Vehicle communications using a mobile device

1. A method of providing hands-free services using a mobile device having wireless access to computer-based services, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a short-range wireless connection between a mobile device and a vehicle;

(b) receiving speech in the vehicle that is communicated to a mobile voice platform resident on the mobile device via the short-range wireless connection;

(c) parsing the received speech using the mobile voice platform to identify vehicle-specific vocabulary;

(d) when vehicle-specific vocabulary exists, identifying at least one vehicle function of an inter-related group of vehicle functions that is associated with the identified vehicle-specific vocabulary;

(e) determining whether to access one or more cloud services based on the identity of the vehicle function;

(f) generating a text-based command reflecting audible control of the affected vehicle function; and

(g) sending the text-based command from the mobile device to the vehicle over the short-range wireless connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of carrying out the inter-related group of vehicle functions using a plurality of vehicle system modules (VSMs).

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of carrying out the inter-related group of vehicle functions using an instrument panel vehicle system module (VSM), an infotainment VSM, a climate control VSM, a navigation VSM, or a diagnostic VSM.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving the speech via an audio user interface.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying the received speech as originating in the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether to access one or more cloud services based on a list of vehicle-related vocabulary terms.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the received speech includes: a request for vehicle data, a request for information about vehicle condition, or a command to control an aspect of vehicle function.

8. A method of providing hands-free services using a mobile device having wireless access to computer-based services, the method comprising:

(a) receiving vehicle information relating to vehicle function at a mobile device from a vehicle linked to the mobile device via a short-range wireless connection;

(b) presenting an audible message to a vehicle occupant that conveys at least some of the received vehicle information in response to the received vehicle information;

(c) receiving speech input at the mobile device from the vehicle occupant in reply to the audible message;

(d) identifying vehicle-specific vocabulary included in the received speech input using a mobile voice platform resident on the mobile device that is capable of carrying out speech recognition using a cloud-based service; and

(e) audibly controlling one or more vehicle functions chosen from an inter-related group of vehicle functions based on the identified vehicle-specific vocabulary included in the received speech.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of carrying out the inter-related group of vehicle functions using a plurality of vehicle system modules (VSMs).

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of carrying out the inter-related group of vehicle functions using an instrument panel vehicle system module (VSM), a body control VSM, an infotainment VSM, a climate control VSM, a navigation VSM, or a diagnostic VSM.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving the speech input via an audio user interface.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of identifying the received speech input as originating in the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining whether to access one or more cloud services based on a list of vehicle-related vocabulary terms.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of establishing the list of vehicle-related vocabulary terms with user input.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining whether the received speech includes: a request for vehicle data, a request for information about vehicle condition, or a command to control an aspect of vehicle function.

16. A system of providing hands-free services using a mobile device having wireless access to computer-based services comprises:

a mobile device capable of both short-range wireless communications and cellular communications, wherein the mobile device wirelessly receives spoken input from a vehicle occupant via an audio user interface integrated with a vehicle as well as vehicle data generated by one or more vehicle system modules on the vehicle; and

a mobile voice platform software application stored on the mobile device capable of accessing cloud services upon detecting vehicle-related vocabulary in the received spoken input, generating an audibly-playable response to the vehicle occupant when the detected vehicle-related vocabulary affects one or more aspects of vehicle operation, and carrying out a vehicle command included with the spoken input that affects one or more vehicle system modules.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the mobile voice platform carries out speech recognition using cloud-based speech services.