U.S. patent application number 16/578472 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for integrated vehicle communication system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENTEX CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is GENTEX CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Neil J. Boehm, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright.
Application Number | 20200017030 16/578472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58557875 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200017030 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boehm; Neil J. ; et
al. |
January 16, 2020 |
INTEGRATED VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle having
communication capabilities for communicating with at least one of a
building-automation device and an electronic toll collection
system. The vehicle rearview mirror system may include a wireless
communication system configured to communicate with a
building-based communication system or a transceiver system of the
electronic toll collection system, or both.
Inventors: |
Boehm; Neil J.; (Allegan,
MI) ; Geerlings; Steven L.; (Holland, MI) ;
Wright; Thomas S.; (Holland, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GENTEX CORPORATION |
Zeeland |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GENTEX CORPORATION
Zeeland
MI
|
Family ID: |
58557875 |
Appl. No.: |
16/578472 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15299526 |
Oct 21, 2016 |
10464489 |
|
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16578472 |
|
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62245052 |
Oct 22, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2001/1253 20130101;
B60R 1/04 20130101; B60R 1/12 20130101; B60R 2001/1284 20130101;
G07C 2009/00928 20130101; G07B 15/063 20130101; G07C 9/00309
20130101; G06Q 2240/00 20130101; G07B 15/06 20130101; B60Q 9/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 1/12 20060101
B60R001/12; B60Q 9/00 20060101 B60Q009/00; B60R 1/04 20060101
B60R001/04; G07B 15/06 20060101 G07B015/06 |
Claims
1. A vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising: an
interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a
control unit, the control unit configured to communicate with one
or more vehicle-mounted components; a wireless communication system
configured to transmit a toll-based information packet to an
electronic toll collection system in response to a command from the
control unit, wherein the toll-based information packet includes
information relating to identification of an electronic toll
account associated with the electronic toll collection system; and
a display module configured to provide information visually to a
vehicle operator.
2. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the
wireless communication system is configured to communicate with a
building-based communication sy stem; wherein the wireless
communication system is configured to transmit a building-based
information packet to the building-based communication system in
response to a command from the control unit, wherein the
building-based information packet provides a basis for initiating
an operation of a building-based device.
3. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein the
command from the control unit is provided automatically to the
wireless communication system to transmit the building-based
information packet in response to receipt of a user input from a
vehicle operator requesting initiation of the operation.
4. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein the
wireless communication system includes a communication antenna
driven by an antenna driver to transmit information, wherein the
information transmitted by the communication antenna includes the
building-based information packet and the toll-based information
packet.
5. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein the
communication antenna and the antenna driver are integrated into
the control unit.
6. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein the
wireless communication system includes a plurality of communication
antennas, each of the plurality of communication antennas being
driven by an antenna driver to communicate information, the
information including at least one of the building-based
information packet and the toll-based information packet.
7. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein the
control unit includes a HomeLink controller operably coupled to the
wireless communication system, the HomeLink controller configured
to communicate with the building-based communication system via the
wireless communication system.
8. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 7, wherein the
control unit includes an electronic-toll controller operably
coupled to the wireless communication system, the electronic-toll
controller configured to communicate with the electronic toll
collection system via the wireless communication system.
9. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein the
command from the control unit is provided automatically to the
wireless communication system to transmit the toll-based
information packet based on the receipt of an interrogation signal
from the electronic toll collection system.
10. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the
vehicle communication system includes a communication transceiver
configured to establish a communication link with a mobile device
associated with a device user.
11. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 10, wherein the
control unit generates the toll-based information packet based on
information received from the mobile device via the communication
link.
12. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein the
control unit is configured to obtain electronic-toll account
information from at least one of a plurality of mobile devices.
13. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim Error! Reference
source not found., wherein the display module indicates
identification information of the mobile device associated with the
toll-based information packet communicated to the electronic toll
collection system.
14. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim Error! Reference
source not found., wherein the information received from the mobile
device identifies an account associated with the user of the mobile
device and registered with the electronic toll collection
system.
15. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the
information comprises at least one of information related to
configuration of the wireless communication system with at least
one of an electronic toll collection system, one or more
building-based devices, and one or more mobile devices; information
relating to approaching toll locations; identification of payment
of a toll from an associated electronic toll account; and a
remaining balance in the associated electronic toll account.
16. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1, further
comprising a power interface configured to receive power from a
vehicle power source.
17. A vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the vehicle
rearview mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror
assembly having a reflective element and a control unit, the
control unit configured to communicate with one or more
vehicle-mounted components; a wireless communication system
configured to communicate with a toll transceiver system of an
electronic toll collection system, the wireless communication
system being operably coupled to the control unit, the wireless
communication system configured to monitor communications to the
electronic toll collection system; the wireless communication
system configured to transmit a toll-based information packet to
the electronic toll collection system in response to a command from
the control unit, wherein the toll-based information packet
provides a basis for authorizing at least one of identification of
and access to an electronic toll account associated with the
electronic toll collection system; and a controller operably
coupled to the wireless communication system, the controller
configured to generate a user notification based on the
communications to the electronic toll collection system being
indicative of a separate device transmitting communication to at
least one of a building-based communication system and the
electronic toll collection system.
18. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein: the
wireless communication system is configured to communicate with a
building-based communication system, the wireless communication
system configured to monitor external communications to the
building-based communication system; the wireless communication
system configured to transmit a building-based information packet
to the building-based communication system in response to a command
from the control unit, wherein the building-based information
packet provides a basis for initiating an operation of a
building-based device.
