Remote function control system for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

• US 9,981,615 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/826,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 455521, 4555561
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

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.

Claims

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 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of said first wireless device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications codes of said first wireless device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the cellular telephone to read data from the at least one vehicle device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the cellular telephone to command the at least one vehicle device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote function device further comprises a downloading interface coupled to said controller to permit downloading a configuration thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote function device further comprises a learning interface coupled to said controller to permit learning a configuration thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second wireless transceivers comprise first and second Bluetooth transceivers.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said third wireless communications transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a remote start controller to perform at least one remote start function.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a security controller to perform at least one security function.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a remote keyless entry controller to perform at least one remote keyless entry function.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a diagnostic controller to perform at least one diagnostic function.

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:

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.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of the first wireless device.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different communications codes of the first wireless device.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the cellular telephone to read data from the at least one vehicle device.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the cellular telephone to command the at least one vehicle device.

23. The device of claim 16, further comprising a downloading interface coupled to said controller to permit downloading a configuration thereof.

24. The device of claim 16, further comprising a learning interface coupled to said controller to permit learning a configuration thereof.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the first and said second wireless transceivers comprise first and second Bluetooth transceivers.

26. The device of claim 16, wherein said third wireless communications transceiver comprises a satellite transceiver.

27. The device of claim 16, wherein said third wireless communications transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver.

28. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a remote start controller to perform at least one remote start function.

29. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a security controller to perform at least one security function.

30. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a remote keyless entry controller to perform at least one remote keyless entry function.

31. The device of claim 16, wherein said controller comprises a diagnostic controller to perform at least one diagnostic function.

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.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of the first wireless device.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications codes of the first wireless device.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the controller permits communication for the cellular telephone to read data from the at least one vehicle device.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the controller permits communication for the cellular telephone to command the at least one vehicle device.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising downloading a configuration of the controller via a downloading interface coupled to the controller.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising learning a configuration of the remote function controller via a learning interface coupled to the controller.

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:

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.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of said first wireless device.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications codes of said first wireless device.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the second remote control device to read data from the at least one vehicle device.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the second remote control device to command the at least one vehicle device.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein said remote function device further comprises a downloading interface coupled to said controller to permit downloading a configuration thereof.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein said remote function device further comprises a learning interface coupled to said controller to permit learning a configuration thereof.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein said first and second wireless devices comprise first and second Bluetooth transceivers.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein said third wireless communications device comprises a cellular transceiver.

52. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a remote start controller to perform at least one remote start function.

53. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a security controller to perform at least one security function.

54. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a remote keyless entry controller to perform at least one remote keyless entry function.

55. The system of claim 41, wherein said controller comprises a diagnostic controller to perform at least one diagnostic function.

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:

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.

57. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

58. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

59. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of the first wireless device.

60. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller to be operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different communications codes of the first wireless device.

61. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the second remote control device to read data from the at least one vehicle device.

62. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller is to permit communication for the second remote control device to command the at least one vehicle device.

63. The device of claim 56, further comprising a downloading interface coupled to said controller to permit downloading a configuration thereof.

64. The device of claim 56, further comprising a learning interface coupled to said controller to permit learning a configuration thereof.

65. The device of claim 56, wherein the first and said second wireless devices comprise first and second Bluetooth transceivers.

66. The device of claim 56, wherein said third wireless communications device comprises a cellular transceiver.

67. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a remote start controller to perform at least one remote start function.

68. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a security controller to perform at least one security function.

69. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a remote keyless entry controller to perform at least one remote keyless entry function.

70. The device of claim 56, wherein said controller comprises a diagnostic controller to perform at least one diagnostic function.

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.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the controller permits communication for the second remote control device to read data from the at least one vehicle device.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the controller permits communication for the second remote control device to command the at least one vehicle device.