Mobile Terminal Wireless Connection Automation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manual establishment of wireless connections between mobile terminals and vehicles is often forgotten, leading to missed opportunities for using vehicle equipment and reduced battery autonomy due to enabled Bluetooth connections.

Innovation Solution

A method using inertial sensors and audio signal processing to automatically establish a wireless connection between a mobile terminal and a vehicle's multimedia computer by detecting characteristic movements and acoustic signatures, ensuring the connection is only made when the user is likely present in the vehicle, thereby maximizing battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If Bluetooth connection is enabled to allow automatic wireless connection between mobile terminal and vehicle, then connection convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases and battery autonomy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection convenienceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of user presence using inertial sensors and audio analysis before enabling the Bluetooth connection. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for connection only when necessary, avoiding continuous Bluetooth scanning and pairing operations that would consume excessive energy, thus resolving the contradiction between connection convenience and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal autonomously detects user presence through its sensors and automatically initiates connection procedures without requiring manual user input. The system serves itself by using its own sensor data (inertial and audio) to determine when connection is needed, eliminating the need for continuous user interaction while maintaining energy efficiency through conditional activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If manual connection establishment is required to save energy, then battery autonomy is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to user forgetfulness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery autonomyVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback loops where sensor data (inertial and audio) continuously monitors user presence and automatically triggers connection establishment when presence is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable connection without manual intervention while maintaining battery autonomy by only activating connection protocols when actually needed, eliminating user forgetfulness as a failure point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If continuous Bluetooth scanning is performed to ensure automatic connection, then connection speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous Bluetooth scanning, the system performs periodic connection attempts triggered by detected user presence events. The inertial and audio sensors monitor continuously at low power, and only when a presence event is detected does the system activate full Bluetooth scanning and connection protocols. This periodic action maintains connection speed when needed while dramatically reducing average energy consumption compared to continuous scanning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Automates the connection process, ensuring the mobile terminal remains in low energy consumption mode until the user is confirmed to be in the vehicle, thereby maintaining maximum autonomy and enhancing the driving experience by enabling seamless integration with vehicle equipment.

Implementation Method 1

detection of a movement of the mobile terminal by the sensor (for example an inertial sensor)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertial sensing: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

acquisition of an audio signal present in the environment of the mobile terminal by the first processor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic signal detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP3554102B1Method for automatically establishing a wireless connection between a mobile terminal and a multimedia computer of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 RENAULT SA
  • EP3554102B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3554102B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for automatically establishing a wireless connection between a mobile terminal (4) and a multimedia computer (2A) of a vehicle (1), the mobile terminal comprising a sensor adapted to measure the movement of said mobile terminal, a computer memory, a first processor and a second processor, the first processor being equipped with a module for acquiring and processing an audio signal, the method comprising the successive steps of: - detection of a movement of the mobile terminal by the sensor, - comparison by the second processor of the detected movement with at least one characteristic movement pre-recorded in the computer memory, then, if the detected movement corresponds to a pre-recorded characteristic movement: - activation of said acquisition and processing module, - acquisition of an audio signal present in the environment of the mobile terminal by the first processor,- comparison of an acoustic component relative to the audio signal with a pre-recorded reference acoustic component stored in computer memory, then - if the acoustic components match, an attempt is made to establish a connection between the mobile terminal and the vehicle's multimedia computer.