Computer-implemented methods include detecting a device ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver of a mobile device and a set of vehicle UWB transceivers of a vehicle, determining a defined driver zone within the vehicle, the defined driver zone indicating a set of relative positions within the vehicle, communicating between the device UWB transceiver and the set of vehicle UWB transceivers to determine a position of the mobile device within the vehicle, and automatically enabling a driver mode of the mobile device whereby operation of the mobile device is limited when the determined position of the mobile device is within the defined driver zone and the vehicle is moving.

A first communication interface communicates with a wireless apparatus to communicate an audio signal for a hands-free call by connecting to the wireless apparatus and receives first data stored in the wireless apparatus from the wireless apparatus. A storage stores the first data received by the first communication interface. A second communication interface communicates, via a communication apparatus, with a server connected to a network. The second communication interface performs communication to synchronize second data that is stored in the server and that is backup data of the first data with the first data stored in the storage.

When the noise in an audio signal made up of both speech and noise is suppressed, the quality of the speech in the audio signal is usually degraded. The speech obtained from a noise-suppressed audio signal is improved by determining linear predictive coding (LPC) characteristics of the audio signal without or prior to noise suppression and by determining the LPC characteristics of the noise-suppressed audio. The convolution of those differing characteristics provides an improved-quality speech signal, with the original noise level reduced or suppressed.

A hands-free apparatus includes a memory, and a hardware processor coupled to the memory. The hardware processor is configured to: perform a hands-free connection process of connecting to a mobile phone by using a hands-free communication protocol for performing a hands-free phone conversation; perform a first data transfer process of making a first connection with the mobile phone by using a data transfer protocol for transferring phone data related to phone, and causing the phone data to be automatically or manually transferred from the mobile phone; and depending on a status of a different data transfer process than the first data transfer process, perform transfer control related to transfer by at least one of the first data transfer process and the different data transfer process.

An in-vehicle mobile station is presented. When a user purchases vehicle including in-vehicle mobile station, s/he operates his/her communication device and in-vehicle mobile station to write a profile in a SIM of in-vehicle mobile station and to activate the SIM. Specifically, the user initially operates communication device to register a profile to be written in the SIM of in-vehicle mobile station, in contract information management device. Subsequently, the user operates in-vehicle mobile station to write the profile registered in contract information management device, in in-vehicle mobile station, and to activate the mobile station.

A vehicle-mounted display apparatus includes a display panel, a geographic position acquisition circuit, a processor, and a display panel driving circuit. The geographic position acquisition circuit acquires a current geographic position of a vehicle. The processor determines whether the current geographic position of the vehicle is within a stored geographic range, and if so, generates a first control signal. The display panel driving circuit controls the display panel to display the vehicle information upon receiving the first control signal from the processor. The vehicle information includes at least one of vehicle license information and a pseudo mobile phone number. In the display apparatus, an information push terminal communicating circuit communicates with an information push terminal to obtain the vehicle information and the stored geographic range, and a server communicating circuit communicates with a server to obtain the pseudo mobile phone number corresponding to an identification for the display apparatus.

Disclosed embodiments are directed an application program configured to run on a user's mobile device can allow voice-activated call pick-up to the user, without the user having to use his or her hands for picking up the call. For example, the application program can initially be trained to a user's voice command. When an incoming call is received at the mobile device, the user can pick up the call by issuing a voice command. In some embodiments, the application program can determine whether to allow voice-activated pick-up of calls based on data collected from multiple sensors associated with the vehicle, the mobile device, or a remote source.

Providing navigation instructions in an automotive environment includes generating, at the portable device, a test audio signal. The test audio signal is provided to the head unit of the vehicle via a short-range communication link. The portable device then detects whether the test audio signal has been converted to sound by one or more speakers in the head unit of the vehicle. In response to detecting the audio signal at the portable device, a vocalized navigation instruction is directed to the head unit for announcement via the one or more speakers of the head unit. Otherwise, in response to not detecting the test audio signal at the portable device, the vocalized navigation instruction is provided via a speaker of the portable device.

Systems and methods are provided for establishing a hands-free communication session between a user and an electronic device. A triggering event for establishing a communication session with the user of a navigation application is detected. The triggering event may include identification, by the electronic device, of information from the data source that is desirable to communicate to the user at the present time. A level of importance of the information is determined, and a notification in accordance with the determined level of importance is generated, the notification having a first property in a first instance and a second property in a second instance. When, after generating the notification, permission from the user to establish the communication session is received, a communication session between the electronic device and the user including voice output by the electronic device and voice input by the user may be established.

A system includes a database of image data associated with a vehicle; and control logic configured to cause a user device to capture one or more images and compare data associated with the one or more images with the image data to determine if a user is present in a vehicle and disable a text messaging function at least in part responsive to the determination using the image data.