Vehicle with valet mode

• US 9,100,789 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Autonet Mobile, Inc.
• Inventors: Moeller, Douglas S
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSTIN, JEREMY M
• Application Number:
  US13/559,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20120322463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/315, 370/328, 370/338, 455/345, 455/419, 340/6.1, 3404255-4261, 34042613-42625, 340988-993, 701/1, 701/2, 701/36, 701/70, 701/408, 701/541
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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]

Abstract

A vehicle comprises: a valet mode program to provide valet mode functionality for the vehicle, a processor operable to execute the valet mode program, a predetermined distance limit, and a predetermined speed limit. The vehicle 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 while the valet mode is activated.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

at least one interface to one wireless link;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a memory comprising a stored predetermined radius;

a stored predetermined speed limit stored in said memory;

said memory comprising a valet mode program to provide a valet mode for said vehicle, said valet mode program executable to determine an initial location of said vehicle at the time said valet mode is activated, said valet mode program executable while said valet mode is activated to determine a current location of said vehicle to determine if said vehicle is moved more than said stored predetermined radius from said initial location, and said valet mode program executable to determine if said vehicle travels at a speed in excess of said stored predetermined speed limit;

a processor operable to execute said valet mode program, said processor operable with said valet mode program to capture said initial location of said vehicle from said GPS receiver each time said valet mode is activated, said processor operable during the time that said valet mode is activated, to capture said current location from said GPS receiver, said processor operable with said valet mode program to determine if said vehicle travels beyond said stored predetermined radius from said initial location;

said processor responds to an externally generated activate command to activate said valet mode and responds to an externally generated deactivate command to deactivate said valet mode;

said processor receives said activate and deactivate commands via said at least one wireless link, said activate and deactivate commands originating at a device comprising a valet mode application executable to initiate said activate and deactivate commands;

said processor upon receiving said activate command determines said initial location for said vehicle and subsequently while said valet mode is activated monitors the speed of said vehicle;

said processor, during the time said valet mode is activated, is operable to utilize said current location to determine if said vehicle has moved more than said stored predetermined radius from said initial location;

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

said processor is operable, while said valet mode is activated, to cause a notification to be sent to said device if said stored predetermined radius is exceeded or if said stored predetermined speed limit is exceeded.

2. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said at least one wireless link comprises one of a wireless wide area network interface operable to access a cellular network and a wireless local area network interface; and

said activate and deactivate commands are received via one of said wireless wide area network interface and said wireless local area network interface.

3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said device comprises a wireless mobile device.

4. A vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said valet mode application is executable by said wireless mobile device to activate and deactivate said valet mode.

5. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

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

6. The vehicle in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said processor responds to externally generated second commands from said device to change said predetermined time period to a second predetermined time period.

7. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said processor responds to externally generated third commands from said device to change said stored predetermined radius to a second predetermined radius.

8. The vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said processor responds to externally generated fourth commands from said device to change said stored predetermined speed limit to a second predetermined speed period limit.

9. The vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

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

10. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said processor is operable to generate a message to said device if at least one of said stored predetermined radius or said stored predetermined distance is exceeded.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a memory comprising a valet mode program, a stored predetermined radius and a stored predetermined speed limit;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a mobile router, said mobile router comprising a wireless wide area network transceiver to access a wide area network, a mobile wireless local area network movable with said vehicle comprising a wireless local area network transceiver to access a wireless local area network;

said mobile router utilizes said GPS receiver to determine locations of said vehicle; and

said mobile router is responsive to a first command received via one of said wireless wide area network transceiver and said wireless local area network transceiver to execute said valet mode program to activate an operational mode such that said mobile router captures an initial location of said vehicle from said GPS receiver at the time said operational mode is activated, and said mobile router operates to capture additional locations from said GPS receiver during the time that said operational mode is activated to determine if said vehicle has moved beyond said stored predetermined radius from said initial location or if said vehicle exceeds said stored predetermined speed limit; and

said mobile router operable to utilize said additional locations during the time that said operational mode is activated to determine if said vehicle has moved beyond said stored predetermined radius from said initial location or has exceeded said stored predetermined speed limit to transmit a notification via one of said wireless wide area network transceiver or said wireless local area network transceiver to a predetermined device.

12. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

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

13. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said mobile router comprises;

a stored predetermined time limit; and

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

14. The vehicle in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

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

15. The vehicle in accordance with claim 12, wherein:

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

16. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

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

17. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

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

18. The vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

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