit 20 starts measuring the predetermined time T2 (step SB4). Here, the predetermined time T2 means that the actual received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12 temporarily becomes weak due to a cause such as a radio wave failure due to an obstacle, and communication between the mobile phone 12 and the base station 13 becomes impossible. In this case, it is assumed that it takes time from when communication becomes impossible to when the received radio wave intensity recovers again and communication between the mobile phone 12 and the base station 13 becomes possible. .
After starting measurement of the predetermined time T2, has the control unit 20 been in a state in which the mobile phone 12 can communicate with the base station 13 before the predetermined time T2 elapses based on the actual received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12? Is monitored (step SB5, step SB6). If the mobile phone 12 can communicate with the base station 13 before the predetermined time T2 elapses (step SB5: YES), the control unit 20 ends the process without disconnecting the wireless communication link. On the other hand, when the predetermined time T2 has passed without the mobile phone 12 being able to communicate with the base station 13 (step SB6: YES), the control unit 20 can perform voice communication by disconnecting the wireless communication link. The wireless communication link is released (step SB3).

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the vehicle 11 is present in the communicable area 40 even when the mobile phone 12 is low in actual received radio wave intensity and cannot communicate with the base station 13 by the mobile phone 12. In this case, the wireless communication link is not disconnected immediately, and the wireless communication link is disconnected only when the predetermined time T2 has elapsed. The reason for this will be described with reference to FIG. 3. In the area C shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the actual received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12 is low due to an obstacle or other reasons, and the mobile phone 12 communicates with the base station 13. Suppose that this is an area where you cannot When the vehicle 11 traveling on the road A passes through the area C, while the vehicle 11 is present in the area C, the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13 but the communication is not possible. As soon as the vehicle 11 goes out of the area C, the mobile phone 12 can communicate with an external device. In this case, it is possible to reduce the state where the wireless communication link is disconnected and improve the convenience of the user by maintaining the establishment of the wireless communication link rather than saving power by disconnecting the wireless communication link. Is good. In view of this, even when communication with the base station 13 by the mobile phone 12 becomes impossible, if the wireless communication link is recovered in a short time, the predetermined time T2 has elapsed so as not to disconnect the wireless communication link. The wireless communication link is disconnected only in the case where it is done.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, after the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40, if it is predicted that the vehicle 11 will stay in the communicable area 40 for a time exceeding the predetermined time T <b> 1, To establish a wireless communication link. Thereby, when the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40 in a state where the wireless communication link is not established between the in-vehicle hands-free communication device 10 and the mobile phone 12, the wireless communication link is automatically established. Hands-free calling is possible. Therefore, when the mobile phone 12 is low in received radio wave strength and a hands-free call is not possible, if the wireless communication link is cut to save power, the user continuously monitors the received radio wave strength of the mobile phone 12, for example. Automatically determines when a hands-free call is possible without determining the possibility of a hands-free call and without having to perform complicated operations such as intentionally establishing a wireless communication link when a hands-free call is possible. With this, a wireless communication link is established and a hands-free call becomes possible. Accordingly, the wireless communication link can be disconnected only when communication between the mobile phone 12 and the base station 13 cannot be performed without a complicated operation by the user, and power saving can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, when a wireless communication link is established with the mobile phone 12, if the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13, the wireless communication link is automatically disconnected. Therefore, when a hands-free call cannot be realized due to the inability to communicate with the base station using a mobile phone, the wireless communication link is automatically disconnected, so that power saving can be achieved without a complicated operation by the user. Can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, when it is detected that the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13 based on the received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone 12 after the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40, During the time T2, the state where the wireless communication link is established with the mobile phone 12 is maintained. For this reason, when the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13, the wireless communication link is prevented from being disconnected when the communication impossible state is temporary and recovery is expected immediately. It is possible to improve user convenience.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40, the stay time from when the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40 until it leaves is predicted, and the stay time makes a hands-free call. Therefore, when the time is shorter than the predetermined time T1, which is a necessary time, a state where the wireless communication link is not established is maintained. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a wireless communication link from being established between the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 and the mobile phone 12 even though the time required for performing the hands-free call cannot be secured, and further power saving. Can be achieved.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, when the vehicle 11 enters the communicable area 40 without establishing a wireless communication link, the wireless communication link is established and the wireless communication link is not established. When the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13, the wireless communication link is disconnected. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the mobile phone 12 enters the communicable area 40 in a state where the mobile phone 12 is in the park mode, which is one of the Bluetooth operation modes, A wireless communication link is established so that voice communication is possible between the two. When the mobile phone 12 cannot communicate with the base station 13 while the mobile phone 12 is not in the park mode, a control packet is transmitted to the mobile phone 12 and the mobile phone 12 is shifted to the park mode. To do. Here, the park mode is a mode in which synchronization within the piconet is maintained in a state where data packets such as voice data packets cannot be transmitted / received between the in-vehicle handsfree call device 10 and the mobile phone 12, and wireless communication is possible for voice communication. Compared to the case where a communication link is established, power saving can be realized.
In the present embodiment, the establishment of the link between the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 and the mobile phone 12 while the mobile phone 12 is in the park mode is referred to as the transition to the power saving mode.

Next, the operation of the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 in a state where the vehicle 11 does not exist in the communicable area 40 and is shifted to the power saving mode is the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 according to the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. Performs almost the same operation as Here, steps SA3 and SA4 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described in detail. It is determined whether or not the stay time predicted in step SA3 exceeds a predetermined time T1. When the stay time exceeds the predetermined time T1 (step SA3: YES), the control unit 20 controls the Bluetooth communication control unit 23 to transmit a control packet for canceling the park mode to the mobile phone 12. (Step SA4). As a result, a wireless communication link is established so that voice communication is possible between the mobile phone 12 and the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10, and a hands-free call becomes possible.

