SYSTEMS AND METHODS THAT ENABLE SELECTING A RANGE FOR TWO-WAY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A KEY FOB AND A VEHICLE

• US 20150194049A1
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lickfelt, Brian K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,685,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A computing device for use in selecting a range for communication between a key fob and a vehicle is described. The computing device is located in the vehicle. The computing device is configured to receive a designation of a desired range for communication between the vehicle and the key fob, and transmit a signal corresponding to the designated range to the key fob.

Claims

1. A computing device for use in selecting a range for communication between a key fob and a vehicle, said computing device located in the vehicle, said computing device configured to:

receive a designation of a desired range for communication between the vehicle and the key fob; and

transmit a signal corresponding to the designated range to the key fob.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein said computing device is further configured to:

receive a status fetch command signal from the key fob; and

transmit the signal corresponding to the designated range in a status fetch response signal to the key fob.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein said computing device is further configured to transmit the signal corresponding to the designated range as a bit in a payload of the status fetch response signal.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein said computing device is further configured to receive the designation from an input device that is at least one of removably and wirelessly coupled to said computing device.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein said computing device is further configured to store, in a memory coupled to said computing device, the designated range.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the key fob is a first key fob of a plurality of key fobs and said computing device is further configured to store, in a memory coupled to said computing device, the designated range associated with the first key fob and not associated with any other key fobs of the plurality of key fobs.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the designation is a first designation, wherein the designated range is a first designated range, and wherein said computing device is further configured to:

receive a second designation of a second range for communication between the vehicle and a second key fob of the plurality of key fobs; and

transmit a signal corresponding to the second designated range to the second key fob.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein said computing device is further configured to display, on an output device coupled to said computing device, an indication of the designated range.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein said computing device is further configured to receive a designation of a range by receiving a designation of a range through a display device coupled to said computing device.

10. A method for use in selecting a range for communication between a key fob and a vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving, at the key fob, a signal corresponding to a designated communication range; and

transmitting signals at a power level associated with the designated communication range.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting signals at the power level further comprises limiting power consumed by a transceiver in the key fob to a value associated with the designated communication range.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting an operational command signal to the vehicle at the designated communication range.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, by the key fob, a status fetch command signal to the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the signal corresponding to the designated communication range further comprises receiving a status fetch response signal from the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the signal corresponding to the designated communication range further comprises receiving a payload in a status fetch response signal, wherein the payload includes a bit corresponding to the designated range.

16. A key fob comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals; and

a processor coupled to said transceiver and configured to control a power level at which said transceiver operates based at least partially on a user-selectable communication range.

17. The key fob of claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to transmit an operational command signal to the vehicle at the user-selectable communication range.

18. The key fob of claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to transmit a status fetch command signal to a vehicle.

19. The key fob of claim 18, wherein said processor is further configured to receive a signal corresponding to the user-selectable communication range in a status fetch response signal from the vehicle.

20. The key fob of claim 18, wherein said processor is further configured to receive a payload in a status fetch response signal from the vehicle, wherein the payload includes a bit corresponding to the user-selectable communication range.