Device and method for wireless vehicle communication

• US 7,825,782 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hermann, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/725,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/426.35, 340/426.36
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The invention provides a device, system, and method for wireless communication with a vehicle, comprising a receiver mounted in or on the vehicle for receiving data from a wireless transmitter, and a microprocessor in communication with the receiver for processing the data. The data has a format adapted to be processed by the microprocessor and is intended for receipt by all vehicles within a predetermined wireless range that have microprocessors capable of processing its standard format. The invention also provides a method for wireless communication with a vehicle, comprising transmitting data having a standard format, receiving the data having a standard format, and processing the data having a standard format. The data is intended for receipt by all vehicles within a predetermined range that have microprocessors capable of processing its standard format. The invention further provides a device, system, and method for disabling a vehicle using only information transmitted to the vehicle, comprising a receiver mounted in or on the vehicle and for receiving data wirelessly, and a microprocessor in communication with the receiver for processing the data. The data includes a unique vehicle identifier and an instruction to disable the vehicle. The invention further provides a device for wirelessly monitoring environmental conditions of a livestock trailer towed by a vehicle, comprising a wireless transmitter mounted on the livestock trailer, a receiver mounted in or on the vehicle and adapted to receive data from the wireless transmitter, and a microprocessor in communication with the receiver and processing the data.

Claims

1. A system for wireless communication with a vehicle, the system comprising:

a wireless transmitter having a location spaced from the vehicle and transmitting data including information regarding a device or entity other than the vehicle and its components;

a receiver mounted in or on the vehicle and adapted to receive the data from the wireless transmitter; and

a microprocessor in communication with the receiver and adapted to process the data;

wherein the data has a standard format adapted to be processed by the microprocessor and is intended for receipt by all vehicles within a predetermined wireless range that have microprocessors capable of processing its standard format, and

wherein the transmitter transmits data to be processed by the microprocessor without receipt of information regarding a location or identification of the vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises one of a remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver or a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is part of the remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver, the instrument cluster, or the engine controller.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device in communication with the microprocessor for displaying a message represented by the data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display device comprises one of a vehicle message center or a vehicle navigation system screen.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the microprocessor assigns a level to each message and messages are displayed in a hierarchical structure based on message levels.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the data includes a level for each message and messages are displayed in a hierarchical structure based on message levels.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein predetermined messages are stored in the microprocessor and the transmitted data indicates which predetermined message should be displayed.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein messages are contained in the transmitted data and deciphered by the microprocessor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is mounted to a trailer connected to the vehicle, and the data includes information regarding the trailer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is located in an emergency vehicle including one of one of a police vehicle, an ambulance, and a fire truck, and the data includes safety information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data includes information regarding goods or services offered by the entity.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the data includes advertising information.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the display device comprises one of a vehicle message center or a vehicle navigation system screen.

14. A system for wireless vehicle communication, comprising:

a transmitter that wirelessly transmits data having a standard format for receipt by vehicles within a wireless range of the transmitter that have a system capable of receiving and processing the data, the data comprising information regarding a device or entity other than the vehicle and its components, the data being intended for display to a driver of the vehicle,

wherein the transmitter transmits data to be received and processed by the vehicle without receipt of information regarding a location or identification of the vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a receiver for receiving the data comprises one of a remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver or a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein a microprocessor for processing the data is part of the remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver, the instrument cluster, or the engine controller.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a display device in communication with the microprocessor for displaying a message represented by the data.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor assigns a level to each message and messages are displayed in a hierarchical structure based on message levels.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the data includes a level for each message and messages are displayed in a hierarchical structure based on message levels.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein predetermined messages are stored in the microprocessor and the transmitted data indicates which predetermined message should be displayed.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein messages are contained in the transmitted data and deciphered by the microprocessor.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is mounted to a trailer connected to the vehicle, and the data includes information regarding the trailer.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is located in an emergency vehicle including one of one of a police vehicle, an ambulance, and a fire truck, and the data includes safety information.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the data includes information regarding goods or services offered by the entity.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the data includes advertising information.

27. A method for wireless communication with a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting data having a standard format;

receiving the data; and

displaying the data,

wherein the data comprises information regarding a device or entity other than the vehicle and its components and is intended for receipt by all vehicles within a predetermined range that have a microprocessor capable of processing the standard format, and

wherein data to be received and displayed by the vehicle is transmitted without receipt of information regarding a location or identification of the vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying a message represented by the transmitted data.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the standard data format includes an arbitration field, a control field, and a data field.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the standard data format further includes a field enabling a redundancy check.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein a trailer connected to the vehicle transmits the data, and the data includes information regarding the trailer.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein an emergency vehicle including one of one of a police vehicle, an ambulance, and a fire truck transmits the data, and the data includes safety information.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the data includes information regarding goods or services offered by the entity.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the data includes advertising information.