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Intelligent vehicle occupancy monitoring system

  • US 9,845,050 B1
  • Filed: 05/26/2016
  • Issued: 12/19/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of mitigating the likelihood or preventing the occurrence of leaving a living entity, behind in an unattended vehicle, wherein the living entity is at least one of a child and a pet, wherein a vehicle interior is subjecting the one of the child and the pet to an environment having potentially life threatening conditions, the method comprising steps of:

  • detecting a physical presence of a living entity within one of an interior of vehicle, an infant seat, or a child car seat;

    detecting the presence of one of a driver or a caregiver exiting the vehicle by utilizing data acquired by a factory installed vehicle controller area network sensor;

    activating an alert on a head unit controller to warn the one of the driver or the caregiver of the detected physical presence of the living entity within the vehicle, wherein the alert is one of a visual alert and an audible alert;

    activating at least one factory installed function, wherein the factory installed functions include a vehicle alarm, a light, a door lock, and a power window actuator by utilizing a factory installed vehicle controller area network system to warn others outside of the vehicle and obtain aid to remove the living entity from the interior of the vehicle;

    determining that a proximity threshold between the head unit controller and remotely carried system monitoring apparatus is satisfied based upon a detected distance between the head unit controller located proximate the vehicle interior overhead and the associated remotely carried system monitoring apparatus, wherein the remotely carried system monitoring apparatus is at least one of a Smartphone operating a portable computing apparatus application and a key FOB;

    determining that the temperature of the vehicle interior exceeds a predetermined temperature limit, wherein the predetermined temperature limit is a temperature that is considered to pose a potential threat to life;

    generating a notification message and initiating an alarm, in response to the detected physical presence of the at least one living entity left unattended within the vehicle, and detection of the temperature within the vehicle interior that exceeds the predetermined temperature limit;

    transmitting the notification message and alarm to the remotely carried system monitoring apparatus using the Bluetooth wireless protocol, wherein the remotely carried system monitoring apparatus is located within a predetermined proximity of the vehicle; and

    utilizing vehicle telematic subscriber services to transmit notifications and alarms to target recipient, wherein the target recipient is at least one of an emergency contact and emergency responders using at least one of 24 hour emergency roadside services, call centers, and 911 emergency response.

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