Trainable transceiver and mobile communications device systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9620005-B2
Application number	US-201514690242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2015
Priority date	Apr 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a transceiver circuit configured, based on training information, to control the remote device, a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device, an output device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, coupled to the communications device, and coupled to the output device. The control circuit is configured to receive notification information from the mobile communications device via the communications device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to generate an output using the output device based on the notification information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device, comprising:
a transceiver circuit configured, based on training information, to control the remote device;
a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device;
an output device, and
a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, coupled to the communications device, and coupled to the output device,
wherein the control circuit is configured to receive notification information from the mobile communications device via the communications device, wherein the notification information includes a status of the mobile communications device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to generate an output using the output device based on the notification information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output device includes an indicator light configured to a least one of illuminate in one of a plurality of colors in response to control by the control circuit or flash in response to control by the control circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output device includes a plurality of indicator lights, and wherein the control circuit is configured to illuminate one or more indicator lights of the plurality of indicator lights in response to the notification information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output device includes a display configured to display images, in response to control by the control circuit, which correspond to the notification information received from the mobile communications device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output device includes a speaker, and wherein the control circuit is configured to provide an audible notification in response to the notification information.

6. A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device, comprising:
a transceiver circuit configured based on training information to communicate with the remote device;
a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device;
an input mechanism, and
a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, coupled to the communications device, and coupled to the input mechanism,
wherein the control circuit is configured to send a transmission to the mobile communications device via the communications device and in response to an input received via the input mechanism, and wherein the transmission controls the mobile communications device and causes the mobile communications device to perform an action.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the input mechanism includes at least one of a plurality of buttons, a single button, or a touch screen display.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the input mechanism is configured to accept inputs related to controlling the remote device and accept inputs related to controlling the mobile communications device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine whether to send a transmission to the remote device or send the transmission to the mobile communications device, in response to an input, based on the location of the trainable transceiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit determines the location of the trainable transceiver based on location information received from the mobile communications device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine whether to send a transmission to the remote device or send the transmission to the mobile communications device, in response to an input, based on the whether the trainable transceiver is within communications range of the remote device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit determines if the trainable transceiver is within communications range of the remote device based on a location of the trainable transceiver and a location of the remote device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit determines if the trainable transceiver is within communications range of the remote device based on a signal from the remote device received at the transceiver circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit determines if the trainable transceiver is within communications range of the remote device based on the lack of a signal from the remote device received at the transceiver circuit.

15. A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device, comprising:
a transceiver circuit configured based on training information to communicate with the remote device;
a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile communications device; and
a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and coupled to the radio frequency transceiver,
wherein the control circuit is configured to prevent communication with the remote device unless a key has been received, via the radio frequency transceiver, from the mobile communications device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to listen for the key using the radio frequency transceiver at startup of the trainable transceiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to listen for the key using the radio frequency transceiver after sending a key request transmission to the mobile communications device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured to send the key request transmission to the mobile communications device at startup of the trainable transceiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured to send the key request transmission to the mobile communications device prior to communicating with the remote device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured to send the key request transmission to the mobile communications device in response to receiving a user input for communicating with the remote device.

Assignees

• Gentex Corp

Inventors

• Geerlings Steven L
• Witkowski Todd R
• Wright Thomas S
• Smeyers Marc A
• Dorst Jonathan E
• Papay Douglas C

Classifications

• G08C2201/91

  Remote control based on location and proximity · CPC title

• G07C2009/00793

  by Hertzian waves · CPC title

• G08C2201/20

  Binding and programming of remote control devices · CPC title

• G08C2201/93

  Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop · CPC title

• G07C2009/00507

  keyless data carrier having more than one function · CPC title