Multifunction keyless entry system

• US 20070040649A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alps Automative, Inc. (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alps Automative, Inc. (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dulgerian, James, Strebel, Eric, Huggler, Brent, Lucas, Nathan, Taylor, Roy
• Application Number:
  US11/205,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040649A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.640
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A remote keyless entry (RKE) system performs multiple functions in a vehicle. One function is to respond to RKE controller keypresses to lock or unlock doors, to start an engine, or to arm or deactivate an alarm. A second function is to interpret RKE controller keypresses as accessory control commands. The RKE controller thereby provides a convenient accessory controller. In addition, the RKE controller may also supplement or take the place of pre-existing dedicated accessory controllers, such as controllers for a radio, video game, or DVD player, to relieve the burden of locating and operating those accessory controllers.

Claims

1. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

a wireless receiver operable to receive a remote keyless entry (RKE) controller keypress message; and

control logic coupled to the wireless receiver that;

determines an RKE controller location; and

selects from multiple different available responses to the RKE controller keypress message based on the RKE controller location.

2. The remote keyless entry system of claim 1, where the RKE location is one of ‘

Inside Vehicle’ and

‘

Outside Vehicle’

.

3. The remote keyless entry system of claim 1, where the multiple available responses include issuing an accessory control message.

4. The remote keyless entry system of claim 3, where the accessory control message comprises an audio system control command or an entertainment device control command.

5. The remote keyless entry system of claim 1, where the wireless receiver is further operable to receive an RKE location message, and where the control logic determines the RKE controller location based on the RKE location message.

6. The remote keyless entry system of claim 1, where the control logic further:

determines an RKE controller keypress based on the RKE controller keypress message; and

selects from the multiple different available responses based on the RKE controller location and the RKE controller keypress.

7. The remote keyless entry system of claim 6, where the RKE controller keypress and the RKE controller location distinguish between a vehicle door lock response and an accessory control command response.

8. The remote keyless entry system of claim 6, where the RKE controller keypress and the RKE controller location distinguish between an engine start response and an accessory control command response.

9. The remote keyless entry system of claim 6, where the RKE controller keypress and the RKE controller location distinguish between an alarm configuration response and an accessory control command response.

10. A method for responding to a remote keyless entry (RKE) controller keypress message, the method comprising:

receiving an RKE controller keypress message specifying an RKE keypress;

obtaining an RKE controller location associated with the RKE controller keypress message;

establishing a primary action and a secondary action associated with the RKE keypress; and

initiating execution of the secondary action responsive to the RKE keypress based on the RKE controller location.

11. The method of claim 10, where the secondary action comprises:

transmitting an entertainment device control message.

12. The method of claim 10, where initiating execution comprises:

initiating execution of the secondary action when the RKE controller location is ‘

Inside Vehicle’

.

13. The method of claim 10, where establishing comprises:

establishing a door lock action as the primary action for the RKE keypress.

14. The method of claim 10, where establishing comprises:

establishing an engine start action as the primary action for the RKE keypress.

15. The method of claim 10, where establishing comprises:

establishing an alarm control action as the primary action for the RKE keypress.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an RKE location message, and where the control logic determines the RKE controller location based on the RKE location message.

17. A product comprising:

a machine readable medium; and

instructions stored on the medium which cause a remote keyless entry system to;

receive an RKE controller keypress message;

determine an RKE controller location; and

initiate one of a primary action and a secondary action in response to the RKE controller keypress message based on the RKE controller location.

18. The product of claim 17, where the instructions further cause the remote keyless entry system to:

receive an RKE location message; and

determine the RKE controller location based on the RKE location message.

19. The product of claim 18, where the RKE controller location is ‘

Inside Vehicle’

.

20. The product of claim 18, where the secondary action is an entertainment device control action.

21. The product of claim 20, where the entertainment device control action is an audio system control action.

22. The product of claim 17, where the primary action is a door lock action, an engine start action, an alarm arming action, or a trunk unlock action.

23. A remote keyless entry system comprising:

an automotive bus interface;

a wireless receiver;

a controller coupled to the automotive bus interface and the wireless receiver;

a memory coupled to the controller, the memory including;

a primary mapping from RKE keypresses to primary actions;

a secondary mapping from the RKE keypresses to secondary actions;

a multifunction control program for execution by the controller comprising instructions which;

receive an RKE location message;

determine an RKE controller location based on the RKE location message;

receive an RKE controller keypress message;

extract an RKE keypress identifier from the keypress message;

when the RKE controller location is ‘

Inside Vehicle’

;

select from the secondary actions in the secondary mapping based on the RKE keypress;

initiate transmission of a corresponding secondary action message through the automotive bus interface;

when the RKE controller location is ‘

Outside Vehicle’

;

select from the primary actions in the primary mapping based on the RKE keypress; and

initiate transmission of a corresponding primary action message through the automotive bus interface.

24. The remote keyless entry system of claim 23, where the secondary actions comprise an entertainment system control action.

25. The remote keyless entry system of claim 24, where the entertainment system control action is a volume control action.

26. The remote keyless entry system of claim 24, where the entertainment system control action is a play or pause control action.

27. The remote keyless entry system of claim 23, where the RKE location message comprises a vehicle interior wireless transmitter identifier.

28. The remote keyless entry system of claim 25, where the primary actions comprise a door lock, door unlock, or an engine start action.

29. The remote keyless entry system of claim 26, where the primary actions comprise a door lock, door unlock, or an engine start action.

30. The remote keyless entry system of claim 25, where:

the secondary mapping comprises a mapping between the RKE keypresses and secondary actions for multiple vehicle accessories.