VEHICLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20080132270A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Appy Risk Technologies Limited (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Basir, Otman A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An example vehicle communication device includes a vehicle installed unit and a portable unit in communication with the vehicle installed unit. The portable unit communicates a message through the vehicle installed unit to a remote location, and the vehicle installed unit adds information to the message.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication device, comprising:

a vehicle installed unit; and

a portable unit in communication with the vehicle installed unit, wherein the portable unit communicates a message through the vehicle installed unit to a remote location and the vehicle installed unit adds information to the message.

2. The vehicle communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable unit includes an emergency switch, the vehicle installed unit communicating information to a remote location when the emergency switch is activated.

3. The vehicle communication device of claim 2, wherein the vehicle installed unit executes an emergency profile when the emergency switch is activated.

4. The vehicle communication device of claim 3, wherein the emergency profile includes establishing a voice connection between the portable unit and a remote location.

5. The vehicle communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable unit communicates a text-based message to the remote location.

6. The vehicle communication device of claim 5, wherein the vehicle installed unit adds location information to the text-based message.

7. The vehicle communication device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle installed unit establishes a telephonic connection between the portable unit and the remote location.

8. A vehicle communication device, comprising:

a vehicle installed unit;

a vehicle interface module within the vehicle installed unit for connecting to a vehicle system; and

a portable unit in communication with the vehicle installed unit, wherein the portable unit communicates with the vehicle interface module to obtain information from the vehicle system.

9. The vehicle communication device of claim 8, wherein portable unit controls functions of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle communication device of claim 8, wherein the vehicle system is an OBDII system or a CANBUS system.

11. The vehicle communication device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the vehicle installed unit and the portable unit includes storage location for storing historical data.

12. The vehicle communication device of claim 11, wherein the vehicle installed unit includes a controller for running a program that compares historical data with newly acquired data.

13. A vehicle communication method, including the steps of:

linking a portable unit to a vehicle based on the driver;

operating the vehicle; and

storing vehicle information based on the driver.

14. The vehicle communication method of claim 13, including identifying discrepancies between vehicle information stored within the portable unit and vehicle information stored within the vehicle.

15. The vehicle communication method of claim 13, gathering the vehicle information wirelessly.