Abstract: A system for sharing data between aircraft including a GPS unit for establishing a first aircraft's location and altitude from a network of global satellites and an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) unit broadcasting a first aircraft's identification as well as it's location and altitude. The system also includes a mechanism for measuring the wind speed and turbulence at the location of the first aircraft and for broadcasting that information to other aircraft in the area. A second aircraft as well as other aircraft also include an ADS-B receiver for receiving such information.

Abstract: A vehicle remote function system is provided for determining a location of a fob relative to a vehicle. The system includes a controller adapted to be mounted in the vehicle and configured for communication with antennas mounted at different vehicle locations, the controller for use in determining the location of the fob based on ultra-wide band wireless signals transmitted between the antennas and the fob. The controller is configured to locate the fob within one of multiple three-dimensional zones, one of the zones configured to have a non-spherical shape. A method is also provided for use in a vehicle remote function system, the method for determining a location of a fob relative to a vehicle. The method includes transmitting ultra-wide band wireless signals between the vehicle and the fob, and determining the location of the fob within one of multiple three-dimensional zones, one of the zones having a non-spherical shape.

Abstract: An electronic passive entry-passive start (ePEPS) system includes a first satellite ultra-wideband antenna, a second satellite ultra-wideband antenna, a third satellite ultra-wideband antenna, and a fourth satellite ultra-wideband antenna. A remote function actuator is in electronic communication with the first satellite ultra-wideband antenna, the second satellite ultra-wideband antenna, the third satellite ultra-wideband antenna, and the fourth satellite ultra-wideband antenna. A body control module can be in electronic communication with remote function actuator. A key fob is in wireless communication with the first satellite ultra-wideband antenna, the second satellite ultra-wideband antenna, the third satellite ultra-wideband antenna, and the fourth satellite ultra-wideband antenna such that predetermined functions in a vehicle are actuated depending on the position of a user.

Abstract: A vehicle system and method is provided for detecting the location of a portable wireless device. The vehicle system includes the portable device and a plurality of base stations positioned about a vehicle. The portable device is configured to transmit a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal indicative of motion data of the portable device. A main base station of the plurality of base stations is configured to determine a first final position of the portable device in response to each of the plurality of base stations successfully receiving the first wireless signal. The main base station is further configured to determine a second final position of the portable device using the first final position and the motion data of the second wireless signal as received at the first base station and after determining that the second base station has not successfully received the second wireless signal.

Abstract: A vehicle system is provided with a portable device configured to provide a wireless signal and at least three base stations for being positioned about a vehicle. Each base station being configured to receive the wireless signal and to generate a message indicative of a time of flight of the wireless signal. The vehicle system also includes a main base station for being positioned within the vehicle and configured to determine a general location of the portable device within one of a plurality of zones about the vehicle and to determine a three-dimensional location of the portable device based on the message using a first estimation in response to the portable device being located in a first zone.

Abstract: A system for sharing data between aircraft including a GPS unit for establishing a first aircraft's location and altitude from a network of global satellites and an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) unit broadcasting a first aircraft's identification as well as it's location and altitude. The system also includes a mechanism for measuring the wind speed and turbulence at the location of the first aircraft and for broadcasting that information to other aircraft in the area. A second aircraft as well as other aircraft also include an ADS-B receiver for receiving such information.

Abstract: A vehicle system is provided with a portable device that is configured to provide a wireless signal. The vehicle system includes at least three base stations for being positioned about a vehicle within a first plane and a fourth base station for being positioned within the vehicle and vertically offset from the first plane to define a second plane with two of the at least three base stations. Each base station is configured to receive the wireless signal and to generate a message indicative of a time of flight of the wireless signal. The fourth base station is further configured to determine a three-dimensional location of the portable device based on the message generated by each base station.

Abstract: A vehicle system and method is provided for detecting the location of a portable wireless device. The vehicle system includes the portable device and a plurality of base stations positioned about a vehicle. The portable device is configured to transmit a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal indicative of motion data of the portable device. A main base station of the plurality of base stations is configured to determine a first final position of the portable device in response to each of the plurality of base stations successfully receiving the first wireless signal. The main base station is further configured to determine a second final position of the portable device using the first final position and the motion data of the second wireless signal as received at the first base station and after determining that the second base station has not successfully received the second wireless signal.

Abstract: A vehicle remote function system is provided for determining a location of a fob relative to a vehicle. The system includes a controller adapted to be mounted in the vehicle and configured for communication with antennas mounted at different vehicle locations, the controller for use in determining the location of the fob based on ultra-wide band wireless signals transmitted between the antennas and the fob. The controller is configured to locate the fob within one of multiple three-dimensional zones, one of the zones configured to have a non-spherical shape. A method is also provided for use in a vehicle remote function system, the method for determining a location of a fob relative to a vehicle. The method includes transmitting ultra-wide band wireless signals between the vehicle and the fob, and determining the location of the fob within one of multiple three-dimensional zones, one of the zones having a non-spherical shape.