19. The vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle of claim 18,
wherein the controller is configured to generate a user
notification based on the external communications being indicative
of the separate device transmitting communication to the
building-based communication system, wherein the user notification
indicates that the vehicle rear view mirror system is capable of
communicating with the building-based communication system.
20. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein the
user notification indicates that the vehicle rearview mirror system
is capable of communicating with the electronic toll collection
system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/299,526, filed on Oct. 21, 2016, entitled
"Integrated Vehicle Communication System and Method," which claims
the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 62/245,052, filed on Oct. 22, 2015, entitled "Integrated
Vehicle Communication System and Method;" the entire disclosures of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle communication
system, and more particularly to an integrated vehicle
communication system including an integrated transmitter system for
communicating with a home-based control system and an electronic
toll collection system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There are a variety of conventional vehicle communication
systems available in the current market. One such conventional
communication system includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter
that may be programmed to activate devices associated with a home
or dwelling of a vehicle operator. For example, the RF transmitter
may be programmed to communicate with a garage door opener,
RF-control lighting, gates, and locks or other devices associated
with a home of a vehicle operator. In some cases, one or more of
the devices associated with the home may utilize different
communication protocols, including, for example, the X10 protocol
conventionally used in home automation systems, fixed codes or
rolling codes, or a combination thereof.
[0004] These features, among others, are conventionally offered in
a wireless control system currently available on the market and
sold under the trademark HomeLink(R). This conventional wireless
control system includes a control system that is at least partially
disposed within a vehicle rearview mirror. For instance, a control
unit of the one or more associated communication interfaces of the
control system may be disposed within the vehicle rear view mirror.
The wireless control system in this context may form part of a
vehicle rearview mirror system that includes the vehicle rearview
mirror as well as peripheral components and interfaces, such as a
rear-mounted video camera and selectable inputs or buttons that
enable operation by a vehicle operator. The vehicle rear view
mirror system may include a wired communication interface, such as
a CAN bus interface, configured to communicate over a vehicle bus
with other vehicle mounted devices.
[0005] A communication transmitter or RF transmitter of the
conventional wireless control system described above may be
disposed within the vehicle rearview mirror, or elsewhere on or
within the vehicle. Other possible locations for the RF transmitter
include the engine compartment. Despite being configured to
communicate with several home-based devices, the conventional
wireless control system and its communication transmitter are often
considered to be a dedicated system for use solely with home-based
devices.
[0006] A variety of conventional stand-alone communications systems
for communicating with systems other than home-based devices are
also available in the marketplace. One such conventional
standard-alone communication system is utilized for electronic toll
collection systems. There are several different electronic toll
collection systems in use today in the U.S., many of which form
part of the E-ZPass electronic toll-collection system, the SunPass
electronic toll-collection system or the EPass electronic
toll-collection system. This system is used primarily for
collecting tolls for roads, bridges, and tunnels. The principal
arrangement of the E-ZPass system, and other conventionally
configured electronic toll collection systems, includes a
stand-alone transponder device that is placed on the windshield of
the vehicle, and a reader associated with a tollbooth. More
specifically, the E-ZPass system utilizes a self-contained
transponder device that can be obtained from an issuing authority,
and placed on the windshield of the vehicle.
[0007] In a conventional E-ZPass system, as the vehicle approaches
the tollbooth, the self-contained transponder device becomes in
proximity to the toll communication system, and can receive a
signal broadcast by the toll communication system. The transponder
device may be active such that it listens continuously for the
broadcast signal, and in response to receiving the broadcast
signal, may communicate a packet of information relating to an
identity of the vehicle. The toll communication system may be in
communication with an account system that maintains a database of
accounts associated with transponder devices. The packet of
information transmitted from the transponder, or a query based on
the packet, can be communicated to the account system by the toll
communication system. Based on feedback from the account system,
the E-ZPass system may authorize access to a toll area, or record a
toll fee against an account associated with the transponder device,
or both. In some circumstances, authorizing access to a toll area
may include communicating access information that is used to
initiate movement of a toll gate.
[0008] A principle disadvantage of the E-ZPass system, and other
conventional electronic control collection systems, is that the
transponder is a physical, self-contained device that is associated
with a particular vehicle and placed in proximity to the rearview
mirror of the vehicle, potentially blocking any sensors thereof, to
enable a clear path for transmissions between the transponder to
communicate with the toll communication system. In this way, the
transponder is positioned so that it is visible, and in some cases,
capable of becoming an obstruction to other vehicle sensors (e.g.,
an ambient light sensor of the rearview mirror) when mounted.
Placing the transponder out of sight, such as in a glove
compartment of the vehicle, may avoid these issues but, in many
cases, at the cost of substantially impairing the ability of the
transponder to communicate effectively with the toll communication
system. Further, because the transponder device is often physically
associated with a particular vehicle, moving the transponder device
from one vehicle to another can be an inconvenience, both in terms
of relocating the transponder device and registering, in the
E-ZPass system, the transponder with another vehicle. Additionally,
the stand-alone transponders often rely on a single, standalone
power source, such as a battery, that can become depleted and
render the transponder non-functional with little or no indication
beforehand.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
[0009] A vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle having
communication capabilities for communicating with a
building-automation device and an electronic toll collection
system. The vehicle rearview mirror system may include a wireless
communication system configured to communicate with at least one of
a building-based communication system and a transceiver system of
the electronic toll collection system.
