Abstract: A system for controlling a remote device from a vehicle includes a control device in the vehicle. The control device includes an operator input device configured to receive a user, input, a control circuit coupled to the operator input device, and a first communications device coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to transmit a control signal in response to the user input. The system further includes a trainable transceiver remote from the vehicle including a second communications device configured to receive the control signal, a processing circuit coupled to the second communications device, and a transceiver circuit coupled to the processing circuit. The processing circuit configured to format an activation signal in response to the control signal, and the processing circuit is further configured to transmit the activation signal via the transceiver circuit, wherein the activation signal is configured to control the remote device.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a device, the system including a trainable transceiver, communications electronics, and a processing circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the communications electronics. The processing circuit is configured to train the trainable transceiver to control a device using information received from a cloud computing system remote from the device and vehicle via the communications electronics.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, an output device, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use data received from the camera to determine if the vehicle is well positioned within a garage, and the control circuit is configured to provide an indication that the vehicle is well positioned using the output device in response to determining that the vehicle is well positioned within a garage.

Abstract: A wireless communication module is disclosed. The wireless communication module comprises a magnetic sensor configured to detect magnetic field data and a communication circuit. A controller is in communication with the magnetic sensor and the communication circuit. The controller is configured to monitor the magnetic field data and compare the magnetic field data to a first predetermined threshold. In response the magnetic field data exceeding the first threshold, the controller is configured to output an activation signal to the communication circuit. The communication circuit is configured to enter an active state in response to receiving the activation signal.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver base station for controlling a remote device includes a first transceiver circuit, a power connection, and a control circuit. The first transceiver circuit is configured to transmit activation signals to the remote device, the activation signals formatted based on training information and formatted to control the remote device. The power connection is configured to receive electrical power from a vehicle. The control circuit is configured to cause the first transceiver circuit to transmit the activation signal when a command signal is received at the trainable transceiver base station. The trainable transceiver base station is located at a first location within the vehicle, and the trainable transceiver base station is configured to receive the command signal from a remote button module located at a second location within the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for automatically transmitting an activation signal from a trainable transceiver to a remote electronic system, includes receiving, at a control circuit of the trainable transceiver, image data from an image data source; determining, using the control circuit, if the received image data matches one or more reference images stored in memory and associated with the remote electronic system; and determining, in response to a match between the received image data and the one or more reference images, if the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system. The method includes, in response to determining that the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system, formatting an activation signal to control the remote electronic system and transmitting, using a transceiver circuit, the activation signal formatted to control the remote electronic system.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver for controlling a remote device includes 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, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, and coupled to the communications device. The control circuit is configured to transmit diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a mobile communications device via the communications device.

Abstract: A transmitter device for coupling to a vehicle and for conducting a transmission to a remote system includes a transmitter and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and having an input interface. The input interface is coupled to an existing user interface of the vehicle for receiving an input to cause the transmitter to conduct its transmission to the remote system. The input interface is coupled to a vehicle sensor for receiving a vehicle sensor input including a motion status of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to prevent the transmitter from conducting its transmission to the remote system unless the motion status of the vehicle indicates the vehicle is travelling at a speed less than a threshold speed.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a trainable transceiver and a remote button module. The trainable transceiver base station configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a first location and the remote button module separated from the base station and configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a second location. The remote button module is configured to wirelessly transmit a command signal to the base station in response to receiving a user input at a user input device, and the base station responds to receiving the command signal by transmitting an activation signal to the remote device, wherein the activation signal is formatted to control the remote device.

Abstract: A vehicle-based remote control system and method are provided herein. A first in-vehicle device and a second in-vehicle device are provided. The second in-vehicle device includes a user-input mechanism having at least one actuatable member, and a controller programmed to respond to input from the user-input mechanism. Upon actuation of the at least one actuatable member, the controller prompts the first in-vehicle device to transmit a pre-recorded user voice command assigned to the at least one actuatable member. The pre-recorded user voice command is transmitted to a server. The server processes the pre-recorded user voice command and generates a command for executing an action specified by the pre-recorded user voice command. The command is executed by one or more smart devices located remotely from a vehicle.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, an output device, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use data received from the camera to determine if the vehicle is well positioned within a garage, and the control circuit is configured to provide an indication that the vehicle is well positioned using the output device in response to determining that the vehicle is well positioned within a garage.

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 communicate with the remote device, a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, and coupled to the communications device. The control circuit is configured to transmit diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a mobile communications device via the communications device.

Abstract: A method for automatically transmitting an activation signal from a trainable transceiver to a remote electronic system, includes receiving, at a control circuit of the trainable transceiver, image data from an image data source; determining, using the control circuit, if the received image data matches one or more reference images stored in memory and associated with the remote electronic system; and determining, in response to a match between the received image data and the one or more reference images, if the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system. The method includes, in response to determining that the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system, formatting an activation signal to control the remote electronic system and transmitting, using a transceiver circuit, the activation signal formatted to control the remote electronic system.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device in response to identifying the remote device.

Abstract: A system includes a communication device and a user interface. The communication device includes a universal toll module configured to transmit a toll signal that includes at least one electronic toll code to be communicated to an electronic toll system. The universal toll module is communicatively coupled to a vehicle bus of the vehicle. The user interface is communicatively coupled to the vehicle bus.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver is provided for a vehicle for transmitting signals to a device remote from the vehicle. The trainable transceiver includes an RF transceiver configured to receive an RF signal during a training mode in order to learn characteristics of the received RF signal, and to transmit an RF signal to the remote device in an operating mode where the transmitted RF signal includes the learned characteristics of the received RF signal; a local memory device for storing channel data representing the learned characteristics of the received RF signal; an interface configured to communicate with an Internet-connected device; and a controller coupled to the local memory device and the interface, the controller configured to retrieve the channel data from the local memory device and transfer the channel data for storage remote from the vehicle using the interface. The controller may also receive channel data from the remote memory device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of re-programming memory, and in particular, to wirelessly re-programming software, such as the application code, residing in memory of a trainable transceiver. The wireless re-programming of memory allows for software in the trainable transceiver to be updated or replaced from a remote location, where a direct or wired connection to the product is not otherwise available.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a camera, a trainable transceiver, and a control circuit coupled to the camera and the trainable transceiver. The control circuit is configured to use geographic location information to determine when to initiate a process of using the camera to identify the remote device and transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device. Upon initiation of the process, the control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and wherein the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device, using the trainable transceiver, in response to identifying the remote device.

Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a device, the system including a trainable transceiver, communications electronics, and a processing circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the communications electronics. The processing circuit is configured to train the trainable transceiver to control a device using information received from a cloud computing system remote from the device and vehicle via the communications electronics.

Abstract: A system for controlling a remote device includes a mobile communications device and a trainable transceiver. The mobile communications device includes a display, a camera flash, a speaker, and a processing circuit coupled to the display, the camera flash, and the speaker. The trainable transceiver includes a transceiver circuit, a communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and the communications device. The trainable transceiver is configured to be in communication with the mobile communications device using the communications device, and the control circuit is configured to receive training information from the mobile communications device and train the trainable transceiver to communicate with the remote device based on the training information.