System and method for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle

Abstract

A control module for a wireless communication system in a vehicle having a plurality of operational settings includes a memory, a control circuit and a radio frequency transceiver. The memory is configured to store a plurality of performance characteristics associated with at least one mobile wireless communication device. The control circuit is coupled to the memory and is configured to retrieve at least one performance characteristic for a mobile wireless communication device associated with a vehicle occupant and used in conjunction with the wireless communication system. The control circuit is further configured to adjust at least one operational setting of the wireless communication system based on the at least one performance characteristics of the mobile wireless communication device. The radio frequency transceiver is coupled to the control circuit and is configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device.

1 . A control module for a wireless communication system in a vehicle, the wireless communication system having a plurality of operational settings relating to a mobile wireless communication device configured to communicate with a remote source to retrieve setting information, the control module comprising:
 a memory configured to store the setting information;   a control circuit coupled to the memory, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust at least one of the plurality of operational settings of the wireless communication system based on the setting information stored in the memory; and   a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the control circuit, the radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device via a wireless communications link,   wherein the control circuit is configured to determine whether the memory includes setting information for the mobile wireless communication device in communication with the radio frequency transceiver, and, in response to a determination that the memory does not include setting information for the mobile wireless communication device, using the radio frequency transceiver to send a request to the remote source via the wireless communications link, the request configured to cause the remote source to transmit the setting information to the radio frequency transceiver via the mobile wireless communication device and the wireless communications link, and wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the setting information for storage in the memory.   
     
     
         2 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate with the mobile wireless communication device in accordance with a Bluetooth communication standard. 
     
     
         3 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive an identifier from the mobile wireless communication device that is used by the control circuit to identify the setting information. 
     
     
         4 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the setting information includes at least one of the audio cancellation, echo cancellation, and noise cancellation parameters. 
     
     
         5 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to retrieve the setting information from the memory. 
     
     
         6 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to store the setting infoiniation in the memory upon receipt by the radio frequency transceiver. 
     
     
         7 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote source is a remote server located outside of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured for integration into an interior element of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the setting information is associated with at least one of a wireless service provider, a communication network and a carrier. 
     
     
         10 . A control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communication device is a wireless mobile phone. 
     
     
         11 . A system for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle for use with a mobile wireless communication device using setting information received from a remote source, the system comprising:
 a control module in data communication with the remote source via the mobile wireless communication device, the control module configured to retrieve the setting information from the remote source via the mobile wireless communication device in response to a determination that memory local to the control module does not include setting information for the mobile wireless communication device, wherein the setting information relates to at least one performance characteristic for the mobile wireless communication device, wherein the control module is further configured to adjust at least one of a plurality of operational settings of the wireless communication system based on the setting information received from the mobile wireless communication device.   
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the mobile wireless communication device is a wireless mobile phone. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the mobile wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the remote source via a wireless communication link. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 11  wherein the mobile wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the control module via a wireless communication link. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the memory is configured to store setting information associated with a plurality of mobile wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the setting information is associated with at least one of a wireless service provide, a communication network and a wireless carrier. 
     
     
         17 . A method for configuring a wireless communication system in a vehicle for operation with a mobile wireless communication device using setting information, the wireless communication system including a control module and having a plurality of operation settings, the method comprising:
 establishing a wireless communication link between the control module and the mobile wireless communication device;   receiving an identifier for the mobile wireless communication device via the wireless communication link;   generating a request at the control module for retrieving the setting information from the remote source;   determining whether memory local to the control module includes setting information for the mobile wireless communication device in communication with the radio frequency transceiver;   in response to a determination that the memory does not include setting information for the mobile wireless communication device, sending the request from the control module to the mobile wireless communication device via the wireless communication link, the request causing the mobile wireless communication device to transmit the request to the remote source, the request transmitted to the remote source to cause the remote source to forward the setting information to the mobile wireless communication device;   receiving the setting information via the wireless communication link at the control module; and   configuring at least one of the plurality of operational settings of the wireless communications system based on the setting information received at the control module.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communications link is established in response to the initiation of a pairing sequence. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communications link is established in response to user actuation of an input device. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communications link is established when the mobile wireless communication device comes into proximity of the control module