[0010] In one embodiment, the vehicle rearview mirror system
includes a power interface, an interior rearview mirror assembly, a
wireless communication system, and a display controller. The power
interface may receive power from a vehicle power source to power
the vehicle rearview mirror system. The interior rearview mirror
assembly may include a reflective element and a control unit
configured to communicate with one or more vehicle-mounted
components. The wireless communication system may be configured to
communicate with a building-based communication system and a
transceiver system of an electronic toll collection system, and may
be operably coupled to the control unit and the power
interface.
[0011] With communication capabilities, the wireless communication
system may transmit a building-based information packet to the
building-based communication system in response to a command from
the control unit in order to initiate an operation of a
building-based device. The wireless communication system may
transmit a toll-based information packet to the electronic toll
collection system in response to a command from said control unit
in order to request authorized access to a toll area associated
with the electronic toll collection system. The display controller
may be configured to provide visual feedback to a vehicle operator
indicative of a toll-pass account associated with the toll-based
information packet.
[0012] In another embodiment, the vehicle communication system may
include a building-oriented controller operably coupled to the
power interface and the wireless communication system. The
building-oriented controller may communicate, via the wireless
communication system, with the building-based device to instruct
the building-based device to initiate a building-based activity.
The vehicle communication system may also include an
electronic-toll controller configured to communicate identification
information via the wireless communication system to the toll
collection receiver.
[0013] The electronic-toll controller may receive mobile device
information, via the wireless communication system, from a
plurality of mobile devices located within the vehicle. The mobile
device information may relate to a toll-collection account managed
by the electronic toll collection system. Based on user input, the
electronic-toll controller of the vehicle communication system may
generate identification information as a function of the mobile
device information from a selected mobile device from among the
plurality of mobile devices. In this way, the vehicle communication
system may enable user selection of the mobile device for
authorizing access to a toll area associated with the electronic
toll collection system.
[0014] In still a further embodiment, the vehicle communication
system may include a controller operably coupled to a wireless
communication system. The controller may generate a user
notification based on detecting external communications indicative
of a separate device transmitting communication to at least one of
a building-based communication system and a electronic toll
collection system. The controller may generate user notification
indicating that the system is capable of communicating with at
least one of the building-based communication system and the
electronic toll collection system.
[0015] In yet another embodiment, a method of communicating between
a vehicle and one or more remote devices may include supplying
power from the vehicle to a wireless communication system of the
vehicle, and receiving mobile device information from a plurality
of mobile devices located within the vehicle, where the mobile
device information relates to a toll-collection account managed by
an electronic toll collection system. The method may further
include selecting one of the plurality of mobile devices for
requesting authorized access to a toll area associated with the
electronic toll collection system. Based on receipt of an
interrogation signal from an electronic toll collection system, an
electronic-toll information packet may be transmitted from the
wireless communication system to the electronic toll collection
system, where the electronic-toll information packet includes
information relating to identification of the toll-collection
account associated with the selected mobile device. The method may
yet further include receiving, via an input device, a command from
a vehicle operator to initiate a requested operation of a
building-based device, and based on the command, transmitting a
building-oriented command from the wireless communication system to
a building-based receiver, wherein the building-oriented command
corresponds to the requested operation of the building-based
device.
[0016] These and other advantages and features of the invention
will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the
description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
[0017] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the details of operation or to the details of construction and the
arrangement of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be
implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or
being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed
herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and
"comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items
listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional
items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in
the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly
stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting
the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor
should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the
scope of the invention any additional steps or components that
might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or
components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a representative view of a vehicle
communication system according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure that incorporates a communication system into a rearview
mirror assembly.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a representative view of the vehicle
communication system according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a representative view of the vehicle
communication system in conjunction with an electronic toll
collection system.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a representative view of the vehicle
communication system in conjunction with a variety of
building-based devices
[0022] FIG. 5 shoes a representative view of the vehicle
communication system that incorporates a display and user interface
features provided in a center stack of a vehicle.
DESCRIPTION
[0023] A communication system for a vehicle as shown in FIG. 1 and
generally designated 100. The communication system 100 may be
incorporated into a vehicle 10, depicted in FIG. 1 as a passenger
car but is not so limited. The vehicle 10 may be any type of
vehicle adapted for transportation, including, for example, sport
utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, commercial vehicles,
watercraft, and aircraft. The communication system 100 may
communicate with one or more mobile devices 40 associated with a
vehicle operator or a vehicle passenger, or both.
[0024] The communication system 100 may be adapted to communicate
with a building-based device 20 and an electronic toll collection
system 30, both of which are shown in the illustrated embodiment of
FIG. 1. For purposes of disclosure, the communication system 100 is
described herein as communicating with a single building-based
device 20 and a toll transceiver system of the electronic toll
collection system 30, but it should be understood the communication
system 100 may communicate with a plurality of building-based
devices 20 and a plurality of toll transceiver systems. The
building-based devices 20 may be any type of device or system
associated with a home, dwelling, or building and configured to at
least one of a) control one or more activities or b) sense
parameters, such as device status or one or more environmental
parameters. For instance, the building-based device 20 may report
status information regarding a state of the device. Example
environmental parameters ambient temperature, ambient light and
motion. And, example activities can include control over lighting,
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), appliances, and
security locks for gates and doors. It is further noted that
several features are described herein in connection with a
building-based device 20--however, it should be understood that any
one building-based device 20 may include a subset of such features.
