System, apparatus, method, and computer-readable recording medium for changing user terminal settings

A vehicle communication methods and device for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message is provided. The vehicle communication device includes a storage unit configured to map at least one vehicle mode information to terminal identification information of the user terminal, to which a message is transmitted, and each vehicle information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and store the mapped information; a vehicle information collector configured to collect vehicle information; a message generator configured to generate a transmission message including at least one vehicle mode information mapped to the collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; and a message transmitter configured to transmit the generated transmission message to the user terminal through a push message server.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Application Serial No. 10-2013-0047494, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 29, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system for changing a user terminal setting, and more particularly, to a system, an apparatus, a method, and a computer-readable recording medium for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message.

2. Description of the Related Art

The wide spread utilization of the Internet has brought about the rapid development of wireless mobile communication technologies beyond that of wired communication technologies. In everyday life, searching for information on the Internet through portable terminals such as a smart phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a hand-held computer and the like has become possible without regard to time and place.

Various types of application programs which can provide various functions through Internet access are installed in different types of wired/wireless terminals which can access the Internet.

Meanwhile, users of terminals such as smart phones, tablet PCs and the like generally instruct the terminal to search for and connect with peripheral devices such as, for example, a Bluetooth headset, a Bluetooth earphone and the like. However, such a setting instructions cause the terminal to periodically search for the peripheral devices even in a state where there is no peripheral device to be connected in a surrounding area of the terminal. Accordingly, due to such an unnecessary operation, battery consumption increases and thus duration of use of the terminal is reduced.

Further, when a driver receives a text message through a smart phone while driving, the driver can identify contents of the received text message, even while driving, through a voice if a Text to Speech (TTS) function is activated in the driver's smart phone. However, such a function is normally used only while driving, so that the user is required to change a setting in a setting menu of the user terminal before driving in order to use the function while driving, and should return the setting to an original state when not driving.

That is, as described above, since the driver changes various setting information of the terminal whenever the driver gets into/out of a vehicle or according to various scenarios while driving, the user is inconvenienced in the use of the terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to address at least the problems and disadvantages described above, and to provide at least the advantages described below.

Accordingly, aspects of the present invention provide a system, an apparatus, a method, and a computer-readable recording medium for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message, which can automatically change a setting of the user terminal in accordance with a vehicle state or operation by mapping mode information to vehicle information, such as each state or operation of the vehicle in a vehicle communication device and storing the mapped information, and transmitting mode information, corresponding to currently collected vehicle information, to a preset user terminal through a push message.

