System and method for locating misplaced keys and key fobs

• US 10,102,749 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wagner, Robert M.
• Original Assignee: Wagner, Robert M.
• Inventors: Wagner, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/657,736
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 340990
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/13 the indicator being in the form of a map

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a locating system and method for use generally by vehicle dealerships to locate vehicle keys that have been misplaced or lost. The system includes a key or key fob having a built-in communication device. When the key is lost, the communication device of the missing key fob is configured to sync-up to a nearby transceiver located in any one of several possible vehicles in a parking lot. Each vehicle would include a location device, such as one with GPS tracking capability, which is connected to a central processor. Once the key fob is synced with a target vehicle, the location of the target vehicle and therefore, the associated key fob, is transmitted back to the central processor. The location of the vehicle is subsequently transmitted to a to a mobile communication device capable of displaying the location of the vehicle and key fob.

Claims

1. A system for locating misplaced keys, the system comprising;

a central processor for receiving and transmitting communication signals;

a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle including a positioning device, wherein the positioning device of each vehicle is capable of sending a signal to the central processor to provide a position location for each vehicle;

a key fob having a built-in communication device configured to communicate with each vehicle;

an communication device configured to receive the communication signal from the central processor and display a location of a vehicle that is in communication with the key fob.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each vehicle further includes a transceiver device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the key fob communication device is configured to sync with the transceiver device of each vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of vehicles becomes a target vehicle when the key fob communication device syncs with the transceiver device of a particular vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the positioning device of the target vehicle is configured to send a signal to the central processor when the key fob device syncs with the target vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the central processor is configured to receive the signal from the target vehicle and then transmit the signal to the communication device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication device is capable of displaying the signal as a location position of the target vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the signal may be generated from at least three target vehicles creating a triangulation location position of the target vehicles.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the signal can be displayed as a sound alert on the communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic communication device is a mobile communication device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic communication device is one of a smartphone, laptop or tablet.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic communication device is a desktop computer.

13. A method of tracking and locating misplaced keys and key fobs, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving and transmitting communication information through a central processor;

transmitting location information from a plurality of vehicles to the central processor, providing a position location for each vehicle;

providing a key fob incorporating a communication device configured to communicate with a transceiver device of each vehicle;

creating a target vehicle when the key fob communication device communicates directly with at least one of the plurality of vehicles;

transmitting the location information of the target vehicle from its positioning device to the central processor when the vehicle communicates with the key fob communication device.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further include the step of determining a location of the key fob based on a location of the target vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, the method further including the step of displaying the location of the key fob on an electronic communication device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the location is displayed as geographic coordinates.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the location is displayed as map.

18. The method of claim 13, the method further including the step of creating a triangulation position of the key fob when the key fob communication device communicates with three target vehicles.

19. The method of claim 15, the method further including the step of loading a software application configured to locate a missing key fob onto the communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further includes initiating the software application on the communication device.