Remote management of vehicle settings

• US 8,825,222 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Namburu, Setu Madhavi, Kalik, Steven F., Prokhorov, Danil V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fabula, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/395,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• 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 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A method of remotely managing vehicle settings wherein the method includes receiving an identification (ID) code associated with at least one user. The method further includes corresponding the ID code to at least one user profile following verification of the ID code and executing a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile. An apparatus for remotely managing vehicle settings is further disclosed. The apparatus includes memory for storing at least one user profile. The apparatus further includes a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to receive an identification (ID) code corresponding to the at least one user profile. Furthermore, the processor is in communication with a vehicle processing system operable to execute a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile.

Claims

1. A method of remotely managing vehicle settings, the method comprising:

receiving at a remote device, an identification (ID) code-associated with at least one user;

corresponding, at the remote device, the ID code to at least one user profile including at least one vehicle setting following verification of the ID code;

receiving at the remote device, information related to managing the at least one vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile;

communicating the information related to managing the at least one vehicle setting from the remote device to a vehicle processing system configured to execute the at least one vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile;

communicating the information related to managing the at least one vehicle setting from the remote device to a learning element;

wherein the learning element is configured to associate the information related to managing the at least one vehicle setting with at least one condition interior to or exterior to a vehicle including the vehicle processing system;

wherein the learning element is configured to modify the at least one user profile based on a pattern of associating the information related to managing the at least one vehicle setting with the at least one condition interior to or exterior to the vehicle;

wherein the learning element is configured to create at least one sub-class for the at least one user profile based on at least one condition interior to or exterior to the vehicle;

wherein the learning element is configured to allow the at least one user to label the sub-class; and

wherein the at least one sub-class includes at least one vehicle setting different than a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device receives the ID code from an identifying (ID) token and the ID token includes one of a smart card, an electronic key fob, an electronic key, biometrics, a magnetic stripe card, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a barcode, user entered code, or a mechanical key and lock mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises a remote server, a remote console, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the remote device comprises a combination of the remote server and the remote console and the vehicle processing system is in communication with the remote server and the remote server is in communication with the remote console.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle setting is selected from a climate setting, an audio system setting, a global positioning system (GPS) setting, a motor performance setting, a communication setting, or an occupant accommodation setting.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one vehicle setting is a motor performance setting and the motor performance setting is selected from a ride and suspension setting, a maintenance setting, or a vehicle state display setting.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one vehicle setting is an occupant accommodation setting and the occupant accommodation setting is selected from a minor setting, a seat heater setting, a seat position setting or an airbag activation setting.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, at the remote device, a threshold for the at least one vehicle setting, wherein the threshold comprises a setting threshold or performance threshold;

receiving, at the remote device, a vehicle preference or personal profile setting; and

storing, at the remote device, the vehicle preference or personal profile setting when the vehicle setting does not exceed the threshold.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storing at least one user profile;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor programmed to perform the steps of;

receiving an identification (ID) code corresponding to the at least one user profile;

communicating with a vehicle processing system installed in a vehicle, the vehicle processing system programmed to execute a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile; and

a learning element, the learning element programmed to perform the steps of;

associating the vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile with at least one condition interior to or exterior to the vehicle;

creating at least one sub-class for the at least one user profile based on at least one condition interior to or exterior to the vehicle; and

allowing the at least one user to label the sub-class;

wherein the at least one sub-class includes at least one vehicle setting different than a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor is further programmed to receive the ID code from an identifying (ID) token and wherein the ID token includes one of a smart card, an electronic key fob, an electronic key, biometrics, a magnetic stripe card, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a barcode, user entered code, or a mechanical key and lock mechanism.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vehicle setting is selected from a climate setting, an audio system setting, a global positioning system (GPS) setting, a motor performance setting, or an occupant accommodation setting.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one vehicle setting is a motor performance setting and the motor performance setting is selected from a ride and suspension setting, a maintenance setting, or a vehicle state display setting.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one vehicle setting is an occupant accommodation setting and the occupant accommodation setting is selected from a minor setting, a seat heater setting, a seat position setting or an airbag activation setting.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the learning element is further programmed to modify the at least one user profile based on a pattern of associating the vehicle setting with the at least one condition interior to or exterior to the vehicle.

15. A vehicle processing system comprising:

a processor programmed to perform the steps of;

communicating with a remote device to verify an identification (ID) code associated with at least one user profile, the remote device comprising a processor and memory for storing at least one user profile corresponding to the at least one user;

executing a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile; and

communicating with a learning element programmed to perform the steps of;

automatically modifying the at least one user profile when a pattern of executing a vehicle setting is associated with a condition interior to or exterior to a vehicle including the vehicle processing system;

creating at least one sub-class for the at least one user profile based on at least one condition interior to or exterior to the vehicle; and

allowing the at least one user to label the sub-class;

wherein the at least one sub-class includes at least one vehicle setting different than a vehicle setting associated with the at least one user profile.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle setting is selected from a climate setting, an audio system setting, a global positioning system (GPS) setting, a motor performance setting, a communication setting, or an occupant accommodation setting.