Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity

• US 8,180,293 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, JR., Lowell L., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Malamud, Mark A., Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US11/444,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 340/5.32, 340/539.13, 340/825.69, 340/442, 340/457, 707/101
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are to make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device, transmit a signal from the first device to the wireless device to cause the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle, and perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) making a determination, via a first device associated with a vehicle, that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device, wherein the making a determination that the first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device includes making a determination by the first device associated with the vehicle that the first device is in proximity to the wireless device based on a signal from an image capture device;

(b) transmitting, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle; and

(c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

2. A system comprising:

a computing device having memory;

a transceiver coupled to the memory, the transceiver configured to respond to one or more instructions; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium holding the one or more instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to;

(a) make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device;

(b) transmit via the transceiver a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle; and

(c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination, wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to perform the operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include;

(i) instructions that enable execution of a financial transaction relating to the vehicle based at least in part on receiving via the transceiver a signal from the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (a) make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device further include:

(i) instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to make a determination that the first device is in proximity to the wireless device based on a received wireless signal from the wireless device.

23. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (a) make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device further include:

(i) instructions that enable the computing device to make a determination that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to the wireless device without the wireless device touching the vehicle; and

(j) instructions that enable the computing device to establish a wireless communications link between the first device and the wireless device in response to the determination that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to the wireless device without the wireless device touching the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable actuating a door lock of the vehicle.

25. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable the vehicle to perform an operation with respect to one or more of a security system, a lock system, an air conditioning system, a heating system, an audio system or a video system for the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

26. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable the vehicle to perform an operation with respect to one or more of a navigation system, an information system, an ignition system, a lighting control system, a communication system, a driver settings system, or a user customization system for the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

27. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable receipt of a signal at the first device from the wireless device; and

(ii) instructions that enable performance of an operation with respect to one or more of a security system, a lock system, an air conditioning system, a heating system, an audio system, a video system, a navigation system, an information system, an ignition system, a lighting control system, a communication system, a driver settings system, or a user customization system for the vehicle.

28. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable execution of a financial transaction relating to a product or service.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the (i) instructions that enable execution of a financial transaction relating to a product or service further include:

(1) instructions that enable execution of a vehicle rental transaction.

30. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform the operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i)instructions that enable the computing device to receive a trip configuration from the wireless device.

31. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform the operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable the computing device to make a determination of a touching between the wireless device and the vehicle; and

(ii) instructions that enable the computing device to establish a wireless communications link between the first device and the wireless device in response to the determination of the touching between the wireless device and the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform the operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable the first device to receive a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal from the wireless device.

33. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform the operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable control of the vehicle to perform a default operation in response to a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal from the wireless device.

34. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (b) transmit a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle further include:

(i) instructions that enable a transmission of a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display a menu of vehicle operations for the vehicle.

35. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable the computing device to perform a first default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to the making the determination that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to the wireless device.

36. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that enable the computing device to control an ignition system on the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

37. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (b) transmit a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle further include:

(i) instructions that enable the first device to transmit a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information identifying an operation that has been performed with respect to the vehicle.

38. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to disable a security system for the vehicle.

39. The system of claim 2 wherein the instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further include:

(i) instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to perform a first non-default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to receiving a signal corresponding to a user selection.

40. The system of claim 2 wherein instructions that when executed on the computing device enable the computing device to (c) perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination, further include:

(i) instructions that enable transmission of vehicle-related information from the first device to the wireless device.

3. A method comprising:

(a) making a determination, by a first device associated with a vehicle, that the first device is in proximity to a wireless device;

(b) transmitting, by the first device, a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle; and

(c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination, wherein the performing an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination comprises;

(i) executing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, a financial transaction relating to the vehicle based on receiving a signal from the wireless device corresponding to a user selection provided at the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the (a) making a determination, by a first device associated with a vehicle, that the first device is in proximity to a wireless device further comprises:

(i) determining of a touching between the wireless device and the vehicle; and

(ii) establishing a wireless communications link between the first device and the wireless device in response to the determining of the touching between the wireless device and the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the (a) making a determination, by a first device associated with a vehicle, that the first device is in proximity to a wireless device further comprises:

(i) receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal from the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination comprises:

(i) controlling the vehicle to perform a default operation in response to the receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal from the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the (b) transmitting, by the first device, a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle further comprises:

(i)transmitting a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display a menu of vehicle operations for the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) performing via the first device interacting with the wireless device a first default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to the making the determination that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) controlling, via the first device, an ignition system on the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the (b) transmitting, by the first device, a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information related to the vehicle further comprises:

(i) transmitting a signal from the first device to the wireless device to enable the wireless device to display information identifying an operation that has been performed with respect to the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) disabling a security system for the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, a first non-default operation with respect to the vehicle in response to receiving at the first device a signal from the wireless device corresponding to a user selection.

13. The method of claim 3 wherein the (a) making a determination, by a first device associated with a vehicle, that the first device is in proximity to a wireless device, further comprises:

(i) making a determination, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, that the first device is in proximity to the wireless device based on a received wireless signal from the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein the (a) making a determination, by a first device associated with a vehicle, that the first device is in proximity to a wireless device, further comprises:

(i) determining that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to the wireless device without the wireless device touching the vehicle; and

(ii) establishing a wireless communications link between the first device and the wireless device in response to the determining that the first device associated with the vehicle is in proximity to the wireless device without the wireless device touching the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination:

(i) enables actuating via the first device a door lock of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination:

(i) enables the vehicle to perform an operation with respect to one or more of a security system, a lock system, an air conditioning system, a heating system, an audio system or a video system for the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination:

(i) enables the vehicle to perform an operation with respect to one or more of a navigation system, an information system, an ignition system, a lighting control system, a communication system, a driver settings system, or a user customization system for the vehicle based at least in part on the determination.

18. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via a first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination enables:

(i) receiving a signal at the first device from the wireless device; and

(ii) performing an operation with respect to one or more of a security system, a lock system, an air conditioning system, a heating system, an audio system, a video system, a navigation system, an information system, an ignition system, a lighting control system, a communication system, a driver settings system, or a user customization system for the vehicle in response to the receiving the signal at the first device from the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via a first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) executing a financial transaction relating to a product or service.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the (i) executing a financial transaction relating to a product or service further comprises:

(1) executing a vehicle rental transaction.

21. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via a first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) transmitting vehicle-related information from the first device to the wireless device.

41. The method of claim 3 wherein the (c) performing, via the first device interacting with the wireless device, an operation with respect to the vehicle based at least in part on the determination further comprises:

(i) receiving, at the first device, a trip configuration from the wireless device.