Location Based Remote Start

• US 20160347149A1
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Rustoni, Alexander K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,059,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0811 using a timer
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0804 Temperature inside the vehicle cabin
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals

Abstract

A method and system for controlling a climate characteristic in a vehicle cabin are provided that control the climate characteristic based, in part, on the location of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the method includes comparing a current location for the vehicle to a predetermined location for the vehicle and comparing a current date and current time to a predetermined date and predetermined time. The method further includes transmitting a climate control signal from a control module to a first subsystem of the vehicle if the current location meets a predetermined location condition relative to the predetermined location and the current date and current time meet predetermined date and time conditions relative to the predetermined date and predetermined time. The climate control signal is configured to cause the first subsystem to change a value of the climate characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a climate characteristic in a vehicle cabin, comprising the steps of:

comparing a current location for said vehicle to a predetermined location for said vehicle;

comparing a current date and current time to a predetermined date and predetermined time; and

transmitting a climate control signal from a control module to a first subsystem of the vehicle if said current location meets a predetermined location condition relative to said predetermined location and said current date and current time meet predetermined date and time conditions relative to said predetermined date and predetermined time, said climate control signal configured to cause said first subsystem to change a value of said climate characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a start command from said control module to a starter motor of the vehicle if said current location meets said predetermined location condition relative to said predetermined location and said current date and current time meet said predetermined date and time conditions relative to said predetermined date and predetermined time, said start command configured to cause said starter motor to activate a power system of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting said climate control signal from said control module to said first subsystem responsive to receipt of a remote start command from a location outside of the vehicle by a wireless receiver in the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving said current location from a global positioning system receiver on the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing a current operating parameter value of said vehicle to a predetermined operating parameter value; and

,

preventing transmission of said climate control signal if said current operating parameter value does not meet a predetermined operating condition relative to said predetermined operating parameter value.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said predetermined operating parameter value comprises a locked condition of a door of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said predetermined operating parameter comprises one of a predetermined fuel level or battery charge state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing a current environmental parameter value for an operating environment of the vehicle to a predetermined environmental parameter value; and

,

preventing transmission of said climate control signal if said current environmental parameter value does not meet a predetermined environmental condition relative to said predetermined environmental parameter value.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said predetermined environmental value comprises a predetermined ambient temperature within the vehicle cabin.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first subsystem comprises a vehicle cabin temperature control system and said climate characteristic comprises a temperature of the vehicle cabin and said climate control signal is configured to cause said vehicle cabin temperature control system to change a value of the temperature of the vehicle cabin.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting an operating command to a second subsystem of the vehicle if said current location meets said predetermined location condition relative to said predetermined location and said current date and current time meet said predetermined date and time conditions relative to said predetermined date and predetermined time, said operating command configured to control said second subsystem.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said second subsystem comprises a door lock and said operating command is configured to cause said door lock to assume a locked state.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a location input signal from a user interface;

retrieving a detected location from a global positioning system receiver on the vehicle; and

,

setting the predetermined location to said detected location.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said climate characteristic comprises a temperature.

15. A method for controlling a climate characteristic in a vehicle cabin, comprising the steps of:

comparing a current location for said vehicle to a predetermined location for said vehicle;

comparing a current date and current time to a predetermined date and predetermined time; and

transmitting a climate control signal from a control module to a subsystem of the vehicle if said current location meets a predetermined location condition relative to said predetermined location and said current date and current time meet predetermined date and time conditions relative to said predetermined date and predetermined time, said climate control signal configured to cause said subsystem to change a value of said climate characteristic;

receiving at least one of a current operating parameter value of the vehicle and a current environmental parameter value for an operating environment of the vehicle; and

,

altering one of said predetermined time and said predetermined time condition responsive to said one of said current operating parameter value and said current environmental parameter value.

16. A system for controlling a climate characteristic in a vehicle cabin, comprising:

a first subsystem of the vehicle configured to control said climate characteristic

a control module configured to;

compare a current location for said vehicle to a predetermined location for said vehicle;

compare a current date and current time to a predetermined date and predetermined time; and

transmit a climate control signal to said first subsystem if said current location meets a predetermined location condition relative to said predetermined location and said current date and current time meet predetermined date and time conditions relative to said predetermined date and predetermined time, said climate control signal configured to cause said first subsystem to change a value of said climate characteristic.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a starter motor configured to activate a power system of the vehicle

wherein the control module is configured to transmit a start command to said starter motor if said current location meets said predetermined location condition relative to said predetermined location and said current date and current time meet said predetermined date and time conditions relative to said predetermined date and predetermined time, said start command configured to cause said starter motor to activate the power system of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said control module is further configured to:

compare a current operating parameter value of the vehicle to a predetermined operating parameter value; and

,

prevent transmission of said climate control signal if said current operating parameter value does not meet a predetermined operating condition relative to said predetermined operating parameter value.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said control module is further configured to:

compare a current environmental parameter value for an operating environment of the vehicle to a predetermined environmental parameter value; and

,

prevent transmission of said climate control signal if said current environmental parameter value does not meet a predetermined environmental condition relative to said predetermined environmental parameter value.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said control module is further configured to:

receive at least one of a current operating parameter value of the vehicle and a current environmental parameter value for an operating environment of the vehicle; and

,

alter one of said predetermined time and said predetermined time condition responsive to said one of said current operating parameter value and said current environmental parameter value.