Patents by Inventor Geoff Weathersby

Geoff Weathersby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240149829
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identify smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to the communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: GEOFF WEATHERSBY, Robert Andre Lacroix, Elie Issa
  • Patent number: 11891016
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identify smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to the communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geoff Weathersby, Robert Andre Lacroix, Elie Issa
  • Publication number: 20230256938
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identify smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to the communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geoff Weathersby, Robert Andre Lacroix, Elie Issa
  • Patent number: 11603076
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identity smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to live communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Andre Lacroix, Geoff Weathersby, Elie Issa
  • Publication number: 20210207967
    Abstract: In selected embodiments, a vehicle control system (VCS) is coupled to a vehicle computer and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing/de-energizing the smartkey. The VCS communicates with a remote vehicle control platform (VCP) configured to direct the VCS and send/receive SMS messages. An authorized user of the vehicle sends from a smartphone an SMS to the VCP, identifying the vehicle and a smartphone of another person with whom the authorized user wishes to share the vehicle. The VCP sends an SMS to the other person's smartphone, notifying the other person of the vehicle's availability. The second person replies to the VCP, requesting vehicle access. The VCP receives the reply SMS, validates the other person's smartphone, and signals the VCS to grant vehicle access. The VCS unlocks the vehicle, and energizes the smartkey, rendering the vehicle accessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Andre LaCroix, Geoff Weathersby, David Meunier
  • Publication number: 20210170990
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identity smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to live communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Andre Lacroix, Geoff Weathersby, Elie Issa
  • Patent number: 10857977
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identify smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to the communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Andre Lacroix, Geoff Weathersby, Elie Issa