Remote communication system for use with a vehicle

• US 6,862,443 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Witte, Markus Valter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US10/023,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20020146999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 455/346, 455/344, 455/353, 455/345, 455/456.1, 340/9.88, 340/5.23, 340/539, 340/425.5, 340/426
• US Class Current: 455/345
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Abstract

This invention relates to a remote communication system for use with a vehicle, comprising a first communication unit (1), located within a vehicle (2), said first communication unit comprising a first transceiver (3), connectable with a long-distance wireless communication network (16), such as a cellular network; and a portable second communication unit (7), comprising a second transceiver (9), connectable with a unit for long-distance wireless communication (14), such as a cellular terminal. The first and second communication units (1,7) are connectable with each other using said long-distance wireless communication network 16, thereby establishing a remote two-way communication link between said communication units.

This invention further relates to a fob unit, for use in a remote communication system.

Claims

1. A remote communication system for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a first communication unit, located within a vehicle, said first communication unit comprising a first transceiver, connectable with a long-distance wireless communication network, such as a cellular network; and

a second nortable communication unit, comprising a second transceiver, connectable with a unit for long-distance wireless communication, such as a cellular terminal,

whereby said first and second communication units are connectable with each other using said long-distance wireless communication network, thereby establishing a remote two-way communication link between said first and second communication units;

wherein said remote two-way communication link established between said first and second communication units extends from said first communication unit to said long-distance wireless communication network to said unit for long-distance wireless communication to said second communication unit such that information is transferrable from said first communication unit to said second communication unit over the remote two-way communication link and such that information is transferrable from said second communication unit to said first communication unit over the remote two-way communication link;

wherein said second communication unit is connectable with said unit for long-distance communication using a short-distance wireless communication link;

wherein said second communication unit is a fob unit.

2. A remote communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second communication unit further comprises a biometric sensor, for identifying a user.

3. A remote communication system according to claim 1, wherein a direct two-way wireless communication link is established between said first and second transceivers when said communication units are within a communication range from each other.

4. A remote communication system according to claim 3, wherein said first communication unit further comprises a first memory circuit being connected with said first transceiver, and said second communication unit further comprises a second memory circuit being connected with said second transceiver, whereby an information item, stored in any one of said memory circuits is transmittable to the other one of said memory circuits, over said direct communication link when established.

5. A remote communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second communication units each comprises an identification device, whereby a request for connection from any communication unit is tested to be qualified before enabling a connection between said communication units.

6. A remote communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication unit is connected with at least one vehicle data network, such as a controller area network within said vehicle.

7. A remote communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication unit is connected with a vehicle computer within said vehicle.