Local Indication Patents (Class 340/426.22)
  • Patent number: 11595779
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying stock anomalies in a fleet management system. A computing device may be configured to receive a geofence location for a first vehicle from the fleet management system, and receive a second location from an on-board telematics unit of the first vehicle. The computing device may determine whether the received second location is within the received geofence location. The computing device may determining that the first vehicle is in a state of anomaly in response to determining that the received second location is not within the received geofence location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Tracematics Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Brady
  • Patent number: 11540084
    Abstract: A vehicle geofence system may include a vehicle location detection device configured to provide vehicle location data for a vehicle, a memory configured to maintain geofence data, and a processor programmed to receive the vehicle location data, compare a vehicle location as indicated by the vehicle location data to the geofence data, in response to determining that the vehicle has crossed a geofence, present an inquiry, to a user, requesting feedback as to the accuracy of the geofence crossing, receive user feedback to the inquiry, and provide the user feedback to a server external of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hussam Makkiya, Nunzio DeCia, Elena Ilieva
  • Patent number: 11091092
    Abstract: Systems and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data to determine whether an object external to an autonomous vehicle is a person (e.g., such as a pedestrian) or other classification (e.g., such as a vehicle), and may be further configured to determine a position of the person relative to the autonomous vehicle. Logic may be configured to direct acoustic energy (e.g., via vehicular acoustic beam-forming) to an object external to the autonomous vehicle as an audible acoustic alert. The vehicle-related acoustic beam may be directed to a driver in another vehicle. Logic may be configured to track the motion of external objects, such as a pedestrian crossing from one side of the street to the other, and may correspondingly steer the direction of the vehicle-related acoustic beam(s) to track the person's movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Jesse Sol Levinson, Amanda Blair Lind
  • Patent number: 10965482
    Abstract: A building management system and method that determines space utilization in a building. The building management system comprises room utilization sensors, such as occupancy sensors, a gateway that gathers raw occupancy data records from the occupancy sensors, and at least one processor. Each raw occupancy data record comprises an occupancy state associated with a timestamp. The processor is configured for normalizing the raw occupancy data records into normalized occupancy data records each comprising a time segment and an occupancy state indicating whether for a given time segment a room is occupied. The processor is further configured for structuring the normalized occupancy data records by associating each normalized occupancy data record with a space node corresponding to a room in the building from where the raw occupancy data record was collected and associating each space node with a set of tags, each tag defining a single state from a plurality of states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Donlan, Daniel Jackson
  • Patent number: 10825271
    Abstract: To provide a recording device capable of acquiring information on behavior of a moving body with high accuracy by using a simple configuration. Provided is the recording device including: a sensing unit configured to output data obtained through sensing; a reception unit configured to receive a wireless signal from a signal transmission device provided in a moving body; a recording control unit configured to control start and stop of recording of the data output from the sensing unit, in response to the wireless signal received by the reception unit from the signal transmission device; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the data recorded under the control of the recoding control unit, to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Arashima, Hiroshi Okada, Yukihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10577041
    Abstract: A mobile alarm apparatus includes a detection apparatus for detecting positional changes of the alarm apparatus; an output apparatus for the output of alarm signals; and a control apparatus for controlling the output apparatus in dependence on detected positional changes. The control apparatus is operable in a monitoring mode and in an alarm mode. In the monitoring mode, the control apparatus is configured to control the output apparatus to output a pre-alarm and to change into the alarm mode when a detected positional change is within a first range of significance. In the alarm mode, the control apparatus is configured to change into the monitoring mode when a predefined time period has elapsed since the last output of an alarm signal and otherwise, when a detected positional change is within a second range of significance, to control the output apparatus to output a main alarm different from the pre-alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Söhne KG
    Inventor: Ernst Pankratius
  • Patent number: 10518750
    Abstract: A system comprising one or more transceivers configured to communicate data with a communication device of a remote vehicle. The system may also include a processor in communication with the transceiver and programmed to receive data from the communication device indicating a location of the vehicle and data indicating that the vehicle departed prior to a threshold departure time, wherein the threshold departure time is determined in part by data received indicating a category of a point of interest (POI) associated with a location of the vehicle, and send a notification to a mobile device associated with the vehicle when the data indicating that vehicle departed is prior to the threshold departure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Doua Vang, Bilal Alasry, Vikas Upmanue, Te-ping Kang, Jordan Necovski
  • Patent number: 10384688
    Abstract: Method for automatically assessing performance of a driver (110) of a vehicle (100) for a particular trip, wherein current driving data sets, comprising basic driving data are repeatedly read from the vehicle, which method comprises the steps a) collecting previous-trip driving data sets, comprising instantaneous vehicle energy consumption and instantaneous vehicle velocity, for different previous trips, different drivers and different vehicles; b) for a plurality of said previous-trip datasets, calculating a respective relative instantaneous vehicle energy consumption value; c) calculating a characteristic vehicle relative energy consumption function; and d) calculating a value of a trip performance parameter based upon a weighted average value of the respective relative instantaneous energy consumptions for previous-trip data sets that correspond to each of said current-trip data sets, which weighting is performed using said characteristic vehicle relative energy consumption function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: GREATER THAN AB
    Inventor: Anders Lindelöf
  • Patent number: 10328896
    Abstract: A vehicle theft avoidance system for improving vehicle security is disclosed. The system includes an awareness system configured to detect an unauthorized object near a vehicle, and a control system in communication with the awareness system and configured to automatically issue a warning if the awareness system detects the unauthorized object near the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Annette Lynn Huebner, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10320914
    Abstract: Monitoring a particular home or place of business for activity may provide a remote subscriber with updated information regarding feedback from sensors at the remote location. One example method of operation may include receiving sensor data from one or more sensors that have been activated at the remote location, identifying a subscriber account associated with the sensor data, matching the sensor data with a predefined sensor identifier stored in the subscriber account, and generating a notification to include the predefined sensor identifier and a time reference indicator associated with a time the sensor data was activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen Clare Frost, James K. Boutcher
  • Patent number: 10298411
    Abstract: A building management system that determines space utilization in a building. The building management system comprises room utilization sensors, such as occupancy sensors, a gateway that gathers raw occupancy data records from the occupancy sensors, and at least one processor. Each raw occupancy data record comprises an occupancy state associated with a timestamp. The processor is configured for normalizing the raw occupancy data records into normalized occupancy data records each comprising a time segment and an occupancy state indicating whether for a given time segment a room is occupied. The processor is further configured for structuring the normalized occupancy data records by associating each normalized occupancy data record with a space node corresponding to a room in the building from where the raw occupancy data record was collected and associating each space node with a set of tags, each tag defining a single state from a plurality of states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Donlan, Daniel Jackson
  • Patent number: 10195629
    Abstract: An aspect of the embodiments includes a system comprising an unmanned self-propelled (USP) vehicle comprising a tool having a dispensed tool output and a mobile base station. The mobile base station comprises a power supply, a fluid medium source, and one or more processors operable to generate control signals to control the USP vehicle and to affect the dispensed tool output from the tool. The mobile base station includes an umbilical cabling and tethering (UCAT) apparatus to interconnect the USP vehicle and the mobile base station, the UCAT apparatus providing the USP vehicle with one or more of power from the power supply, a fluid medium from the fluid medium source and the control signals. The embodiments include a mobile base station and method for conducting a task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: WORKING DRONES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Dahlstrom
  • Patent number: 9820096
    Abstract: A control method of a mobile terminal for receiving a geofence service of a vehicle from a vehicle management center includes: receiving location information of the vehicle from the vehicle management center, wherein the location information of the vehicle is transmitted to the vehicle management center from the vehicle when the vehicle is started; checking location information of the mobile terminal; and unsetting a function corresponding to a geofence alert event when the location information of the mobile terminal is calculated to be located within a predetermined distance from the location information of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Keun Hang Heo
  • Patent number: 9738253
    Abstract: There is set forth herein in one embodiment a system for detecting physical objects within a perimeter. The system can include one or more sensors configured to be supported by a motor vehicle. The system can include a processing system and the processing system can be configured to detect a physical object moving within the perimeter based on an output of the one or more sensors. The processing system can be configured to transmit a notification responsive to detecting a person approaching the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: APS SYSTEMS, LLC.
