Patent ID: 9172784
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A hands-free system for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle control module communicatively coupled to at least one vehicle system for determining if the vehicle is in a condition to receive input regarding operation; a display; a hands-free control module in communication with the display, the vehicle control module, and a personal electronic device, the hands-free control module having a memory and a user input device including user selectable input controls; and a message delivery filter algorithm implemented via the hands-free control module configured to filter messages based on a state of the vehicle and a content of a message, the message delivery filter algorithm comprising control logic configured to: receive, via the user selectable input controls of the user input device, a user-configured break-through string configured to indicate if an external communication should be displayed on the display; monitor the vehicle control module for a driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation; monitor the personal electronic device for an external communication received by the personal electronic device from over a long-range network, the external communication comprising a user-generated message; determine if the external communication contains the user-configured break-through string, a presence of the break-through string indicating that the user-generated message of the external communication is to be shown on the display even if the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation; wherein, if the external communication contains the break-through string, send a display data signal to the display for generating graphical images that are shown on the display indicating the external communication contains the break-through string of the external communication; and wherein, if the external communication does not contain the break-through string, store the external communication contains the break-through string of the external communication in the memory of the control module if the vehicle control module sends the driving data signal indicating the vehicle is in the condition to receive input regarding operation.