Passive entry cell phone and method and system therefor

• US 9,241,235 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Santavicca, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US13/829,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 340/241, 340/5.72, 340/5.6, 340/5.22, 307/101, 307/328, 455/418, 455/41.2, 455/420, 455/411, 455/557, 455/409, 455/552.1, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/425, 455/553.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00547 starting ignition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system for a vehicle including: a bluetooth receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle; and a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network and a bluetooth transmitter configured to communicate with the bluetooth receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a BLUETOOTH®

receiver configured to be plugged into a telematics port of a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle, wherein the electronic system of the vehicle includes a BLUETOOTH®

passive entry system; and

a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the electronic system of the vehicle through a cellular network and a BLUETOOTH®

transmitter configured to communicate with the BLUETOOTH®

receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range,

wherein the predetermined range is a distance for dock lock and unlock in the BLUETOOTH®

passive entry system and the predetermined range is calibrated using received signal strength indication (RSSI), and

when the phone is within the predetermined range, a first transmission provided from the phone via BLUETOOTH®

is encrypted, the first transmission including the phone'"'"'s ID, the ID being stored in a memory of a control unit of the vehicle,

when a second transmission is provided from the phone via BLUETOOTH®

, the second transmission is encrypted and includes the ID and a vehicle command, and

when the second transmission is received, the ID is compared to the ID stored in the memory and if there is a match, the vehicle command is communicated to the control unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system of the vehicle provides remote keyless entry or push button start functions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the push button start system is configured to recognize the phone as a key fob that is used to activate the push button start system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the phone includes a memory configured to store a software application enabling the phone to be recognized as the key fob.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a door of the vehicle is unlocked by using the BLUETOOTH®

receiver and transmitter when the phone is within the predetermined range.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the phone further comprises a display configured to illustrate key fob related functions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display is further configured to illustrate diagnostic information of the vehicle.

8. A method for providing vehicle access, comprising:

receiving a request for vehicle access;

providing vehicle access credentials to a mobile device associated with the request for access;

accessing a vehicle by using the mobile device; and

starting the vehicle by using the mobile device in place of the key,

wherein the mobile device accesses the vehicle by using a BLUETOOTH®

receiver plugged into a telematics port of the vehicle,

wherein the mobile device accesses the vehicle when the mobile device is within a predetermined range from the vehicle,

wherein the predetermined range is a distance from which the mobile device is permitted to lock or unlock a door of the vehicle and the predetermined range is calibrated using received signal strength indication (RSSI),

when the mobile device is within the predetermined range, a vehicle command provided from the mobile device via BLUETOOTH®

is encrypted, and

wherein the vehicle access credentials permit access to the vehicle for a predetermined time, wherein the vehicle access credentials do not expire when the mobile device is outside the predetermined range.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising downloading, at the mobile device, a software application that allows the vehicle access credentials to be provided to the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile device starts the vehicle by using the BLUETOOTH®

receiver.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing, to the mobile device, a location of the vehicle associated with the vehicle access credentials.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is a smart phone.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is a BLUETOOTH®

badge.

14. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a BLUETOOTH®

receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle, wherein the electronic system of the vehicle includes a BLUETOOTH®

passive entry system; and

a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the electronic system of the vehicle through a cellular network and a BLUETOOTH®

transmitter configured to communicate with the BLUETOOTH®

receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range,

wherein the predetermined range is a distance for dock lock and unlock in the BLUETOOTH®

passive entry system and the predetermined range is calibrated using received signal strength indication (RSSI), and

when the phone is within the predetermined range, a first transmission provided from the phone via BLUETOOTH®

is encrypted, the first transmission including the phone'"'"'s ID, the ID being stored in a memory of a control unit of the vehicle,

when a second transmission is provided from the phone via BLUETOOTH®

, the second transmission is encrypted and includes the ID and a vehicle command, and

when the second transmission is received, the ID is compared to the ID stored in the memory and if there is a match, the vehicle command is communicated to the control unit.