    Inventors: Thomas Czyz, Andrew Buyck, Joseph Impellizzieri
  • Patent number: 9721112
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for passive compliance violation notifications. In one embodiment, it is detected that that a policy violation with respect to use of a client device has occurred. It is then determined that the policy violation may be passive. A user notification of the policy violation is generated by the client device in response to determining that the policy violation may be passive. The frequency and/or intensity of this notification may depend upon an extent of the policy violation. If the policy violation is later determined to be active, additional actions may be performed, such as disabling access to or removing managed resources on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AirWatch LLC
    Inventors: Kar Fai Tse, Erich Peter Stuntebeck
  • Patent number: 9536202
    Abstract: Determining geospatial patterns from device data collected from a plurality of computing devices. The devices represent, for example, a plurality of sources providing the device data. The device data describes the computing devices and/or environments thereof. Some embodiments present the determined patterns to users for editing, update maps with the edited patterns, and distribute the maps to the users. The maps are stored to create a searchable map library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shai Herzog, Jyh-Han Lin, Miller Thomas Abel, Moe Khosravy, Katrika Morris, Karon A. Weber, James Kai Yu Lau
  • Patent number: 9494435
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating driver performance is provided. The system includes a GPS navigation module for locating a running vehicle; a running vehicle data collection module for collecting data of the vehicle; a vehicle specifications memory for storing specifications of the vehicle; a road maps memory for storing maps of an area so as to identify the location of the vehicle by cooperating with the GPS navigation module; a road evaluation parameters memory for storing road evaluation parameters of the vehicle, and outputting evaluation parameters of the vehicle by cooperating with the road maps memory; and an evaluation module for combining the data of the vehicle from the running vehicle data collection module, the road evaluation parameters of the vehicle from the road evaluation parameters memory, and the specifications of the vehicle from the vehicle specifications memory, evaluating the combination, and outputting an evaluation report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Xiamen King Long Motor Vehicle Inspection Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yifan Xu, Xiaobing Chen, Weihong Ye, Fangming Zhou, Beisi Lin
  • Patent number: 9412255
    Abstract: Monitoring a particular home or place of business for activity may provide a remote subscriber with updated information regarding feedback from sensors at the remote location. One example method of operation may include receiving sensor data from one or more sensors that have been activated at the remote location, identifying a subscriber account associated with the sensor data, matching the sensor data with a predefined sensor identifier stored in the subscriber account, and generating a notification to include the predefined sensor identifier and a time reference indicator associated with a time the sensor data was activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen Clare Frost, James K. Boutcher
  • Patent number: 9221392
    Abstract: A warning device for a vehicle is provided. The warning device comprises a main body including a lateral side and a bottom side, a first light device configured on the main body and emitting a first light toward the lateral side, and at least one of a second light device and a laser module configured on the main body and emitting a second light toward the bottom side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: AU-LITE LIGHTING INC.
    Inventor: Chang-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9041561
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling power usage of a reporting device associated with an asset is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method determines whether the reporting device is in a sleep mode or an active mode and in response to determining the reporting device is in the sleep mode, the method maintains the sleep mode and in response to determining a state change associated with the reporting device, the method powers up the reporting device to the active mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Daniel John Wallace, Doug Eggert, Curt Conquest
  • Patent number: 9002575
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an input device for allowing entry of vehicle operator identification information, a transceiver for transmitting a message and receiving a response to the message, an interface for allowing a processor to communication with a vehicle sub-system, and a processor connected to the input device, the transceiver, and the interface, the processor for receiving the vehicle operator identification information from the input device, for generating the message comprising the vehicle operation identification information and providing the message to the transceiver, for receiving the response from the transceiver and for controlling the vehicle sub-system, via the interface, based on the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventors: John Harvey, Thomas F. Doyle, Michael L. Segal
  • Patent number: 8963702
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting use of a wireless device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and method for using street map data broadcasts a warning to a driver, wherein the warning is triggered when a vehicle operating parameter does not comply with a limitation for a current street in a street mapping database. The limitation for the current street is also broadcast to the driver. An indication that the limitation for the current street is incorrect is received from the driver. The warning to the driver may be an audible warning and/or a visual warning to the driver. Broadcasting a limitation for the current street may include displaying the limitation to the driver or playing a spoken message to the driver. The limitation may be a posted speed limit or a traffic direction, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: inthinc Technology Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Follmer, Scott McClellan
  • Publication number: 20150002282
    Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to prevent theft of items inside a vehicle or other devices that a thief would steal. A flashing light emitting diode (LED) is to be mounted in a prominent area inside the vehicle with double sided tape or by a hook and loop means, commonly known as Velcro™ or Scotchmate™. No drilling is needed. The LED flashes between the colors of red and blue or just red. It is NOT powered by an alarm system, it is a stand alone device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Eric Francis Schnidrig
  • Patent number: 8904515
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8896431
    Abstract: Before a vehicle is parked, a signal is received from at least one of a base station and a location determination system. It is determined when the signal fails to meet at least one predetermined criteria. When the signal fails to meet the at least one predetermined criteria, a warning message is formed and presented to an operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Snider, Robert F. D'Avello
  • Publication number: 20140333424
    Abstract: Method for monitoring a vehicle comprises sensing status changes of the vehicle in 3D space. The situations of the vehicle are identified. The numbers of times of each situations of the vehicle is counted during status changes. A threat of the vehicle is determined according to the identified situations, the counted times of each situation, and parameters stored in a storage unit. An alarm mode associated with the determined threat is triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YI-MING CHANG, PENG-ZHENG YANG, TENG-SHENG YU
  • Patent number: 8884821
    Abstract: Communications are established and conducted between a communication and jamming detection at a vehicle and a base station. At the communication and jamming detection device, a determination is made as to when jamming of the communications between the communication and jamming detection device and the base station is occurring. When jamming is determined to be occurring, at least one location determination signal is transmitted from the communication and jamming detection device to at least one external tracking device. At the at least one external location determination device, the at least one location determination signal is received from the communication and jamming detection device. The location of the communication and jamming detection device at the vehicle is determined from the at least one location determination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve DeCabooter, James Snider, Robert F. D'Avello
  • Patent number: 8866619
    Abstract: A presence detection system (1) for detecting a presence of an object (3), particularly a person or an animal or vehicle, within an area (5) divided in detection zones (9A;9B;9C;9D) covering the area. The system comprises a movement detection device (11A;11B;11C;11D) for detecting a movement of the object. The system further comprises an electronic processing device (13) for storing information relating to a position of the object in a zone-wise way, based on a detected movement of the object. The electronic processing device is configured for determining the presence of the object within the area based on a detected movement of the object and stored information relating to the position of the object. The system is highly sensitive and highly prevents false presence detections. The invention also relates to a method for presence detection, and a lighting system comprising the presence detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Engel Johannes Antonius Knibbe, Roger Peter Anna Delnoij, Mareike Klee, Willem Franke Pasveer, Biju Kumar Sreedharan Nair, John Brean Mills
  • Patent number: 8843181
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are directed to mobile devices utilizing motion and/or position sensors for improving operating performance and/or power efficiency. In one example, a method for reducing power consumption in a mobile device includes receiving movement information, establishing movement data based on the movement information, determining if the mobile device is stationary using the movement data; and reducing the frequency of searching for a base station when the mobile device is stationary. In another example, a mobile device which reduces power consumption based upon movement data includes an RF front end, a receiver coupled to the RF front end, a data demodulator coupled to the receiver, a searcher, coupled to the RF front end and the receiver, which searches for base stations, and a processing unit coupled to the searcher, wherein the processing unit controls the searcher based upon the stationarity of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Cristina A. Seibert, Douglas Neal Rowitch, Parvathanathan Subrahmanya, Leonid Sheynblat
  • Patent number: 8823502
    Abstract: An asset's TCU, or a mobile device coupled thereto, receives and stores geographical boundary definitions to a memory. A processor uses the boundary definition to determine an initial-location boundary based on the definition and the current location of the TCU at the time it received the boundary request message. As the TCU's GPS unit generates location information, the processor retrieves the initial-location boundary definition from the memory and compares the current location from the GPS receiver to it according to an algorithm. If the processor determines that the current location of the vehicle has crossed the boundary, the processor generates an alert message, which may be an e-mail, SMS, telephonic, internet, IM, or other electronic message indicating that an asset crossed the boundary, and sends it wirelessly using a transceiver to a central computer for further processing, or directly to another device, according to a notification destination identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: HTI IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric C. Berkobin, Alex Berkobin, Deep Kalinadhabhotla
  • Patent number: 8686842
    Abstract: A door locking system is provided for a motor vehicle. The door locking system includes, but is not limited to a mechanical door opening safety catch and a warning unit configured to generate a first warning signal that is exclusively suppressed by a manual activation of the mechanical door opening safety catch. A motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a vehicle body, a rear vehicle door that is linked on the vehicle body and facing away from a vehicle travel direction, the rear vehicle door configured to pivot, a door opening safety catch configured to be mechanically activate upon the pivot of the rear vehicle door, and a warning unit configured to generate a first warning signal that is exclusively suppressed by the mechanical activation of the door opening safety catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Peter Eduard Schuessler, Andreas Heberer, Mario Tassotto, Oliver Roettel, Joachim Schuberth
  • Patent number: 8653956
    Abstract: An asset's TCU, or a mobile device coupled thereto, receives and stores geographical boundary definitions to a memory. A processor uses the boundary definition to determine an initial-location boundary based on the definition and the current location of the TCU at the time it received the boundary request message. As the TCU's GPS unit generates location information, the processor retrieves the initial-location boundary definition from the memory and compares the current location from the GPS receiver to it according to an algorithm. If the processor determines that the current location of the vehicle has crossed the boundary, the processor generates an alert message, which may be an e-mail, SMS, telephonic, interne, IM, or other electronic message indicating that an asset crossed the boundary, and sends it wirelessly using a transceiver to a central computer for further processing, or directly to another device, according to a notification destination identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: HTI IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric Berkobin, Alex Berkobin, Deep Kalinadhabhotla
  • Patent number: 8653954
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to a vehicle communication interface that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle. The system further includes an aftermarket telematics unit that is configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface. The vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, and to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Russell A. Patenaude, Nicholas J. Peariso
  • Patent number: 8606221
    Abstract: An emergency call receiving unit for a vehicle. The emergency call receiving unit includes: a detection unit for detecting a trigger event of an accident-damaged vehicle; a control unit for generating a locating signal; a transmitting unit for repeated transmission of the locating signal to a receiver and the repeated transmission of the locating signal is triggered by a trigger event and the locating signal enables finding of the vehicle. A number of the rescue guideline of the respective vehicle and an RSSI for the rescue signal are received upon locating at least one vehicle involved in an accident depending on the reception field strength of the locating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Stählin
  • Patent number: 8587403
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing relay attack on a passive entry system (PES) or other passive system (PS) included within a vehicle or other entity. The relay attack prevention may be based in part on an assessment of whether the fob is able to distinguish signal strength relative to messages communicated form different antennas within the vehicle and/or amongst different signal amplitude communicated from the same antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Ghabra, Nikolay Yakovenko, Hilton W. Girard
  • Patent number: 8482383
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing relay attack on a passive entry system (PES) or other passive system (PS) included within a vehicle or other entity. The relay attack prevention may be based in part on an assessment of whether the fob is able to distinguish signal strength relative to messages communicated form different antennas within the vehicle and/or amongst different signal amplitude communicated from the same antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Ghabra, Nikolay Yakovenko, Hilton W. Girard
  • Patent number: 8478475
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted electronic appliance has a vehicle state detection portion which detects a vehicle being parked, a sound indication portion, and a sound indication control portion. When the vehicle state detection portion detects that the vehicle is parked, the sound indication control portion makes the sound indication portion indicate a warning to watch out for theft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hongying Wang
  • Patent number: 8466788
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a device for protection against intrusions into the landing gear housings of an aircraft, including at least one sensor, for at least one housing, covering at least one housing entry area and connected to a calculator capable of processing the data from the sensor for detecting the intrusion of a target and generating intrusion occurrence information for triggering an alarm, wherein the calculator is connected to a device for providing aircraft flight phases and/or ground speed information, the device including a means adapted for changing the detection status from an active mode to an inactive mode based on the flight phases and/or ground speed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Olivier Pujol
  • Patent number: 8462019
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for generating runway visual aids on an aircraft display unit, where such visual aids could be comprised of surface markings corresponding to the runway. Navigation data and runway data may be provided to an image generating processor which, in turn, generates an image data set representative of at least one visual aid corresponding to one runway located in the scene outside the aircraft. The intensity or brightness of a visual aid could vary when the aircraft is operating on the approach phase of flight. The variation of such intensity could be defined as a function of the navigation data and the data representative of one or more waypoints. The image data set may be provided to a Head-Down Display unit, a Head-Up Display unit, or both, each visual aid is presented on the screen of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis S. VanDerKamp, Tiffany D. Williamson, Daniel Y. Chiew
  • Patent number: 8421596
    Abstract: Provided is a door lock device which is installed on a door, to enable people to facilitate to find out location of the door at dark or night and enable the door to be illuminated with a certain brightness so as to be easily viewed at indoor and outdoor sides when indoor and/or outdoor illumination is low, that is, at dark. As a result, the door lock device enables people to easily find out an entrance gate under the fire and other emergency situations. As well, people do not need to find out a particular position or particular article gropingly even in a dark indoor or outdoor. Accordingly, people may not be easily hurt. In addition, since indoor and outdoor places can be illuminated at a certain brightness, the door lock device can indicate that people exist in a warehouse or on a roof of a building even in the case that a warehouse door lock device or a roof entrance door lock device has been automatically locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: Seung Kuk Choi, Myung Wha Nam
  • Patent number: 8358207
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for pre-attentively communicating information to a driver of a vehicle. The system includes, but is not limited to a vehicle having a passenger compartment and an illumination component mounted within the passenger compartment. The illumination component is positioned to be peripherally visible to the driver as the driver looks in the direction of vehicle travel. An electronic processing device is operatively connected to the illumination component and is configured to control illumination of the illumination component in a manner that corresponds to a condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John K. Lenneman, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 8285301
    Abstract: A communication terminal capable of obtaining assist data without making a configuration of an information providing device for transmitting the assist data complicated is provided. Processing performed by a communication terminal includes the steps of: storing an obtained identifier in a buffer area for a base station for which assist data should be obtained and a buffer area for a standby base station; obtaining an identifier of a wireless base station from a received signal and storing the identifier in a RAM; storing an identifier of a wireless base station after change in the buffer area for a standby base station; and storing the identifier stored in the buffer area for a standby base station in the buffer area for a base station for which assist data should be obtained when the identifier stored in the buffer area for a standby base station is not stored in the buffer area for a base station for which assist data should be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuhji Hirose
  • Patent number: 8274382
    Abstract: A remote keyless entry system is provided comprising a handheld remote keyless entry transmitter in selectable wireless communication with a car based entry system. The handheld remote keyless entry transmitter comprises an integrated electronic compass element and logic adapted to store a first compass direction when activated and directed towards a destination. The logic further is adapted to display a return compass direction and a return distance from the car based entry system when activated leaving the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald O. King, Riad Ghabra, John Nantz, Yi Luo
  • Patent number: 8212658
    Abstract: A container for a product is used with an external device having long-range communication capability and short-range communication capability and location sensing capability. The container has a storage element for storing an access code for a central facility and a container identification code, a first data acquisition component for detecting that the container has been opened, and a second data acquisition component for sensing an identity of a nearby person, the nearby person being a member of a group registered at a central facility, the container identification code not uniquely associated with a member of the group. The container also has a local communication interface for communicating with the external device using the short-range communication capability of the external device, and a processor for producing information and directing the local communication interface to send the information to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Henry Schein, Inc.
    Inventor: O. Napoleon Monroe
  • Patent number: 8203460
    Abstract: A communications system is disclosed that may incorporate a first platform and a second platform. The second platform may have a relative position with respect to the first platform, with at least one of the platforms being mobile. A communications subsystem is included that is adapted to modify a signal sent from the second platform to a user on the first platform that provides a spatial indication to the user as to a position of the second platform relative to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Brian J. Tillotson
  • Patent number: 8177253
    Abstract: A device for use with an anti-theft locking assembly which comprises an enclosure, a noise emitter mounted within the enclosure, a battery, and a control circuit, an actuator extending externally of the enclosure and being designed to be plugged into a first actuator receptor on a towing vehicle or a second actuator receptor on the locking assembly, the noise emitter being activated when the actuator is unplugged from one of the receptors. The device will strongly remind the user that the anti-theft locking device is to be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: André Paré
  • Patent number: 8169307
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle rear-view mirror equipped with a display device, configured so that: a warning indication is easy to see from the driver and is hard to see from following vehicles and vehicles on the adjacent lanes; and when no warning is indicated, no discontinuities occur in the rear-area image reflected in the mirror and the warning symbol is unnoticeable. A mirror element 18 is configured by forming a semi-transmissive reflective film 24 or 56 formed of a dielectric multilayer film on the back or front surface of a transparent glass substrate 22. A dark color mask member 26 is arranged on the back surface of the mirror element 18. An opening 26a is formed on the mask member 26. A light-orienting tube 28 is arranged in such a manner that it protrudes in the backward direction of the mask member 26 so as to surround the opening 26a. The tube axis 28a of the light-orienting tube 28 is inclined in the direction toward the driver's viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakamura, Shinya Takayanagi, Atsunori Bandou, Yoshifumi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8106783
    Abstract: An input apparatus for a vehicle includes: an operation element operable by an occupant of the vehicle; a biological information acquisition element acquiring biological information of the occupant; an unawakened state detection element detecting an unawakened state of the occupant based on the biological information, wherein the unawakened state is defined by a predetermined state different from an awakened state; and an operation disabling element disabling an operation input from the operation element when the unawakened state detection element detects the unawakened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromune Wada, Takashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8074269
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established. In a preferred embodiment, the internal computer system is protected by a firewall. The firewall allows the outside entity to access the internal computer system to control the device if the outside entity can provide proper identity information. The identity information of the outside entity may be a password that is recognized by the firewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE43010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an operation management system for a moving body such as a vehicle using a mobile terminal. The present invention reliably and accurately records the operating conditions of vehicles, which enables management to gather accurate information regarding the work performed by a driver or crew in the moving vehicle. Moreover, the present invention realizes safe operation of a moving vehicle by detecting, during operation of a moving body, whether the moving body is exceeding the speed limit and informing the crew of this condition so that the driver will reduce speed to obey the speed limit. The present invention also deters theft of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masao Hoshino, Miyuki Sato