VEHICULAR MOBILE DEVICE CONTROL

• US 20180288232A1
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MACNEILLE, Perry Robinson, LEI, Oliver
• Application Number:
  US15/476,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20180288232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass

Abstract

Vehicle systems and methods identify a seat-related location for a mobile device based on an angle of a signal received from the mobile device. Responsive to identifying the seat-related location for the mobile device, the vehicle systems and methods control a functional aspect of the mobile device based on the seat-related location.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

at least one processor configured to, responsive to identifying a seat-related location for a mobile device based on an angle of a first signal received from the mobile device, permit the mobile device to control a first climate zone of the vehicle that is for the seat-related location and not a second climate zone of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the seat-related location comprises a front seat passenger location, and the at least one processor is further configured to, responsive to identifying the seat-related location for the mobile device, permit the mobile device to enter a destination into a navigation system of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the seat-related location comprises a backseat location, and the at least one processor is further configured to, responsive to identifying the seat-related location for the mobile device, prevent the mobile device from entering a destination into a navigation system of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising:

a multiple beam forming antenna that receives the first signal from the mobile device.

5. The vehicle system of claim 4, wherein the multiple beam forming antenna operates in a millimeter band.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify the seat-related location for the mobile device responsive to a weight increase being detected on a seat of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify the seat-related location based on a distance between the mobile device and an antenna of the vehicle that is derived from a phase delay between a second signal and a third signal sent to the mobile device from the antenna.

8. The vehicle system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, responsive to a distance between the mobile device and the vehicle exceeding a preset threshold, terminate a connection between the mobile device and the vehicle.

9. A system comprising:

a vehicle configured to

responsive to a seat weight increase, scan an interior of the vehicle to identify a first seat-related location for a mobile device that is associated with a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle based on an angle of a signal received from the mobile device; and

responsive to identifying the first seat-related location and to the vehicle being in motion, prevent a display of the mobile device from illuminating.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first seat-related location is associated with a first climate zone, and the vehicle is further configured to enable the mobile device to control the first climate zone and not a second climate zone of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is further configured to

responsive to identifying the first seat-related location, or a second seat-related location for the mobile device that is associated with a front passenger seat of the vehicle, enable the mobile device to enter a destination into a navigation system of the vehicle, and

responsive to identifying a third seat-related location for the mobile device that is not the first seat-related location or the second seat-related location, prevent the mobile device from entering a destination into the navigation system of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a multiple beam forming antenna that receives the signal from the mobile device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the multiple beam forming antenna operates in a millimeter band.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is further configured to identify the first seat-related location based on a distance between the mobile device and an antenna of the vehicle that is derived from a phase delay between a second signal and a third signal sent to the mobile device from the antenna.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is further configured to, responsive to the distance between the mobile device and the vehicle exceeding a preset threshold, terminate a connection between the mobile device and the vehicle.

14. (canceled)

17. A method comprising:

by a vehicle

broadcasting, from a phased array antenna mounted on a vehicle headliner, a reference signal into a vehicle interior cabin;

identifying seat-related locations for mobile devices based on an angle of a signal received at the antenna from each mobile device responsive to the reference signal; and

responsive to identifying the seat-related locations, preventing a first of the mobile devices from entering a destination into a vehicle navigation system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

responsive to identifying the seat-related locations, permitting a second of the mobile devices to enter a destination into the vehicle navigation system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the seat-related locations comprise a backseat location of the vehicle for the first mobile device and a front seat location of the vehicle for the second mobile device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the seat-related locations comprise a driver'"'"'s seat location for the first mobile device, and further comprising, responsive to the vehicle being in motion and to identifying the seat-related locations for the mobile devices, preventing a display of the first mobile device from illuminating.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

responsive to identifying that the first mobile device has left the vehicle and is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle

removing a limitation or allowance previously applied to the first mobile device; and

continuing to monitor a location of the first mobile device, and

responsive to identifying that the first mobile device has left the vehicle and is not within the predetermined distance of the vehicle, terminating a connection with the first mobile device.