System for remotely operating vehicle functions

• US 20060173587A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kamdar, Hitan S., Veliu, Shpetim S., Reeser, Brad T., Sumcad, Anthony J., Patenaude, Russell A., Oesterling, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method for remotely operating vehicle functions including receiving at least one wireless key fob signal at a kiosk system, receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system, and sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request.

Claims

1. A method for remotely operating vehicle functions, the method comprising:

receiving at least one wireless key fob signal at a kiosk system;

receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system; and

sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one wireless key fob signal at a kiosk system comprises:

receiving an enrollment request including identifier information;

receiving the wireless key fob signal associated with the enrollment request; and

storing the wireless key fob signal linked with the identifier information in a system database, wherein the identifier information includes one or more of a vehicle identification number, a customer number associated with the vehicle, a social security number, a password, a security code and a personal identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system comprises:

receiving direct input at a kiosk in the kiosk system by one of a user or a kiosk attendant, wherein the direct input includes identifier information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system comprises:

receiving a call request from a user; and

prompting the user to input identifier information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system comprises:

receiving a short-range wireless signal from a portable wireless device at the kiosk system, wherein the identifier information is embedded in the short-range wireless signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request comprises:

determining identifier information based on the vehicle function request received at the kiosk system;

accessing the wireless key fob signal linked to the identifier information in a system database based on the determination; and

transmitting the accessed wireless key fob signal from the kiosk to the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless key fob signal includes a vehicle key code, wherein the vehicle function request is a vehicle door unlocking request, and wherein the method further comprises:

synchronizing the vehicle key code for door unlock commands during an enrollment request; and

storing the synchronized vehicle key code in a system database with identifier information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request comprises:

transmitting the synchronized vehicle key code to a door lock system in the vehicle based on the vehicle door unlock request.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the vehicle key code is based on a rolling code technology, and wherein the vehicle key code is for an unused setting in the key fob.

10. A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:

computer readable code for receiving at least one wireless key fob signal at a kiosk system;

computer readable code for receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system; and

computer readable code for sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request.

11. The medium of claim 10, wherein computer readable code for receiving at least one wireless key fob signal at a kiosk system comprises:

computer readable code for receiving an enrollment request including identifier information;

computer readable code for receiving the wireless key fob signal associated with the enrollment request; and

computer readable code for storing the wireless key fob signal linked with the identifier information in a system database.

12. The medium of claim 10, wherein computer readable code for receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system comprises:

computer readable code for receiving direct input at a kiosk in the kiosk system by one of a user or a kiosk attendant, wherein the direct input includes identifier information.

13. The medium of claim 10, wherein computer readable code for receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system comprises:

computer readable code for receiving a call request from a user; and

computer readable code for prompting the user to input identifier information.

14. The medium of claim 10, wherein computer readable code for receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system comprises:

computer readable code for receiving a short-range wireless signal from a portable wireless device at the kiosk system, wherein the identifier information is embedded in the short-range wireless signal.

15. The medium of claim 10, wherein computer readable coder for sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request comprises:

computer readable code for determining identifier information based on the vehicle function request received at the kiosk system;

computer readable code for accessing the wireless key fob signal linked to the identifier information in a system database based on the determination; and

computer readable code for transmitting the accessed wireless key fob signal from the kiosk to the vehicle.

16. The medium of claim 10, wherein the wireless key fob signal includes a vehicle key code, wherein the vehicle function request is a vehicle door unlocking request, and wherein the medium further comprises:

computer readable code for synchronizing the vehicle key code for door unlock commands; and

computer readable code for storing the synchronized vehicle key code in a system database with identifier information.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein computer readable code for sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request comprises:

computer readable code for transmitting the synchronized vehicle key code to a door lock system in the vehicle based on the vehicle door unlock request.

18. A system for remotely operating vehicle functions, the system comprising:

means for receiving at least one wireless key fob signal at a kiosk system;

means for receiving a vehicle function request at the kiosk system; and

means for sending the wireless key fob signal from the kiosk system to a vehicle based on the vehicle function request.

19. The system of claim 18, the system further comprising:

means for synchronizing a vehicle key code embedded in the wireless key fob signal for door unlock commands; and

means for storing the synchronized vehicle key code in a system database with identifier information.