METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING DTMF TONES USING VOICE-RECOGNITION COMMANDS DURING HANDS-FREE COMMUNICATION IN A VEHICLE

An apparatus, method, and code on a computer readable medium are provided for constructing and operating a vehicle communication unit that is adapted for enunciating an audio signal to the cabin of a vehicle, and for simultaneously receiving the enunciated audio signal and a voice-command from a user speaking in the cabin of the vehicle, and for generating a DTMF signal in response to the voice-command without muting or otherwise interrupting the enunciated audio signal.