System for providing a reminder to remove a mobile electronic device from a vehicle

• US 8,941,478 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mirle, Sanjeev C., Kaufman, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/435,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.1, 340/933, 340/426.1, 340/430, 340/426.16, 340/426.17, 340/426.2, 340/457, 340/505, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A vehicle system for determining that at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten is provided. The system includes a vehicle data bus and a control module. The vehicle data bus transmits a signal indicating at least one trigger event. The trigger event indicates a vehicle exit condition. The control module is in communication with the mobile electronic device and the vehicle bus. The control module is in communication with the mobile device through a data connection to receive information. The control module includes control logic for receiving the trigger signal from the vehicle data bus. The control module includes control logic for determining if the mobile electronic device has moved based on information received from the data connection. The control module includes control logic for determining if the mobile electronic device is generally stationary if the trigger signal is received.

Claims

1. A vehicle system for determining that at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten, the system comprising:

a vehicle data bus transmitting a signal indicating at least one trigger event, the at least one trigger event indicating a vehicle exit condition;

a control module in communication with the at least one mobile electronic device and the vehicle bus, the control module in communication with the at least one mobile device through a data connection to receive information regarding the at least one mobile electronic device, the control module including;

a control logic for receiving the at least one trigger signal from the vehicle data bus;

a control logic for determining if the at least one mobile electronic device has moved based on information received from the data connection;

a control logic for determining, upon receiving the at least one trigger signal, if the at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary based on determining if the at least one mobile electronic device has moved; and

a control logic for generating a reminder signal indicating that the at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten,

wherein the at least one mobile electronic device connects to a network, wherein a mobile application is downloaded to the at least one mobile electronic device to monitor the data connection for the at least one trigger event.

2. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein a wireless connection is provided between the at least one mobile electronic device and the control module, and wherein the control module determines a signal strength of the wireless connection.

3. The vehicle system as recited in claim 2, wherein determination of movement of the at least one mobile electronic device is based on determining if the signal strength between the control module and the at least one mobile electronic device has varied.

4. The vehicle system as recited in claim 3, wherein the control module determines that the at least one mobile electronic device is not generally stationary and is not potentially forgotten if a received (“

RX”

) power level of a wireless connection is below a Golden Receiver Power Range (“

GRPR”

).

5. The vehicle system as recited in claim 3, wherein the control module determines that the at least one mobile electronic device is not generally stationary and is not potentially forgotten if a received (“

RX”

) power level diminishes over a predetermined amount of time.

6. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control module is in communication with the at least one mobile electronic device through a wired connection, and wherein determination of movement of the at least one mobile electronic device is based on a presence or absence of the wired connection.

7. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the trigger event is one of a door of the vehicle opening, a seat sensor indicating a change of occupant seat presence, if the door has been remotely locked by a portable unit, and a key-off state as indicated by an ignition switch.

8. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control module further includes control logic for determining if the at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially being forgotten upon receiving multiple trigger events through the vehicle data bus.

9. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reminder signal activates at least one of a vehicle display, a speaker that is part of a vehicle sound system, a horn, an interior vehicle lighting system, and an exterior vehicle lighting system.

10. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the data connection includes a movement signal generated by a motion sensor of the at least one mobile electronic device, and wherein the control module determines that the at least one mobile electronic device is not generally stationary and is not potentially forgotten if the movement signal indicates generally continuous motion of the at least one mobile electronic device for a predetermined amount of time.

11. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the data connection includes a movement signal generated by a motion sensor of the at least one mobile electronic device, and wherein the control module determines that the at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten if the movement signal indicates that the at least one mobile electronic device has substantially no motion for a predetermined amount of time.

12. The vehicle system as recited in claim 11, wherein the motion sensor is at least one of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

13. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control module further includes control logic for monitoring the vehicle data bus for a physical connection between the at least one mobile electronic device and the vehicle.

14. A method for providing a reminder regarding at least one mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

establishing a data connection between the at least one mobile electronic device and a control module of the vehicle;

monitoring the data connection by a mobile electronic device control module;

determining whether at least one trigger event has occurred by the mobile electronic device control module, wherein the data connection includes a signal indicating the at least one trigger event, and wherein the at least one trigger event indicates a vehicle exit condition;

determining that a reminder should be executed based on determining that the at least one trigger event has occurred;

generating a reminder regarding the at least one mobile electronic device; and

connecting the at least one mobile electronic device to a network, wherein a mobile application is downloaded to the mobile electronic device control module to monitor the data connection for the at least one trigger event.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising executing the reminder by the at least one mobile electronic device.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one mobile electronic device includes a speaker, and wherein the speaker executes the reminder.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising executing the reminder by at least one vehicle system of the vehicle.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the reminder is executed by at least one of a vehicle display, a speaker that is part of a vehicle sound system a horn, an interior vehicle lighting system, and an exterior vehicle lighting system.

19. A vehicle system for determining that at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten, the system comprising:

a vehicle data bus transmitting a signal indicating at least one trigger event, the at least one trigger event indicating a vehicle exit condition;

a control module in communication with the at least one mobile electronic device and the vehicle bus, the control module in communication with the at least one mobile device through a data connection to receive information regarding the at least one mobile electronic device, the control module including;

a control logic for receiving the at least one trigger signal from the vehicle data bus;

a control logic for determining if the at least one mobile electronic device has moved based on information received from the data connection;

a control logic for determining, upon receiving the at least one trigger signal, if the at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary based on determining if the at least one mobile electronic device has moved; and

a control logic for generating a reminder signal indicating that the at least one mobile electronic device is generally stationary and is potentially forgotten, the reminder signal activating an exterior vehicle lighting system,

wherein the at least one mobile electronic device connects to a network, wherein a mobile application is downloaded to the at least one mobile electronic device to monitor the data connection for the at least one trigger event.