General-purpose vehicle remote control device and method

• US 9,644,591 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Juwan, Choi, Hyunkyun
• Primary Examiner(s): VILAKAZI, SIZO BINDA
• Application Number:
  US14/446,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 701113
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0804 Temperature inside the vehicle cabin

Abstract

A general-purpose vehicle remote control device and method are disclosed. The general-purpose vehicle remote control device includes a network communication unit, a user authentication unit, a user information database, and a remote control unit. The network communication unit communicates with a user who accesses a general-purpose vehicle remote control device over a network. The user authentication unit identifies the user. The user information database stores user information required for the identification of the user. The remote control unit transceives control signals and state information with a vehicle of the identified user or remotely starts the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle remote control device for a vehicle having a predetermined range, measured in distance, for receiving remote control commands, comprising:

a network communication unit configured to communicate with a user over a network, the user located outside the predetermined range, and vehicle remote control device located within the predetermined range from the vehicle;

a user authentication unit configured to identify the user;

a user information database configured to store user information required for the identification of the user; and

a remote control unit configured to transceive control signals and state information with the vehicle or to remotely start the vehicle based on identifying the user via the user authentication unit,

wherein the remote control unit is configured to power up a private communication network of the vehicle by transmitting a start signal to the vehicle, the private communication network being a bidirectional communication-enabled network,

wherein the private communication network is one of a telecommunications network and a local area wireless network,

wherein the user authentication unit identifies the user using an ID and a password input by the user.

2. The vehicle remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit comprises one or more types of remote start interfaces each configured to transmit a start signal to the vehicle, the one or more types of remote start interfaces transmitting the start signal depending on a type of a remote start devices provided in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit is configured to transmit or receive data less than a predetermined data size as the control signals and the state information without starting the vehicle, and

the remote control unit is configured to start the vehicle to transmit or receive data equal to, or larger than, the predetermined data size.

4. The vehicle remote control device of claim 1, wherein the user authentication unit comprises:

a user registration unit configured to register a new user with the user information database; and

an information update unit configured to change the user information stored in the user information database.

5. The vehicle remote control device of claim 4, wherein the network communication unit outputs the state information of the vehicle received through the remote control unit to the user.

6. The vehicle remote control device of claim 5, wherein the control signals comprise signals operative to perform opening/closing of a door, operation of an air conditioner and a heater and opening/closing of a trunk of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle remote control device of claim 6, wherein the state information comprises information about an internal temperature state, door closed state, trunk closed state, external impact state, battery charged state, and fuel state of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle remote control method, comprising:

accessing, by a user over a network, a vehicle remote control device for a vehicle, the vehicle having a predetermined range, measured in distance, for receiving remote control commands, the user located outside the predetermined range, and vehicle remote control device located within the predetermined range from the vehicle;

identifying the user by the vehicle remote control device; and

based on identifying the user, transceiving control signals and state information with the vehicle, or transceiving the control signals and the state information after remotely starting the vehicle,

wherein the transceiving comprises powering up units of a private communication network by transmitting a start signal to the vehicle, the private communication network being a bidirectional communication-enabled network,

wherein the private communication network is one of a telecommunications network and a local area wireless network

wherein the identifying comprises identifying the user using an ID and a password input by the user.

9. The vehicle remote control method of claim 8, wherein the transceiving comprises starting the vehicle by transmitting a start signal to the vehicle through one or more remote start interfaces included in a remote control unit, and the remote control unit includes the one or more types of remote start interfaces transmitting the start signal depending on a type of a remote start devices provided in the vehicle.

10. The vehicle remote control method of claim 8, wherein the transceiving comprises transmitting or receiving data having a data size less than a predetermined data size as the control signals and the state information without starting the vehicle, and

starting the vehicle to transmit or receive data equal to, or larger than, the predetermined data size.

11. The vehicle remote control method of claim 8, wherein the identifying comprises:

registering a new user with a user information database; and

changing user information stored in the user information database.

12. The vehicle remote control method of claim 11, wherein the transceiving comprises outputting state information of the vehicle to the user.

13. The vehicle remote control method of claim 12, wherein the control signals comprise signals operative to perform opening/closing of a door, operation of an air conditioner and a heater and opening/closing of a trunk of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle remote control method of claim 13, wherein the state information comprises information about an internal temperature state, door closed state, trunk closed state, external impact state, battery charged state, and fuel state of the vehicle.