Mobile Control Node System and Method for Vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicular locating system, comprising:
- a first data processor and transceiver unit (628) for mounting in a vehicle (630);
a mobile device (624), the mobile device having a second data processor and transceiver unit (708, 712) capable of wireless bi-directional communication with the first data processor and transceiver unit (628), and a user interface system (716) operatively connected to the second data processor and transceiver unit (708, 712); and
characterized in that the first data processor and transceiver unit (628) and the second processor and transceiver unit (708, 712) interoperate to determine a series of estimates of the range between the vehicle (630) and the mobile device (624) by measuring the time of flight for radio communications between the vehicle (630) and the mobile device (624), and in that the mobile device (624) further includes a sensor (724) for detecting travel of mobile device 624 and a compass element (728) for detecting the direction of the movement of mobile device (624), the sensor (724) and compass element (728) being operatively connected to the second data processor and transceiver unit (708, 712) to produce estimates of the travel of the mobile device and wherein, as a user moves with the mobile device (624), at least one of the first and second data processor and transceiver units combining the determined travel of the mobile device (624) with the series of estimates of the range between the vehicle (630) and the mobile device (624) to produce an estimated range and bearing from the mobile device (624) to the vehicle (630).
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a mobile control node system and method for a vehicle (630), the mobile control node (624) can interact, via a bi-directional radio link (642), with a transceiver processor unit (628) in the vehicle. The transceiver processor unit (628) is connected to a vehicle control system (120) and allows the mobile control node (624) to function as an input and output node on a vehicle control network (632), allowing remote control of the vehicle and providing functions such as remote or passive keyless entry. Additionally, the system provides a vehicle location function wherein the range and bearing between the mobile control node (624) and the vehicle (630) can he determined and displayed on the mobile control node (624). The range and bearing are calculated by determining the range between the mobile control node (624) and vehicle (630), preferably using a time of flight methodology, and by processing the travel distance of the mobile control node and compass data in order to triangulate the position of the vehicle (630) relative to the mobile control node (624).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicular locating system, comprising:
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a first data processor and transceiver unit (628) for mounting in a vehicle (630); a mobile device (624), the mobile device having a second data processor and transceiver unit (708, 712) capable of wireless bi-directional communication with the first data processor and transceiver unit (628), and a user interface system (716) operatively connected to the second data processor and transceiver unit (708, 712); and characterized in that the first data processor and transceiver unit (628) and the second processor and transceiver unit (708, 712) interoperate to determine a series of estimates of the range between the vehicle (630) and the mobile device (624) by measuring the time of flight for radio communications between the vehicle (630) and the mobile device (624), and in that the mobile device (624) further includes a sensor (724) for detecting travel of mobile device 624 and a compass element (728) for detecting the direction of the movement of mobile device (624), the sensor (724) and compass element (728) being operatively connected to the second data processor and transceiver unit (708, 712) to produce estimates of the travel of the mobile device and wherein, as a user moves with the mobile device (624), at least one of the first and second data processor and transceiver units combining the determined travel of the mobile device (624) with the series of estimates of the range between the vehicle (630) and the mobile device (624) to produce an estimated range and bearing from the mobile device (624) to the vehicle (630). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of providing an estimate of the range between a mobile control node and a transceiver processor unit mounted in a vehicle, the mobile control node and the transceiver processor unit sharing a bi-directional data communication link, comprising the steps of:
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determining a first set of raw range estimates from a first ranging modality comprising the time of flight for data transmissions between the mobile control node and the transceiver processor unit; statistically processing the first set of raw range estimates, utilizing a Statistical Estimator/Predictor or the like, to obtain a first filtered range estimate; determining a second set of raw range estimates from a second ranging modality dependent upon the bi-directional data link; statistically processing the second set of raw range estimates, utilizing a Statistical Estimator/Predictor or the like, to obtain a second filtered range estimate; providing each of the first filtered range estimate and the second filtered range estimate to an appropriate multiple models tracking method to obtain a statistically more probable range estimate; providing the statistically more probable range estimate to a dynamic Bayesian network to produce a high probability range estimate; and outputting the high probability range estimate as an estimate of the range between the mobile control node and the transceiver processor unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of locating a vehicle, comprising:
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(i) provisioning the user with a mobile device having a user interface; (ii) provisioning the vehicle with a transceiver, wherein the mobile device and the transceiver communicate via a wireless data communication link; (iii) periodically estimating the range between the transceiver and the mobile device using a determination of the time of flight for data transmission between the transceiver and the vehicle as the user moves with respect to the vehicle; (iv) calculating a direction between the user and vehicle based on a change in distance between the mobile device and the transceiver and the distance moved by the user; and (v) outputting the calculated direction to the user through the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification