Vehicle control module for smart home control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014532-B2
Application number	US-201916402540-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 14, 2018
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A control module for a vehicle comprises a wireless communication circuit in communication with a smart home device and a remote server. The control module further comprises a control circuit in communication with the wireless communication circuit and a controller of the vehicle via a bus interface. The control circuit is configured to receive a status request from the smart home device via the wireless communication circuit. Based on the status request, the control circuit requests a status identification from the controller according to the status request. The control circuit receives the status identification from the controller and communicates the status identification to the smart device via the wireless communication circuit. The status identification is announced by the smart home device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remote control module for a vehicle comprising:
a wireless communication circuit in communication with a smart home device located inside a home and a remote server; and
a control circuit in communication with the wireless communication circuit and a controller of the vehicle via a vehicle bus interface, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive a status request for a location of the vehicle from the smart home device via the wireless communication circuit;
detect an operating status of the vehicle in response to the status request for the location;
identify a driving condition of the vehicle indicating whether the vehicle is driving or parked based on the operating status;
identify the location of the vehicle via a location detection system of the vehicle in response to the status request for the location;
and
communicate a status identification comprising the driving condition and the location of the vehicle to the remote server via the wireless communication circuit, wherein the remote server identifies a landmark nearby the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle and communicates the status identification including the landmark nearby the vehicle to the smart home device, and wherein the driving condition and the location of the vehicle in relation to the landmark are announced by the smart home device.

2. The control module according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive a control request comprising a vehicle control instruction for the vehicle in communication with the wireless communication circuit.

3. The control module according to claim 2 , wherein the control request comprises at least one of a climate control instruction and a defrost instruction.

4. The control module according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
receive from the remote server the control request comprising an authentication indication from the smart home device via the wireless communication circuit to control a vehicle function.

5. The control module according to claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
communicate the control request to the controller of the vehicle; and
communicate a confirmation of the control request to the smart home device using the wireless communication circuit via the remote server.

6. The control module according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
in response to the driving condition indicating that the vehicle is driving, identify a heading direction of the vehicle;
communicate the heading direction and the location of the vehicle to the remote server; and
wherein a voice announcement by the smart home device identifies the heading direction and the landmark in response to the status request.

7. A method for communicating a status request of a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a control circuit of a remote control module associated with the vehicle, the status request for a location of the vehicle from a smart home device located inside a home via a wireless communication circuit of the remote control module in communication with the control circuit;
detecting, by the control circuit via a controller of the vehicle in communication with the control circuit, an operating status of the vehicle in response to the status request for the location;
identifying, by the control circuit, a driving condition indicating whether the vehicle is driving or parked based on the operating status;
identifying, by the control circuit, the location of the vehicle via a location detection system of the vehicle in response to the status request for the location;
and
communicate, by the control circuit, a status identification comprising the driving condition and the location of the vehicle to a remote server via the wireless communication circuit, wherein the remote server identifies a landmark nearby the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle and communicates the status identification including the landmark nearby the vehicle to the smart home device, and wherein the driving condition and the location of the vehicle in relation to the landmark are announced by the smart home device.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
applying an authentication routine authenticating a control request to control a vehicle function of the vehicle from the smart home device, wherein the authentication routine is applied by the remote server; and
receiving the control request comprising an authentication indication from the remote server received by the control circuit via the wireless communication circuit.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
communicating, by the control circuit, the control request to the controller of the vehicle; and
communicating, by the control circuit, a confirmation of the control request to the smart home device using the wireless communication circuit via the remote server.

10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
in response to the driving condition indicating that the vehicle is driving, identifying by the control circuit, a heading direction of the vehicle;
communicating, by the control circuit, the heading direction and the location of the vehicle to the remote server; and wherein a voice announcement by the smart home device identifies the heading direction and the landmark in response to the status request.

Assignees

• Gentex Corp

Inventors

• Weber Garrett D

Classifications

• B60R25/20

  Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off · CPC title

• B60R25/209 Primary

  Remote starting of engine · CPC title

• B60W30/188

  Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power · CPC title

• B60T2220/02

  Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features · CPC title

• B60R25/01

  operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens · CPC title