Universal vehicle remote control with feature selectable transmitter and associated methods

• US 20040135702A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US10/336,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.72
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle may include installing in the vehicle a universal remote control device operable according to a plurality of different remote control feature packages, and negotiating a sale or lease of the vehicle with a customer. Negotiating a sale or lease of the vehicle may include offering the different remote control feature packages to the customer, and accepting an order for the customer-selected remote control feature package from the customer. The method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package may further include filling the order for the customer-selected remote control feature package by providing the customer with at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device according to the customer-selected remote control feature package from among a plurality of different remote transmitters for different remote control feature packages.

Claims

1. A method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle, the method comprising:

installing in the vehicle a universal remote control device operable according to a plurality of different remote control feature packages;

negotiating a sale or lease of the vehicle with a customer and comprising

offering the different remote control feature packages to the customer, and

accepting an order for the customer-selected remote control feature package from the customer; and

filling the order for the customer-selected remote control feature package by providing the customer with at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device according to the customer-selected remote control feature package from among a plurality of different remote transmitters for different remote control feature packages.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a data communications bus;

and wherein installing comprises connecting the universal remote control device to the data communications bus.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the universal remote control device is settable to the customer-selected remote control feature package based upon signals from the at least one respective remote transmitter for the customer-selected remote control feature package.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the different remote transmitters for the different remote control feature packages have different prices associated therewith so that a supplier of remote transmitters receives different revenue for different remote control feature packages.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein negotiating is performed by a vehicle dealer;

and wherein installing is performed after vehicle delivery to the vehicle dealer.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein negotiating is performed by a vehicle dealer;

and installing is performed prior to vehicle delivery to the vehicle dealer.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a keyless entry remote control feature package.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the keyless entry remote control feature package further comprises window operating features.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a security remote control feature package.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the security remote control feature comprises a vehicle tracking feature.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise an engine starting remote control feature package.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the universal remote control device comprises a controller and a receiver connected thereto.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising learning the at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device into the controller.

14. A method of providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle, the method comprising:

installing in the vehicle a universal remote control device operable according to a plurality of different remote control feature packages; and

providing a customer with at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device according to the customer-selected remote control feature package from among a plurality of different remote transmitters for different remote control feature packages.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the vehicle comprises a data communications bus;

and wherein installing comprises connecting the universal remote control device to the data communications bus.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the universal remote control device is settable to the customer-selected remote control feature package based upon signals from the at least one respective remote transmitter for the customer-selected remote control feature package.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein the different remote transmitters for the different remote control feature packages have different prices associated therewith so that a supplier of remote transmitters receives different revenue for different remote control feature packages.

18. A method according to claim 14 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a keyless entry remote control feature package.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the keyless entry remote control feature package further comprises window operating features.

20. A method according to claim 14 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a security remote control feature package.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the security remote control feature comprises a vehicle tracking feature.

22. A method according to claim 14 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise an engine starting remote control feature package.

23. A method according to claim 14 wherein the universal remote control device comprises a controller and a receiver connected thereto.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising learning the at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device into the controller.

25. A system for providing a selectable remote control feature package in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a universal remote control device installed in the vehicle and operable according to a plurality of different remote control feature packages; and

at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device according to a selected remote control feature package;

said at least one respective remote transmitter being selected from among a plurality of different remote transmitters, each corresponding to one of the plurality of different remote control feature packages.

26. A system according to claim 25 wherein the vehicle comprises a data communications bus;

and wherein said universal remote control device interfaces to the data communications bus.

27. A system according to claim 25 wherein said universal remote control device is settable to the selected remote control feature package based upon signals from said at least one respective remote transmitter for the selected remote control feature package.

28. A system according to claim 25 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a keyless entry remote control feature package.

29. A system according to claim 28 wherein the keyless entry remote control feature package further comprises window operating features.

30. A system according to claim 25 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a security remote control feature package.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein the security remote control feature comprises a vehicle tracking feature.

32. A system according to claim 25 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise an engine starting remote control feature package.

33. A system according to claim 25 wherein the universal remote control device comprises a controller and a receiver connected thereto.

34. A system according to claim 33 wherein said at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device is learned into the controller.

35. A system for providing a customer-selected remote control feature package in a vehicle comprising a data communications bus, the system comprising:

a universal remote control device installed in the vehicle to interface with the data communications bus and operable according to a plurality of different remote control feature packages; and

at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device according to the customer-selected remote control feature package;

said at least one respective remote transmitter being selected from among a plurality of different remote transmitters, each corresponding to one of the plurality of different remote control feature packages;

said universal remote control device being settable to the customer-selected remote control feature package based upon signals from said at least one respective remote transmitter for the customer-selected remote control feature package.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein the plurality of different remote transmitters for the different remote control feature packages have different prices associated therewith so that a supplier of remote transmitters receives different revenue for different remote control feature packages.

37. A system according to claim 35 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a keyless entry remote control feature package.

38. A system according to claim 37 wherein the keyless entry remote control feature package further comprises window operating features.

39. A system according to claim 35 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise a security remote control feature package.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein the security remote control feature comprises a vehicle tracking feature.

41. A system according to claim 35 wherein the different remote control feature packages comprise an engine starting remote control feature package.

42. A system according to claim 35 wherein the universal remote control device comprises a controller and a receiver connected thereto.

43. A system according to claim 42 wherein said at least one respective remote transmitter for operating the universal remote control device is learned into the controller.