| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090195376 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SAFETY RESTRAINT STATUS BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - A system and method for notifying primary and second drivers about a status of a safety restraint in a vehicle is provided. A primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to the primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary key and secondary keys. The key ignition device is adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to generate restraint status signals indicative of the status of the safety restraint. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the restraint signals based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090198410 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING EARLY LOW FUEL WARNING BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generate driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090198413 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - A system and method for controlling the operation of stabilizing the movement of a vehicle between primary and secondary drivers is provided. A primary key is adapted to be associated to the primary driver. A secondary key is adapted to be associated to the secondary driver. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is a primary or secondary driver. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to stabilize the movement of the vehicle. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of stabilizing the movement of the vehicle in response to the driver status signals. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090198445 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OBJECT DETECTION BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is operably coupled to the key ignition device. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is adapted to generate position notification signals indicative of the position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The controller is adapted to notify the primary and secondary drivers of the position of the object. The controller is adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the position notification signals based on whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090315751 | ADAPTIVE VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) RECEIVER/CONTROL UNIT(S) - A vehicle system for controlling at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver/control unit is provided. The system comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a vehicle controller, and a vehicle interface display. The GPS receiver is configured to generate a geographic location signal indicative of the first location of the RF receiver/control unit. The vehicle controller is configured to associate the geographic location signal to an RF control signal. The vehicle interface display is configured to present at least one menu option for occupant selection to control the operation of the RF receiver/control unit such that the vehicle interface display controls the vehicle controller to transmit the RF control signal to control the RF receiver/control unit to perform the predetermined operation in response to the occupant selecting the at least one menu option. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100117868 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING LOCATION INFORMATION ABOUT A VEHICLE ON A WIRELESS DEVICE - A system and method for transmitting a location signal indicative of the location of the vehicle to a first wireless device is provided. The system comprises a navigation module and a controller. The navigation module is positioned within the vehicle and is configured to transmit a location signal indicative of the physical location of the vehicle. The controller is configured to transmit the location signal as a radio frequency (RF) based signal to the at least one wireless device in response to detecting the occurrence of at least one predetermined vehicle event. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20110071701 | Jurisdiction-Aware Function Control and Configuration for Motor Vehicles - Apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises a location monitor for determining vehicle coordinates for an instantaneous vehicle position within a predetermined reference system. A jurisdictional map database is provided for relating a plurality of jurisdictions to corresponding ranges of coordinates in the predetermined reference system. A regulation database is provided for relating a plurality of vehicle functions to corresponding parametric limitations for respective jurisdictions. A user interface is coupled to the regulation database for configuring at least one of the parametric limitations. A controller is coupled to the location monitor, the jurisdictional map database, and the regulation database for identifying a current jurisdiction in response to the vehicle coordinates, identifying at least one vehicle function having a parametric limitation for the current jurisdiction, and modifying the action of the identified vehicle function to comply with the respective parametric limitation. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071720 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING THE CONDITION OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS FROM A NOMADIC WIRELESS DEVICE OR COMPUTER - A computer-implemented method for detecting a working condition of one or more vehicle components includes communicating with a cellular communication module in a vehicle over a telecommunications network. A vehicle component characteristic or identifier for the vehicle components is received over the telecommunication network. One or more operation status identifiers for the one or more vehicle components based on data from the vehicle is also received. A location for servicing or purchasing the one or more vehicle components based on the vehicle component characteristic or identifier is determined. A service status of the one or more vehicle components based on the one or more operation status identifiers is also determined. Based on the service status, a message including an identification of the vehicle components and a service or purchase location for the vehicle components is generated. The message is transmitted to a terminal for display. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071725 | REMOTELY INTERACTING WITH A VEHICLE TO PERFORM SERVICING AND ENGINEERING FUNCTIONS FROM A NOMADIC DEVICE OR COMPUTER - A method for remotely performing vehicle service functions may include receiving at a computer a request signal including at least one instruction for diagnosing a vehicle component. The method may also include retrieving one or more threshold parameters stored for determining a diagnosis of the vehicle component. A diagnostic signal together with the threshold parameters and the diagnostic instruction may be transmitted to a vehicle receiver. The determination as to whether the threshold parameters have been met is made at a vehicle. If the one or more threshold parameters are met, a return signal including diagnostic status identifiers identifying a diagnostic status of the vehicle component may be received. A message including at least one diagnostic status of the vehicle component based on the one or more diagnostic status identifiers may generated and displayed on a graphical display for vehicle diagnosis and service. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING VEHICLE COMPONENTS FROM A NOMADIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE OR COMPUTER - A method for remotely controlling one or more vehicle components includes receiving over a telecommunications network signals originating from a remote terminal. The signals include remote operation instructions for remotely operating a vehicle entertainment system component. The remote operation instructions are executed. Operation status identifiers transmitted over a vehicle data bus are received from the vehicle entertainment system component. Based on the operation status identifiers, an operating status of the vehicle entertainment system component is determined. A return signal including an operation status message and an instruction for displaying the operation status message at the remote terminal is generated. The signal is transmitted to the remote terminal for display. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110080282 | VEHICLE SYSTEM PASSIVE NOTIFICATION USING REMOTE DEVICE - A method of vehicle monitoring includes monitoring one or more vehicle safety systems while a vehicle is in operation to detect an unsafe condition. The method also includes sending an alert to a handheld device if an unsafe condition is detected. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110082625 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ONE OR MORE VEHICLE FEATURES BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling one or more vehicle features for a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The device comprises at least one controller that is configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of the primary driver and the secondary driver and to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is further configured to control one or more vehicle features and to prevent the one or more vehicle features from being disabled in response to determining that the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110163718 | PROVIDING A CHARGING EVENT FOR A VEHICLE BATTERY - A method for providing a battery charging event comprises a plurality of operations. An operation is performed for inhibiting a first battery load from drawing electrical current from a battery charging system of a vehicle. An operation is performed for activating ignition circuitry of the vehicle after said inhibiting of the first battery load. An operation is performed for starting the engine after said ignition circuitry activation. An operation is performed for inhibiting a second battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system after said starting of the engine. An operation is performed for causing an output of an alternator of the vehicle to be adjusted dependent upon a present location of the vehicle. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110163721 | PROVIDING A CHARGING EVENT FOR A VEHICLE BATTERY - A method for providing a battery charging event comprises a plurality of operations. An operation is performed for inhibiting a first battery load from drawing electrical current from a battery charging system of a vehicle. An operation is performed for activating ignition circuitry of the vehicle after said inhibiting of the first battery load. An operation is performed for starting the engine after said ignition circuitry activation. An operation is performed for inhibiting a second battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system after said starting of the engine. An operation is performed for causing an output of an alternator of the vehicle to be adjusted dependent upon a present location of the vehicle. | 07-07-2011 |
