Mobile router network with valet mode function

• US 9,288,637 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Moeller, Douglas S
• Primary Examiner(s): YEUNG, MANG HANG
• Application Number:
  US13/559,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 340988-994
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A mobile router comprises: a valet mode program to provide valet mode functionality in a vehicle in which the mobile router is disposed; a processor operable to execute the valet mode program; a predetermined distance limit; and a predetermined speed limit. The mobile router responds to externally generated commands from a predetermined source to activate or deactivate the valet mode. The processor is operable to determine if the predetermined distance limit is exceeded from the location of the vehicle when the valet mode is activated; and the processor is operable to determine if the vehicle exceeds the predetermined speed limit when the valet mode is activated.

Claims

1. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of mobile routers each disposed in a corresponding vehicle, said method comprising:

downloading a valet mode application to a wireless mobile device;

utilizing said valet mode application to program said wireless mobile device to provide a valet user interface;

associating one or more of said mobile routers to said wireless mobile device;

providing each said associated one or more said mobile routers with a valet mode program executable to provide a valet mode operable to determine whether said corresponding vehicle has moved more than a predetermined radius from an initial location determined at the time said valet mode is activated or has traveled at a speed in excess of a predetermined speed;

operating each said associated one of more mobile routers to determine the current location of its said corresponding vehicle;

utilizing said valet user interface to selectively activate and deactivate said valet mode at a predetermined one mobile router of said associated one or more of said mobile routers;

operating said predetermined one mobile router such that at the time said valet mode is activated, said predetermined one mobile router saves said current location as said initial location;

operating said predetermined one mobile router such that when said valet mode is activated, said predetermined one mobile router monitors at least one of said current location of said corresponding vehicle to determine if said vehicle travels beyond a predetermined radius from said initial location of said vehicle and the speed of said vehicle to determine if said vehicle travels at a speed in excess of a predetermined speed; and

operating said predetermined one mobile router to automatically cause a notification to be sent to said wireless mobile device in the event that said predetermined one mobile router detects that said corresponding vehicle exceeds said predetermined radius from said initial location or said predetermined speed.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

downloading said valet application to said wireless mobile device from a source accessed via the Internet.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, comprising:

operating said predetermined one mobile router to send a notification message to said wireless mobile device when said predetermined one mobile router detects that one of said predetermined radius from said initial location and said predetermined speed is exceeded.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

operating said predetermined one mobile router in said valet mode for a predetermined period of time after said valet mode is activated; and

automatically deactivating said valet mode upon expiration of said predetermined period.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing said valet user interface to select at least one of said predetermined radius and said predetermined speed.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

storing said selected predetermined radius and said predetermined speed in said predetermined one mobile router.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

providing said corresponding vehicle with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to said predetermined one mobile router; and

utilizing said GPS receiver in cooperation with said predetermined one mobile router to obtain distance traveled by said corresponding vehicle from said initial location.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

coupling said predetermined one mobile router to a vehicle bus of said corresponding vehicle; and

obtaining distance from said initial location and speed data from said vehicle bus.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said wireless mobile device comprises at least one of a link to a wireless local area network and a link to a wireless wide area network.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

downloading said valet application program to said wireless mobile device via one of said device wireless local area network and said wireless wide area network.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

operating said wireless mobile device to activate said valet mode at said predetermined one mobile router via one of said device wireless local area network and said device wireless wide area network; and

activating said predetermined one mobile router said valet mode via one of a mobile router local area network and a mobile router wireless wide area network.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

operating said wireless mobile device to deactivate said valet mode at said predetermined one mobile router via one of said device wireless local area network and said device wireless wide area network; and

deactivating said predetermined one mobile router said valet mode via one of said mobile router local area network and said mobile router wireless wide area network.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

providing said corresponding vehicle with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to said predetermined one mobile router; and

operating said predetermined one mobile router to utilize said GPS receiver to determine at least one of the current location of said corresponding vehicle and the speed of said corresponding vehicle.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, comprising:

operating said predetermined one mobile router to send a notification message to said wireless mobile device if said mobile router detects that one of said predetermined radius from said initial location and said predetermined speed is exceeded.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising:

operating said predetermined one mobile router in said valet mode for a predetermined period of time after said valet mode is activated; and

automatically deactivating said valet mode upon expiration of said predetermined period.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, comprising:

utilizing said wireless mobile device said valet user interface to select at least one of said predetermined radius, said predetermined speed, and said predetermined period of time.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, comprising:

storing said at least one of said selected predetermined radius and said selected predetermined period of time in said predetermined one mobile router.

18. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of mobile routers each disposed in a corresponding vehicle, each said mobile router comprising a wireless wide area network interface and a wireless local area network interface, said method comprising:

downloading a valet mode application to a wireless mobile device;

utilizing said valet mode application to program said wireless mobile device to provide a valet user interface, said wireless mobile device comprising a touch screen display, said wireless mobile device having access to at least one of a device wireless local area network and a device wireless wide area network;

utilizing said valet mode application to produce an image of a button on said touch screen display;

associating one or more of said mobile routers to said wireless mobile device;

providing each said associated one or more said mobile routers with a valet mode program executable to provide a valet mode operable to determine whether said corresponding vehicle has moved more than a predetermined radius from an initial location determined at the time said valet mode is activated or has traveled at a speed in excess of a predetermined speed;

coupling a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to said mobile router;

utilizing said button to activate and deactivate a valet mode such that at the time said valet mode is activated, said mobile router and said GPS receiver cooperate to capture an initial location of said corresponding vehicle and to establish a predetermined radius about said initial location of said corresponding vehicle; and

operating said mobile router in cooperation with said GPS receiver while said valet mode is activated to detect if the current location of said corresponding vehicle exceeds said predetermined radius from said initial location.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

operating said mobile router to send a notification message to said wireless mobile device when said mobile router detects said predetermined radius from said initial location is exceeded.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, comprising:

operating said mobile router in said valet mode for a predetermined period of time after said valet mode is activated; and

automatically deactivating said valet mode upon expiration of said predetermined period.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, comprising:

utilizing said valet user interface to select said predetermined radius and said predetermined period of time.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, comprising:

storing said predetermined radius and said predetermined period of time in said mobile router.