An aspect of the present invention provides a system, an apparatus, a method, and a computer-readable recording medium for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message, which can automatically change a setting of the user terminal in accordance with a vehicle state or operation by mapping user terminal setting information to vehicle information, such as each state or operation of the vehicle in a vehicle communication device and storing the mapped information, and transmitting user terminal setting information, corresponding to currently collected vehicle information, to a preset user terminal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle communication device is provided. The vehicle communication device includes a storage unit configured to map at least one vehicle mode information to terminal identification information of a user terminal, to which a message will be transmitted, and each vehicle mode information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and store the mapped information; a vehicle information collector configured to collect vehicle information; a message generator configured to generate a transmission message including at least one vehicle mode information mapped to the collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; and a message transmitter configured to transmit the generated transmission message to the user terminal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle communication device is provided. The vehicle communication device includes a storage unit configured to map at least one terminal setting information, related to a setting of a user terminal, to terminal identification information of the user terminal, to which a message is transmitted, and each vehicle information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and store the mapped information; a vehicle information collector configured to collect vehicle information; a message generator configured to generate a transmission message, including at least one terminal setting information mapped to the collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; and a message transmitter configured to transmit the generated transmission message to the user terminal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message is provided. The system includes a vehicle communication device configured to map at least one vehicle mode information to terminal identification information of a user terminal, to which a message is transmitted, and each vehicle information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and store the mapped information, and transmit a generated transmission message including at least one vehicle mode information mapped to collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; a push message server configured to receive the transmission message from the vehicle communication device, generate a push message through the vehicle mode information included in the transmission message, and transmit the generated push message to the user terminal corresponding to the terminal identification information; and the user terminal configured to receive the push message from the push message server and change a setting according to the terminal setting information mapped to the vehicle mode information included in the push message.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message is provided. The system includes a vehicle communication device configured to map at least one terminal setting information related to a setting of a user terminal, to terminal identification information of the user terminal to which a message is transmitted, and each vehicle information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and store the mapped information, and transmit a generated transmission message, including at least one vehicle mode information mapped to collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; a push message server configured to receive the transmission message from the vehicle communication device, generate a push message through the vehicle mode information included in the transmission message, and transmit the generated push message to the user terminal corresponding to the terminal identification information; and the user terminal configured to receive the push message from the push message server and change a setting according to the terminal setting information included in the push message.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of changing a user terminal setting by using a push message is provided. The method includes mapping at least one vehicle mode information to terminal identification information of a user terminal, to which a message is transmitted, and each vehicle information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and storing the mapped information; collecting vehicle information according to a change in a vehicle state or operation; generating a transmission message including at least one vehicle mode information mapped to the collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; and transmitting the generated transmission message to the user terminal through a push message server.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of changing a user terminal setting by using a push message is provided. The method includes mapping at least one terminal setting information, related to a setting of a user terminal, to terminal identification information of the user terminal, to which a message is transmitted, and each vehicle information, including vehicle state information or operation information, and storing the mapped information; collecting vehicle information according to a change in a vehicle state or operation; generating a transmission message including at least one terminal setting information mapped to the collected vehicle information and the stored terminal identification information; and transmitting the generated transmission message to the user terminal through a push message server.

The detailed description of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrated for embodiments implementing the present disclosure. The embodiments are described in detail to the extent that those skilled in the art may implement the present disclosure. The various embodiments of the present invention should be understood to not be mutually exclusive. For example, a specific shape, structure, and properties listed in other embodiments may be implemented with respect to an embodiment of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the location or placement of individual components may be changed within each of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention should be limited only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to the claims. Similar reference numerals refer to elements having the same or similar functions and drawings may be expressed with exaggerated thicknesses, lengths and area for the convenience of description.

While terms including ordinal numbers, such as “first” and “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components, such components are not limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component without departing from the scope of the present invention, and likewise a second component may be referred to as a first component. The term “and/or” encompasses a combination of plural items or any one of the plural items.

The terms used herein are merely used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. Terms such as “include” and/or “have” may be construed to denote a certain characteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, component or a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude the existence of or a possibility of an addition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a system, an apparatus, and a method for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message which can automatically change various setting information of the user terminal through the push message when the user terminal is located in a specific space.

For example, when a driver is inside of a vehicle, the user terminal collects various state information or operation information of the vehicle through a separate vehicle communication device mounted within the vehicle and automatically changes various settings of the user terminal in accordance with the corresponding vehicle state or operation. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention transmits a push message to the user terminal to change the user terminal setting.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, mode information corresponding to a state or operation of the vehicle is mapped and stored in the vehicle communication device in advance. When currently collected state or operation information of the vehicle corresponds to a pre-stored particular mode, corresponding mode information may be transmitted to the user terminal. The user terminal may automatically change at least one setting information according to the received mode information.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, setting information of the user terminal corresponding to a state or operation of the vehicle is mapped and stored in the vehicle communication device in advance, and corresponding terminal setting information may be transmitted to the user terminal according to the currently collected state or operation of the vehicle. The user terminal may receive the terminal setting information and automatically change corresponding setting information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle communication device directly generates a push message, and then either directly transmits the push message to the user terminal or transmits the generated push message to the user terminal through a push message server. According to another embodiment, the vehicle communication device transmits a transmission message including mode information or terminal setting information to a push message server. The push message server may generate a push message including the mode information or the terminal setting information and transmit the generated push message to the user terminal.

