Method and system of locating stationary vehicle with remote device

• US 8,922,397 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: King, Ronald O., Luo, Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): SEOH, MINNAH L
• Application Number:
  US12/405,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,114 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 340/988, 340/995.19, 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 340/990
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

A location system for use in locating a vehicle or other object. The system may include displaying directional information on a mobile device, such as but not limited to a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), remote vehicle control device (fob, RKE, passive entry, etc.). The displayed directional information may indicate a direction of travel to the vehicle without requiring the mobile device to rely on GPS satellites to determine a position useful in orientating the user in a direction toward the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of locating a stationary vehicle with a fob comprising:

receiving vehicle location (VL) coordinates transmitted from the vehicle, the VL coordinates being determined by a vehicle Global Positioning System (GPS) unit included in the vehicle to represent a GPS-based position of the vehicle;

receiving points of interest (POI) coordinates transmitted from the vehicle, the POI coordinates being determined by the vehicle unit included in the vehicle, the POI coordinates representing a GPS-based position for each of a plurality of POIs, the POIs corresponding with stationary objects within a vicinity of the vehicle;

displaying a direction to the vehicle on a display of the fob, the displayed direction being determined as a function of the VL and POI coordinates transmitted to the fob to represent positioning of the vehicle relative to the POIs;

receiving at least two different POI coordinates and displaying the direction to the vehicle relative a selected one of the POI coordinates;

displaying the at least two different POI coordinates on the fob, the selected one of the POI coordinates corresponding with a user selection of one of the at least two different POI coordinates displayed on the fob; and

after displaying the direction to the vehicle, displaying another direction to the vehicle with display of a second directional arrow, the second directional arrow being displayed upon subsequent selection of another one of the POI coordinates, the second directional arrow being displayed to originate proximate to the another one of the POI coordinates and to terminate proximate the displayed icon, the length and the angle of the first directional arrow remaining constant during user movement occurring after user selection of the selected one of the POI coordinates and prior to selection of the another one of the POI coordinates.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the vehicle GPS unit determining the direction to the vehicle for at least a first one of the POI coordinates prior to the fob receiving the VL and POI coordinates, the fob relying on the vehicle GPS unit determined directions to display the direction to the vehicle from the first one of the POI coordinates.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the fob determining the direction to the vehicle for at least one of the POI coordinates after the VL and POI coordinates are received by the fob.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the at least two different POI coordinates on the fob, the selected one of the POI coordinates corresponding with user selection of one of the at least two different POI coordinates displayed on the fob.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the direction to the vehicle as a first directional arrow representative of a distance and a direction to the vehicle, the first directional arrow being displayed to originate proximate the selected one of the POI coordinates and to terminate proximate a displayed icon representing a relative position of the vehicle, the first directional arrow being displayed with a first length and a first angle respectively representing the distance and the direction from the selected one of the POI coordinates to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the fob receiving the VL and POI coordinates after an ignition of the vehicle is turned off and prior to exceeding a wireless communication range to the vehicle, the fob displaying the direction to the vehicle after exceeding the wireless communication range.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the fob displaying the direction to the vehicle without requiring the fob to independently collect GPS coordinates and while the fob exceeds a wireless communication range to the vehicle, the direction displaying a distance and an angle to the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the fob adjusting the displayed direction to the vehicle as a function of a change in position of the fob relative to the vehicle, the change in position occurring after selecting the selected one of the POI coordinates.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the fob determining the change in position of the fob without requiring the fob to independently collect GPS coordinates.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the fob determining the change in position of the fob as a function of movement information collected by an accelerometer included within the fob.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the direction to the vehicle to at least included a compass bearing and a distance to the vehicle, where the displayed compass bearing remains constant with directional movement of the fob and the displayed distance remains constant as the fob moves closer to the vehicle.

12. An apparatus for locating a stationary vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile device programmed to;

receive vehicle location (VL) coordinates transmitted from the vehicle, the VL coordinates being determined by a vehicle Global Positioning System (GPS) unit included in the vehicle to represent a GPS-based position of the vehicle;

receive points of interest (POI) coordinates transmitted from the vehicle, the POI coordinates being determined by the vehicle GPS unit included in the vehicle, the POI coordinates representing a GPS-based position for each of a plurality of POIs, the POIs corresponding with stationary objects within a vicinity of the vehicle;

display a direction to the vehicle on a display of the fob, the displayed direction being determined as a function of the VL and POI coordinates transmitted to the fob to represent positioning of the vehicle relative to the POIs;

receive at least two different POI coordinates and displaying the direction to the vehicle relative a selected one of the POI coordinates;

display the at least two different POI coordinates on the fob, the selected one of the POI coordinates corresponding with user selection of one of the at least two different POI coordinates displayed on the fob; and

after displaying the direction to the vehicle, display another direction to the vehicle with display of a second directional arrow, the second directional arrow being displayed upon subsequent selection of another one of the POI coordinates, the second directional arrow being displayed to originate proximate to the another one of the POI coordinates and to terminate proximate the displayed icon, the length and the angle of the first directional arrow remaining constant during user movement occurring after user selection of the selected one of the POI coordinates and prior to selection of the another one of the POI coordinates.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to determine the direction to the vehicle for at least one of the POI coordinates after the VL and POI coordinates are received by the mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to display the at least two different POI coordinates thereon, the selected one of the POI coordinates corresponding with user selection of one of the at least two different POI coordinates displayed on the fob.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to display the direction to the vehicle as a first directional arrow representative of a distance and a direction to the vehicle, the first directional arrow being displayed to originate proximate the selected one of the POI coordinates and to terminate proximate a displayed icon representing a relative position of the vehicle, the first directional arrow being displayed with a first length and a first angle respectively representing the distance and the direction from the selected one of the POI coordinates to the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to receive the VL and POI coordinates after an ignition of the vehicle is turned off and prior to exceeding a wireless communication range to the vehicle, the mobile device displaying the direction to the vehicle after exceeding the wireless communication range.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to display the direction to the vehicle without requiring the mobile device to independently collect GPS coordinates and while the mobile device exceeds a wireless communication range to the vehicle, the direction displaying a distance and an angle to the vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to adjust the displayed direction to the vehicle as a function of a change in position of the mobile device relative to the vehicle, the change in position occurring after selecting the selected one of the POI coordinates.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to determine the change in position of the fob without requiring the fob to independently collect GPS coordinates.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the mobile device is further programmed to determine the change in position of the fob as a function of movement information collected by an accelerometer included within the mobile device.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising displaying the direction to the vehicle to at least included a compass bearing and a distance to the vehicle, where the displayed compass bearing remains constant with directional movement of the fob and the displayed distance remains constant as the fob moves closer to the vehicle.