In other words, one building-based device 20 may be configured
differently from another building-based device 20, and each of the
building-based devices 20 may incorporate one or more features of
the embodiments described herein.
[0025] In one embodiment, the building-based device 20 may form
part of a building based automation system, such as the building
automation system 22 in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4. In
the illustrated embodiment, the building automation system 22
includes a plurality of building-based devices 20, at least one of
which may be a building controller 24. The building controller 24
may be operably coupled to one or more other building-based devices
20 via a building network 23. The building network 23 may include a
wired network or a wireless network, or a combination thereof,
which may be coupled to and accessible via a network interface. The
building controller 24 also may be operably coupled to a wireless
command interface having a wireless communication antenna 25
through which communications from an external device may be
received. In one embodiment, the building based automation system
22 may incorporate a building automation and control network
(BACnet), Bluetooth low energy (BLE), Insteon, KNX, Universal
Powerline Bus (UPB), X10, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or Z-wave, or a
combination thereof.
[0026] The wireless command interface of the building based
automation system 22 may be coupled to the building controller 24
in a variety of ways. As an example, the wireless command interface
may utilize an external network connection to communicate with the
building network 23 and the building controller 24. As another
example, the wireless command interface and the building controller
24 may establish a dedicated communication channel via wireless
communication circuitry configured specifically for the dedicated
communication channel. In one embodiment, the wireless command
interface may be incorporated into the building controller 24.
[0027] Based on commands received via the wireless command
interface, the building controller 24 may direct operations or
activities of one or more other building-based devices 20 via the
building network 23. Additionally, or alternatively, a command
received via the wireless command interface may be directly
communicated to one or more building-based devices 20 to effect
operation corresponding to the command. In one embodiment, the
wireless command interface may be incorporated into a
building-based device 20, and may effect operation thereof in
response to received communications. For example, the
building-based device 20 may be a HomeLink(r) enabled device
including a wireless command interface that directs operation of
the building-based device 20 in response to communications received
from a HomeLink(r) transmitter (e.g,. a HomeLink(r) transmitter
included in a vehicle). Although the system 100 is described in
connection with one or two building automation systems 22, it
should be understood that the system 100 may include one or more
systems 22, one or more building-based devices 20, and one or more
separate building-based device 20, or any combination thereof. As
described herein, the system 100 may include a controller 104,
which may communicate with one or more of the building automation
systems 22 and building-based devices 20.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the electronic toll
collection system 30 may include a toll collection transceiver
system 32 associated with a toll area, such as a toll road. The
electronic toll collection system 30 in one embodiment may be
capable of electronically collecting tolls or authorized access to
the toll area. Access to the toll area maybe authorized in a
variety of ways, including, for example, by identifying a vehicle
or transmitter as being authorized in a database, or removing a
barrier to enable entry into the toll area, or both.
[0029] The toll collection transceiver system 32 of the electronic
toll collection system 30 may transmit an interrogation signal via
one or more interrogators or antennas 38. The interrogation signal
may be intended to elicit an interrogation response from a
transponder or the communication system 100 disposed in the vehicle
100. For instance, the toll collection transceiver system 32 may
transmit the interrogation signal in response to sensing presence
of the vehicle 10 in proximity thereto via a sensor 34. Example
sensing configurations include an inductive based sensor that
utilizes a loop disposed beneath the road surface. In some cases,
the toll collection transceiver system 32 may transmit an
interrogation signal continuously, waiting for a response from a
nearby vehicle.
[0030] The transponder or communication system 100 may respond to
the interrogation signal by transmitting a response signal, which
may include the toll-based information packet with data relating to
an account managed by the electronic toll collection system 30. The
toll collection transceiver system 32 may communicate with a
central collection server 36 regarding the toll-based information
packet to facilitate determining whether to authorize access to the
toll area.
[0031] As an example, based on the toll-based information packet,
the electronic toll collection system 30 may determine whether a
vehicle approaching the toll area has communicated information
indicative of enrollment in the electronic toll collection system
30, and if enrolled, whether an account associated with the
toll-based information packet includes sufficient funds for
authorized access to the toll area. If the toll-based information
packet is indicative of enrollment and sufficient funds are
available, the electrical collection system 30 may initiate steps
to transfer the funds from the account, and authorize access to the
toll area. If sufficient funds are not available, if the
information packet is not indicative of enrollment, or if no
information packet is received, or a combination thereof, the
electronic toll collection system 30 may not authorize access to
the toll area.
[0032] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the
communication system 100 includes a control unit 104 operably
coupled to one or more antennas 160. The control unit 104 and the
one or more antennas 160 may be incorporated into a rearview mirror
system 102, as depicted in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1.
However, it should be understood that the control unit 104 and the
one or more antennas 160, and combinations and components thereof,
may be disposed separate from the rearview mirror system 102. For
instance, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the control unit
104 is separate from a rearview mirror and utilizes a display 106
and user interface 140 provided in the center stack of the vehicle
interior.
[0033] The one or more antennas 160 may be configured to
communicate via a variety of communication protocols, including
those associated with communications for the building-based device
20, the building-based communication system 22, the electronic toll
collection system 30 and a mobile device 40, or a combination
thereof. For instance, the communication system 100 may include an
integrated antenna 160 capable of communicating with the mobile
device 40, the electronic toll collection system 30 and the
building based device 20. As another example, the communication
system 100 may include a plurality of antennas 160 each capable of
communicating with one or more external components, including the
mobile device 40, the electronic toll collection system 30, and the
building-based device 20. In one embodiment, each of the one or
more antennas 160 may be coupled to an antenna driver (not shown)
that may drive the associated antennas 160 based on commands or
information received from the control unit 104. Each of the one or
more antennas 160 also may be coupled to an antenna receiver (not
shown) that may translate signals received by the associated
antenna 160 into data for the control unit 104.
