Vehicle security system including pre-warning features for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

• US 8,749,346 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/854,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.25, 340/426.15, 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/461, 340/539.1, 340/12.54, 701/32.7, 701/33.4
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A remote control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending therein, and a plurality of vehicle devices communicating over the data communications bus. The system may include a cellular transceiver within the vehicle, and a multi-vehicle controller within the vehicle and coupled to the data communications bus for communication with at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices to perform a remote vehicle function based upon a received remote control signal. The multi-vehicle controller may be enabled to communicate via the data communications bus using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles based upon learning from at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices on the data communications bus and downloading via the cellular transceiver.

Claims

1. A remote control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending within the vehicle, and a plurality of vehicle devices communicating over the data communications bus, the remote control system comprising:

a cellular transceiver to be positioned within the vehicle; and

a multi-vehicle controller to be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the data communications bus for communication with at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices to perform a remote vehicle function based upon a received remote control signal;

said multi-vehicle controller also being coupled to said cellular transceiver and being enabled to communicate via the data communications bus using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles based upon learning from at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices on the data communications bus and downloading via said cellular transceiver.

2. The remote control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a remote transmitter; and

a receiver to be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to said multi-vehicle controller for receiving the remote control signal from said remote transmitter.

3. The remote control system of claim 2 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a handheld transmitter.

4. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a vehicle security sensor;

and wherein said multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle alarm controller.

5. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a plurality of vehicle door locks;

and wherein said multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle keyless entry controller.

6. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises at least one device associated with starting an engine of the vehicle;

and

wherein said multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle remote start controller.

7. The remote control system of claim 1 further comprising a central station for communicating with said multi-vehicle controller via said cellular transceiver.

8. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices comprises at least one vehicle controller.

9. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein the data communications bus carries at least one of vehicle device data and address information thereover.

10. A remote control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending within the vehicle, and a plurality of vehicle devices communicating over the data communications bus, the remote control system comprising:

a remote transmitter;

a cellular transceiver to be positioned within the vehicle; and

a multi-vehicle controller to be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the data communications bus for communication with at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices to perform a remote vehicle function based upon a received remote control signal from said remote transmitter;

said multi-vehicle controller also being coupled to said cellular transceiver and being enabled to communicate via the data communications bus using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles based upon learning from at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices on the data communications bus and downloading via said cellular transceiver.

11. The remote control system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a vehicle security sensor;

and wherein said multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle alarm controller.

12. The remote control system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a plurality of vehicle door locks;

and wherein said multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle keyless entry controller.

13. The remote control system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises at least one device associated with starting an engine of the vehicle;

and

wherein said multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle remote start controller.

14. The remote control system of claim 10 further comprising a central station for communicating with said multi-vehicle controller via said cellular transceiver.

15. The remote control system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices comprises at least one vehicle controller.

16. A remote control method for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus extending within the vehicle, and a plurality of vehicle devices communicating over the data communications bus, the method comprising:

enabling a multi-vehicle controller, positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the data communications bus, to communicate via the data communications bus using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles based upon learning from at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices on the data communications bus and downloading via a cellular transceiver within the vehicle and coupled to the multi-vehicle controller; and

operating the multi-vehicle controller for communication with at least one of the plurality of vehicle devices to perform a remote vehicle function based upon a received remote control signal.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising operating a receiver positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the multi-vehicle controller for receiving the remote control signal from a remote transmitter.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a vehicle security sensor;

and wherein the multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle alarm controller.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a plurality of vehicle door locks;

and wherein the multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle keyless entry controller.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises at least one device associated with starting an engine of the vehicle;

and wherein the multi-vehicle controller comprises a multi-vehicle remote start controller.