Systems and methods for notifying users of vehicle conditions

• US 9,552,712 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Doyle, Sean Raymond, Taylor, Thomas, Hartman, Dwight, Palanimuthu, Manikandan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/546,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for notifying users of vehicle conditions. According to certain embodiments, the system comprises at least one processor configured to determine whether an ambient temperature associated with a vehicle exceeds a temperature threshold and detect a sound associated with the vehicle. The at least one processor is further configured to output a notification based on the determined ambient temperature and detected sound.

Claims

1. A system for notifying users of vehicle conditions, the system comprising at least one processor configured to:

determine whether an ambient temperature associated with a vehicle exceeds a temperature threshold;

detect a sound associated with the vehicle;

record sounds upon detecting the sound associated with the vehicle;

determine a location of the vehicle;

determine a location of a user associated with the vehicle;

measure a distance between the vehicle and the user associated with the vehicle; and

output a notification based on the determined ambient temperature and detected sound if the distance between the vehicle and the user associated with the vehicle is greater than a distance threshold, wherein the notification comprises the recorded sounds.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output the notification only if the detected sound exceeds a decibel threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect whether the vehicle is in an off state; and

output the notification only if the vehicle is in an off state.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether the vehicle is locked; and

output the notification only if the vehicle is locked.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether a child seat associated with the vehicle is occupied; and

output the notification only if the child seat is occupied.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to output the notification by sending a text message to a mobile device of the user associated with the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to lower a window of the vehicle based on the determined ambient temperature and detected sound.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to notify emergency services of the detected sound.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether the recorded sounds match at least one audio signature; and

output the notification only if the recorded sounds match the at least one audio signature.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the steps of determining whether an ambient temperature associated with a vehicle exceeds a temperature threshold and outputting a notification based on the determined ambient temperature and detected sound are performed by a first processor associated with a telematics unit; and

the step of detecting a sound associated with the vehicle is performed by a second processor associated with an auxiliary unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the first processor is configured to;

send a request to the auxiliary unit to monitor sounds associated with the vehicle; and

receive information regarding a detected sound from the auxiliary unit; and

the second processor is configured to;

receive a request from the telematics unit to monitor sounds associated with the vehicle; and

send information regarding a detected sound to the telematics unit.

12. A computer-implemented method for notifying users of vehicle conditions, the method performed by one or more processors and comprising:

determining whether an ambient temperature associated with a vehicle exceeds a temperature threshold;

detecting a sound associated with the vehicle;

recording sounds upon detecting the sound associated with the vehicle;

determining a location of the vehicle;

determining a location of a user associated with the vehicle;

measuring a distance between the vehicle and the user associated with the vehicle; and

outputting a notification based on the determined ambient temperature and detected sound if the distance between the vehicle and the user associated with the vehicle is greater than a distance threshold, wherein the notification comprises the recorded sounds.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the notification is outputted only if the detected sound exceeds a decibel threshold.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting whether the vehicle is in an off state; and

outputting the notification only if the vehicle is in an off state.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle is locked; and

outputting the notification only if the vehicle is locked.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether a child seat associated with the vehicle is occupied; and

outputting the notification only if the child seat is occupied.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein outputting the notification comprises sending a text message to a mobile device of the user associated with the vehicle.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising lowering a window of the vehicle based on the determined ambient temperature and detected sound.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising notifying emergency services of the detected sound.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether the recorded sounds match at least one audio signature; and

outputting the notification only if the recorded sounds match the at least one audio signature.