Method and system of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle

• US 20030163344A1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US10/085,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163344A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle includes installing in the vehicle a universal remote control device that can provide a plurality of distinct remote control feature packages, each of which can be separately and selectively enabled. The method also includes negotiating sale or lease of the vehicle to a customer, including offering one of the plurality of remote control feature packages and accepting the customer'"'"'s selection. The method further includes wirelessly enabling the package selected. The system includes a universal remote control device and a remote control features package processing station that processes customer selection orders and wirelessly enables remote control feature packages in response to the orders.

Claims

1. A method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle, the method comprising:

installing a universal remote control device in the vehicle, the universal remote control device comprising a controller and a wireless receiver cooperating therewith for permitting wireless enabling of the customer-selected remote control feature package from among a plurality of possible remote control feature packages;

negotiating sale or lease of the vehicle with the customer and comprising

offering the plurality of possible remote control feature packages to the customer, and

accepting an order for the customer-selected remote control feature package from the customer; and

wirelessly enabling the customer-selected remote control feature package for the universal remote control device.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising delivering the vehicle to the customer after negotiating and prior to wirelessly enabling.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein installing is performed prior to negotiating.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein installing is performed after negotiating.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of possible remote control feature packages have respective different offering prices;

and wherein the customer-selected remote control feature package has a negotiated price associated therewith.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein negotiating and wirelessly enabling are performed by respective different entities;

and further comprising sharing revenue between the different entities and based on the negotiated price for the customer-selected remote control feature package.

7. A method according to claim 5 further comprising providing the universal remote control device;

wherein the installing, negotiating, and wirelessly enabling are provided by respective different entities; and

further comprising sharing revenue between the different entities and based on the negotiating price for the customer-selected remote control feature package.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the providing and wirelessly enabling are provided by a same entity.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein negotiating is performed by a vehicle dealer;

and wherein installing is performed after vehicle delivery to the vehicle dealer.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein negotiating is performed by a vehicle dealer;

and wherein installing is performed prior to vehicle delivery to the vehicle dealer.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein installing comprises installing the universal remote control device to perform at least one of security, remote keyless entry and remote engine starting features associated with respective customer-selected remote control feature packages.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein security comprises vehicle position tracking.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the universal remote control device comprises a GPS receiver for performing the vehicle position tracking.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a cellular radio receiver;

and wherein the wirelessly enabling comprises using a cellular radio transmitter.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a data communication bus extending therethrough;

and wherein installing comprises connecting the universal remote control device to the vehicle data communication bus.

16. A method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a universal remote control device comprising a controller and a wireless receiver cooperating therewith for permitting wireless enabling of the customer-selected remote control feature package from among a plurality of possible remote control feature packages;

installing the universal remote control device in the vehicle;

negotiating sale or lease of the vehicle with the customer and comprising

offering the plurality of possible remote control feature packages to the customer, the plurality of possible remote control feature packages having respective different offering prices, and

accepting an order for the customer-selected remote control feature package from the customer, the customer-selected remote control feature package having a negotiated price associated therewith;

wirelessly enabling the customer-selected remote control package for the universal remote control device; and

wherein providing, installing, negotiating and wirelessly enabling are performed by a plurality of different entities and further comprising sharing revenue among the different entities based on the negotiated customer-selected remote control feature package.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising delivering the vehicle to the customer after negotiating and prior to wirelessly enabling.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein installing is performed prior to negotiating.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein installing is performed after negotiating.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the providing and wirelessly enabling are provided by a same entity.

21. A method according to claim 16 wherein negotiating is performed by a vehicle dealer;

and wherein installing is performed after vehicle delivery to the vehicle dealer.

22. A method according to claim 16 wherein negotiating is performed by a vehicle dealer;

and wherein installing is performed prior to vehicle delivery to the vehicle dealer.

23. A method according to claim 16 wherein installing comprises installing the universal remote control device to perform at least one of security, remote keyless entry and remote engine starting features associated with respective customer-selected remote control feature packages.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein security comprises vehicle position tracking.

25. A method according to claim 16 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a cellular radio receiver;

and wherein the wirelessly enabling comprises using a cellular radio transmitter.

26. A method according to claim 16 wherein the vehicle comprises a data communication bus extending therethrough;

and wherein installing comprises connecting the universal remote control device to the vehicle data communication bus.

27. A system for providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a universal remote control device for installation in the vehicle, said universal remote control device comprising a controller and a wireless receiver cooperating therewith for permitting wireless enabling of the customer-selected remote control feature package from among a plurality of possible remote control feature packages; and

a customer-selected remote control feature package processing station for

receiving an order for the customer-selected remote control feature package,

wirelessly enabling the customer-selected remote control package for the universal remote control device based upon the order, and

sharing revenue among different entities based upon the customer-selected remote control feature package.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said customer-selected remote control feature package processing station comprises an accounting database for sharing the revenue.

29. A system according to claim 27 wherein said universal remote control device performs at least one of security, remote keyless entry and remote engine starting features associated with respective customer-selected remote control feature packages.

30. A system according to claim 27 wherein said universal remote control device comprises a GPS receiver for performing vehicle position tracking.

31. A system according to claim 27 wherein said wireless receiver comprises a cellular radio receiver;

and wherein said processing station wirelessly enables the customer-selected remote control feature package using a cellular radio transmitter.

32. A system according to claim 27 wherein the vehicle comprises a data communication bus extending therethrough;

and wherein said universal remote control device interfaces to the vehicle data communication bus.