The user terminal in the following embodiments of the present invention may include any electronic device such as, for example, a touch screen device, including a portable terminal, a mobile terminal, a communication terminal, a portable communication terminal, a portable mobile terminal or the like. For example, the user terminal may be a smart phone, a mobile phone, a gaming device, a Television (TV), a display device, a head unit for a vehicle, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a Personal Media Player (PMP), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a navigation device, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of a bank, a Point Of Service (POS) device of a shop and the like. Further, the user terminal according to the present invention may be a flexible device or a flexible display device.

FIG. 1illustrates a method for changing a user terminal setting by using a push message according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle communication device110is mounted within a vehicle100and various state information or operation information of the vehicle100may be collected by the vehicle communication device110. Further, the vehicle communication device110includes a wired/wireless communication means configured to transmit information to a user terminal130through a push message server120.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle communication device110may pre-store mode information or terminal setting information corresponding to the state information or operation information of the vehicle100. Accordingly, when the state information or operation information of the vehicle100is collected, the vehicle communication device110may transmit mode information or terminal setting information, corresponding to the collected state information or operation information, to the corresponding the user terminal130through the push message server120. For the transmission, the vehicle communication device110may also store identification information of the user terminal130(that is, terminal identification information) to which the information will be transmitted.

Accordingly, the vehicle communication device110transmits terminal identification information of the user terminal130to the push message server120together with the mode information or the terminal setting information. Then, the push message server120may generate a push message, including the mode information or the terminal setting information transmitted from the vehicle communication device110, and transmit the generated push message to the user terminal130corresponding to the terminal identification information.

For example, when the user gets in the vehicle100with the user terminal130and drives the vehicle100, the user can automatically change various settings of the user terminal130according to a current vehicle state or vehicle operation.

Hereinafter, a system, an apparatus, and a method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 2 through 6.

FIG. 2illustrates a user terminal setting changing system using a push message according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, the system according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the vehicle communication device110, a communication network210, the push message server120, and the user terminal130.

The vehicle communication device110included in the vehicle100can receive state information or operation information of the vehicle100from an Electronic Control Unit (ECU)201, a Micro Controller Unit (MCU)202, and various sensors203. Meanwhile, althoughFIG. 2illustrates an example in which the state information or operation information of the vehicle is received through the vehicle communication device110, the state information or operation information of the vehicle may be received through another means. For example, when the user starts the vehicle, the user can directly receive ignition information from an ignition key. That is, according to embodiments of the present invention, the state information or operation information of the vehicle can be received through any method and means, and the present invention is not limited to a particular means.

The state information of the vehicle received by the vehicle communication device110may include information related to operation of the vehicle such as whether the vehicle is started, speed information, acceleration information, deceleration information and the like, or information related to a device attached to the vehicle such as, for example, power information or volume information of a car audio device. Further, the operation information of the vehicle may include various types of operation information such as, for example, an operation of starting the vehicle, an operation of stepping on an acceleration pedal, and an operation of stepping on a brake pedal.

As described above, at least one mode information (for example, running mode information) corresponding to the state information or operation information of the vehicle100or terminal setting information of the user terminal130may be stored in the vehicle communication device110. Accordingly, when the vehicle communication device110receives the state or operation information of the vehicle100, the vehicle communication device110transmits mode information or terminal setting information corresponding to the received state information or operation information of the vehicle100to the user terminal130through the communication network210.

As described above, the mode information or the terminal setting information may be transmitted to the user terminal130through the push message server120in the form of the push message. Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle communication device110may transmit a message including the mode information or the terminal setting information to the push message server120through the communication network210and the push message server120may generate a push message including the received mode information or terminal setting information and transmit the generated push message to the user terminal130. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle communication device110may instead directly generate the push message including the mode information or the terminal setting information and then directly transmit the generated push message to the user terminal130or transmit the generated push message to the user terminal130through the push message server120.

Meanwhile, as described above, the vehicle communication device110can store the terminal identification information of the user terminal130and transmit the mode information or the terminal setting information to the push message server120together with the stored terminal identification information. Accordingly, the push message server120generates the push message from the mode information or the terminal setting information and transmits the generated push message to the user terminal130corresponding to the terminal identification information. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user terminal130can receive the push message from the push message server120by registering its own terminal identification information with the push message server120in advance.

As described above, the user terminal130, having received the push message from the push message server120, identifies the mode information or the terminal setting information included in the push message and automatically changes corresponding setting information of the user terminal130. An application131, which processes the received push message, may be installed in the user terminal130. Accordingly, the application131identifies the push message received from the push message server120and changes the setting information of the user terminal130according to the mode information or the terminal setting information included in the push message. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the application131is installed in the user terminal130and initially executed, the terminal identification information of the user terminal130may be registered with the push message server120.

There are various methods which change the setting information of the user terminal130using the application131. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the mode information is included in the push message, at least one setting information corresponding to each mode information is identified and a corresponding setting of the user terminal130may be changed. Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal setting information is included in the push message, a setting of the user terminal130may be immediately changed in accordance with the terminal setting information.

The mode information may include modes related to operations of the vehicle as shown inFIG. 7A. For example, a driving mode, a silent mode, a Bluetooth mode and the like may be set according to a current vehicle state or operation. At least one terminal setting information according to each mode may be mapped and stored in the user terminal130. Accordingly, when the mode information is included in the push message, at least one setting corresponding to a current mode may be changed through an identification of the pre-stored mapping information. For example, the setting may be made in the driving mode such that a message reception notification is changed from a vibration to a sound and a TTS function is activated when a message is received. Further, in the Bluetooth mode, a function of activating a Bluetooth function of the user terminal130is mapped and thus neighboring Bluetooth devices are searched for.

The communication network210may be implemented regardless of the means of communication such as wired/wireless communication, and may be implemented by various communication networks including a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN) and the like. Further, the communication network210may be a known World Wide Web (WWW), and may use a wireless transmission technology utilized for the PAN such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA) or Bluetooth.

FIG. 3illustrates a detailed structure of the vehicle communication device110according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 3, the vehicle communication device110may include an input unit310, a message setting unit320, a storage unit330, a terminal information registration unit340, a vehicle information collector350, a message generator360, and a message transmitter370.

The message setting unit320stores message setting information331, which is input through the input unit310, in the storage unit330. The terminal information registration unit340stores terminal identification information332, which is input through the input unit310, in the storage unit330.

The message setting information331may include mode information or terminal setting information, as shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B. That is, the message setting information331may include terminal setting information for directly changing setting information of the user terminal130, which is setting information of the message to be transmitted to the user terminal130, or mode information mapped to at least one terminal setting information.

The terminal identification information332corresponds to information through which the user terminal130can be identified, and may include a phone number of the user terminal130, a device serial number, an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), Medium Access Control (MAC) address information and the like. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Accordingly, the user may register the user terminal130, which will receive the push message through the input unit310included in the vehicle communication device110, with the vehicle communication device110, and set or input setting information of the user terminal130to be set according to each operation mode.

The storage unit330stores various information for generating and transmitting a message according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the storage unit330can store mode information, corresponding to state information or operation information of each vehicle, or terminal setting information of the user terminal130as the message setting information331. Further, the storage unit330can store identification information of the user terminal130, to which the message will be transmitted, as the terminal identification information332.

The vehicle information collector350collects current vehicle state information and/or operation information from each device within the vehicle and/or the sensor as described inFIG. 2.

The message generator360reads mode information or terminal setting information, corresponding to the vehicle state information or operation information collected by the vehicle information collector350, from the storage unit330and generates a message to be transmitted. At this time, the message generator360may generate the message in a form of the push message or in a different type of message other than the push message. The message to be transmitted may further include terminal identification information of the user terminal130to which the message will be transmitted.

The message transmitter370transmits the generated message to the push message server120or the user terminal130.

FIG. 4illustrates a detailed structure of the user terminal130according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 4, the user terminal130may include an input unit410, a display unit420, a controller430, a communication processor440, and a storage unit450. Information input through the input unit410is provided to the controller430. Further, the display unit420displays various information relating to the user terminal130on a screen.