Further, the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 in a state where the vehicle 11 is present in the communicable area 40 and a wireless communication link is established with the mobile phone 12 so that voice communication is possible is shown in the flowchart of FIG. It performs substantially the same operation as the in-vehicle hands-free call device 10 according to the first embodiment. Here, step SB3 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described in detail. In the first embodiment, the wireless communication link is disconnected in step SB3. However, in this embodiment, the control unit 20 controls the Bluetooth communication control unit 23. By controlling, a control packet is transmitted to the mobile phone 12, and the mobile phone 12 is shifted to the park mode, thereby releasing the wireless communication link capable of voice communication. Thereby, power saving is achieved.
Even if it is the structure and operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted hands-free call apparatus 10 of this embodiment demonstrated above, the effect similar to the vehicle-mounted hands-free call apparatus 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, ie, the complicated operation | work by a user is passed. Thus, the effect of saving power can be realized.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the communicable area 40 is divided into communicable areas LV1 to LV3 according to the level of the received radio wave intensity, but the aspect of the communicable area 40 is not limited to this.
In this embodiment, the communicable area 40 is defined by polygon data. However, the method for defining the communicable area 40 is not limited to this. For example, an area having a predetermined radius around the position of the base station 13 may be defined as the communicable area 40. In this case, according to the distance from the base station 13, for example, the communicable area 40 may be divided like the communicable areas LV1 to LV3.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a hands-free call system. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a vehicle-mounted hands-free call device. It is a figure which shows a communicable area typically. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a vehicle-mounted hands-free call device. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a vehicle-mounted hands-free call device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hands-free call system 10 Car-mounted hands-free call device 11 Vehicle 12 Mobile phone 13 Base station 20 Control part (Vehicle approach detection means, communication failure detection means, wireless communication link release means, stay time prediction means)
40 Communication area.

Claims (7)

In an in-vehicle hands-free call device that is mounted on a vehicle and establishes a wireless communication link that enables voice communication with a mobile phone, and enables hands-free calling via the mobile phone.
A communicable area storage means for storing a communicable area that is an area in which communication with a base station by the mobile phone is possible;
Vehicle entry detecting means for detecting whether or not the vehicle has entered the communicable area,
When the vehicle approach detection means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area when a wireless communication link is not established so as to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, An in-vehicle hands-free call device characterized in that a wireless communication link is established so that voice communication can be established between the devices and hands-free calling is possible. In an in-vehicle hands-free call device that is mounted on a vehicle and establishes a wireless communication link that enables voice communication with a mobile phone, and enables hands-free calling via the mobile phone.
With a power saving mode for establishing a wireless communication link in a state where voice communication with the mobile phone is impossible,
A communicable area storage means for storing a communicable area that is an area in which communication with a base station by the mobile phone is possible;
Vehicle entry detecting means for detecting whether or not the vehicle has entered the communicable area,
When the vehicle entry detection means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area when shifting to the power saving mode, a wireless communication link is provided to enable voice communication with the mobile phone. An in-vehicle hands-free call device characterized by establishing hands-free calls. Based on the received radio wave intensity of the mobile phone, communication inability detecting means for detecting that the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station;
When the wireless communication link is established with the mobile phone so that voice communication is possible, and the mobile phone cannot detect communication with the base station, the mobile phone detects The in-vehicle hands-free call device according to claim 1, further comprising: a wireless communication link canceling unit that cancels a wireless communication link capable of voice communication with the mobile phone. The wireless communication link releasing means is configured to detect that the communication failure detection means means that the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station after the vehicle entry detecting means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area. 4. The in-vehicle hands-free call device according to claim 3, wherein a wireless communication link is established so that voice communication with the mobile phone can be established for a predetermined time. When the vehicle entry detecting means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area, the vehicle further comprises a stay time predicting means for predicting a stay time until the vehicle enters the communication area and then exits. ,
When the vehicle approach detection means detects that the vehicle has entered the communicable area when a wireless communication link is not established so that voice communication is possible with the mobile phone, and the stay If the stay time predicted by the time prediction means is shorter than the time required for making a hands-free call, stop establishing a wireless communication link so that voice communication can be performed with the mobile phone. The in-vehicle hands-free call device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A vehicle-mounted hands-free call device that establishes a wireless communication link that enables voice communication with a mobile phone and enables a hands-free call via the mobile phone;
Storing a communicable area which is an area where communication with a base station by the mobile phone is possible;
Detecting whether the vehicle has entered the communicable area,
When it is detected that the vehicle has entered the communicable area when a wireless communication link is not established to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, the mobile phone can perform voice communication with the mobile phone. A method for controlling an in-vehicle hands-free call device, comprising establishing a wireless communication link to enable hands-free calling. A wireless communication link that is installed in a vehicle and enables voice communication with a mobile phone is established to enable a hands-free call via the mobile phone, and voice communication with the mobile phone is impossible. Control the in-vehicle hands-free call device with power saving mode to establish a wireless communication link in a safe state,
Storing a communicable area which is an area where communication with a base station by the mobile phone is possible;
Detecting whether the vehicle has entered the communicable area,
When it is detected that the vehicle has entered the communicable area while transitioning to the power saving mode, a wireless communication link is established to enable voice communication with the mobile phone, and hands-free A method for controlling an in-vehicle hands-free call device, characterized by enabling a call.

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