IP Library Granted Patent US 7,209,816
Granted Patent B2
US 7,209,816 · App. 10/962,777 · Granted Apr 24, 2007

System for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiry of vehicle status data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,209,816
App. No.
10/962,777
Granted
Apr 24, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention concerns a system for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiry of vehicle status data, including a first communication device ( 25 ) for bidirectional wireless communications with at least one vehicle communication unit ( 40 ), wherein control commands for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiries for retrieving vehicle status data are transmitted via the first communication device ( 25 ),and further including a second communication unit ( 220 ) for establishing speech communication with a user of the system. According to the invention a computer ( 20 ) is provided for translation of speech information received via the second communication unit ( 220 ) into control commands and/or inquiries, which are then transmitted by the first communication device ( 25 ). Command controls for remote control of vehicle functions are provided and inquiries for requesting vehicle status data are provided. The computer ( 20 ) is adapted to translate information regarding the vehicle ( 10 ) received via the first communication device ( 25 ) into speech information and to transmit this information via the second communication unit ( 220 ) in the form of speech.

Claims (20)

1. A system for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiry of vehicle status data, comprising:

a first communication unit ( 25 ) for bidirectional wireless communications with at least one vehicle communication unit ( 40 ), wherein control commands for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiries for retrieving vehicle status data are transmitted to the vehicle communication unit ( 40 ) via the first communication unit ( 25 ),

a second communication unit ( 220 ) for establishing speech communication with a user of the system who provides speech information regarding remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiry of vehicle status data,

a computer ( 20 ) connected to the second communication unit ( 220 ) for translation of the speech information received via the second communication unit ( 220 ) into control commands and/or inquiries, which are then transmitted to the vehicle communication unit ( 40 ) by the first communication unit ( 25 ),

wherein command controls for remote control of vehicle functions are provided and wherein inquiries for requesting vehicle status data are provided, wherein the computer ( 20 ) is adapted to translate information regarding the vehicle ( 10 ) received via the first communication unit ( 25 ) into speech information and to transmit this information via the second communication unit ( 220 ) in the form of speech to the user.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein in the computer ( 20 ), on the basis of authentication data received from the user, an association of the user with a specific vehicle is made.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the system further checks whether the user has authorization to remotely control a particular function.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer ( 20 ) is connected with at least one further network ( 210 , 230 ), in particular the internet ( 210 ) and/or a mobile internet ( 230 ).

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the user can transmit, via the at least one additional network ( 210 , 230 ), information to the computer ( 20 ), which is translated by the computer ( 20 ) into commands for remote control of vehicle functions and into inquiries for requesting vehicle stains data, and transmitted via the first communication unit ( 25 ).

6. The system according to claim 4 wherein the computer ( 20 ) receives information via the first communication unit ( 25 ) and transmits this, via the at least one additional network ( 210 , 230 ), to the associated user.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first communication unit ( 25 ) further receives a reply message that a control command for remote control of a vehicle function cannot be performed if energy stored in a battery in the vehicle ( 10 ) is below a predetermined threshold to carry out the vehicle function.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control commands for remote control of vehicle functions include locking of vehicles doors, sliding root windows, or gas cap lid.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control commands for remote control of vehicle functions include control of heaters, climate control, and seat heaters.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control commands for remote control of vehicle functions include programming of a start time, and end time, a cancellation of a start time, an immediate activation of a function, or an immediate ending of a function.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer ( 20 ) is further programmed to recognize key words corresponding to the vehicle functions that are remotely controlled.

12. A method for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiry of vehicle status data, comprising:

establishing bidirectional wireless communications between a first communication unit ( 25 ) and at least one vehicle communication unit ( 40 ), wherein control commands for remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiries for retrieving vehicle status data are transmitted to the vehicle communication unit ( 40 ) via the first communication unit ( 25 ),

establishing speech communication between a user and a second communication unit ( 220 ), wherein the user provides speech information regarding remote control of vehicle functions and/or inquiry of vehicle status data,

translating by a computer ( 20 ) connected to the second communication unit ( 220 ) the speech information received via the second communication unit ( 220 ) into control commands and/or inquiries, which are then transmitted to the vehicle communication unit ( 40 ) by the first communication unit ( 25 ),

translating information regarding the vehicle ( 10 ) received via the first communication unit ( 25 ) into speech information and to transmitting this information via the second communication unit ( 220 ) in the form of speech to the user.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Dec 11, 2015
From: BURANI CONSULTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC
Reel/Frame 037273/0458 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2012
From: DAIMLER AG
To: BURANI CONSULTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027624/0585 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 23, 2008
From: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
To: DAIMLER AG
Reel/Frame 021281/0094 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2005
From: MUELLER, ACHIM
To: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
Reel/Frame 016265/0891 →