The application installed in the user terminal130ofFIG. 2may be included in the controller430. The controller430may include a push message receiver431, a terminal setting change unit432, and a terminal information registration unit433.

The push message receiver431receives, through the communication processor440, a push message directly transmitted from the vehicle communication device110or through the push message server120and identifies information included in the received push message. The terminal setting change unit432changes a setting of the user terminal130as a function of information identified through the push message receiver431. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal setting information is included in the push message, the terminal setting information451stored in the storage unit450is changed according to the corresponding terminal setting information.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, when the mode information is included in the push message, at least one terminal setting information corresponding to the mode information is identified and the terminal setting information451stored in the storage unit450is changed according to the at least one identified terminal setting information. The storage unit450may further store mapping information related to at least one terminal setting information corresponding to each mode information.

The terminal information registration unit433registers terminal identification information of the user terminal130with the push message server120. Accordingly, the message transmitted from the vehicle communication device110may be provided to the user terminal130though the push message server120in the form of the push message.

Components of each of the vehicle communication device110and the user terminal130are separately illustrated in the drawings to indicate that they may be functionally and logically separated from each other. However, this does not mean that they are physically separated or implemented by separated codes.

Further, in present invention, each function unit may refer to a functional or structural combination of hardware for realizing the technical idea of the present invention and software for driving the hardware. For example, each function unit may refer to a logical unit of a predetermined code or a hardware resource for executing the predetermine code, and it may be easily inferred by those skilled in the art that the function unit does not necessarily refer to a physically connected code or one type of hardware.

Hereinafter, user terminal setting changing methods according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 5A through 8B. First, a method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A, and a method according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B.

FIG. 5Ais a flowchart illustrating a procedure for changing a user terminal setting according to an of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5A, in step S511, information on the user terminal (for example, terminal identification information) is registered in the vehicle communication device and stored in the storage unit. In step S512, current vehicle information (for example, vehicle state information or operation information) is collected.

In step S513, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the currently collected vehicle information. When there is a change in the currently collected vehicle information, mode information corresponding to the changed vehicle information is searched for in the storage unit in step S514. Otherwise, the method returns to step S512and continues to collect vehicle information. However, regardless of whether or not there is a change in the vehicle information, the mode information may be searched for and a transmission message may be transmitted. In step S516, a transmission message is generated by the identified mode information. In step S516, the generated transmission message is transmitted to the user terminal through the push message server or directly transmitted to the user terminal.

Referring toFIG. 6A, when the vehicle communication device transmits the push message as shown in step S516ofFIG. 5A, the user terminal changes a setting of the user terminal as a function of the transmitted push message. That is, when an application is first installed in the user terminal and then executed in step S611, information on the user terminal may be registered with the push message server in step S612.

When the push message transmitted through the procedure ofFIG. 5Ais received in step S613, mode information is identified from the received push message in step S614. In step S615, at least one terminal setting information corresponding to the mode information is identified and a corresponding setting of the user terminal is changed according to the identified terminal setting information.

FIG. 7Aillustrates a structure of information stored in the vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 7A, message information700afor configuring the transmission message may be stored in the storage unit of the vehicle communication device. As described above, terminal identification information710may be stored as the information on the user terminal, to which the transmission message will be transmitted. According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one mode information720corresponding to current vehicle state information or operation information may also be stored. Examples of the at least one mode information720may include, for example, a driving mode721, a silent mode722, and a Bluetooth mode723.

For example, the driving mode721is a mode mapped such that the vehicle is currently in a driving state, which may be determined by an ignition operation of the vehicle or by speed information of the vehicle. As described above, when the vehicle is in the driving mode721, the setting may be changed such that a call reception mode of the user terminal is set as a bell mode, the call is automatically received when the call is incoming, and/or a received text is processed by TTS. Further, when a car audio device is turned on, the silent mode722may change the setting such that an output sound of the user terminal becomes silent. In addition, since the user cannot answer the call while driving in the Bluetooth mode723, the user terminal may change the setting such that a Bluetooth headset or a Bluetooth earphone is automatically searched for and then connected.

