System and method for remote convenience function control with at-vehicle and remote assistance-summoning functions

• US 6,449,472 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Ogden, Michael Scott, Li, Judy (Jiali), Hussey, James W., Dixit, Rahul
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/305,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/5.33, 340/5.72, 455/404, 455/91, 455/95, 455/428, 455/140
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A remote convenience system (10) and an associated function remotely control convenience functions at a vehicle (16). A receiver/controller (14), located at the vehicle (16), receives vehicle remote convenience function request signals (30) that convey remote function request messages and controls vehicle systems (e.g., 48, 50, 52, and 68) to perform the remotely requested vehicle functions. The receiver/controller (14) includes a messaging processing portion (110) for providing a signal (e.g., 128/130) to activate an at-vehicle alarm component (e.g., 50/52) and for providing a signal (132) to activate a remote assistance-summoning component (68). A portable transmitter outputs the remote convenience function request signals (30) to cause remote control performance. The transmitter (12) includes a manually actuatable emergency pushbutton switch (94). The switch (94) is actuatable in a first operation mode (e.g., a single actuation) to cause activation of the at-vehicle alarm component (50/52), and is actuatable in a second, different operation mode (e.g., a plurality of actuations) to cause activation of the remote assistance-summoning component (68).

Claims

1. A remote convenience system for remotely controlling convenience functions at a vehicle, said system comprising:

receiver/controller means, located at the vehicle, for receiving vehicle remote convenience function request signals conveying remote function request messages and for controlling vehicle systems to perform the remotely requested vehicle functions, said receiver/controller means including means for providing a signal to activate an at-vehicle alarm component and means for providing a signal to activate a remote assistance-summoning component; and

portable transmitter means for outputting remote convenience function request signals to cause remote control performance, said transmitter means including a manually actuatable emergency switch, said switch being actuatable in a first operation mode to cause activation of the at-vehicle alarm component, and being actuatable in a second, different operation mode to cause activation of the remote assistance-summoning component.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first mode of actuation of said switch is a single actuation, and said second mode of actuation is a plurality of actuations.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said receiver/controller means includes means for counting received messages indiciative of switch actuations.

4. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second mode of actuation is a predetermined number of actuations within a predetermined time period.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said receiver/controller means includes means for monitoring time of received messages indicative of switch actuat ions.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at-vehicle alarm component includes a lights control, said remote assistance-summoning component includes a cellular phone control, said means for providing signals of said receiver/controller means includes means for providing signals to the lights control and the cellular phone control.

7. A remote convenience system for remotely controlling convenience functions at a vehicle, said system comprising:

vehicle-based receiver means, located at the vehicle, for receiving vehicle remote convenience function request signals and for conveying remote function request messages for use in controlling vehicle systems to perform the remotely requested vehicle functions; and

portable transmitter means for outputting remote convenience function request signals to cause remote control performance;

said transmitter means including a manually actuatable emergency switch, said switch being actuatable in first and second different operation modes to cause output of remote convenience function request signals from said transmitter means;

said receiver means including means for conveying a signal to activate an at-vehicle alarm component in response to the first operation mode of said switch, and means for conveying a signal to activate a remote assistance-summoning component in response to the second operation mode of said switch.

8. A method of remotely controlling convenience functions at a vehicle, said method comprising:

outputting remote convenience function request signals to cause remote control performance at the vehicle;

receiving the remote convenience function request signals at the vehicle; and

conveying remote function request messages for use in controlling vehicle systems to perform the remotely requested vehicle functions;

said step of outputting remote convenience function request signals including manually actuating an emergency switch in a first operation mode to cause output of a remote convenience function request signal conveying an at-vehicle alarm request;

said step of conveying including conveying a signal to activate an at-vehicle alarm component in response to the first operation mode of the switch;

said step of outputting remote convenience function request signals including manually actuating the emergency switch in a second, different operation mode to cause output of a remote convenience function request signal conveying a remote assistance-summoning request;

said step of conveying including conveying a signal to activate a remote assistance-summoning component in response to the second operation mode of the switch.