METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE TO A HEAD UNIT OF A VEHICLE
The present invention provides a removable device, adapted to connect a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle and comprising: a first communication module having a first transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the head unit; a second communication module having a second transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the mobile communication device; and a control unit configured to provide at least one service to the head unit via the first communication module based on data received via the second communication module.
1 . A removable device adapted to connect a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle, the device comprising:
a first communication module having a first transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the head unit;
a second communication module having a second transceiver and configured for bi-directional communication of data with the mobile communication device; and
a control unit configured to provide at least one service to the head unit via the first communication module based on data received via the second communication module.
2 . The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to process the data received via the second communication module.
3 . The removable device according to claim 1 ; further comprising:
a memory unit storing
an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device,
wherein the control unit comprises at least one processing unit adapted to execute the API.
4 . The removable device according to claim 2 ; further comprising:
a memory unit storing
an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device,
wherein the control unit comprises at least one processing unit adapted to execute the API.
5 . The removable device according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is further configured to provide the at least one service by executing the API.
6 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a decoding unit configured to decode data received from at least one of the mobile communication device and the head unit; and
an encoding unit configured to encode data to be transmitted to at least one of the head unit and the mobile communication device.
7 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an authentication unit configured to perform an authentication process with the head unit via the first communication module.
8 . The removable device according to claim 1 ;
wherein the first communication module comprises a first connector adapted to connect the removable device with the head unit, and the second communication module comprises a second connector adapted to connect the removable device with the mobile communication terminal.
9 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply connector configured to receive power supplied by the vehicle.
10 . The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication module is further configured for communication with an auxiliary infotainment device that comprises a front-view camera, a rear-view camera, or a head-up display.
11 . The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third communication module configured for bi-directional communication of data with a wireless network.
12 . The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein data stored on the mobile communication device is accessed from the head unit via the removable device.
13 . The removable device according to claim 11 , wherein control signals are transmitted from the head unit to the mobile communication device via the removable device.
14 . A method for connecting a mobile communication device to a head unit of a vehicle, the method comprising:
establishing a first connection between a removable device and the head unit for bi-directional communication of data via a first communication module of the removable device;
establishing a second connection between the removable device and the mobile communication device for bi-directional communication of data via a second communication module of the removable device; and
providing at least one service to the head unit via the first communication module based on data received via the second communication module using a control unit of the removable device.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
processing the data received via the second communication module.
16 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
executing an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device, on at least one processing unit of the removable device.
17 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
executing an application programming interface (API) implementing at least a first protocol for the communication with the head unit via the first communication module and a second protocol for the communication with the mobile communication device, on at least one processing unit of the removable device.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one service is provided by executing the API.
19 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one of:
decoding data received from at least one of the mobile communication device and the head unit by the removable device; and
encoding data to be transmitted to at least one of the head unit and the mobile communication device by the removable device.
20 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
performing an authentication process between the head unit and the removable device via the first communication module.
21 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
establishing a third connection between the removable device and an auxiliary infotainment device the comprises a front-view camera, a rear-view camera, or a head-up display; and
receiving data from the auxiliary infotainment device at the removable device; and transmitting
data from the removable device to the auxiliary infotainment device.
22 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
establishing a connection between the removable device and a wireless network for bi-directional communication of data.