Portable wireless communication device and methods of configuring same when connected to a vehicle

Abstract

A portable wireless communication device ( 22 ) and method for configuring the same when connected to a hands-free system in a vehicle ( 20 ). In one embodiment, the device ( 22 ) has an interface ( 36 A) and a detector ( 70 A). The interface ( 36 A) is for connecting the wireless communication device ( 22 ) to a hands-free control unit ( 24 ) in the vehicle ( 20 ). The detector ( 70 A) is for determining whether the interface ( 36 A) is connected to the hands-free control unit ( 24 ) in the vehicle ( 20 ). The wireless communication device ( 22 ) may obtain vehicle information from the vehicle ( 20 ) when it is determined that the interface ( 36 A) is connected to the hands-free control unit ( 24 ). The wireless communication device ( 22 ) also configures at least one operation of the wireless communication device ( 22 ) based on the obtained vehicle information. For example, the vehicle information may include data associated with a power loss for communicating through an external antenna ( 40 ) of the vehicle ( 20 ). The operation configured in the wireless communication device ( 22 ) would then be adjusting an output power of the wireless communication device ( 22 ) based on the data in the vehicle information.

1 . A portable wireless communication device comprising: 
 an interface for connecting the wireless communication device to a control unit in a vehicle; and    a detector for determining whether the interface is connected to the control unit in the vehicle;    wherein the wireless communication device obtains data associated with a power loss for communicating through an external antenna of the vehicle from the vehicle when it is determined that the interface is connected to the hands-free control unit, and the wireless communication device adjusts an output power of the wireless communication device based on the power loss data.    
     
     
         2 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 1 , wherein the power loss data includes data associated with a separate vehicle transceiver.  
     
     
         3 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 1 , wherein the power loss data includes data associated with a vehicle positioning unit, and the wireless communication device adjusts a navigation routine within the wireless communication device to receive positioning information from the vehicle positioning unit.  
     
     
         4 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device further comprising a second interface and a second detector, the second interface for connecting the wireless communication device to an external antenna, the second detector for determining whether the wireless communication device is attached to the external antenna.  
     
     
         5 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication device adjusts an output power of the wireless communication device based on the obtained power loss data from the vehicle when it is determined that the second interface is connected to the external antenna, the output power associated with sending a communication via the external antenna.  
     
     
         6 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 1 , wherein the detector monitors whether a communication line connected to the interface is grounded.  
     
     
         7 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 1 , wherein the detector detects the presence of a resistor in the external antenna.  
     
     
         8 . The portable wireless communication device in  claim 1 , wherein the portable wireless communication device further has a memory that stores data associated with a plurality of power losses, each power loss associated with a different frequency band.  
     
     
         9 . A method in a portable wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining whether the wireless communication device is connected to a vehicle;    accessing vehicle information from the vehicle including data associated with a power loss for communicating through an external antenna of the vehicle when it is determined that the wireless communication device is connected to the vehicle; and    adjusting an output power of the wireless communication device based on the power loss data in the vehicle information from the accessing step.    
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle information accessed from the vehicle includes data associated with a positioning unit in the vehicle.  
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 10 , wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting a navigation routine within the wireless communication device to receive positioning information based on the data in the vehicle information.  
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 9 , wherein the step of accessing data associated with the power loss for communicating through the external antenna includes obtaining the data from a hands-free control unit in the vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 9 , wherein the step of accessing data associated with the power loss for communicating through the external antenna includes obtaining the data from a memory in the wireless communication device.  
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein the memory in the wireless communication device stores the data according to a plurality of frequency bands.  
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 13 , wherein the memory in the wireless communication device stores the data according to a type and make of vehicle.