IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,917,801
Granted Patent B2
US 6,917,801 · App. 10/023,539 · Granted Jul 12, 2005

Communication system for use with a vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,917,801
App. No.
10/023,539
Granted
Jul 12, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention relates to a communication system for use with a vehicle. The system comprises a first communication unit ( 1 ), being positioned within a vehicle ( 2 ), and a second portable communication unit ( 7 ). The first communication unit ( 1 ) comprises a first memory circuit ( 4 ) being connected with a first transceiver ( 3 ), and said second communication unit ( 7 ) comprises a second memory circuit ( 10 ) being connected with a second transceiver ( 9 ). The transceivers ( 3,9 ) are arranged to establish a short-distance wireless communication link ( 8 ) between said first and second communication units when the communication units are within a communication range from each other, thereby enabling two-way communication between said communication units. An information item, stored in any one of said memory circuits is automatically transmitted to the other one of said memory circuits ( 4,10 ), over said wireless communication link ( 8 ) when the communication units ( 1,7 ) are within said communication range from each other. Further, the invention relates to a fob unit, comprising a second communication unit, for use in a communication system as described above.

Claims (16)

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

a first communication unit, located within a vehicle, the first communication unit interfacing with a vehicle computer such that bi-directional communication is enabled between the first communication unit and the vehicle computer; and

a portable second communication unit;

said first communication unit comprising a first memory circuit being configured to receive and store information from at least one of the vehicle computer and the second communication unit and connected with a first transceiver, and

said second communication unit comprising a second memory circuit, configured to store information from at least one of the first communication unit and an external information source and connected with a second transceiver,

said transceivers being arranged to establish a short-distance wireless communication link between said first and second communication units when the communication units are within a communication range from each other, thereby enabling two-way communication between said communication units, whereby an information item, stored in any one of said memory circuits is transmittable to the other one of said memory circuits, over said wireless communication link when the communication units are within said communication range from each other.

2. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second communication unit is a portable fob.

3. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second communication unit is connectable to said external information source, such as a personal computer, in order to establish an information transmission link between said external information source and said second communication unit.

4. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second communication unit is connectable with a terminal unit for long-distance wireless communication and said first communication unit is connectable with the long-distance wireless communication network whereby a two-way connection between the first and second communication units is established by connecting said terminal with said first communication unit over said network.

5. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first and second communication unit each comprises an identification item, whereby a request for connection from any communication unit is tested to be qualified before enabling a connection between said communication units.

6. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second communication unit is integrated in a cellular terminal.

7. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said interface between said first communication unit and said vehicle computer comprises a vehicle data network within said vehicle.

8. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said vehicle computer is a travel computer.

9. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second communication unit further comprises a clock device.

10. The communication system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second communication unit further comprises a biometric sensor, for identifying a user.

11. The communication system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the output of said biometric sensor is used to classify users in order to give different users different access to the vehicle.