PASSIVE ENTRY CELL PHONE AND METHOD AND SYSTEM THEREFOR

• US 20140274013A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Santavicca, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,241,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00547 starting ignition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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

Abstract

A system for a vehicle including: a bluetooth receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle; and a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network and a bluetooth transmitter configured to communicate with the bluetooth receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a bluetooth receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle; and

a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network and a bluetooth transmitter configured to communicate with the bluetooth receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system of the vehicle provides remote keyless entry, passive entry, or push button start functions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the push button start system is configured to recognize the phone as a key fob that is used to activate the push button start system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the phone includes a memory configured to store a software application enabling the phone to be recognized as the key fob.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a door of the vehicle is unlocked by using the bluetooth receiver and transmitter when the phone is within the predetermined range.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the phone further comprises a display configured to illustrate key fob related functions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display is further configured to illustrate diagnostic information of the vehicle.

8. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory configured to store a software application enabling the mobile device to be recognized as a key fob for a specific vehicle;

a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network; and

a short-range RF transmitter configured to communicate with a short range RF receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range,

wherein a push button start system of the vehicle is configured to recognize the mobile device as the key fob such that the vehicle is able to be started when the mobile device is in the vehicle and the key fob is out of range of the vehicle.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein a door of the vehicle is unlocked by using the short-range RF transmitter and receiver when the mobile device is within the predetermined range.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, further comprising a display configured to illustrate functions related to the key fob.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the display is configured to illustrate preferences of the vehicle.

12. A method for providing vehicle access, comprising:

receiving a request for vehicle access;

providing vehicle access credentials to a mobile device associated with the request for access;

accessing a vehicle by using the mobile device; and

starting the vehicle by using the mobile device in place of the key.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising downloading, at the mobile device, a software application that allows the vehicle access credentials to be provided to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device accesses the vehicle by using a bluetooth connection.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile device starts the vehicle by using the bluetooth connection.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle access credentials permit access to the vehicle for a predetermined time.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing, to the mobile device, a location of the vehicle associated with the vehicle access credentials.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device is a smart phone.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device is a bluetooth badge.