PERIPHERAL ACCESS DEVICES AND SENSORS FOR USE WITH VEHICLE TELEMATICS DEVICES AND SYSTEMS

• US 20110118934A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Htiip LLC
• Inventors: Washicko, Paul, Banet, Matthew J., Lowrey, Larkin H., Borrego, Diego A., Wettig, Alan, Link, Charles M. II, Lightner, Bruce Davis, Berkobin, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A telematics method and system includes, and uses, a telematics device with a controller in communication with a diagnostic system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; a position-locating system configured to determine location information of the host vehicle; a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive information through a wireless network to and from at least one Internet-accessible website; and, a communication interface including at least a short range wireless interface link. The telematics device may be embodied in an access device, which may include the position-locating system. The access device may be a smartphone, or similar device, that retrieves/transmits diagnostic data/information, and other data/information to/from the vehicle via the short range wireless link. The access device performs various telematics device functions; it uses a long range wireless interface to communicate diagnostic and related information to a central host computer, and to receive related information from same.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

interfacing an access device and a telematics device with a communication interface;

receiving diagnostic information from a host vehicle;

receiving information from the access device, and

transmitting the diagnostic information and the information received from the access device with the diagnostic device over a wireless network to at least one Internet-accessible website.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the access device comprises a speaker and a microphone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is a Bluetooth®

link.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is an 802.11b link.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the information received from the access device includes a distress signal input generated from a panic button.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an emergency message that includes the location of the host vehicle and at least a portion of the diagnostic information with the access device through the wireless network to a host computer system in response to receiving a distress signal.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting voice signals received from the microphone of the access device and audibly playing voice signals received by the telematics device with the speakers.

8. A method, comprising:

interfacing an access device and a telematics device over a communication interface that includes a short range wireless interface;

requesting diagnostic information from a host vehicle over the short range wireless interface;

receiving the requested diagnostic information from the host vehicle; and

transmitting the diagnostic information with the access device over a wireless network to at least one Internet-accessible website.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the access device is a smart phone.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the interfacing occurs over a Bluetooth®

link.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the interfacing occurs over an 802.11b link.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a distress signal input generated from a panic button; and

transmitting an emergency message that includes the location of the host vehicle and at least a portion of the diagnostic information with the access device through the wireless network to a host computer system in response to receiving the distress signal.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising performing telematics device features and operations with the access device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the access device includes one or more software modules for performing the telematics features.

15. A system, comprising:

an access device configured to interface with a diagnostic system over a communication interface that includes a short range wireless interface;

wherein the access device is configured for receiving diagnostic information from a host vehicle; and

wherein the access device is configured for transmitting the diagnostic information over a wireless network to at least one Internet-accessible website.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the access device is a smart phone.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the access device is configured to perform the interfacing over a Bluetooth®

link.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the access device is configured to perform the interfacing over an 802.11b link.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the access device is configured for receiving a distress signal input generated from a panic button;

and

wherein the access device is configured for transmitting an emergency message that includes the location of the host vehicle and at least a portion of the diagnostic information with the access device through the wireless network to a host computer system in response to receiving the distress signal.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the access device is configured for performing telematics device features and operations.