Peripheral access devices and sensors for use with vehicle telematics devices and systems

• US 20150032291A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Charles M Link II
• Inventors: Lowrey, Larkin H., Borrego, Diego A., Wettig, Alan, Lightner, Bruce Davis, Banet, Matthew J., Washicko, Paul, Berkobin, Eric C., Link, Charles M. II
• Granted Patent: US 9,224,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• 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:

establishing a short range wireless link between a short range wireless device coupled to a communication interface of a host vehicle and an access device;

requesting vehicle information with the access device from the host vehicle via the short range wireless link;

receiving with the access device the requested vehicle information from the host vehicle via the short range wireless link; and

transmitting with the access device the received vehicle information over a wireless network to at least one Internet-accessible web site.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is a serial communication port.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the short range wireless link is a Bluetooth®

link.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the short range wireless link is an 802.11b link.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the information received from the access device includes diagnostic performance data.

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

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting voice signals received from the microphone of the access device to the vehicle via the short range wireless link and audibly playing voice signals received from the vehicle via the via the short range wireless link.

8. An access device configured to interface with a vehicle over a short range wireless link;

wherein the access device is configured for;

establishing a short range wireless link between a short range wireless device coupled to a communication interface of a host vehicle and an access device;

requesting vehicle information with the access device from the host vehicle via the short range wireless link;

receiving with the access device the requested vehicle information from the host vehicle via the short range wireless link; and

transmitting with the access device the received vehicle information over a wireless network to at least one Internet-accessible web site.

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

10. The access device of claim 8 wherein the short range wireless link is a Bluetooth®

link.

11. The access device of claim 8 wherein the short range wireless link is a 802.11b link.

12. The access device of claim 8 further configured for:

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 vehicle information with the access device through the wireless network to a host computer system in response to receiving the distress signal.

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

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

15. An access device configured to interface with a vehicle communication bus of a host vehicle, over a short range wireless communication interface;

wherein an application running on the access device controls the functions of;

requesting diagnostic information from the host vehicle;

receiving diagnostic information from the telematics device;

processing the received diagnostic information; and

wherein the processing of the received diagnostic information includes at least one of;

formatting the received diagnostic information for transmission over a wireless communication network to an internet accessible web site; and

formatting the received diagnostic information for display on the access device.

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

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

link.

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

19. The access device of claim 15 wherein the application further controls the functions of:

receiving a user input to the access device through a user interface, wherein the user input includes an instruction to affect one, or more, changes in the vehicle; and

forwarding the instruction to the vehicle.

20. The access device of claim 19 wherein the one, or more, changes in the vehicle include one or more of:

starting the vehicle;

turning off the vehicle;

adjusting the climate control of the vehicle;

setting a clock of the vehicle;

adjusting an audio system of, or coupled to, the vehicle;

adjusting engine tuning parameters of the vehicle, adjusting transmission shift characteristics of the vehicle;

adjusting throttle pedal sensitivity and braking pedal sensitivity of the vehicle; and

requesting a battery health report of one or more batteries of the vehicle.