Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity

• US 20070224938A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John, Wood, Lowell
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device, determine a user interface on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination, and perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device;

determining a user interface on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination; and

performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device comprises:

making a determination by the wireless device that the first device is in proximity to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device comprises:

making a determination by the wireless device that the first device is in proximity to the wireless device based on a received wireless signal from the first device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device comprises:

determining of a touching between the wireless device and the vehicle; and

establishing a wireless communications link between the first device and the wireless device in response to the determining of a touching between the wireless device and the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device comprises:

determining that a first device coupled to a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device without the wireless device touching the vehicle; and

establishing a wireless communications link between the first device and the wireless device in response to the determining that a first device coupled to a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device without the wireless device touching the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device comprises:

receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal from the first device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the vehicle to perform a default operation in response to the receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal from the first device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining a user interface on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

displaying on the wireless device a menu of vehicle operations for the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to perform a first default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to the making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to actuate a door lock of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to control an ignition system on the vehicle based on the determination.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the vehicle to perform an operation with respect to one or more of a security system, a lock system, an air conditioning system, a heating system, an audio system or a video system for the vehicle based on the determination.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the vehicle to perform an operation with respect to one or more of a navigation system, an information system, an ignition system, a lighting control system, a communication system, a driver settings system, or a user customization system for the vehicle based on the determination.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal, associated with a default operation, from the wireless device to the first device to cause the vehicle to perform the default operation based on the determination.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

displaying on the wireless device a menu of vehicle operations for the vehicle as part of the determined user interface;

receiving at the wireless device a selection of one of the vehicle operations; and

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to control the first device to perform the selected vehicle operation.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal, in response to a user selection, from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to disable a security system for the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to control the first device to perform a first non-default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to receiving at the wireless device a user selection corresponding to the first non-default operation.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

executing a financial transaction relating to a product or service.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

executing a financial transaction relating to the vehicle based on a user selection received at the wireless device.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting vehicle-related information from the wireless device to the first device.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a trip configuration from the wireless device to the first device.

22. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

determining that the first device and the wireless device are no longer in proximity; and

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to perform a default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to determining that the first device and the wireless device are no longer in proximity.

23. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

determining that the first device and the wireless device are no longer in proximity; and

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to enable a security system of the vehicle in response to the determining that the first device and the wireless device are no longer in proximity.

24. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

determining that the first device and the wireless device are no longer in proximity; and

transmitting a signal from the wireless device to the first device to cause the first device to actuate a lock system of the vehicle in response to determining that the first device and the wireless device are no longer in proximity.

25. A computer program product comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing at least one of

(a) one or more instructions for making a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device;

(b) one or more instructions for determining a user interface on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination; and

(c) one or more instructions for performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

29. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to

(a) make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device;

(b) determine a user interface on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination; and

(c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the computing device comprises:

one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.

31. A device comprising:

(a) a device configured to make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device;

(b) a user interface configured to be determined on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination; and

(c) an operation configured to be performed with respect to the vehicle based on the determination.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein the user interface comprises:

a menu of vehicle operations for the vehicle configured to be displayed on the wireless device.