Abstract: A garage door opener (GDO) communications gateway module includes a receiver for receiving garage door signals and a transmitter for transmitting control signals to a GDO operable for opening and closing a garage door of a garage of a house. The transmitter transmits a control signal to the GDO to control the garage door upon receipt of a garage door signal by the receiver. The module includes a Bluetooth enabled first for communicating with a Bluetooth enabled appliance of a vehicle over a wireless communications path when the vehicle is located within the vicinity of the garage. The module includes a second transceiver for communicating with a device of the house over another communications path. The vehicle appliance and the house device communicate with one another over the communications paths via the transceivers. The receiver, the transmitter, and the transceivers are contained within a housing mountable to the garage.

Abstract: A method for establishing communication between a communication protocol controller and a main controller including the steps of monitoring a communication bus using a power management device wherein the bus is electrically coupled to the protocol controller, the power management device, and the main controller residing in an initial low power mode, determining when the protocol controller is attempting to communicate with the main controller, generating a wake-up signal in response to the attempted communication, presenting the wake-up signal to the processor of the main controller, wherein the main controller enters a wake-up mode in response to the wake-up signal, reading at least one communication protocol configuration parameter from the data storage device, and initiating communication between the main controller and the protocol controller using the at least one communication protocol configuration parameter such that communication between the protocol controller and a communication protocol enabled de

Abstract: A method is provided for generating a destination address in response to a plurality of oral inputs by a user. The user is prompted to orally input a primary geographical descriptor of the destination address to the in-vehicle navigation module. Primary geographical utterance data is generated in response to an oral input by the user. The primary matching voice templates stored in the in-vehicle navigation module are compared with the primary geographical utterance data. The secondary voice templates associated with the secondary geographical descriptors within the primary geographical descriptors are retrieved from the remote navigation server. The secondary geographical utterance data is generated in response an oral input by the user. The stored secondary voice templates are compared with the secondary geographical utterance data. The destination address is generated in response to matching voice templates.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating information between a vehicle and a device located in a house. The system includes a vehicle appliance integrated in a vehicle. The vehicle appliance has a Bluetooth® enabled communications module. The system further includes a garage located in the vicinity of the house. The garage has a garage door opener mounted therein. The garage door opener has a Bluetooth® enabled communications module and a transceiver. The communications modules wirelessly communicate with one another when the vehicle is located in the vicinity of the garage. The system further includes a device such as a personal computer or a home security or lighting system located in the house. The device and the transceiver of the garage door opener wirelessly communicate with one another. The vehicle appliance and the device wirelessly communicate with one another via the communications module and the transceiver of the garage door opener.

Abstract: A hands-free, telephone system for a vehicle includes a vehicle appliance configured to read over vehicle speakers and display on a vehicle radio display a voice tag associated with a call incoming to a cell phone paired with the appliance for an operator to hear and view. The appliance uses text-to-speech (TTS) to transfer phonebook entries from the cell phone to memory of the appliance. The appliance uses TTS to read and display text messages incoming to the cell phone for the operator to hear and view. The appliance initiates connecting and disconnecting of the cell phone with the appliance in response to voice commands of the operator. The appliance wirelessly communicates vehicle diagnostic information to another device. The appliance controls vehicle functions in accordance with voice commands of the operator. The appliance receives music files from a device and plays the music files in accordance with operator voice commands.

Abstract: A hands-free, Bluetooth™ enabled telephone system for a vehicle is configured to enable an operator such as the driver of the vehicle to say multiple voice commands at one time in order to control the operation of the telephone system. Such multiple commands include “Dial <name>”, “Dial <name location>”, “Dial <number>”, and “Send <account number>.” The hands-free, Bluetooth™ enabled telephone system enables the pairing between Bluetooth™ enabled cell phones and a Bluetooth™ communications module of the telephone system to be conducted in a human friendly manner. The hands-free, Bluetooth™ enabled telephone system enables the telephone system to generate DTMF tones corresponding to a numeric account number or password in response to the driver vocally saying an account name associated with the numeric account number or password during a call between the driver and a voice-automated, menu-driven system for receipt by the menu-driven system.

Abstract: A vehicle appliance includes hands-free telephone, global positioning system (GPS), and satellite communications modules combined in a common architecture for providing complete telematics functions to a vehicle operator. The telephone module enables the operator to establish a cell phone call between a cell phone in the vehicle and a phone external to the vehicle using voice commands. The GPS module communicates with GPS satellites to generate data regarding the position of the vehicle and to output a map display of the position of the vehicle for the operator to view. The satellite communications module establishes a satellite call with a service provider via a satellite. The satellite communications module communicates voice commands of the operator received by the hands-free telephone module along with vehicle position data generated by the GPS module to the service provider during the satellite call for such services as navigation, concierge, emergency, and the like.