System for monitoring items in proximity to a vehicle

• US 9,030,309 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grost, Timothy J., Highstrom, Matthew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US13/205,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 340/459, 340/572.1, 340/988, 340/425.5, 340/455, 340/545, 340546-549, 700/215
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID

Abstract

A vehicle having an item detection system is provided having at least one indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated, a vehicle alarm control module, at least one radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, and a radio frequency (“RF”) interrogator. The vehicle alarm control module is in communication with the at least one indicator and includes control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator. The RFID tag is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal. The RF interrogator is in communication with the vehicle alarm and is located within a specified distance of the RFID tag. The RF interrogator has a processor, and includes control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A vehicle having an item detection system, comprising:

at least one vehicle-embedded indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated;

a vehicle alarm control module that is in communication with the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator, the vehicle alarm control module including control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator to selectively activate the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator;

at least one radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag that is associated with a personal item, the at least one RFID tag configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal;

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator in communication with the vehicle alarm control module and located within a specified distance of the at least one RFID tag, the RF interrogator having a processor;

a user interface comprising control logic that provides user-configurable settings, the user-configurable settings specifying corresponding functions to perform when the at least one RFID tag is outside of a range of the specified distance, the control logic of the user interface receiving one or more selections, via the settings, from a user;

wherein the RF interrogator is selectively activated, independent from an activation of a vehicle security system, through a function of a key fob, wherein the vehicle security system is actuatable by the key fob and comprises the vehicle control module and the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator, the RF interrogator comprising;

a control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag;

a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for the reply RF signal;

a control logic for determining if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of the range of the specified distance; and

a control logic for performing the one of the functions, based on the one or more user selections, upon determining the at least one RFID tag is moved out of the range of the specified distance, the functions including sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one indicator, sending a data signal configured to initiate a text message notification directed to a personal electronic device of the user, sending a data signal configured to initiate a recorded voice message directed to the personal electronic device of the user, and sending the trigger data signal and at least one of the data signals.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the item detection system comprises a wireless communication device in communication with the vehicle alarm control module, wherein the wireless communication device is in selective wireless communication with the personal electronic device.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the selective wireless communication is based on one of the IEEE 802.15 standard, the IEEE 802.11 standard, and cellular signals.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the vehicle alarm control module includes control logic for sending an indicator data signal to the wireless communication device indicating if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

5. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication device is a telematics control module.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, comprising a plurality of RFID tags, wherein a portion of the plurality of RFID tags are activated and a remainder of the plurality of RFID tags are deactivated.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module to activate the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is activated is moved out of range of the specified distance, and wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for not sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is deactivated is moved out of range of the specified distance.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending an initialization query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag and a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for an initialization reply RF signal, wherein the initialization query RF signal represents the first RF signal sent to the at least one RFID tag, and wherein receipt of the initialization reply signal confirms that the at least one RFID tag is within the specified distance of the RF interrogator.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the personal item is sized such that the personal item is unable to fit within a passenger compartment and a trunk of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-embedded indicator comprises at least one of a vehicle horn and vehicle lights.

11. A vehicle having an item detection system comprising:

a wireless communication device in selective wireless communication with a personal electronic device;

at least one radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag that is associated with a personal item, the at least one RFID tag configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal;

at least one vehicle-embedded indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated;

a vehicle alarm control module that is in communication with the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator and the wireless communication device, the vehicle alarm control module including control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator;

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator in communication with the vehicle alarm and located within a specified distance of the at least one RFID tag, the RF interrogator having a processor;

a user interface comprising control logic that provides user-configurable settings, the user-configurable settings specifying corresponding functions to perform when the at least one RFID tag is outside of a range of the specified distance, the control logic of the user interface receiving one or more selections, via the settings, from the user;

wherein the RF interrogator is activated in response to activation of a vehicle security system through a function of a key fob, wherein the vehicle security system is actuatable by the key fob and comprises the vehicle control module and the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator, the interrogator comprising;

a control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag;

a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for the reply RF signal;

a control logic for performing the one of the functions, based on the one or more user selections, upon determining the at least one RFID tag is moved out of the range of the specified distance, the functions including sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one indicator, sending a data signal configured to initiate a text message notification directed to a personal electronic device of the user, sending a data signal configured to initiate a recorded voice message directed to the personal electronic device of the user, and sending the trigger data signal and at least one of the data signals.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the RF interrogator includes a control logic for sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the selective wireless communication is based on one of the IEEE 802.15 standard, the IEEE 802.11 standard, and cellular signals.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, comprising a plurality of RFID tags, wherein a portion of the plurality of RFID tags are activated and a remainder of the plurality of RFID tags are deactivated.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module to activate the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is activated is moved out of range of the specified distance, and wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for not sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is deactivated is moved out of range of the specified distance.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending an initialization query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag and a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for an initialization reply RF signal, wherein the initialization query RF signal represents the first RF signal sent to the at least one RFID tag, and wherein receipt of the initialization reply signal confirms that the at least one RFID tag is within the specified distance of the RF interrogator.

17. A vehicle having an item detection system, comprising:

a wireless communication device in selective wireless communication with a personal electronic device;

at least one radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag that is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal, and wherein the at least one RFID tag is associated with a personal item that is affixed to an external portion of the vehicle;

at least one vehicle-embedded indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated;

a vehicle alarm control module that is in communication with the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator and the wireless communication device, the vehicle alarm control module including control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator to selectively activate the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator; and

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator in communication with the vehicle alarm and located within a specified distance of the at least one RFID tag, the RF interrogator having a processor;

a user interface comprising control logic configured that provides user-configurable settings, the user-configurable settings specifying corresponding functions to perform when the at least one RFID tag is outside of a range of the specified distance, the control logic of the user interface receiving one or more selections, via the settings, from the user;

wherein the RF interrogator is selectively activated, independent from an activation of a vehicle security system, through a function of a key fob, wherein the vehicle security system is actuatable by the key fob and comprises the vehicle control module and the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator, the RF interrogator comprising;

a control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag;

a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for the reply RF signal;

a control logic for performing the one of the functions, based on the user one or more selections, upon determining the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, the functions including sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one vehicle-embedded indicator;

sending a data to the wireless communication device for initiating a text message notification directed to a personal electronic device of the user, sending a data signal to the wireless communication device for initiating a recorded voice message directed to the personal electronic device of the user, and sending the trigger data signal and at least one of the data.