Method and system for interacting with a vehicle over a mobile radiotelephone network

• US 20080211641A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless America Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jansson, Edward R., Murray, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telemetry system coupled to a vehicle can communicate with a remote site using the overhead control channels of a wireless network, such as a cellular mobile radiotelephone network. The telemetry system can monitor or control aspects of the vehicle'"'"'s operations based on remote user input. The telemetry system can receive a command from a data processing center and, based on the command, perform an action at the vehicle such that a user can remotely interact with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of remote interaction with a vehicle comprising the steps of:

receiving a voice command;

processing the received voice command with an interactive voice response system;

responsive to the processing step, interpreting the voice command as a prompt to perform an action at the vehicle;

sending a signal to the vehicle on a control channel of a cellular network in response to the prompt;

at the vehicle, monitoring a control channel of a cellular network;

detecting the sent signal on the control channel; and

performing the action in response to detecting the sent signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises unlocking a door of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein unlocking the door comprises sending an electrical pulse to an actuator mechanically coupled to a lock of the door.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises pulsing a horn on the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein pulsing a horn on the vehicle comprises sending an electrical pulse to an actuator mechanically coupled to the horn.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises pulsing a light on the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein pulsing a light on the vehicle comprises sending an electrical pulse to an actuator mechanically coupled to the light.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises disabling the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein disabling the vehicle comprises tripping a relay connected to a starter on the vehicle.

10. A method for remotely interacting with a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving at a data processing center a voice command, the voice command comprising an action to be performed at the vehicle;

in response to receiving the voice command at the data processing center, broadcasting a page over a cellular network;

receiving the page at a transceiver located at the vehicle;

forwarding the page from the transceiver to a microprocessor located at the vehicle; and

in response to receiving the page at the microprocessor, performing the command at the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command comprises unlocking a door on the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the command comprises pulsing a horn on the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the command comprises pulsing a light on the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the command comprises disabling the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein disabling the vehicle comprises tripping a relay connected to a starter on the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor further performs the step of checking a state of DIP switches located at the vehicle to determine the action to be performed at the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the action comprises unlocking a door on the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the action comprises pulsing a horn on the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the action comprises pulsing a light on the vehicle.

17. A system for remotely interacting with a vehicle, the system comprising:

a processing system located remote from the vehicle, wherein the processing system;

receives a voice command;

interprets the voice command using voice recognition software; and

broadcasts a page over a cellular network, the page including an action to be performed at the vehicle pursuant to the voice command;

a transceiver located at the vehicle, wherein the transceiver receives the page from the processing system; and

a microprocessor located at the vehicle, wherein the microprocessor receives the page from the transceiver and performs the action at the vehicle.