Multimode Vehicle Location Device and Method

• US 20090058685A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Mc Call, Clark E., Proefke, David T., O'Keefe, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,847,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.240
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A user carried electronic device and method therefore is provided for directing the user to a parked vehicle using several modes of operation. The device includes a display, a memory, an interface for receiving information downloads from the vehicle and a controller coupled thereto for managing operation of the device. The controller stores the downloaded information in the memory and presents RETURN-TO-VEHICLE information on the display in response to a user request. The downloaded information desirably includes photographic information concerning the parked vehicle'"'"'s environment obtained by vehicle camera(s) or otherwise. Vehicle location information and vehicle location accuracy information may be included. The device desirably includes location tracking elements that, when operating, provide graphical directions back to the vehicle based on vehicle location information in the download. Photo images of the vehicle environment can be included and are presented automatically when the device tracking and/or vehicle location information is not reliable.

Claims

1. An electronic device for directing a user to a parked vehicle, comprising:

an interface configured to receive photographic information concerning vehicle location from the vehicle;

a display for presenting return-to-vehicle (RTV) information to the user;

a memory;

a controller coupled to the interface, the memory and the display, the controller configured to store the photographic information in the memory and present at least a portion of the photographic information on the display in response to a RTV request by the user.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an on-board camera in the device, adapted to photograph recognizable landmarks in the vicinity of the parked vehicle;

wherein such recognizable landmarks are stored in the memory and sent to the display by the controller in response to a RTV request by the user.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface receives other vehicle location information from the vehicle, which information includes further information on the quality of the vehicle location information provided to the device via the interface;

and

wherein the device further comprises a display element coupled to the controller and adapted to present vehicle location quality information to the user.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the display element comprises a light bar having multiple lights whose different colors are indicative of the quality of the location information available in the device.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the display element comprises an icon presented on the display whose shape or color or both varies according to the quality of the location information available in the device.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the location quality information presented to the user combines location quality information downloaded from the vehicle and the quality of location information developed within the fob itself in response to motion of the fob away from the vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an input means coupled to the controller and adapted to be actuated by the user to select the type of RTV information to be presented to the user on the display.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the input means comprises:

a button adapted to be actuated by the user to control the functions to be executed by the device; and

a scroll wheel adapted to be actuated by the user to provide alternative functions to be executed by the device.

9. A method of providing information useful in helping a user carrying a portable device to return to a parked vehicle, the method comprising:

taking photos of the vehicle environment in the vicinity of the parked location; and

displaying to the user on the portable device, images based at least in part on such photos in response to a return-to-vehicle (RTV) assistance request by the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of taking photos occurs in the vehicle as the vehicle is being parked and the photos or images or both are downloaded from the vehicle to the portable device for presentation to the user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of taking photos occurs in the portable device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the photos are taken at predetermined intervals.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, adjusting the interval at which the photos are taken depending upon the vehicle speed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the interval at which the photos are taken becomes shorter as the vehicles slows.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the photos are taken after the vehicle is parked.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of taking photos comprises;

wirelessly obtaining images related to the parked vehicle'"'"'s location from a system external to the vehicle; and

downloading to the portable device, images based at least in part on such wirelessly obtained images.

17. A multi-mode electronic device configured to be carried on a user'"'"'s person for directing the user to a parked vehicle, the electronic device comprising:

an interface in the device configured to receive vehicle location information and vehicle environment image information from the vehicle;

a display in the device for presenting return-to-vehicle (RTV) information to the user;

one or more location tracking elements in the device adapted to track movement of the device from the vehicle;

a controller and memory in the device, coupled to the one or more location tracking elements, the interface and the display, wherein the controller is configured to;

store in the memory, vehicle location information and vehicle environment image information received via the interface;

update current device location information by combining location information received from the vehicle with information derived from the one or more location tracking elements for movement of the device from the vehicle after it is parked, to provide a current device location relative to the parked vehicle location; and

in response to a RETURN-TO-VEHICLE (RTV) assistance request from the user, present on the display image information, location information or a combination thereof.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the information presented on the display includes information on the quality of the location information.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein image information is derived from one or more cameras located on the vehicle.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein image information is derived from one or more systems external to the vehicle.