FIG. 8Aillustrates a structure of a message transmitted from the vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 8A, when the vehicle communication device receives current vehicle operation information or state information and identifies mode information of the received information, the vehicle communication device may configure a transmission message including the mode information and transmit the transmission message to the corresponding registered user terminal. The transmitted transmission message800amay include data fields such as a header area810, a terminal identification information area820, and a mode information area830a.

The header area810may include, for example, information indicating that the transmission message800ais a message for changing the user setting, address information of the push message server as destination information of the transmission message800a, composition information of the transmission message800a, and length information of each data field.

The terminal identification information area820is a data field including identification information of the user terminal, and the push message server having received the transmission message800amay identify the terminal identification information and transmit information included in the transmission message800ato the corresponding user terminal in the form of the push message.

The mode information area830ais a data field including, for example, mode information corresponding to current vehicle operation information or state information according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the user terminal may identify the mode information and change various settings of the user terminal by at least one terminal information corresponding to the mode information. The composition of the transmission message800amay further include other data fields as well as the components shown inFIG. 8A.

Hereinafter, the method according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B.

FIG. 5Bis a flowchart illustrating a procedure for changing the user terminal setting according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5B, in step S521, information on the user terminal (for example, terminal identification information) is first registered in the vehicle communication device and stored in the storage unit. In step S522, current vehicle information (for example, vehicle state information or operation information) is collected.

In step S523, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the currently collected vehicle information. When there is a change in the currently collected vehicle information, terminal setting information corresponding to the changed vehicle information is searched for in the storage unit in step S524. Otherwise, the method returns to step S522and continues to collect vehicle information. However, regardless of the change in the vehicle information, the terminal setting information may be searched for and a transmission message may be transmitted. In step S525, a transmission message is generated by the identified terminal setting information. In step S526, the generated transmission message is transmitted to the user terminal through the push message server or directly transmitted to the user terminal.

Referring toFIG. 6B, when the vehicle communication device transmits the push message as shown in step S526ofFIG. 5B, the user terminal changes the setting of the user terminal as a function of the transmitted push message. That is, when an application is first installed in the user terminal and then executed in step S621, information on the user terminal may be registered in the push message server in step S622.

When the push message transmitted through the procedure ofFIG. 5Bis received in step S623, terminal setting information is identified from the received push message in step S624. In step S625, the corresponding setting of the user terminal is changed according to the identified terminal setting information.

FIG. 7Billustrates a structure of information stored in the vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 7B, message information700bfor configuring the transmission message may be stored in the storage unit of the vehicle communication device. As described above, the terminal identification information710may be stored as the information on the user terminal to which the transmission message will be transmitted. According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one terminal setting information730corresponding to current vehicle state information or operation information also may be stored. Examples of the at least one terminal setting information730may include a vibration setting731, a TTS setting732, and a silent setting733.

For example, with respect to the vibration setting731, when the user desires to change the setting of the user terminal to the vibration setting in accordance with the current vehicle state or operation, the terminal setting information730of the vibration setting731is mapped to the corresponding vehicle state or operation and stored. Accordingly, when the corresponding vehicle state or operation is detected, terminal setting information of the vibration setting731mapped to the vehicle state or operation is inserted into the transmission message and the transmission message is then transmitted to the user terminal. As a result, the user terminal identifies the terminal setting information of the vibration setting731included in the push message and changes the setting of the user terminal to the vibration setting.

With respect to the TTS setting732, when the user desires to change the setting of the user terminal to the TTS setting in accordance with the current vehicle state or operation, the terminal setting information730of the TTS setting732is mapped to the corresponding vehicle state or operation and stored. Accordingly, when the corresponding vehicle state or operation is detected, terminal setting information of the TTS setting732mapped to the vehicle state or operation is inserted into the transmission message and the transmission message is then transmitted to the user terminal. As a result, the user terminal identifies the terminal setting information of the TTS setting732included in the push message and changes the setting of the user terminal to the TTS mode. As described above, when the setting is changed to the TTS setting and the user terminal receives a text message, the user terminal outputs the text message, which is in a text form, as voice so that the user can listen to the message and understand the message while driving.

