PORTABLE TRANSCEIVER WITH VEHICLE SECURITY CONTROL AND LOCATE FEATURES

• US 20100103036A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audiovox Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Audiovox Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Shane, Tranchina, James R., Malone, Thomas C., DiCroce, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.340
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

A portable transceiver for locking and locating an automobile, includes a remote keyless entry system for locking the automobile; a locating device determining a location of the transceiver, wherein the remote keyless entry system and the locating device are housed in a pocket sized housing; and a processor deriving directional information from a current location to a waypoint, wherein in response to an activation of the remote keyless entry system, the locating device determines the waypoint corresponding substantially to that of the automobile.

Claims

1. A portable transceiver for use in communications with an automobile, comprising:

a transmitter that transmits signals to activate a remote keyless entry (RKE) feature of the automobile;

a locating device that tracks the distance and direction of travel of the transceiver relative to a waypoint, wherein the transmitter and the locating device are housed in a pocket sized housing; and

a processor that processes the distance and direction of travel information and provides data to guide the user back to the waypoint, wherein in response to an activation of the RKE feature, the locating device determines the waypoint corresponding substantially to that of the automobile.

2. The portable transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the locating device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

3. The portable transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the locating device includes a radio-frequency (RF) ranging device.

4. The portable transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the locating device includes an accelerometer device.

5. The portable transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the locating device further includes an altimeter for measuring an elevation.

6. The portable transceiver according to claim 5, further comprising a display for displaying the directional information.

7. The portable transceiver according to claim 6, wherein the directional information includes a direction from the current location to the waypoint, a distance from the current location to the waypoint, and an elevation direction to the waypoint.

8. The portable transceiver according to claim 7, wherein the display is one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) array, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) graphic display, plasma display, glasses-free three-dimensional (3D)-enabled display, aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) LED array, and a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) micro display.

9. The portable transceiver according to claim 7, wherein the directional information is displayed on the display using one of a compass style pointer, a set of arrows, or a bread-crumb trail.

10. The portable transceiver according to claim 9, wherein the waypoint is determined by the locating device when a lock vehicle command is input to the remote keyless entry system.

11. The portable transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the directional information is audibly provided.

12. A portable transceiver according to claim 1, further including a second transceiver including a second locating device in the automobile, wherein the second locating device is configured to determine the location of the automobile and the second transceiver transmits the location of the automobile information to the portable transceiver.

13. The portable transceiver according to claim 12, wherein the first and second locating devices include respective Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers.

14. The portable transceiver according to claim 12, wherein the first and second locating devices further include respective altimeters for measuring first and second elevations.

15. The portable transceiver according to claim 12, further comprising:

a receiver in the portable transceiver that receives the location of the automobile information transmitted from the second transceiver; and

a display for displaying information to guide the user back to the automobile.

16. A method of guiding a user to a vehicle, comprising:

marking a waypoint corresponding to the user'"'"'s location upon arming of a security feature of the vehicle;

tracking the user'"'"'s movement by determining distance and direction of travel information relative to the waypoint;

reconstructing a return path using the distance and direction of travel information upon selection by the user; and

providing return direction and distance information to guide the user to return to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further including the step of correcting to true position after arming of the security feature and before tracking the user'"'"'s movement.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the tracking the user'"'"'s movement includes calculating the distance and direction of each path taken by the user away from the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, further including storing the calculated distance and direction of each path.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the reconstructing the return path includes retrieving the stored calculated distance and direction of each path.