Methods of controlling vehicle interfaces using device motion and near field communications

• US 8,880,240 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grimm, Donald K., Talty, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/680,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/36, 701/49, 701/45, 701/41, 701/48, 701/117, 701/120, 340/5.1, 340/5.8, 340/3.1, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/426.17, 455/420, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/569.2, 455/99
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• 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

Abstract

Methods for establishing continuous communications between a vehicle and a mobile device using Near Field Communications (NFC), and using the NFC communication to enable application hosting on the mobile device and other features. An NFC-enabled mobile device is placed in close proximity to an NFC antenna in the vehicle, where in one embodiment the NFC antenna is integrated into a wireless charging pad for the device. Continuous wireless NFC communications are established between the mobile device and the vehicle, such that the device can serve as a controller for in-vehicle systems. Control applications on the mobile device can include driver-commanded features such as operation of windows and door locks, as well as automatic features such as navigation and collision warning. Other uses of the NFC-enabled mobile device are also disclosed, such as event-based information capture and gesture-based control.

Claims

1. A system for providing continuous time communications between a mobile device and a vehicle using Near Field Communications (NFC), said system comprising:

an interface module in the vehicle, including an NFC chip and a charging pad, where the interface module wirelessly charges the mobile device when the mobile device is placed on the interface module, and where the interface module is configured to manage continuous, two-way NFC communications between the mobile device and the vehicle by detecting the presence of the mobile device within NFC range of the interface module, determining if the mobile device is authorized to communicate with the vehicle, verifying that the mobile device is still in close proximity to the interface module by performing a Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) test, and determining that the mobile device is capable of interoperation with the vehicle by issuing a performance challenge including a computing task to be completed by the mobile device, and the computing task is varied randomly as the performance challenge is periodically repeated; and

at least one vehicle feature which is controllable by the mobile device via the interface module.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module determines if the mobile device is authorized to communicate with the vehicle by receiving credential information from an application program on the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the performance challenge further includes a communications task to be completed by the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module provides mobile device access to the vehicle feature if both the PDR test and the performance challenge are passed.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle feature is a warning-type feature, where an application program on the mobile device provides informational messages and warnings on a display in the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle feature is a control-type feature, where an application program on the mobile device autonomously controls vehicle systems in real time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the mobile device is authorized to communicate with the vehicle includes providing credentials by an application program on the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the mobile device is capable of interoperation with the vehicle by issuing a performance challenge includes a communications task, to be completed by the mobile device, in the performance challenge.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein providing mobile device access to vehicle services includes providing access to warning-type vehicle services, where an application program on the mobile device provides informational messages and warnings for display by the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein providing mobile device access to vehicle services includes providing access to control-type vehicle services, where an application program on the mobile device controls vehicle systems.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the vehicle systems include audio and video systems, a navigation system and HVAC controls.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising using the application program to provide control of the vehicle systems via voice commands given by a driver or passenger to the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising using the application program to autonomously control vehicle systems in real time, including throttle, braking and steering systems.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein providing mobile device access to vehicle services includes providing vehicle mobilization and immobilization control.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein vehicle mobilization and immobilization control includes geo-fencing and limitations on vehicle speed and performance.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing event-based information, where the mobile device is moved within NFC communications range of an information display in the interior of the vehicle and additional details about the information being displayed are automatically downloaded to the mobile device.

7. A method for providing a continuous time communications session between a mobile device and a vehicle using Near Field Communications (NFC), said method comprising:

placing the mobile device in close proximity to an interface module in the vehicle, where both the mobile device and the interface module include an NFC chip, the interface module includes a wireless charging pad, and the mobile device is wirelessly charged when the mobile device is placed on the charging pad;

detecting the presence of the mobile device by the interface module, where detecting the presence uses NFC signals;

determining by the interface module if the mobile device is authorized to communicate with the vehicle, including an application program on the mobile device providing credentials to the interface module;

establishing two-way NFC communications between the mobile device and the vehicle;

verifying that the mobile device is still in close proximity to the interface module by performing a Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) test;

determining that the mobile device is capable of interoperation with the vehicle by issuing a performance challenge, including a computing task or a communications task; and

providing mobile device access to vehicle services via continuous two-way NFC communications if both the PDR test and the performance challenge are passed, including providing access to control-type vehicle services, where an application program on the mobile device autonomously controls vehicle systems in real time, if a second, more stringent, performance challenge is passed.

8. A method for providing a continuous time communications session between a mobile device and a vehicle using Near Field Communications (NFC), said method comprising:

placing the mobile device in close proximity to an interface module in the vehicle, where both the mobile device and the interface module include an NFC chip, the interface module includes a wireless charging pad, and the mobile device is wirelessly charged when the mobile device is placed on the charging pad;

detecting the presence of the mobile device by the interface module, where detecting the presence uses NFC signals;

determining by the interface module if the mobile device is authorized to communicate with the vehicle;

establishing two-way NFC communications between the mobile device and the vehicle;

verifying that the mobile device is still in close proximity to the interface module by performing a Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) test;

determining that the mobile device is capable of interoperation with the vehicle by issuing a performance challenge, where the performance challenge includes a computing task to be completed by the mobile device, and the computing task is varied randomly as the performance challenge is periodically repeated; and

providing mobile device access to vehicle services via continuous two-way NFC communications if both the PDR test and the performance challenge are passed.