Pager vehicle communication apparatus

• US 5,990,785 A
• Filed: 04/28/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond A. Suda
• Original Assignee: Raymond A. Suda
• Inventors: Suda, Raymond A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/067,688
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/539, 340/825.44, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 379/39, 379/44, 455/99
• US Class Current: 340/426.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/043 by blocking the exhaust

Abstract

An apparatus for remotely communicating with the vehicle to control functional circuits in the vehicle. The apparatus includes a pager based communication apparatus mounted in the vehicle for receiving a command signal from a pager service provider in response to a user generated telephone number, security code and a command. A microcontroller is responsive to the received command and, in response to a stored control program, generates outputs to various vehicle functional circuits. The microcontroller generates outputs in response to selected user generated commands to deactivate the vehicle engine in the event of a hijack command when the engine RPM drops below a prestored engine RPM magnitude. The microcontroller is also capable of generating outputs to control engine starting and stopping, door lock and unlock operations, and other vehicle accessories.

Claims

1. A pager vehicle communication apparatus mountable in a vehicle and responsive to commands input into a telephone and transmitted by a pager service provider, the apparatus comprising:

means, responsive to engine operation, for generating an output proportional to engine RPM;

means for receiving commands from a pager service provider generating an output containing control instructions; and

control means, responsive to commands from the receiving means and to the engine RPM output, for stopping engine operation when the engine RPM drops below a preset engine average idle RPM magnitude, the control means including means for learning the engine average idle RPM.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the receiver means includes a receiver adapted to be mounted in a vehicle and receiving paging signals from a pager service provider in response to user commands, the paging signals including a telephone number identifying a receiver in the vehicle and a signal specifying an operation of at least one vehicle function corresponding to a user command;

input means for generating signals representative of at least vehicle brake depression and ignition key position;

the control means executing a stored control program and responsive to the input means and the paging signals for controlling at least one vehicle function in response to a received paging signal;

means for establishing a start engine RPM, the start engine RPM being a predetermined lower percentage of an engine average idle RPM; and

the control means de-activating the engine starter during an engine start when the engine RPM equals or is greater than the start engine RPM.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means further comprises:

means for regenerating the engine start signal to reactivate the engine starter a predetermined number of times if the engine is not running after each prior engine start signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the control means, in response to an engine start paging signal activates the engine starter to start the engine.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the control means is further responsive to door lock and door unlock commands transmitted by a pager service provider and received by the receiving means, for respectively locking and unlocking a vehicle door.

6. A pager vehicle communication apparatus mountable in a vehicle and responsive to commands input into a telephone and transmitted by a pager service provider, the apparatus comprising:

means, responsive to engine operation, for generating an output proportional to engine RPM;

means for receiving commands from a pager service provider generating an output containing control instructions;

control means, responsive to commands from the receiving means and to the engine RPM output, for stopping engine operation when the engine RPM drops below a preset engine average idle RPM magnitude; and

means for determining engine average idle RPM for a preset time, the control means responsive to the determining means, for disabling the engine when the engine RPM is less than the engine average idle RPM for the preset time.