23. A method in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

downloading said valet mode application to said wireless mobile device via one of said device wireless local area network and said wireless wide area network.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23, comprising:

utilizing said valet mode application to associate said mobile router with said wireless mobile device.

25. A method in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

utilizing said wireless mobile device to activate said valet mode at said mobile router via one of said device wireless local area network and said device wireless wide area network; and

said mobile router valet mode is activated via one of said router local area network and said router wireless wide area network.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25, comprising:

said wireless mobile device deactivates said valet mode at said mobile router via one of said device wireless local area network and said device wireless wide area network;

said mobile router valet mode is deactivated via one of said mobile router local area network and said mobile router wireless wide area network.

27. A method in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

operating said mobile router to send a notification message to said wireless mobile device via one of said mobile router local area network and said mobile router wireless wide area network when said mobile router detects said predetermined radius from said initial location is exceeded.

28. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of mobile routers each disposed in a corresponding vehicle, each said mobile router comprising a wireless wide area network interface and a wireless local area network interface, said method comprising:

downloading a valet mode application to a wireless mobile device;

utilizing said valet mode application to program said wireless mobile device to provide a customizable user interface, said wireless mobile device comprising a touch screen display, said wireless mobile device having access to at least one of a device wireless local area network and a device wireless wide area network;

utilizing said valet mode application to produce an image of a button on said touch screen display;

associating one or more of said mobile routers to said wireless mobile device;

providing each said associated one or more said mobile routers with a valet mode program executable to provide a valet mode operable to determine whether said corresponding vehicle has moved more than a predetermined radius from an initial location determined at the time said valet mode is activated or has traveled at a speed in excess of a predetermined speed;

utilizing said button to activate and deactivate a valet mode such that when said valet mode is activated, said mobile router establishes a predetermined radius about said initial location of said corresponding vehicle and a predetermined speed;

operating said mobile router to determine current locations of said corresponding vehicle;

operating said mobile router to detect if one of said current locations exceeds said predetermined radius from said initial location or if said predetermined speed is exceeded; and

operating said mobile router to cause a notification to be sent to said wireless mobile device upon said router detecting if said predetermined radius from said initial location or said predetermined speed is exceeded.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28, comprising:

providing said valet application program to said wireless mobile device as a downloadable program from a source accessed via the Internet.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29, comprising:

downloading said valet application program to said wireless mobile device via one of said device wireless local area network and said wireless wide area network.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30, comprising:

utilizing said valet application program to associate said mobile router with said wireless mobile device.

32. A method in accordance with claim 29, comprising:

said wireless mobile device activates said valet mode at said mobile router via one of said device wireless local area network and said device wireless wide area network;

said mobile router valet mode is activated via one of said router local area network and said router wireless wide area network.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32, comprising:

said wireless mobile device deactivates said valet mode at said mobile router via one of said device wireless local area network and said device wireless wide area network;

said mobile router valet mode is deactivated via one of said mobile router local area network and said mobile router wireless wide area network.

34. A method in accordance with claim 29, comprising:

operating said mobile router to send a notification message to said wireless mobile device via one of said mobile router local area network and said mobile router wireless wide area network when said mobile router detects that one or both of said predetermined distance from said initial location and said predetermined speed is exceeded.

35. A method in accordance with claim 28, comprising:

operating said mobile router in said valet mode for a predetermined period of time after said valet mode is activated; and

automatically deactivating said valet mode upon expiration of said predetermined period.

36. A method in accordance with claim 28, comprising:

utilizing said user interface to select said predetermined radius, said maximum speed limit and said predetermined period of time.

37. A method in accordance with claim 36, comprising:

storing said predetermined radius, said predetermined speed, and said predetermined period of time in said mobile router.

38. A method in accordance with claim 37, comprising:

coupling said router to a vehicle bus in said corresponding vehicle;

obtaining distance traveled by said corresponding vehicle from said vehicle bus;

obtaining vehicle speed from said vehicle bus.

39. A method in accordance with claim 37, comprising:

providing said corresponding vehicle with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to said mobile router;

utilizing said GPS receiver in cooperation with said mobile router to obtain distance traveled from said initial location by said corresponding vehicle; and

utilizing said GPS receiver in cooperation with said mobile router to obtain vehicle speed from said vehicle bus.

40. A method in accordance with claim 28, comprising:

providing said vehicle with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to said router;

operating said mobile router to utilize said GPS receiver to obtain distance traveled from said initial location by said vehicle; and

operating said mobile router to utilize said GPS receiver to obtain vehicle speed from said vehicle bus.

41. A method in accordance with claim 40, comprising:

operating said mobile router to send a notification message to said wireless mobile device when said mobile router detects that one or both of said distance from said initial location and said predetermined speed is exceeded.

42. A method in accordance with claim 41, comprising:

operating said mobile router in said valet mode for a predetermined period of time after said valet mode is activated; and

automatically deactivating said valet mode upon expiration of said predetermined period.

43. A method in accordance with claim 42, comprising:

utilizing said valet user interface to select said predetermined radius, said predetermined speed, and said predetermined period of time.

44. A method in accordance with claim 43, comprising:

storing said predetermined radius, said predetermined speed, and said predetermined period of time in said mobile router.