System and Method for Controlling a Vehicle with a Cellular Phone

• US 20090156203A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• 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

Systems and methods for providing a communication between a cellular phone and a vehicle are described. In one embodiment, a user of a cellular phone inputs a communication via an audio-visual interface associated with the cellular phone. A microprocessor assembles at least one packet of the communication and transmits the at least one packet to an electromechanical system of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for providing a communication between a cellular phone and a vehicle, the method comprising:

inputting, from a user of a cellular phone, a communication via an audio-visual interface associated with the cellular phone;

assembling, by a microprocessor, at least one packet of the communication;

transmitting the at least one packet to an electromechanical system of a vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication comprising at least one of:

a voice activated input, and

a manual input.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising outputting the communication on a heads-up display.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication is a control instruction.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the control instruction controls locks of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the control instruction controls lights and a horn of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if the control instruction is authorized.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the microprocessor notifying the cellular phone that the communication was received by the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising authorizing the vehicle to accept the control instruction prior to undertaking the control instruction.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing identifying information in a memory associated with the microprocessor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising authorizing a user based on the identifying information.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the identifying information is unique to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the identifying information is unique to a user.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the communication in a log.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio-visual interface comprises a graphic display.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio-visual interface comprises a microphone.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting uses Bluetooth wireless technology.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises encrypting the communication.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the cellular phone detecting a signal from the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising the cellular phone advising it is within range of the vehicle.

21. A method for providing a communication between a vehicle and a cellular phone, the method comprising:

receiving a communication from a cellular phone by a vehicle, the communication including at least one packet;

disassembling the at least one packet by a microprocessor associated with the vehicle;

exerting, by the microprocessor, electromechanical control over the vehicle based on the communication.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication is a control instruction.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the control instruction controls locks of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the control instruction controls lights and a horn of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the microprocessor associated with the vehicle determining if the control instruction is authorized.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising the microprocessor notifying the cellular phone that a control instruction was made to the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising the cellular phone authorizing the control instruction prior to the vehicle undertaking the control instruction.

28. The method of claim 21 further comprising storing identifying information in a memory associated with the microprocessor.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising authorizing a user based on the identifying information.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the identifying information is unique to the cellular phone.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the identifying information is unique to the user.

32. The method of claim 21 further comprising storing the communication in a log.

33. The method of claim 21 wherein the receiving the communication uses Bluetooth wireless technology.

34. The method of claim 21 comprises encrypting the communication wherein the communication is encrypted.

35. The method of claim 21 further comprising the vehicle sending a signal to the cellular phone.

36. A method for providing a communication between a cellular phone and a garage door comprising:

inputting, from a user of a cellular phone, a communication via an audio-visual interface associated with the cellular phone;

assembling, by a microprocessor, at least one packet of the communication; and

transmitting the at least one packet to a garage door.