Scheduling remote starting of vehicle

• US 20060080007A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Dabholkar, Harsha M., Gerard, Christine M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0811 using a timer

Abstract

A method is described for scheduling the remote starting of an engine of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a remote starting device and a controller coupled to a communication device and to the remote starting device. The remote starting device is responsive to commands from the controller. The method includes a first step of defining a schedule of starting times. A next step includes entering the schedule in the controller. A next step includes controlling an operation of the remote starting device in accordance with the schedule.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling the remote starting of an engine of a vehicle having a controller coupled to a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a remote starting function in the vehicle responsive to commands from the controller;

defining a schedule of at least one starting time;

entering the schedule in the controller; and

controlling the remote starting function in accordance with the schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule of the defining step includes a calendar-based schedule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule of the defining step includes an event-based schedule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule of the defining step can include a plurality of times for starting and stopping an engine of the vehicle.

5. The method or claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining at least one operation parameter associated with the vehicle; and

adjusting the schedule in accordance with the at least one operational parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a theft alarm coupled to the communication device of the vehicle;

detecting if the theft alarm is activated during an operational time of the schedule; and

sending a message, from the vehicle communication device over the communication system, indicating the theft.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining step includes defining settings of vehicle controls associated with the schedule, the entering step includes entering the settings, and the controlling step includes setting the vehicle controls in accordance with the vehicle control settings.

8. A method for scheduling the remote starting and stopping of an engine of a vehicle having a controller coupled to a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing remote starting and stopping functions in the vehicle responsive to commands from the controller;

defining a schedule of a plurality of starting and stopping times;

transmitting the schedule from the remote device over a communication system to the communication device of the vehicle;

entering the schedule into the controller; and

controlling the remote starting and stopping functions by the controller in accordance with the schedule.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sending a message from the communication device over the communication system to a user indicating a status of the engine of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining at least one operation parameter associated with the vehicle and relating to an environment of the vehicle; and

adjusting the schedule in accordance with the at least operational parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the environment of the determining step includes an outside temperature.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein an operational parameter of the determining step includes a temperature of the motor oil of the engine.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein an operational parameter of the determining step includes a strength of the vehicle battery.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein an operational parameter of the determining step includes an amount of fuel in the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

providing a theft alarm coupled to the communication device of the vehicle;

detecting if the theft alarm is activated during an operational time of the schedule; and

sending a message, from the vehicle communication device over the communication system, indicating the theft.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the defining step includes defining settings of vehicle controls associated with the schedule, the transmitting step includes transmitting the settings along with the schedule, the entering step includes entering the settings, and the controlling step includes setting the vehicle controls in accordance with the transmitted vehicle control settings.

17. A method for scheduling the remote sting and stopping or an engine of a vehicle having a controller coupled to a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing remote starting and stopping functions in the vehicle responsive to commands from the controller,

defining a schedule of at least one start time at a remote device;

transmitting the schedule from the remote device over the communication system to the communication device of the vehicle;

entering the schedule into the controller;

determining at least one operation parameter associated with the vehicle;

providing auxiliary start and stop times in the schedule dynamically by the controller in accordance with the at least one operational parameter; and

controlling an operation of the remote starting and stopping functions by the controller in accordance with the schedule.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein an operational parameter of the determining step includes at least one of a temperature of the motor oil of the engine, a strength of the vehicle battery, and an amount of fuel in the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing a theft alarm coupled to the communication device of the vehicle;

detecting if the theft alarm is activated during an operational time of the schedule; and

sending a message, from the vehicle communication device over the communication system, indicating the theft.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the defining step includes defining settings of vehicle controls associated with the schedule, the transmitting step includes transmitting the settings along with the schedule, the entering step includes entering the settings, and the controlling step includes setting the vehicle controls in accordance with the transmitted vehicle control settings.