Portable memory automobile ignition system

• US 7,912,625 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uatc, LLC (Uber Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colin Paul Cahoon
• Inventors: Cahoon, Colin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US12/111,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 701/115, 701/114, 701/35, 701/29, 701/90, 455/557, 455/569.2, 307/10.1, 307 104- 106, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable memory device consisting of a cell phone used in substitution of an automobile key and interfaced with an automobile onboard computer and ignition system. The portable memory device contains data that, when read by the onboard computer, enables the ignition system. The portable memory device is read and write capable, thereby allowing for data to be used by the onboard computer in conjunction with several automobile systems, and allowing for data to be transferred from said systems to the portable memory device by the onboard computer, thus facilitating vehicle operation and, in one embodiment, a method for managing a transportation fleet using portable memory devices in place of mechanical ignition keys and manual check-out and check-in procedures.

Claims

1. An ignition system for a transportation conveyance comprising:

an onboard processing unit in electrical communication with the ignition system; and

a portable memory device, wherein said memory device is read and write capable and has a storage capacity of at least 64 MB, wherein further said portable memory device can communicate with said onboard processing unit, thereby allowing data transfer from said device to said processing unit for initiating the operation of the transportation conveyance.

2. The ignition system of claim 1 further comprising a portable memory device receiving port, wherein said receiving port is in communication with said processing unit.

3. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said receiving port consists of a cell phone docking station.

4. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device is a cell phone.

5. The ignition system of claim 4, wherein the cell phone can communicate with said onboard processing unit by hard wire connection.

6. The ignition system of claim 4 wherein the cell phone can communicate with said onboard processing unit by cellular transmission.

7. The ignition system of claim 4 wherein the cell phone can communicate with said onboard processing unit by wireless interface.

8. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device is read in order to enable operator preference settings for the conveyance components, said components comprising mirrors and an adjustable seat.

9. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device is accessible for the transfer of data from the portable memory device to an entertainment media in the conveyance.

10. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device interfaces with an onboard navigation system.

11. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device interfaces with engine controls.

12. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device interfaces with system monitors.

13. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device interfaces with the door locking system of conveyance.

14. The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said portable memory device in an MP3 device.

15. A transportation conveyance ignition system that utilizes a read and write capable portable memory device in lieu of an ignition key, said ignition system comprising:

a portable memory device consisting of a cell phone; and

an onboard processing unit in electrical communication with the ignition system;

wherein said portable memory device is capable of communicating with said onboard processing unit, thereby allowing data transfer with said processing unit for initiating the operation of the conveyance.

16. The ignition system of claim 15 wherein the portable memory device communicates with said onboard processing unit by hard wire connection.

17. The ignition system of claim 16 wherein said hard wire connection comprises a cell phone docking station resident inside said conveyance.

18. The ignition system of claim 15 wherein the cell phone is capable of communicating with said onboard processing unit by cellular transmission.

19. The ignition system of claim 15 wherein the cell phone is capable of communicating with said onboard processing unit by wireless interface.

20. The ignition system of claim 15 wherein said portable memory device is read in order to enable operator preference settings for conveyance components, said components comprising side mirrors and an adjustable seat.

21. The ignition system of claim 15 wherein said portable memory device has a storage capacity of at least 64 MB.

22. A method for managing a transportation fleet having vehicles available for use, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) accumulating customized data relating to the use of a vehicle;

(b) loading said customized data onto a portable memory device consisting of a cell phone;

(c) using the portable memory device containing said customized data in conjunction with the use of the vehicle;

(d) loading use data associated with the use of the vehicle onto said portable memory device; and

(e) downloading said use data from the portable memory device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the customized data of step (a) comprises customer data and rental data.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the customer data comprises a customer'"'"'s convenience settings.

25. The method claim 24 wherein said convenience settings comprise preferred seat settings.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said use data of step (d) comprises the distance the vehicle traveled during use.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein said use data of step (d) comprises information regarding the speed of the vehicle during use.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the use of the portable memory device of step (c) comprises using the portable memory device to initiate the ignition sequence of the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the use of the portable memory device of step (c) comprises using the portable memory device to initiate the unlocking of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the use of the portable memory device of step (c) comprises interfacing the portable memory device with a global positioning system unit onboard the vehicle.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the use of said vehicle is limited to a geographic boundary by virtue of the interface between the portable memory device and the global positioning system.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein the use of the vehicle is time limited by the customized data of step (a).

33. The method of claim 22 wherein step (d) further comprises loading customer data relating to the use of the vehicle onto said portable memory device.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said customer data comprises a customer'"'"'s convenience settings.

35. A method for managing a transportation fleet, wherein said fleet comprises vehicles each having an ignition system that utilize a read and write capable portable memory device in lieu of an ignition key, wherein said portable memory device comprises a cell phone, said ignition system comprising an onboard processing unit in electrical communication with the ignition system, wherein said portable memory device is in communication with said onboard processing unit, thereby allowing data transfer with said processing unit for initiating the operation of the associated vehicle, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) accumulating customized data relating to the use of a vehicle;

(b) loading said customized data on a portable memory device;

(c) using the portable memory device containing said customized data in conjunction with the operation of the vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of:

(d) loading use data associated with the operation of the vehicle onto said portable memory device.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said use data of step (d) comprises the distance the vehicle traveled during operation.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein step (d) further comprises loading customer data relating to the operation of the vehicle onto said portable memory device.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said customer data comprises a customer'"'"'s convenience settings.

40. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of:

(e) downloading said use data from the portable memory device.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein said portable memory device is read during step (c) in order to enable operator preference settings for vehicle components, said components comprising side mirrors and an adjustable seat.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein the customized data of step (a) comprises customer data and rental data.