Method and apparatus for vehicle valet control devices

• US 10,370,005 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Delong, Aaron, Elangovan, Vivekanandh, Thivierge, Jr., Timothy, Wilkerson, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Casillashernandez, Omar
• Application Number:
  US15/832,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20190168774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 34042619
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage. The processor is also configured to determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode and activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle, responsive to the tag motion.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage;

determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode; and

responsive to the tag motion as well as responsive to detecting an increasing wireless signal strength from the valet tag, activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the vehicle into valet mode responsive to an owner request.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the vehicle into valet mode responsive to detecting movement of the valet tag independent of vehicle movement.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured

to place the vehicle into valet mode responsive to detecting detachment of the valet tag from a predefined attachment position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the external indicator includes illumination of a vehicle lighting system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the external indicator includes activation of a vehicle audible system, audible from a vehicle exterior.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an distance to and heading of the valet tag, based on signals received from the valet tag; and

send a wireless message to a preidentified owner portable device, indicating an approximate location of the tag.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the approximate location of the tag is relative to a vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the approximate location of the tag is in the form of GPS coordinates, determinable by the processor based on vehicle GPS coordinates and tag distance and tag directionality from the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

periodically seek a signal from the valet tag, when the vehicle is not in valet mode; and

issue an alert to a user responsive to the signal from the tag not being detected.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to store vehicle GPS coordinates each time the signal from the tag is detected during the periodic seeking.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the alert includes the GPS coordinates saved the most recent time the signal from the tag was detected.

10. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage;

determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode; and

responsive to the tag motion as well determining that the tag ceased motion, following activation of the valet mode, for at least a predetermined time period, activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to activate the external indicator responsive to:

detecting tag motion;

determining that the tag ceased motion, following activation of the valet mode, for at least a predetermined time period; and

determining the tag is within a predefined distance from the vehicle.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a valet tag is in motion after having ceased motion for a predetermined period of time;

determining that a vehicle is in a valet mode, restricting vehicle functionality; and

providing a visual or audible indicator, usable to find the vehicle from a location exterior to the vehicle, responsive to determining that the tag is in motion and that the vehicle is in valet mode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the tag is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and

providing the visual or audible indicator once the tag is within the predetermined distance, in addition to being responsive to determining that the tag is in motion and that the vehicle is in valet mode.