METHOD FOR IMPROVING VEHICULAR COMFORT AND PROTECTING INTERIOR INTEGRITY

• US 20080082226A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Amador, Erick Simon, Polozoff, Alexandre, Hamilton, Rick Allen, Bhogal, Kulvir Singh
• Application Number:
  US11/533,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for automatically initiating a set of vehicle functions for a vehicle. A set of settings is received for a set of vehicle functions. The set of settings includes a set of thresholds for the set of vehicle functions. A set of sensors are monitored on the vehicle and a signal is received from a sensor within the set of sensors indicating that a condition has occurred. Responsive to receiving the signal, a determination is made as to whether the condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds. Responsive to the condition meeting or exceeding the threshold, a command is sent to a device actuator to automatically perform a function within the set of vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of automatically initiating a set of vehicle functions for a vehicle, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a set of settings for a set of vehicle functions, wherein the set of settings includes a set of thresholds for the set of vehicle functions;

monitoring a set of sensors that sends signals to the vehicle;

receiving a signal from a sensor within the set of sensors that a condition has occurred;

responsive to receiving the signal, determining if the condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds; and

responsive to the condition meeting or exceeding the threshold, sending a command to a device actuator to automatically perform a function within the set of vehicle functions.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of a precipitation sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor, a motion sensor, a wireless input sensor, an Internet weather information sensor, or timing sensor.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the condition is from an external Website that provides weather conditions and further comprises:

receiving the signal from the sensor that a weather condition exists;

responsive to receiving the weather condition that is associated with a setting within the set of settings, determining if the weather condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds; and

responsive to the weather condition meeting or exceeding the threshold, sending the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the function within the set of vehicle functions.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the weather condition is determined based on a location for the vehicle and wherein the location is determined by at least one of a driver'"'"'s input or by a global positioning system.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the function is at least one of raising a convertible top, lowering the convertible top, raising a window, lowering the window, honking a horn, flashing headlights, unlocking a door, locking the door, raising a sunshade, and lowering the sunshade.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the condition is from a timer that specifies when the function should occur and further comprises:

receiving the condition that a time has been met that the specific function should be initiated; and

responsive to receiving the indication, sending the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the specific function within the set of vehicle functions.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a wireless device sensor that indicates a function to be performed and further comprises:

receiving the signal from the wireless device to perform a specific function;

responsive to receiving the signal, sending the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the specific function within the set of vehicle functions.

8. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications system connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a set of setting for a set of vehicle functions, wherein the set of settings includes a set of thresholds for the set of vehicle functions;

monitors a set of sensors that sends signals to the vehicle;

receives a signal from a sensor within the set of sensors that a condition has occurred;

determines if the condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds in response to receiving the signal; and

sends a command to a device actuator to automatically perform a function within the set of vehicle functions in response to the condition meeting or exceeding the threshold.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is at least one of a precipitation sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor, a motion sensor, a wireless input sensor, an Internet weather information sensor, or timing sensor.

10. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the condition is from an external Website that provides weather conditions and wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive the signal from the sensor that a weather condition exists;

determines if the weather condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds in response to receiving the weather condition that is associated with a setting within the set of settings; and

sends the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the function within the set of vehicle functions in response to the weather condition meeting or exceeding the threshold.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the weather condition is determined based on a location for the vehicle and wherein the location is determined by at least one of a driver'"'"'s input or by a global positioning system.

12. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the condition is from a timer that specifies when the function should occur and wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive the condition that a time has been met that the specific function should be initiated;

and sends the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the specific function within the set of vehicle functions in response to receiving the indication.

13. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a wireless device sensor that indicates a function to be performed and wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive the signal from the wireless device to perform a specific function;

sends the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the specific function within the set of vehicle functions in response to receiving the signal.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for automatically initiating a set of vehicle functions for a vehicle, the computer program product including;

computer usable program code for receiving a set of settings for a set of vehicle functions, wherein the set of settings includes a set of thresholds for the set of vehicle functions;

computer usable program code for monitoring a set of sensors that sends signals to the vehicle;

computer usable program code for receiving a signal from a sensor within the set of sensors that a condition has occurred;

computer usable program code for determining if the condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds in response to receiving the signal; and

computer usable program code for sending a command to a device actuator to automatically perform a function within the set of vehicle functions in response to the condition meeting or exceeding the threshold.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the sensor is at least one of a precipitation sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor, a motion sensor, a wireless input sensor, an Internet weather information sensor, or a timing sensor.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the condition is from an external Website that provides weather conditions and further includes:

computer usable program code for receiving the signal from the sensor that a weather condition exists;

computer usable program code for determining if the weather condition meets or exceeds a threshold within the set of thresholds in response to receiving the weather condition that is associated with a setting within the set of setting; and

computer usable program code for sending the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the function within the set of vehicle functions in response to the weather condition meeting or exceeding the threshold.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the weather condition is determined based on a location for the vehicle and wherein the location is determined by at least one of a driver'"'"'s input or by a global positioning system.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the function is at least one of raising a convertible top, lowering the convertible top, raising a window, lowering the window, honking a horn, flashing headlights, unlocking a door, locking the door, raising a sunshade, and lowering the sunshade.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the condition is from a timer that specifies when the function should occur and further includes:

computer usable program code for receiving the condition that a time has been met that the specific function should be initiated; and

computer usable program code for sending the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the specific function within the set of vehicle functions in response to receiving the indication.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a wireless device sensor that indicates a function to be performed and further includes:

computer usable program code for receiving the signal from the wireless device to perform a specific function;

computer usable program code for sending the command to the device actuator to automatically perform the specific function within the set of vehicle functions in response to receiving the signal.