Remote function control system for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods
DCFirst Claim
1. A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the system comprising:
- a wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprisinga wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, anda first wireless device coupled to said wired interface; and
a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprisinga second wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with said first wireless device,a third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate with a cellular telephone away from the vehicle,a vehicle position determining device, anda controller coupled to said second and third wireless transceivers and said vehicle position determining device, said controller configured topermit communication between the cellular telephone and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus,perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, andcooperate with said third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to vehicle devices may include a wireless data bus device in the vehicle coupled to a wired vehicle electrical power system. The wireless data bus device may include a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device coupled to the wired electrical system may include a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device and a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle. The remote function device may also include a controller coupled to the second and third wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device coupled to the data communications bus.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the system comprising:
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a wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to said wired interface; and a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a second wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with said first wireless device, a third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate with a cellular telephone away from the vehicle, a vehicle position determining device, and a controller coupled to said second and third wireless transceivers and said vehicle position determining device, said controller configured to permit communication between the cellular telephone and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, and cooperate with said third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A remote function device to be positioned within a vehicle for wirelessly communicating with a wireless data bus device in the vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface, the remote function device to be coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising:
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a second wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device, a third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate with a cellular telephone away from the vehicle; a vehicle position determining device; and a controller coupled to said second and third wireless transceivers and said vehicle position determining device, said controller configured to permit communication between the cellular telephone and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, and cooperate with said third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of remotely controlling a vehicle function with a wireless data bus device coupled to a wired vehicle electrical system in a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, the wireless data bus device comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface, the method comprising:
using a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system to wirelessly communicate via a second wireless transceiver within the vehicle with the first wireless device, wirelessly communicate via a third wireless transceiver with a cellular telephone away from the vehicle, permit communication via a controller coupled to the second and third wireless transceivers between the cellular telephone and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position determined from a vehicle position determining device to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, and cooperate with the third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the system comprising:
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a wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to said wired interface and to communicate with a first remote control device away from the vehicle; and a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with said first wireless device, a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a second remote control device away from the vehicle, the second remote control device comprising a cellular telephone, a vehicle position determining device, and a controller coupled to said second and third wireless devices and said vehicle position determining device, said controller configured to permit communication between the second remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, and cooperate with said third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A remote function device to be positioned within a vehicle for wirelessly communicating with a wireless data bus interface in the vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface and to communicate with a first remote control device away from the vehicle, the remote function device to be coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising:
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a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device; a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a second remote control device away from the vehicle, the second remote control device comprising a cellular telephone; a vehicle position determining device; and a controller coupled to said second and third wireless devices and said vehicle position determining device, said controller configured to permit communication between the second remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, and cooperate with said third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of remotely controlling a vehicle function with a wireless data bus device coupled to a wired vehicle electrical system in a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, the wireless data bus device comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface and to communicate with a first remote control device away from the vehicle, the method comprising:
using a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system to wirelessly communicate via a second wireless device within the vehicle with the first wireless device, wirelessly communicate via a third wireless device with a second remote control device away from the vehicle, the second remote control device comprising a cellular telephone, permit communication via a controller coupled to the second and third wireless devices between the second remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, perform at least one tracking function based upon vehicle position determined from a vehicle position determining device to determine at least one of a condition and status of the vehicle, and cooperate with the third wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate the at least one of the condition and status of the vehicle to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74)
Specification