PHONE SLEEVE VEHICLE FOB

• US 20150363988A1
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Hille, Kevin Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,842,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/11 Supports for sets, e.g. incorporating armrests
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• 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 and method for remotely communicating with a vehicle using a mobile communication device and a sleeve associated with the mobile communication device. The sleeve including a transceiver, the transceiver enabling communication between the mobile communication device and the vehicle. The mobile communication device provides commands to the vehicle through the sleeve.

Claims

1. A system for remotely communicating with a vehicle comprising:

a mobile communication device;

a sleeve in communication with said mobile communication device, said sleeve including a transceiver, said transceiver in communication with the vehicle;

said mobile communication device operative to provide commands to the vehicle through said sleeve.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device communicates with said sleeve through transceiver, said transceiver receiving operation programming from said mobile communication device.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device includes transceiver protocol wherein said mobile communication device controls said transceiver.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a low power consumption communications protocol using a transceiver allowing two-way communication between endpoints.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a remote keyless entry or passive entry passive start transmitter.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device includes multi-vehicle programming whereby said communication device cooperates with said sleeve to control multiple vehicles.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device includes a graphical user interface.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said vehicle is controlled through said graphical user interface.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a wireless charging circuit.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is a passive key, said sleeve including a passive controller operative to generate a low-frequency challenge to said vehicle to authenticate said sleeve.

11. The system set forth in claim 1 including said sleeve receiving information from said vehicle and said mobile communication device having a screen operative to display information received from said vehicle.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said communication device is paired to said sleeve and said sleeve is paired to said vehicle.

13. A communication device comprising:

a body including a touch screen display, said touchscreen display including a graphical user interface;

a processor;

memory;

a program, said program stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program including instructions for operating various vehicle functions; and

a sleeve, said sleeve removably attached to said body, said sleeve including a transmitter and a receiver, said receiver in communication with said body.

14. A communication device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said graphical user interface displays a vehicle key fob.

15. A communication device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said transmitter is a remote keyless entry or passive entry passive start transmitter.

16. A method for remotely communicating with a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a device including a graphic user interface;

providing a sleeve, said sleeve having a transmitter, said sleeve located adjacent said device;

using said device to generate a control signal;

using the transmitter in said sleeve to transmit the control signal to the vehicle.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of providing said device with multiple control protocols, each of said control protocols associated with a particular vehicle.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the device is a phone.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said phone includes a plurality of applications, each application defining a predetermined graphical user interface associated with a particular vehicle.

20. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of providing each device with multiple graphical user interfaces, each of said graphical user interfaces customizable.