Mobile router with valet mode

• US 9,078,097 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Autonet Mobile, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Moeller, Douglas S
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSTIN, JEREMY M
• Application Number:
  US13/559,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20120322433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/315, 370/328, 370/338, 455/345, 455/419, 701/1, 701/2, 701/36, 701/70, 701/408, 701/541, 340/6.1, 3404255-4261, 34042613-42625, 340988-993
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

A mobile router comprises: a valet mode program to provide valet mode functionality in a vehicle in which the mobile router is disposed; a processor operable to execute the valet mode program; a predetermined distance limit; and a predetermined speed limit. The mobile router responds to externally generated commands from a predetermined source to activate or deactivate the valet mode. The processor is operable to determine if the predetermined distance limit is exceeded from the location of the vehicle when the valet mode is activated; and the processor is operable to determine if the vehicle exceeds the predetermined speed limit when the valet mode is activated.

Claims

1. A mobile router comprising:

a wireless wide area network interface to access a wide area network;

a mobile wireless local area network movable with a vehicle comprising a wireless local area network interface to access a wireless local area network;

said mobile router operable to connect a wireless mobile device in said vehicle to said mobile wireless local area network and to maintain a connection to said wide area network;

a memory comprising a valet mode program to provide a valet mode comprising valet mode functionality in a vehicle in which said mobile router is disposed;

a predetermined radius stored in said memory;

a predetermined speed stored in said memory;

said valet mode program is executable to determine whether said vehicle has moved more than said predetermined radius from an initial location determined at the time said valet mode is activated or has traveled at a speed in excess of said predetermined speed while said valet mode is activated;

a processor operable to execute said valet mode program;

said mobile router is coupleable to a predetermined source via a wireless link in communication with one of said wireless wide area network interface and said wireless local area network interface;

said mobile router responds to externally generated commands from said predetermined source received via one of said wireless wide area network interface and said wireless local area network interface to activate or deactivate said valet mode;

said processor is operable to determine if said predetermined radius is exceeded from a location of said vehicle when said valet mode is activated; and

said processor is operable to determine if said vehicle exceeds said predetermined speed when said valet mode is activated; and

said processor automatically cause a notification to be sent to said predetermined source via one of said wide area network and said mobile wireless local area network upon said mobile router detecting that said vehicle travels beyond said predetermined radius or has traveled in excess of said predetermined speed while said valet mode is activated.

2. The mobile router in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said commands are initiated by a wireless mobile device.

3. The mobile router in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said wireless mobile device comprises a valet mode application executable to send said commands.

4. The mobile router in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

a predetermined time period; and

said processor deactivates said valet mode at the earliest of said predetermined time period and receipt of a deactivate command.

5. The mobile router in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said mobile router responds to externally generated second commands from said predetermined source to change said predetermined time period to a second predetermined time period.

6. The mobile router in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said mobile router responds to externally generated third commands from said predetermined source to change said predetermined radius to a second predetermined radius.

7. The mobile router in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said mobile router responds to externally generated fourth commands from said predetermined source to change said predetermined speed limit to a second predetermined speed limit.

8. The mobile router in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said predetermined radius and said predetermined speed limit are downloaded to said mobile router via one of said wireless wide area network interface and said wireless local area network interface.

9. A mobile router comprising:

a wireless wide area network transceiver to access a wide area network;

a mobile wireless local area network movable with a vehicle comprising a wireless local area network transceiver to access a wireless local area network;

said mobile router operable to couple a wireless mobile device in said vehicle to said mobile wireless local area network and to maintain a connection to said wide area network;

apparatus comprising a stored predetermined radius;

apparatus comprising a stored predetermined speed limit;

access to a global positioning system (GPS) receiver disposed in said vehicle;

apparatus operable to utilize said GPS receiver to determine a location of said vehicle;

a processor responsive to a first command received over a wireless link via one of said wireless wide area network transceiver and said wireless local area network transceiver to activate a valet mode such that an initial location of said vehicle is captured each time said valet mode is activated and to utilize subsequent vehicle said-locations while said valet mode is active to determine if said vehicle has moved beyond said predetermined radius from said initial location and to determine if speed of said vehicle exceeds said predetermined speed limit;

said processor automatically cause a notification to be transmitted to a predetermined device via one of said wide area network and said mobile wireless local area network upon said mobile router detecting that said vehicle travels beyond said predetermined radius or has traveled in excess of said predetermined speed limit while said valet mode is activated.

10. The mobile router in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

said mobile router is responsive to a second command to deactivate said valet mode.

11. The mobile router in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

a stored predetermined time limit; and

said mobile router deactivates said valet mode upon expiration of said predetermined time limit.

12. The mobile router in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

said mobile router is responsive to a second command to deactivate said valet mode.

13. The mobile router in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

said mobile router receives said second command via one of said wireless wide area network transceiver or said wireless local area network transceiver.

14. The mobile router in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

said mobile router receives said first command from a predetermined device via one of said wireless wide area network transceiver or said wireless local area network transceiver.

15. The mobile router in accordance with claim 14, comprising:

said mobile router is responsive to a second command to deactivate said valet mode.

16. The mobile router in accordance with claim 15, comprising:

said mobile router receives said second command via one of said wireless wireless wide area network transceiver or said wireless local area network transceiver.

17. The mobile router in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

said mobile router is operable to receive a substitute predetermined radius and to utilize said substitute predetermined radius in place of said predetermined radius.

18. The mobile router in accordance with claim 17, comprising:

said mobile router is operable to receive a substitute predetermined speed limit and to utilize said substitute predetermined speed limit in place of said predetermined speed limit.

19. The mobile router in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

said mobile router is operable to receive a substitute predetermined radius and to utilize said substitute predetermined radius in place of said predetermined radius.