Home control system from a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018798-A1
Application number	US-201414333633-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A home control system and a method of home control from a vehicle includes determining a distance between the vehicle and a home, and controlling a home system of the home in response to the distance or the estimated amount of time for the vehicle to reach home.

First claim

1 . A method of home control using a home control system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
calculating a relative distance between the vehicle and a home; identifying a distance relationship between the relative distance and a control distance; and using a communication system of the home control system to selectively control a home system of the home in response to the distance relationship.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein calculating the relative distance utilizes a Global Positioning System (GPS).

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein calculating the relative distance utilizes a camera system.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the home system comprises a garage door.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the home system comprises a climate control system.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the home system comprises a security system.

7 . A method of home control using a home control system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining a time associated with a desired state of a home system; associating a relative distance between the vehicle and a home with the time; and controlling the home system from the home control system of the vehicle when the vehicle is at the relative distance from the home.

8 . The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the relative distance between the vehicle and the home is determined via a GPS.

9 . The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the relative distance between the vehicle and the home is determined via a camera system.

10 . The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the home system comprises a climate control system.

11 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the time associated with the desired state of the home system is a time required for changing to a temperature of the home to a desired temperature.

12 . The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the home system comprises a garage door.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the time associated with the desired state of the home system is a time required for operation of the garage door.

14 . A home control system, comprising:
a vehicle positional system configured to determine a distance between a vehicle and a home; a control system in communication with the vehicle positional system; a communication system in communication with the control system; and a home system in communication with the control system via the communication system, wherein the home system is controlled by the control system in response to the distance.

15 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the vehicle positional system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS).

16 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the vehicle positional system includes a camera system.

17 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the home system comprises a garage door.

18 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the home system comprises a climate control system.

19 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the home system comprises a security system.

20 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the home system comprises an appliance.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Motor Sales Usa Inc

Inventors

• Jiang Yifan
• Gunaratne Pujitha
• Schulz Jason A

Classifications

• G08C2201/91

  Remote control based on location and proximity · CPC title

• H04L2012/2841

  Wireless · CPC title

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• G08C17/00

  Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link · CPC title

• H04L12/2818 Primary

  from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007) · CPC title