Wireless locating system

• US 9,100,797 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Biondo, William A., Proefke, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US12/181,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20100019925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,563 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.32, 340/989, 340/825.49, 455/68, 701/213
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/183 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/046 involving vehicles, e.g. floating traffic data [FTD] or vehicle traffic prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A method is provided for exchanging information to locate a key fob. The method comprises transmitting a wireless locator signal from a first portable wireless device, the wireless locator signal conveying the identity of the first portable wireless device and receiving a first once-adjusted wireless locator signal from a distant wireless device locator system, the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal comprising at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging information to locate a key fob, the method comprising:

transmitting a wireless locator signal from a first portable wireless device, the wireless locator signal conveying the identity of the first portable wireless device; and

receiving a first once-adjusted wireless locator signal from a distant wireless device locator system, the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal comprising at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable wireless device further comprises a feedback device and the method further comprises operating the feedback device in response to receiving the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal conveys the identity of the distant wireless device locator system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable wireless device comprises a display and the method further comprises operating the display to convey an indicator derived from information contained in the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a thrice-adjusted wireless locator signal from the distant wireless device locator system, the thrice-adjusted wireless locator signal comprising at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal and the once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second once-adjusted wireless locator signal from a second portable wireless device, the second once-adjusted wireless locator signal comprising at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first portable wireless device comprises a display and the method further comprises operating the display to convey an indicator derived from information contained in the first and second once-adjusted wireless locator signals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a confirmation signal from the first portable wireless device in response to receiving the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal, the confirmation signal conveying an indication of reception of the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

9. A method of locating portable wireless devices comprising:

receiving a wireless locator signal with a first portable wireless device comprising a feedback device, the wireless locator signal conveying information including the identity of a remote wireless locator system;

determining the identity of the remote wireless locator system from the wireless locator signal; and

operating the feedback device, in response to receiving the wireless locator signal, to generate feedback that identifies the remote wireless locator system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a once-adjusted wireless locator signal conveying the identity of the first portable wireless device, notification of reception of the wireless locator signal, and at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a once-adjusted wireless locator signal from a second portable wireless device, the once-adjusted wireless locator signal containing information including the identity of the second portable wireless device and at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a twice-adjusted wireless locator signal with the first portable wireless device, the twice-adjusted wireless locator signal conveying the identity of the first portable wireless device, notification of reception of the once-adjusted wireless locator signal, and at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal and the once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising operating the feedback device in response to receiving the once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote wireless locator system is disposed in a key fob associated with a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote wireless locator system is disposed in a vehicle.

16. A method of locating a key fob associated with a vehicle comprising a remote device locator system, the method comprising:

transmitting a wireless locator signal from a first key fob in response to manipulation of a first manual input device of the first key fob;

receiving a first once-adjusted wireless locator signal from a second key fob, the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal including the identity of the second key fob and at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal; and

operating a first feedback device of the first key fob in a first mode in response to receiving the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising operating a second feedback device of the second key fob in response to receiving the wireless locator signal.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a second once-adjusted wireless locator signal from the remote device locator system, the second once-adjusted wireless locator signal including the identity of the remote device locator system and at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising operating the first feedback device in a second mode in response to receiving the second once-adjusted wireless locator signal.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a twice-adjusted wireless locator signal from the second key fob, the twice-adjusted wireless locator signal including the identity of the second key fob and at least some information conveyed in the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal.