Proximity-based vehicle location alerts

• US 9,916,754 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagata, Katsumi, Ochiai, Yuichi, Kimura, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/673,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20160293008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 340457, 340988, 340989, 34053911, 34053913, 34042636
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

Arrangements related to proximity-based vehicle location alerts are described. A vehicle can include a location signaling mode. In the location signaling mode, an alert is automatically provided by the vehicle responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle. In the way, an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the portable communication device. However, responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, the location signaling mode can be altered in one or more respects. In one or more arrangements, altering the location signaling mode can include disabling the location signaling mode. Thus, an indication of the location of the vehicle is not provided responsive to detecting that the portable device is located within the predetermined alert distance from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of locating a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the method including:

determining whether the vehicle has entered a predetermined special location, the predetermined special location being previously-defined, wherein the vehicle is configured to alter the location signaling mode in a predetermined manner when the vehicle is determined to have entered the predetermined special location;

each time that it is determined that the vehicle has entered the predetermined special location, prompting a user for approval to alter the location signaling mode, whereby the user can selectively determine whether the location signaling mode is maintained or altered;

responsive to receiving a user input corresponding to approval to alter the location signaling mode, altering the location signaling mode in the predetermined manner associated with the predetermined special location; and

responsive to receiving a user input corresponding to disapproval of altering the location signaling mode or responsive to not receiving a user input corresponding to approval to alter the location signaling mode, maintaining the location signaling mode.

2. A method of locating a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the method including:

determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, the predetermined special location being defined by a predetermined set of one or more networks, and wherein determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location includes;

identifying a network to which at least one of the vehicle and the authorized portable communication device is connected; and

comparing the identified network to the predetermined set of one or more networks, wherein, if the identified network is included in the predetermined set of one or more networks, then the vehicle is determined to be in located in a predetermined special location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, altering the location signaling mode.

3. A method of locating a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the method including:

determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, the predetermined special location being defined by a predetermined set of one or more wireless access points, and wherein determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location includes;

identifying a wireless access point to which at least one of the vehicle and the authorized portable communication device is operatively connected; and

comparing the identified wireless access point to the predetermined set of one or more wireless access points, wherein, if the identified wireless access point is included in the predetermined set of one or more wireless access points, then the vehicle is determined to be in a special location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, altering the location signaling mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein altering the location signaling mode includes disabling the location signaling mode, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is not provided responsive to detecting that the authorized portable communication device is located within the predetermined alert distance from the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, further including:

responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, activating the altered location signaling mode.

6. The method of claim 4, further including:

responsive to determining that the vehicle is no longer located in a predetermined special location, restoring the location signaling mode.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein altering the location signaling mode is performed automatically.

8. A system for locating a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the vehicle including;

a processor configured to;

determine whether the vehicle has entered a predetermined special location, the predetermined special location being previously-defined, the processor being configured to alter the location signaling mode in a predetermined manner when the vehicle is determined to have entered the predetermined special location;

each time that it is determined that the vehicle has entered the predetermined special location, prompt a user for approval to alter the location signaling mode, whereby the user can selectively determine whether the location signaling mode is maintained or altered;

responsive to receiving a user input corresponding to approval to alter the location signaling mode, alter the location signaling mode in the predetermined manner associated with the predetermined special location; and

responsive to receiving a user input corresponding to disapproval of altering the location signaling mode or responsive to not receiving a user input corresponding to approval to alter the location signaling mode, maintain the location signaling mode.

9. A system for locating a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the vehicle including;

a processor configured to;

determine whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, the predetermined special location being defined by a predetermined set of one or more networks, and wherein determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location includes;

identifying a network to which at least one of the vehicle and the authorized portable communication device is connected; and

comparing the identified network to the predetermined set of one or more networks, wherein, if the identified network is included in the predetermined set of one or more networks, then the vehicle is determined to be in located in a predetermined special location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, alter the location signaling mode.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein altering the location signaling mode includes disabling the location signaling mode, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is not provided responsive to detecting that the authorized portable communication device is located within the predetermined alert distance from the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, activating the altered location signaling mode.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

responsive to determining that the vehicle is no longer located in a predetermined special location, restoring the location signaling mode.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein altering the location signaling mode is performed automatically.

14. A system for locating a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the vehicle including;

a processor configured to;

determine whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, the predetermined special location being defined by a predetermined set of one or more wireless access points, and wherein determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location includes;

identifying a wireless access point to which at least one of the vehicle and the authorized portable communication device is operatively connected; and

comparing the identified wireless access point to the predetermined set of one or more wireless access points, wherein, if the identified wireless access point is included in the predetermined set of one or more wireless access points, then the vehicle is determined to be in a special location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, alter the location signaling mode.

15. A method of locating a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the method including:

when the vehicle is placed in park or an ignition of the vehicle is deactivated, transmitting, using one or more transceivers onboard the vehicle, an initial signal to the external environment of the vehicle;

when one or more transceivers onboard the vehicle receive a signal from a source external to the vehicle generated in response to the initial signal transmitted to the external environment of the vehicle, determining whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location based on the received signal from the source external to the vehicle, the predetermined special location being defined by a set of one or more predetermined signals, the determining including;

comparing the received signal from the source external to the vehicle to the set of one or more predetermined signals; and

if the received signal from the source external to the vehicle is included in the set of one or more predetermined signals, then the vehicle is determined to be in located in a predetermined special location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, altering the location signaling mode, whereby nuisance alerts are avoided.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the source external to the vehicle is one of a beacon, a transponder, or a near field communication (NFC) source.

17. A system for locating a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle including a location signaling mode in which at least one of an audial alert and a visual alert is automatically provided responsive to detecting an authorized portable communication device being located within a predetermined alert distance from the vehicle, whereby an indication of the location of the vehicle is provided to a user of the authorized portable communication device, the vehicle including;

one or more transceivers, at least one of the one or more transceivers being configured to transmit an initial signal to the external environment of the vehicle when the vehicle is placed in park or an ignition of the vehicle is deactivated, at least one of the one or more transceivers being configured to receive signals from a source external to the vehicle generated in response to the initial signal transmitted to the external environment of the vehicle;

a processor operatively connected to the one or more transceivers, the processor being configured to;

responsive to one or more transceivers receiving a signal from a source external to the vehicle generated in response to the initial signal transmitted to the external environment by one or more transceivers, determine whether the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location based on the received signal, the predetermined special location being defined by a set of one or more predetermined signals, the determining including;

comparing the received signal to the set of one or more predetermined signals; and

if the received signal is included in the set of one or more predetermined signals, then the vehicle is determined to be located in a predetermined special location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined special location, alter the location signaling mode, whereby nuisance alerts are avoided.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the source external to the vehicle is one of a beacon, a transponder, or a near field communication (NFC) source.