System and method for automated network pairing using electric field coupling

Abstract

A system to electronically connect an electronic device to a network includes a sensing electrode that provides a signal. The signal has a particular frequency and power, and the electrode is configured to transmit the signal through a person occupying a proscribed location. The electronic device is configured to detect the signal when the electronic device is coupled to a person occupying the proscribed location. The electronic device is configured to electronically couple to the network upon detecting the signal.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system to electronically couple an electronic device, located in proximity to an occupant of a vehicle, to a vehicle communications network located in the vehicle, the system comprising:
 a sensing electrode located in the vehicle proximate to the occupant; and   support electronics located in the vehicle and including a sensor circuit configured to provide a signal to the sensing electrode to thereby create an electric field proximate to the occupant, wherein the signal contains particular information;   wherein the electronic device is configured to detect the presence of the signal provided to the sensing electrode and conducted through the occupant; and   wherein the electronic device is configured to electrically couple to the vehicle communications network via a wireless signal after completion of an authorization process that requires the electronic device to transmit the particular information via the wireless signal to the vehicle communications network.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor circuit is configured to detect the presence of the occupant in proximity to the sensing electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is configured so that the electronic device cannot detect the signal when the occupant is not occupying a proscribed location proximate to the sensing electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein when the vehicle is in an emergency state, the sensing electrode is configured to transmit a second signal, and wherein the electronic device is configured to detect the second signal, and upon detection of the second signal a response of the electronic device is to initiate an emergency response. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is configured to transmit the particular information to the vehicle communications network during the authorization process. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is configured to be electrically coupled and exchange transmissions with the vehicle communications network utilizing a time-synchronization pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the time-synchronization pattern is generated by the vehicle communications network and transmitted to the electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle communications network generates a pattern associated with the variance of the frequency of the transmission signal. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the vehicle communications network transmits the pattern to the electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is configured to vary the frequency of a transmission signal being received by the vehicle communications network. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless signal is transmitted by the vehicle communications network. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the sensor circuit is configured to detect the presence of the occupant in proximity to the sensing electrode. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the network is configured to transmit the particular information when the presence of the occupant is detected. 
     
     
         24 . A system to electronically couple an electronic device, located in proximity to an occupant of a vehicle, to a vehicle communications network located in the vehicle, the system comprising:
 an electrode located proximate to the occupant; and   a signal generator located in the vehicle and configured to provide a signal containing predetermined information to the sensing electrode to thereby create an electric field proximate to the electrode;   wherein the electronic device is configured to detect the presence of the signal and the predetermined information provided to the electrode and conducted through the occupant;   wherein the electronic device is configured to automatically initiate a pairing process with the vehicle communications network upon detecting the signal by transmitting a wireless signal to the vehicle communications network; and   wherein the pairing process includes the step of the electronic device transmitting a security signal to the vehicle communications network, and wherein the transmitted security signal includes the predetermined information received from the signal generator.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a sensor circuit configured to detect the presence of the occupant in proximity to the sensing electrode. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the signal generator is configured to transmit the particular information when the presence of the occupant is detected by the sensor circuit. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the electronic device is configured to be electrically coupled and exchange transmissions with the vehicle communications network utilizing a time-synchronization pattern. 
     
     
         28 . A system to securely couple an electronic device to a vehicle network located in the vehicle, the system comprising:
 an electrode located proximate to an occupant; and   a signal generator located in the vehicle and configured to transmit a signal carrying digital information to the electrode to thereby create an electric field proximate to the electrode;   wherein the electronic device is configured to detect the presence of the signal provided to the electrode and conducted through the person; and   wherein the electronic device is configured to be electrically coupled with the vehicle network after the vehicle network has received a wireless signal transmitted by the electronic device wherein the wireless signal carries the digital information in order to ensure the security of the connection between the electronic device and the vehicle network.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the signal generator is configured to change the signal provided to the electrode based on a parameter of the vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrode is located in proximity to the driver of the vehicle and the electronic device is configured so that when the vehicle is moving the electronic device is disabled. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the electronic device is configured to operate in a plurality of communication modes based on the location of the person and the electrode; and
 wherein the electronic device is configured to operate in a driver mode and a passenger mode wherein the use of the electronic device is more restricted in the driver mode than in the passenger mode.