System and method for communicating with a vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for communicating with a vehicle, said system comprising:
- a master device disposed on the vehicle, said master device configured to communicate with a vehicle control system of the vehicle;
a plurality of remote communication devices disposed on the vehicle, each of said plurality of remote communication devices capable of receiving wirelessly communicated data from a portable device, said plurality of remote communication devices including a first communication device disposed near a driver-side door of the vehicle, said plurality of remote communication devices including a second communication device disposed outside a vehicle cabin of the vehicle, said plurality of remote communication devices including a third communication device disposed near a passenger-side door of the vehicle;
wherein said first communication device includes a first directional communication antenna arranged on the vehicle such that a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data transmitted external to the vehicle cabin of the vehicle and in proximity to said first directional communication antenna is substantially less than a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data that is directionally received from within the vehicle cabin of the vehicle;
wherein said third communication device includes a second directional communication antenna configured to directionally receive wirelessly communicated data;
said portable device configured to wirelessly communicate with said master device, said portable device including a transceiver capable of receiving wirelessly communicated data from said master device;
wherein said portable device is determined to be inside or outside the vehicle cabin based on A) a signal strength for data wirelessly communicated relative to the third communication device disposed near the passenger-side door of the vehicle and B) a difference between
1) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to said first directional communication antenna of said first communication device and
2) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to said second communication device; and
wherein at least one of said portable device and said master device communicate information based on a determination that the portable device is inside or outside the vehicle cabin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for using a portable device to communicate with a vehicle to authorize one or more vehicle operations. The portable device may authorize the vehicle to unlock/lock doors, start the vehicle engine, or mobilize the vehicle, or a combination thereof. The vehicle may include a vehicle transmitter system with one or more transmitters disposed at various locations on the vehicle, and the portable device may be configured to monitor a communication strength between the portable device and the one or more transmitters of the transmitter system. Based on the monitored signal strength, the portable device may determine location information about itself.
194 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for communicating with a vehicle, said system comprising:
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a master device disposed on the vehicle, said master device configured to communicate with a vehicle control system of the vehicle; a plurality of remote communication devices disposed on the vehicle, each of said plurality of remote communication devices capable of receiving wirelessly communicated data from a portable device, said plurality of remote communication devices including a first communication device disposed near a driver-side door of the vehicle, said plurality of remote communication devices including a second communication device disposed outside a vehicle cabin of the vehicle, said plurality of remote communication devices including a third communication device disposed near a passenger-side door of the vehicle; wherein said first communication device includes a first directional communication antenna arranged on the vehicle such that a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data transmitted external to the vehicle cabin of the vehicle and in proximity to said first directional communication antenna is substantially less than a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data that is directionally received from within the vehicle cabin of the vehicle; wherein said third communication device includes a second directional communication antenna configured to directionally receive wirelessly communicated data; said portable device configured to wirelessly communicate with said master device, said portable device including a transceiver capable of receiving wirelessly communicated data from said master device; wherein said portable device is determined to be inside or outside the vehicle cabin based on A) a signal strength for data wirelessly communicated relative to the third communication device disposed near the passenger-side door of the vehicle and B) a difference between
1) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to said first directional communication antenna of said first communication device and
2) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to said second communication device; andwherein at least one of said portable device and said master device communicate information based on a determination that the portable device is inside or outside the vehicle cabin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communicating with a vehicle control system of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle driver-side door, the method comprising:
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receiving wirelessly communicated data in a first directional communication antenna of a first remote communication device, wherein the first directional communication antenna is disposed near the vehicle driver-side door, wherein the first directional communication antenna is arranged on the vehicle such that a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data transmitted external to a vehicle cabin of the vehicle and in proximity to the first directional communication antenna is substantially less than a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data that is directionally received from within a vehicle cabin; receiving wirelessly communicated data in a second remote communication device disposed on the vehicle outside the vehicle cabin; receiving wirelessly communicated data in a second directional communication antenna of a third remote communication device, wherein the third remote communication device is disposed on the vehicle near a passenger-side door of the vehicle; transmitting communications from a portable device; determining location information about the portable device based on signal strength of communications with the portable device, said determining including determining if the portable device is inside or outside the vehicle cabin based on A) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to the second directional communication antenna disposed near the passenger-side door of the vehicle and B) a difference between
1) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to the first directional communication antenna of the first remote communication device and
2) a signal strength for data communicated wirelessly relative to the second remote communication device; andbased on a determination that the portable device is inside or outside the vehicle cabin, communicating information to at least one of the portable device and the vehicle control system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A master device disposed on a vehicle, said master device comprising:
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a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a portable device separable from the vehicle; a vehicle communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of remote communication devices, wherein the plurality of remote communication devices include a first communication device disposed near a vehicle driver-side door of the vehicle, and wherein the plurality of remote communication devices include a second communication device disposed on the vehicle outside a vehicle cabin of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of remote communication devices include a third communication device disposed on the vehicle and near a passenger-side door of the vehicle; wherein the first communication device includes a directional communication antenna arranged on the vehicle such that a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data transmitted external to the vehicle cabin of the vehicle and in proximity to the directional communication antenna is substantially less than a signal strength of wirelessly communicated data that is directionally received from within the vehicle cabin; wherein the third communication device includes a second directional communication antenna configured to directionally receive wirelessly communicated data; and a controller configured to determine location information regarding a location of the portable device relative to the vehicle, said controller configured to determine if the portable device is inside or outside the vehicle cabin based on A) a signal strength for data wirelessly communicated relative to the third communication device disposed near the passenger-side door of the vehicle and B) a difference between
1) a signal strength of data communicated wirelessly relative to the first communication device and
2) a signal strength of data communicated wirelessly relative to the second communication device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification