Methods and Apparatus for Wireless Device Application Having Vehicle Interaction

• US 20120310445A1
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hatton, David Anthony, King, Anthony Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/151,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/56 using mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0833 using audio means

Abstract

A computer-implemented remote starting method includes instructing the remote start of a vehicle using a wireless device. The method also includes inputting, to the wireless device, a desired vehicle interior temperature. The method further includes sending a remote start instruction to a vehicle from the wireless device, including at least the desired temperature and monitoring a current temperature of the vehicle. The method additionally includes outputting, on the wireless device, the current vehicle temperature.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented remote starting method comprising:

instructing the remote start of a vehicle using a wireless device;

inputting, to the wireless device, a desired vehicle interior temperature;

sending a remote start instruction to a vehicle from the wireless device, including at least the desired temperature;

monitoring a current temperature of the vehicle; and

outputting, on the wireless device, the current vehicle temperature.

2. A computer-implemented remote starting method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) comprising:

receiving a remote start instruction, including at least a desired vehicle interior temperature;

activating a vehicle power system;

determining a current vehicle temperature;

if the current vehicle temperature does not equal the desired vehicle interior temperature, setting a vehicle climate control system to achieve the desired interior vehicle temperature; and

activating a vehicle engine.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

locking vehicle doors.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

monitoring a vehicle interior temperature; and

reporting the vehicle interior temperature to a device from which the remote start instruction was received.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

monitoring a vehicle interior temperature; and

if a vehicle interior temperature equals the desired vehicle interior temperature, deactivating the vehicle engine.

6. A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system, comprising:

checking a digital calendar for at least one temporally proximate appointment having an associated address;

determining a current vehicle location;

estimating a travel time from the current vehicle location to the address associated with the at least one appointment; and

outputting a recommended departure time, the recommended departure time no later than an at least one appointment start time less the estimated travel time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining one or more factors that may affect travel time; and

wherein the estimating a travel time further comprises estimating a travel time based at least in part on the obtained one or more factors.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more factors include a current weather status.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more factors include a weather forecast for weather during a time of travel.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more factors include a current traffic status.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining if a user is located at a vehicle;

if a user is not located at a vehicle, estimating a walking travel time from a user'"'"'s current location to the vehicle; and

adjusting the estimated travel time by the estimated walking travel time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining if a user is located at a vehicle further comprises:

determining a location of a wireless device;

determining a location of the vehicle, in communication with the wireless device; and

comparing the location of the wireless device and the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining if a user is located at a vehicle further comprises:

determining if the wireless device is currently BLUETOOTH paired with the vehicle.

14. A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), comprising:

estimating a travel time to a destination;

determining if a vehicle is likely to reach the destination within a temporal proximity to an appointment time, based at least in part on the current time and the estimated travel time;

if the vehicle is estimated to arrive later than the temporal proximity to the appointment time, notifying a driver that the driver may be late to an appointment.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining if at least one usable item of contact information is associated with the appointment in a digital calendar; and

using the usable item of contact information to notify a contact that the driver may be late to the appointment.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an estimated time of arrival to the contact.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

querying the driver to determine if a contact should be contacted with a late-notification; and

contacting the contact with a late-notification following receiving an affirmative response from the driver to the querying.