[0034] As an example, the control unit 104 may provide a toll based
information packet to an antenna driver for transmission of the
packet to the electronic toll collection system 30. And, likewise,
the control unit 104 may receive information from the antenna
receiver relating to an interrogation signal from the electronic
toll collection system 30. Put differently, the antenna driver and
the antenna receiver may enable data to be transmitted to or
received from, or both, in connection with at least one of the
mobile device 40, the building-based device 20, and the electronic
toll collection system 30.
[0035] Although the one or more antennas 160 are described separate
from the control unit 104, it should be understood that at least
one of the one or more antennas 160 may be integrated in the
control unit 104 such that the control unit 104 and the at least
one antenna 160 form an integrated component.
[0036] The control unit 104 in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2
may include an electronic-toll controller 130, a building
controller 120, and a mobile device controller 108 (e.g., a
Bluetooth controller). By incorporating such a control unit 104
into the vehicle 10, a communication system 100 according to one
embodiment may avoid use of conventional separate transponders or
communicators for communicating with the home-based device or the
electronic toll collection system 30 and also avoid the associated
shortcomings of these standalone components, such as potentially
blocking ambient light sensors of the vehicle 10 and having a
single battery powered source that may be inaccessible. The
building controller 120, as an example, can be a HomeLink
controller forming part of a HomeLink system. The HomeLink
controller may include an integrated transceiver or a transmitter
and a receiver that can be programmed to activate one or more
building-based devices 20. The integrated transceiver of the
building controller 120 may be compatible with building-based
devices 20 that operate in the range of 288 to 433 MHz. It should
be understood that building-based devices 20 and the integrated
transceiver may be configured to operate at different frequencies,
including ranges of frequencies that exclude one or more ranges of
frequencies. For example, the integrated transceiver of the
building controller 24 may be configured to operate at a variety of
frequencies to maintain compatibility with one or more types of
devices (e.g., building-based devices 20), including operation in
the Bluetooth frequency range around 2.4 GHz and a vehicle to
vehicle communication frequency between about 5 GHz and about 6
GHz.
[0037] The mobile device controller 108 in the illustrated
embodiment may be a Bluetooth controller configured to pair with
one or more mobile devices 40 disposed in the vehicle 10. The
pairing process may establish a relationship between each mobile
device 40 and the mobile device controller 108 of the communication
system 100 such that a mobile device 40 may connect with the mobile
device controller 108 without repeating the pairing process. This
way, the mobile device 40 and the mobile device controller 108 may
automatically connect with each other. For purposes of disclosure,
the illustrated embodiment is described in connection with the
mobile device controller 108 being a Bluetooth controller, but it
should be understood that the disclosure is not so limited and that
any type of controller and communications protocols may be used to
communicate between the mobile device controller 108 and the one or
more mobile devices 40, including for example Near Field
Communication (NFC) or WiFi or IEEE 802.11 standard protocols, or a
combination thereof.
[0038] It should further be understood that it is not necessary to
establish a pairing relationship between the at least one mobile
device 40 and the mobile device controller 108. For instance, as
described herein, the mobile device controller 108 may transmit an
interrogation request to any mobile devices 40 present in the
vehicle 10 to request toll area authorization information for
transmission to the electronic toll collection system 30 in order
to obtain authorized access to a toll area. Mobile device users may
receive an indication on a display of their mobile device 40
regarding the interrogation request, and in response to such a
request, may authorize transmission of the toll area authorization
information to the mobile device controller 108.
[0039] The electronic-toll controller 30 in the illustrated
embodiment may be configured to communicate with one or more types
of electronic toll collection systems, including those based on use
of RFID transponders. Example electronic toll collection systems
are the E-ZPass system and SunPass system utilized in several
regions in North America. The E-ZPass system and other electronic
toll collection systems may be based on the electronic toll
collection system 30 described herein, and may utilize one or more
communication protocols configured to communicate with an RFID
transponder. Although described primarily in connection with
communicating with an E-ZPass system, it should be understood that
the electronic-toll controller 30 may be configured to communicate
with any type of electronic toll collection system. Indeed, the
communication system 100, including the electronic toll controller
30, may be adapted for compatibility with multiple types of
electronic toll collection systems. In this way, the vehicle 10 may
be dynamically configured to communicate with the type of
electronic toll collection system present in proximity to the
vehicle 10.
[0040] In some cases, the realm of electronic toll collection
systems may change over time. There is a chance that a
communication protocol for a given type of electronic toll
collection system 30 may change, or that another type of electronic
toll collection system 30 may arise. The electronic toll controller
30 according to one embodiment may be reconfigurable or field
programmable to maintain compatibility with any such changes or to
expand compatibility with electronic toll collection systems not
initially identified or considered during manufacture of the
electronic toll controller 30. For instance, the communication
system 100 may be configured to obtain compatibility information
from a compatibility server via a communication channel. The
compatibility information may be related to communication protocols
for an electronic toll collection system 30, but is not so
limited--the compatibility information obtained from a
compatibility server may enable the communication system 100 to
update any of its communication protocols or obtain new
communication protocol for communicating with any device,
including, for example, electronic toll collection systems,
building-based devices, and mobile devices, or a combination
thereof
[0041] In one example, the communication system 100 may obtain
compatibility information from a mobile device 40 via wireless
communication connection. For instance, in conducting a Bluetooth
pairing with the mobile device 40, the mobile device 40 may provide
compatibility information relating to an electronic toll collection
system 30 associated with identification information stored in the
mobile device 40. In this way, the communication system 100 may be
configurable by the mobile device 40 to communicate with a specific
electronic toll collection system 30.
[0042] In one embodiment, the communication system 100, including
the electronic-toll controller 130, incorporated into the vehicle
10 may be configured to communicate with the electronic toll
collection system 30 in a manner similar to a conventional RFID
transponder such that, from the perspective of electronic toll
collection system 30, the electronic toll controller 130 of the
vehicle 10 appears as an RFID transponder enrolled in the
electronic toll collection system 30. In other words, from the
perspective of the electronic toll collection system 30,
communications with the communication system 100 may be
indistinguishable from communications with a self-contained RFID
transponder that is conventionally utilized for communicating with
the electronic toll collection system 30.
[0043] For instance, in a conventional self-contained RFID
transponder utilized in the E-ZPass system, the RFID transponder
may wait to receive an interrogation signal from the electronic
toll collection system 30, and in response to receiving the
interrogation signal, may communicate a response signal that
initiates a transaction process according to a communications
protocol that ultimately leads to authorized access to a toll area.
The transaction process may include communicating, from the RFID
transponder, information that identifies an account associated with
the RFID transponder and managed by the electronic toll collection
system 30. In particular, the RFID transponder may communicate a
transponder serial number that is linked to an account managed by
the electronic toll collection system.
[0044] The communication system 100, including the electronic-toll
controller 130, may be configured to communicate in a similar
manner. That is, the communication system 100 may respond to an
interrogation signal from the electronic toll collection system 30
in a manner similar to the RFID transponder, including, for
example, communicating a transponder serial number or other
identifying information to aid the electronic toll collection
system 30 in identifying an account associated with the
communications from the communication system 100. In one
embodiment, the electronic-toll controller 130 may be programmed
with or store in memory a unique transponder serial number that the
electronic-toll controller 130 may communicate to the electronic
toll collection system 30 in response to detection of an
interrogation signal received from the electronic toll collection
system 30. As an example, the unique transponder serial number may
be pre-programmed in the electronic-toll controller 130 during
manufacture of the communication system 100.
[0045] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic-toll
controller 130 may be field programmable with a transponder serial
number or other identifying information for use in conjunction with
the electronic toll collection system 30 such that a vehicle
operator may reconfigure the electronic-toll controller 130 to
utilize a specific transponder serial number or specific
identifying information that is associated with the vehicle
operator's account, which is managed by the electronic toll
collection system 30. In this way, the electronic-toll controller
130 of the communication system 100 may be considered a "trainable
toll pass". In other words, the electronic-toll controller 130 may
be trained to communicate with the electronic toll collection
system 30 using information associated with a user's account, which
may be obtained in a variety of ways, including, for example, from
the mobile device 40. Optionally, the communication system 100 may
obtain the identifying information or transponder serial number
automatically from an RFID transponder being used by the vehicle
operator.
[0046] Automatic programmability of the communication system 100
may be achieved in a variety of ways, including, for instance, by
monitoring communications between a conventional RFID transponder
and the electronic toll collection system 30, and providing
feedback to the vehicle operator indicative of automatic
programmability capabilities and requesting confirmation to store
identifying information for use in conjunction with the electronic
toll collection system 30. Alternatively, or additionally,
automatic programmability may be achieved by initiating a
programming mode in which the communication system 100 generates an
interrogation signal to elicit a response from an RFID transponder.
The response may be analyzed by the electronic-toll controller 130,
and identifying information associated with an account managed by
the electronic toll collection system 30 may be stored in memory
based on the analysis. Thereafter, the communication system 100 may
operate in a manner that appears identical to the RFID transponder
used for programming.
[0047] If the electronic toll controller 130 of the communication
system 100 is configured to interact with the electronic toll
collection system 30, and a conventional RFID transponder is
located within the vehicle 10, there may be a potential conflict
over which of the communication system 100 or the conventional RFID
transponder communicates with the electronic toll collection system
30 in proximity to the vehicle 10. The electronic toll controller
130 may be configured to detect presence of the conventional RFID
transponder, and to defer or suspend transaction negotiations with
the electronic toll collection system to allow the conventional
RFID transponder to handle transacting with the electronic toll
collection system 30 and obtaining authorized access to a toll
area. Additionally, or alternatively, the electronic toll
controller 130 may be configured to detect presence of a
conventional RFID transponder, and to alert the vehicle operator
via the display 106 that the conventional RFID transponder is
unnecessary and to remove it or store it in an location (e.g., a
glove compartment) where the conventional RFID transponder is
substantially incapable of communicating with the electronic toll
collection system 30. In this way, the communication system 100 may
avoid potential conflicts prior to receiving an interrogation
signal from the electronic toll collection system 30 to initiate a
transaction.
[0048] The electronic toll controller 130 in one embodiment may
dynamically generate identifying information to communicate to the
electronic toll collection systems 30 in response to receipt of an
interrogation signal from the electronic toll collection system.
Dynamic generation of the identifying information may be achieved
in variety of ways.
[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the mobile device controller
108 may communicate with one or more mobile devices 40 that have
been paired with the mobile device controller 108, or that are
present within the vehicle, or a combination thereof, in order to
obtain authorization information from the one or more mobile
devices 40. This authorization information may be used by the
mobile device controller 108 to generate identifying information
for transmission to the electronic toll collection system 30 in
response to detecting an interrogation signal from a toll
collection transceiver. For instance, after receiving the
interrogation signal from the electronic toll collection system 30,
the mobile device controller 108 may communicate a request to one
or more mobile devices 40 to authorize use of an account associated
with the mobile device 40 or a user thereof. Information relating
to the account may be used by the communication system 100 as a
basis for requesting access to a toll area under control of the
electronic toll collection system 30. The user of the mobile device
40 may receive a notification on their device that authorization
for account access or usage is being requested. The user may
respond to this notification, enabling or denying authorization of
an account associated with the mobile device 40. In this way, the
user of the mobile device 40 may be capable of real-time management
of electronic toll payments via the mobile device 40. If more than
one user and mobile device 40 is located in the vehicle, each user
may selectively choose to pay a toll, thereby enabling real-time
management over payment of tolls from more than one device in the
vehicle.
[0050] It should be noted that a notification regarding a request
for access to an account may be provided prior to receiving an
interrogation signal from a toll collection transceiver. The mobile
device controller 108 may preauthorize use of an account by
notifying or requesting authorized access prior to nearing a toll
collection transceiver. Preauthorization may occur in a variety of
ways and at a variety of times. As an example, the system may
preauthorize use of an account associated with a mobile device 40
when the mobile device 40 initially communicates with or pairs with
the system. As another example, preauthorization may occur around
when ignition of the vehicle 10 occurs. In yet another example, the
system may utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) to identify an
approaching toll area, and request authorization from the mobile
device 40 ahead of reaching that toll area. With the system being
preauthorized to utilize an account associated with the mobile
device 40, the system may automatically utilize information
associated with the account and automatically communicate with the
electronic toll collection system 30 to obtain authorized access to
a toll area. It should be understood that, alternatively, the
system may wait until after receiving an interrogation signal to
prompt a user of the mobile device 40 for authorization to utilize
an account associated with the mobile device 44 obtaining
authorized access to toll area.
[0051] Alternatively or additionally, the communication system 100
may communicate information to the user interface 140 of the
communication system 100 requesting confirmation of authorization,
including preauthorization, to use an account associated with a
mobile device 40 to generate the identifying information for
requesting access to the toll area from the electronic call
collection system 30. If multiple mobile devices 40, and respective
multiple accounts, are available, the user interface 140 may
provide user selection of one mobile device 40 or one account to
use as a basis for generating the identification information to be
transmitted to the electronic toll collection system. In one
embodiment, regardless of whether there is one or multiple mobile
devices 40 present, the communication system 100 may indicate, on a
display associated with the user interface 140, information
indicative of the account being used as a basis for requesting
authorized access to a toll area.
[0052] In one embodiment, the account utilized by the electronic
toll controller 130 may be a shared account such that more than one
vehicle 10 may conduct transactions with the electronic toll
collection system 30 using the same shared account. For instance, a
fleet of vehicles owned or operated by a common entity may be
configured to utilize the same shared account with the
communication system 100. The programmability of the communication
system 100 of such a fleet of vehicles may aid in avoiding use of
separate conventional toll-pass transponders for each vehicle in
the fleet, thereby reducing costs associated with such conventional
transponders.
[0053] In one embodiment, the fleet of vehicles may be a fleet of
rental vehicles, each having a communication system 100 tied to one
or more shared accounts. With this arrangement, the rental vehicles
may be rented out to vehicle operators without having the vehicle
operators consider whether they may encounter toll areas under
control of an electronic toll collection system. The rental entity
may charge back any tolls paid from their account directly to the
account that the vehicle operator used to rent the rental
vehicle.
[0054] One or more of the described components of the control unit
104 may be separate from the control unit 104, but for purposes of
disclosure, these components are described as being part of an
integrated control unit 104. The control unit 104 may be coupled to
a power interface 150 provided by the vehicle 10 such that the
control unit 104, and its components, receive power from a vehicle
supply, which may include a battery (not shown) or a vehicle
generator, or both. In this way, the control unit 104 may be
coupled to a separate, stable power source rather than an
independent battery, thereby substantially preventing the
communication system 100 from becoming disabled due to loss of
power (unless the vehicle battery, itself, becomes depleted).
[0055] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the controller 104
may include a building controller 120 or a home-oriented controller
or a building-oriented controller configured to communicate with
the one or more building-based devices 20, as described herein. The
building controller 120 may be configured to communicate commands
or instructions to the one or more building-based devices 20 via
the one or more antennas 160.
[0056] Further, the building controller 120 may be programmable or
trainable to communicate with the one or more building-based
devices 20. For instance, in one embodiment, the one or more
building-based devices 20 may be at least one of a garage door
opener, gate operator, or a home lighting system that utilizes a
rolling key based authorization system. The building controller 120
may be trained or configured to store in memory a rolling key
algorithm associated with a specific building-based device 20.
Storage of the rolling key algorithm or one or more parameters
associated therewith may occur during an association phase in which
the building controller 120 and the communication system 100 are
associated with the specific building-based device 20. Although
described in connection with associating one building-based device
20 with the building controller 120, it should be understood that
the building controller 120 may be associated with multiple
building-based devices 20.
[0057] The building controller 120 may be configured to communicate
a command to one or more building-based devices 20 that are
associated with the building controller 120. The communicated
command may include instructions or parameters that relate to a
type of activity or action to perform, or may be a message, such as
a key, that the building-based device 20 is configured to a)
respond to in a predetermined manner or b) to take a predetermined
action, or any combination thereof. An example of a predetermined
action is opening a garage door in response to receipt of a valid
key in the building-based device 20.
[0058] In one embodiment, the building controller 120 may be
configured to transfer information relating to authorization for
operating one or more building-based devices 20 to the mobile
device 40. As an example, the building controller 120 may utilize
"token" based authentication and server authentication in addition
or as an alternative to stored keys to effect authorized operation
of a building-based device 20, including obtaining sensed parameter
information from the building-based device 20 or to initiate an
activity, or both. Token based authentication in one embodiment may
include generation of a token, in the building controller 120,
based on a stored key. The token may be transmitted to a
building-based device 20, which may confirm whether the token is
authorized by comparing the token against one or more criteria,
including, for example, a complementary token generated in the
building-based device 20 that is based on a key stored in the
building-based device 20. In one embodiment, the keys stored in the
building controller 120 and the building-based device 20 may be the
same, and generation of tokens is based on hashing of the stored
keys with a hashing algorithm so that authentication is confirmed
if the token generated by the building controller 120 matches the
token generated by the building-based device 20. This example is
provided for purposes of disclosure, and it should be understood
that any type of token-based authentication system may be
utilized.
[0059] As another example, the building controller 120 may
communicate identification or rolling key information for storage
in the mobile device 40. In response to a request by the vehicle
operator to activate a building-based device 20, the building
controller 120 may retrieve information from the mobile device 40
that is based on the stored information and that authorizes
activation of the building-based device 20. The mobile device 40
may function as an authorization key for operating an associated
building-based device 20 by providing information to the building
controller 20 of the communication system 100. This information may
be used by the building controller 130 as a basis for requesting
activation of the building-based device 20. The mobile device 40
may be moved from one vehicle to another vehicle, and provide the
same or similar functionality for activating the building-based
device.
[0060] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the controller 104
may be coupled to a display 106 capable of providing feedback to a
vehicle operator. The display 106 may be incorporated in the
rearview mirror assembly 102, as depicted in the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 1. However, in an alternative embodiment, the
display 106 may be located outside the rearview mirror assembly
102, such as in the vehicle dash or center stack. The controller
104 may include a display controller or module 116 capable of
directing display of information on the display 106. With the
display 106, the communication system 100 may provide feedback to
the vehicle operator, and enable operator interaction with the
controller 104.
[0061] Examples of feedback provided to the vehicle operator via
the display 106 include training information or registration
information related to configuration of the communication system
100 with at least one of an electronic toll collection system, one
or more building-based devices 20, and the one or more mobile
devices 40. The training information and the registration
information may include prompts or informative instructions or
information relating to a training process or a registration
process, or a combination thereof, that are provided to the
operator via the display 106 to facilitate configuring or
interacting with the communication system 100. For instance, the
prompts or informative instructions may direct the operator to
conduct one or more steps to facilitate configuration.
[0062] Another example of feedback provided to the vehicle operator
via the display 106 includes tell-tale information relating to
approaching events or objects, such as an approaching toll
location. To facilitate providing such tell-tale information, the
communication system 100 may be operably coupled to a GPS system of
the vehicle 10 or the mobile device 40, and configured to obtain
location information therefrom with respect to the vehicle 10 and
land-based locations of interest, such as toll locations,
destinations, construction areas and temporary blockages caused by,
for example, an accident.
[0063] Yet another example of feedback provided via the display 106
includes identification of payment of a toll associated with
authorized access being granted from an electronic toll collection
system. For instance, the display 106 may indicate to the vehicle
operator that she just paid $6.00 to obtain authorized access to a
toll area. Identification of payment of a toll may include a total
trip cost or an accumulation of tolls paid over the course of a
trip segment. The display 106 may further display balance
information relating to an available balance of an account selected
for payment of a toll for authorized access to a toll area.
[0064] Additionally, or alternatively, the display 106, after or
while the communication system 100 establishes authorized access to
a toll area controlled by the electronic toll collection system 30,
may indicate to the vehicle operator that authorized access has
been granted or that the toll payment has been acknowledged. In
this way, the vehicle operator can be informed of one or more steps
in the transaction process so that the vehicle operator may be
aware of progress, and that the communication system 100 is
operating to obtain authorized access.
[0065] Directional terms, such as "vertical," "horizontal," "top,"
"bottom," "upper," "lower," "inner," "inwardly," "outer" and
"outwardly," are used to assist in describing the invention based
on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations.
The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the
invention to any specific orientation(s).
[0066] The above description is that of current embodiments of the
invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without
departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as
defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in
accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine
of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative
purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description
of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the
claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in
connection with these embodiments. For example, and without
limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention
may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially
similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This
includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such
as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art,
and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such
as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development,
recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments
include a plurality of features that are described in concert and
that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The
present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that
include all of these features or that provide all of the stated
benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the
issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for
example, using the articles "a," "an," "the" or "said," is not to
be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference
to claim elements as "at least one of X, Y and Z" is meant to
include any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of
X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z ; and Y, Z.
* * * * *