System and method for setting functions according to location

• US 20090146846A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victor A. Grossman
• Original Assignee: Victor A. Grossman
• Inventors: Grossman, Victor A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/988
• 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 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for controlling functions of a vehicular alarm. The method includes receiving one or more signals including location information, determining a location of the vehicle using the location information, setting one or more functions based on the location information, determining whether an alarm function is activated, and activating the one or more functions according to the setting upon determining that an alarm has been activated. The method may further include using GPS data or signals transmitted from one or more base stations (e.g., from cellular telephone base stations, computer networks, proprietary transmitters, etc.) to determine the position of the apparatus (e.g., installed in the vehicle). The apparatus may also inform a user of regulations relating to an area dependent upon its location.

Claims

1. A mobile station including a plurality of controllable functions, comprising:

a receiver which receives location information; and

a controller which;

determines the location of the mobile station using the location information;

sets one or more functions of the mobile station based on the location information; and

activates the one or more functions according to the setting.

2. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the controller enters an alarm mode and thereafter determines whether a trigger is generated.

3. The mobile station of claim 2, wherein the controller activates the one or more functions when the controller determines that a trigger signal has been generated.

4. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the controller displays information relating to regulations corresponding to the location.

5. The mobile station of claim 4, wherein the controller sets the one or more functions based upon the regulations.

6. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the one or more functions correspond to an audible device function, an ignition/run function, a window function, a light function, a lock function, a paging function, a privacy function, an energy refilling function, and a valet function.

7. The mobile station of claim 6, wherein the mobile station comprises a vehicle security system.

8. The mobile station of claim 7, wherein the mobile station disables operation of the vehicle when the controller is in an alarm mode.

9. A control station for a vehicle, comprising:

a receiver which receives location information; and

a controller which;

determines the location of the vehicle using the location information;

sets one or more functions of the vehicle based on the location information;

determines whether to set an alarm of the vehicle;

determines whether one or more trigger signals is detected; and

activates the one or more functions based upon the setting, when it is determined that a trigger signal has been generated.

10. The control station of claim 9, wherein the trigger signal is generated by at least one of a window sensor, a door sensor, a sound sensor, a movement sensor, and a wireless signal.

11. The control station of claim 9, wherein the controller displays information relating to regulations corresponding to the location.

12. The control station of claim 11, wherein the controller sets the one or more functions based upon the regulations.

13. The control station of claim 9, wherein the one or more functions relate to a horn function, a speaker function, an ignition/run function, a window function, a light function, a lock function, a paging function, a door function, an energy refilling function, a privacy function, and a valet function.

14. The control station of claim 9, wherein the controller outputs information corresponding to a present location upon determining that the location of the vehicle has changed.

15. The control station of claim 9, wherein the controller restricts operation of the vehicle when a trigger event signal is detected.

16. A method for controlling functions of a vehicle, comprising:

determining, using the controller, the location of the vehicle using the location information;

setting, using the controller, one or more functions of the vehicle based on the location information; and

activating, using the controller, the one or more functions based upon the setting.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, activating, using the controller, an alarm and thereafter determining whether a trigger event has occurred, wherein the trigger event generated by one or more of an infrared or ultrasonic sensor, a door sensor, a window sensor, an ignition sensor, a pressure sensor, and a movement sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, activating, using the controller, the one or more functions when it is determined that a trigger event has occurred.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising outputting via a speaker or a display an energy refilling option when it is detected that the vehicle has entered an energy refilling area or displaying information relating to regulations corresponding to the location of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, setting, using the controller, the one or more functions based upon the regulations.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more functions relate to a horn function, a speaker function, an ignition/run function, a window function, a light function, a lock function, a paging function, a door function, an energy refilling function, a privacy function, and a valet function.