Method and apparatus for automatic bluetooth connection using bluetooth dual mode

1. A method for automatic Bluetooth connection in a head unit of a vehicle which is to be engaged with at least one mobile device, the method comprising:

Discovering, by the head unit, an advertisement from the at least one mobile device of which a Bluetooth pairing is turned off, based on a period of advertisement discovery while an automatic Bluetooth discovery function of the head unit is activated when the vehicle's ignition state is a turn-off state and the head unit operates in a background mode;

when at least one advertisement corresponding to the at least one mobile device is discovered, turning on a Bluetooth pairing of the head unit and changing the period of advertisement discovery;

discovering, by the head unit, the advertisement based on the changed period of advertisement discovery;

transmitting, by the head unit, a request signal to the at least one mobile device corresponding to the discovered advertisement in order for activating the Bluetooth pairing of the at least one mobile device;

arranging a Bluetooth connection based on the Bluetooth pairing between the head unit and the at least one mobile device corresponding to the discovered advertisement after the mobile device activates the Bluetooth pairing in response to the request signal;

receiving vehicle status information from a vehicle gateway engaged via in-vehicle networking; and

changing the period of advertisement discovery based on the vehicle status information.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the period of advertisement discovery is adjusted to increase a search time and number of periods during a predetermined time unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the period of advertisement discovery is adjusted to increase a search ratio during a predetermined time unit.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the at least one advertisement corresponding to the mobile device is undiscovered after the period of advertisement discovery is changed, adjusting the period of advertisement discovery to decrease a search time and number of periods during a predetermined time unit.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle status information includes at least one of a vehicle battery charging state and a vehicle ignition state.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the vehicle status information is an “on” status, adjusting the period of advertisement discovery to maximize at least one of a search time, number of periods, and a search ratio during a predetermined time unit.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising stopping the advertisement discovery when the vehicle status information includes a warning of a vehicle battery charging state.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining information relating to a current time slot; and

changing the period of advertisement discovery based on the current time slot.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein:

if the current time slot is within a driving time window, changing the period of advertisement discovery to increase at least one of a search time, number of periods, and a search ratio during a predetermined time unit; and

if the current time slot is not within a driving time window, changing the period of advertisement discovery to decrease at least one of the search time, the number of periods, and the search ratio during the predetermined time unit.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

showing a predetermined screen configured to receive a value, which sets up the period of advertisement discovery, according to user's selection on a menu; and

adjusting the period of advertisement discovery based on the value.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement is a signal including a periodic pulse.

12. An apparatus for automatic Bluetooth connection in a head unit of a vehicle which is to be engaged with at least one mobile device, comprising:

an advertisement discovery unit configured to detect an advertisement from the at least one mobile device, of which a Bluetooth pairing is turned off, based on a period of advertisement discovery while an automatic Bluetooth connection function of the head unit is activated when the vehicle's ignition state is a turn-off state and the head unit operates in a background mode;

a discovery period decision unit configured to change the period of advertisement discovery when the advertisement discovery unit discovers at least one advertisement transmitted from the at least one mobile device;

a Bluetooth communication unit configured to arrange a Bluetooth connection based on the Bluetooth pairing between the head unit and the at least one mobile device corresponding to the discovered advertisement; and

a vehicle information collecting unit configured to

receive vehicle status information from a vehicle gateway engaged via in-vehicle networking; and

change the period of advertisement discovery based on the vehicle status information,

wherein the advertisement discovery unit discovers the advertisement based on the changed period,

wherein the apparatus transmits a request signal to the at least one mobile device corresponding to the discovered advertisement for activating the Bluetooth pairing of the mobile device, and

wherein, the Bluetooth pairing of the mobile device is activated according to the request signal, and a Bluetooth pairing of the head unit is turned on when the advertisement discovery unit discovers at least one advertisement transmitted from the at least one mobile device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the discovery period decision unit, if the advertisement is first discovered, determines the period of advertisement discovery to thereby increase at least one of a search time, number of periods, and a search ratio during a predetermined time unit.