With respect to the silent setting733, when the user desires to change the setting of the user terminal to the silent mode in accordance with the current vehicle state or operation, the terminal setting information730of the silent setting733is mapped to the corresponding vehicle state or operation and stored. Accordingly, when the corresponding vehicle state or operation is detected, terminal setting information of the silent setting733mapped to the vehicle state or operation is inserted into the transmission message and the transmission message is then transmitted to the user terminal. As a result, the user terminal identifies the terminal setting information of the silent setting733included in the push message and changes the setting of the user terminal to the silent mode.

FIG. 8Billustrates a structure of a message transmitted in the vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 8B, when the vehicle communication device receives current vehicle operation information or state information and identifies terminal setting information corresponding to the current vehicle operation information or state information, a transmission message including the terminal setting information is configured and then transmitted to the corresponding registered user terminal. The transmitted transmission message800bmay include data fields such as, for example, a header area810, a terminal identification information area820, and a terminal setting information area830b.

The header area810may include, for example, information indicating that the transmission message800bis a message for changing the user setting and address information of the push message server as destination information of the transmission message800b, composition information of the transmission message800b, and length information of each data field.

The terminal identification information area820is a data field including, for example, identification information of the user terminal, and the push message server having received the transmission message800bmay identify the terminal identification information and transmit information included in the transmission message800bto the corresponding user terminal in a form of the push message.

The terminal setting information area830bis a data field including, for example, terminal setting information corresponding to current vehicle operation information or state information according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the user terminal may identify the terminal setting information and change various settings of the user terminal as a function of the terminal setting information. The composition of the transmission message800bmay further include other data fields as well as the components shown inFIG. 8B.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the driver does not have to manually change the setting of the user terminal whenever the driver gets in the vehicle to drive the vehicle, thereby maximizing the driver's convenience.

Further, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the setting is made such that the user terminal searches for peripheral devices only when there are peripheral devices nearby, thereby preventing a battery from being unnecessarily drained in searching for the peripheral devices.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the push message is transmitted to the user terminal when the user terminal enters a particular space (for example, a vehicle, theater or the like) and the setting of the user terminal is changed through the transmitted push message, so that the user can perform a desired operation and return the setting of the user terminal to the original state when the user terminal leaves the corresponding space, thereby maximizing the user's convenience.

Methods according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in a form of a program command which can be executed through various computer means and be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include a program command, a data file, a data structure, or a combination thereof. The program command recorded in the medium may be specially designed or configured for the present invention or known to and used by those skilled in a computer software field. Examples of the computer-readable medium include hardware devices specially configured to store and execute a program command, such as magnetic media such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape, optical media such as a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), magneto-optical media such as a floptical disk, a ROM, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory and the like. Examples of the program command include a high level language code executable by a computer using an interpreter or the like as well as a machine language code made by a compiler. The hardware device may be implemented as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the present invention and vice versa.

It may be appreciated that the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination thereof. Any such software may be stored, for example, in a volatile or non-volatile storage device such as a ROM, a memory such as a RAM, a memory chip, a memory device, or a memory Integrated Circuit (IC), or a recordable optical or magnetic medium such as a CD, a DVD, a magnetic disk, or a magnetic tape, regardless of its ability to be erased or re-recorded. It can be also appreciated that the memory included in the mobile terminal is one example of machine-readable devices suitable for storing a program including instructions that are executed by a processor device to thereby implement embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide a program including codes for implementing a system or method claimed in any claim of the accompanying claims and a machine-readable device for storing such a program. Further, this program may be electronically conveyed through any medium such as a communication signal transferred via a wired or wireless connection, and embodiments of the present invention appropriately include equivalents thereto.