Phone sleeve vehicle fob

• US 9,842,444 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Hille, Kevin Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/301,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 455557, 4555561, 4555692, 340438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/11 Supports for sets, e.g. incorporating armrests
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• 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 and method for remotely communicating with a vehicle using a mobile communication device and a sleeve associated with the mobile communication device. The sleeve including a transceiver, the transceiver enabling communication between the mobile communication device and the vehicle. The mobile communication device provides commands to the vehicle through the sleeve.

Claims

1. A system for remotely communicating with a vehicle comprising:

a mobile communication device;

a sleeve in communication with said mobile communication device, said sleeve including a transceiver, said transceiver in communication with the vehicle;

said mobile communication device operative to provide commands to the vehicle through said sleeve; and

said sleeve includes a remote keyless entry or passive entry passive start transmitter.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device communicates with said sleeve through transceiver, said transceiver receiving operation programming from said mobile communication device.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device includes transceiver protocol wherein said mobile communication device controls said transceiver.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a low power consumption communications protocol using a transceiver allowing two-way communication between endpoints.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device includes multi-vehicle programming whereby said communication device cooperates with said sleeve to control multiple vehicles.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device includes a graphical user interface.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said vehicle is controlled through said graphical user interface.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a wireless charging circuit.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is a passive key, said sleeve including a passive controller operative to generate a low-frequency challenge to said vehicle to authenticate said sleeve.

10. The system set forth in claim 1 including said sleeve receiving information from said vehicle and said mobile communication device having a screen operative to display information received from said vehicle.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said communication device is paired to said sleeve and said sleeve is paired to said vehicle.

12. A communication device comprising:

a body including a touch screen display, said touchscreen display including a graphical user interface;

a processor;

memory;

a program, said program stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program including instructions for operating various vehicle functions;

a sleeve, said sleeve removably attached to said body, said sleeve including a transmitter and a receiver, said receiver in communication with said body; and

said graphical user interface displays a vehicle key fob.

13. A communication device comprising:

a body including a touch screen display, said touchscreen display including a graphical user interface;

a processor;

memory;

a program, said program stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program including instructions for operating various vehicle functions;

a sleeve, said sleeve removably attached to said body, said sleeve including a transmitter and a receiver, said receiver in communication with said body; and

said transmitter is a remote keyless entry or passive entry passive start transmitter.

14. A method for remotely communicating with a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a device including a graphic user interface;

providing a sleeve, said sleeve having a transmitter, said sleeve located adjacent said device;

using said device to generate a control signal;

using the transmitter in said sleeve to transmit the control signal to the vehicle to activate inactive vehicle systems allowing direct communication between the activated vehicle systems and the device.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of providing said device with multiple control protocols, each of said control protocols associated with a particular vehicle.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the device is a phone.

17. A method for remotely communicating with a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a device including a graphic user interface;

providing a sleeve, said sleeve having a transmitter, said sleeve located adjacent said device;

using said device to generate a control signal;

using the transmitter in said sleeve to transmit the control signal to the vehicle wherein the device is a phone; and

said phone includes a plurality of applications, each application defining a predetermined graphical user interface associated with a particular vehicle.

18. A method for remotely communicating with a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a device including a graphic user interface;

providing a sleeve, said sleeve having a transmitter, said sleeve located adjacent said device;

using said device to generate a control signal;

using the transmitter in said sleeve to transmit the control signal to the vehicle; and

providing the device with a plurality of selectable graphical user interfaces, each of said graphical user interfaces customizable.