System and method to extend the time limit of a remote vehicle command

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020102926-A1
Application number	US-201816148053-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2018
Priority date	Oct 1, 2018
Publication date	Apr 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

One general aspect includes a system to extend an activation command time duration, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to: receive an activation command from a remote entity; in response to the activation command, activate an engine of a vehicle; maintain the engine in an active state for a duration of time; establish a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) with a mobile computing device; and in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, extend the duration of time the engine is maintained in the active state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system to extend an activation command time duration, the system comprising:
a memory configured to comprise one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, wherein the executable instructions enable the processor to:
receive an activation command from a remote entity;
in response to the activation command, activate an engine of a vehicle;
maintain the engine in an active state for a duration of time;
establish a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) with a mobile computing device; and
in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, extend the duration of time the engine is maintained in the active state.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, activate one or more exterior-mounted vehicle lamps.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising send a status notification to the remote entity after the engine has been activated or has failed to activate, the status notification configured to cause the remote entity to send a success/failure notification to the mobile computing device.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the activation command is generated by the remote entity in response to a remote start attempt from the mobile computing device or a virtual assistant.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine is deactivated at an end of the duration of time unless vehicle operations are physically activated from within a vehicle cabin.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the activation command is received from the remote entity only when the mobile computing devices is at a location outside a range capable of establishing SRWC between the processor and the mobile computing device.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the duration of time is extended by ten (10) minutes.

8 . A vehicle comprising a telematics unit, the telematics unit configured to:
receive an activation command from a data center; in response to the activation command, activate an engine of the vehicle; maintain the engine in an active state for a duration of time; establish a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) with a mobile computing device; and in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, extend the duration of time the engine is maintained in the active state.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the telematics unit is further configured to, in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, activate one or more exterior-mounted vehicle lamps.

10 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the telematics unit is further configured to send a status notification to the data center after the engine has been activated or has failed to activate, the status notification configured to cause the data center to send a success/failure notification to the mobile computing device.

11 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the activation command is generated by the data center in response to a remote start attempt from the mobile computing device or a virtual assistant.

12 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the engine is deactivated at an end of the duration of time unless vehicle operations are physically activated from within a vehicle cabin.

13 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the activation command is received from the data center only when the mobile computing devices is at a location outside a range capable of establishing SRWC between the telematics unit and the mobile computing device.

14 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the duration of time is extended by ten (10) minutes.

15 . A method to extend an activation command time duration, the method comprising:
receiving, at a processor, an activation command from a remote entity; in response to the activation command, via the processor, activating an engine of a vehicle; maintaining, via the processor, the engine in an active state for a duration of time; establishing, via the processor, a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) with a mobile computing device; and in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, via the processor, extending the duration of time the engine is maintained in the active state.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising, in response to the SRWC being established with the mobile computing device, via the processor, activating one or more exterior-mounted vehicle lamps.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising sending, via the processor, a status notification to the remote entity after the engine has been activated or has failed to activate, the status notification configured to cause the remote entity to send a success/failure notification to the mobile computing device.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the activation command is generated by the remote entity in response to a remote start attempt from the mobile computing device or a virtual assistant.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the engine is deactivated at an end of the duration of time unless vehicle operations are physically activated from within a vehicle cabin.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the duration of time is extended by ten (10) minutes.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Jaggi Kunal
• Goyal Anurag
• Proefke David T

Classifications

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title

• B60Q1/14 Primary

  having dimming means · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04W4/40

  for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] · CPC title

• B60Q1/04

  the devices being headlights · CPC title