System and method for wireless communication between a vehicle and a mobile unit

• US 7,596,391 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US12/389,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20090156203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 455/402.2, 4554561-457, 455/9, 455/550.1, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/521, 455/345, 455/517, 455/524, 455/557, 455/566, 455/403, 455410-411, 455/445, 340 761- 762, 340/7.55, 340/534, 340/539.1, 340/425.15, 340/426.19, 340/426.2, 340/426.22, 701/211, 701/29, 701/213, 701/200, 701/207, 342/357.01, 342/352, 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.12, 348 1401- 1403
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a communication between a cellular phone and a vehicle are described. In one embodiment, a user of a cellular phone inputs a communication via an audio-visual interface associated with the cellular phone. A microprocessor assembles at least one packet of the communication and transmits the at least one packet to an electromechanical system of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication between a mobile unit and a vehicle comprising a transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a signal by the mobile unit comprising a microprocessor, the signal transmitted from the vehicle comprising the transceiver, the signal comprising a security field and a unique identifier;

advising that the mobile unit is within range of the vehicle;

determining by the microprocessor if the signal is authorized, the determining comprising parsing the signal to determine the security field and the unique identifier;

inputting a voice-activated input and/or a manual input from a user of the mobile unit via an audio-visual interface associated with the mobile unit, the voice-activated input and/or the manual input is associated with a control instruction;

assembling, by the microprocessor, at least one packet of a communication comprising the control instruction;

transmitting the at least one packet to the vehicle comprising the transceiver;

displaying that the control instruction was input by the user; and

storing the communication in a communication log.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying comprises displaying on a heads-up display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the control instruction controls a horn of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the control instruction controls a lock of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the control instruction controls a light of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the control instruction controls a radio of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing identifying information in a memory associated with the microprocessor.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising authorizing the user based on the identifying information.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the identifying information is unique to the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the identifying information is unique to the user.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio-visual interface comprises a graphic display.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio-visual interface comprises a microphone.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting uses Bluetooth wireless technology.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises encrypting the communication.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile unit is a cellular phone.

16. A method of wireless communication between a mobile unit and a vehicle comprising a transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a signal by the vehicle comprising the transceiver, the signal transmitted from the mobile unit, the signal comprising a security field and a unique identifier;

determining if the signal is authorized, the determining comprises a microprocessor parsing the signal to determine the security field and the unique identifier;

inputting an authorization by a user via an audio-visual interface;

accepting by the microprocessor, based on the authorization, a control instruction from the mobile unit;

processing, by the microprocessor of the vehicle, the control instruction from the mobile unit, the control instruction exerting electromechanical control over the vehicle;

transmitting, by the vehicle comprising the transceiver, a communication to the mobile unit that the control instruction was received;

displaying to the user that the control instruction exerts electromechanical control over the vehicle; and

storing the communication in a communication log.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the control instruction controls a horn of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the control instruction controls a lock of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the control instruction controls a light of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising storing identifying information in a memory associated with the microprocessor.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising authorizing the user based on the identifying information.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the identifying information is unique to the mobile unit.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the identifying information is unique to the user.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the receiving the signal uses Bluetooth wireless technology.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the signal is encrypted.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the audio-visual interface comprises a graphic display.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the mobile unit is a cellular phone.

28. A method of wireless communication between a mobile unit and a vehicle comprising a transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a signal by the mobile unit comprising a microprocessor, the signal transmitted from the vehicle comprising the transceiver, the signal comprising a security field and a unique identifier;

advising that the mobile unit is within range of the vehicle;

determining by the microprocessor if the signal is authorized, the determining comprising parsing the signal to determine the security field and the unique identifier;

inputting a voice-activated input and/or a manual input from a user of the mobile unit via an audio-visual interface associated with the mobile unit, the voice-activated input and/or the manual input is associated with a control instruction;

assembling, by the microprocessor, at least one packet of a communication comprising the control instruction;

transmitting the at least one packet to the vehicle comprising the transceiver;

displaying that the control instruction was input by the user; and

storing, by the user via the audio-visual interface, information related to the vehicle.