Remote starter system with flashable antenna

Abstract

A remote vehicle starter system having an antenna that can be flashed to operate in a one-way mode or a two-way mode, such that a user will be permitted a trial period to test the remote starter system in both modes and then the user can select the desired mode by flashing the antenna via link up to a website. The user is charged a price for the remote starter system based on the mode selected by flashing.

Claims

1. A customizable remote control system for communicating with a vehicle, the remote control system comprising: a remote control transceiver for transmitting a first signal and receiving a second signal; an antenna of the vehicle configured to receive said first signal from said remote control transceiver and transmit said second signal to said remote control transceiver, said antenna including a microchip reprogrammable by flashing; a controller for controlling said vehicle in accordance with said first signal; wherein said antenna is configured to connect to a computer and receive a software for programming said reprogrammable microchip; wherein, said antenna is configured to operate in a one-way mode and in a two-way mode, such that in said one-way mode said antenna only receives said first signal from said remote control transceiver and does not send said second signal to said remote control transceiver, and in said two-way mode said antenna receives said first signal from said remote control transceiver and sends said second signal to said remote control transceiver; wherein said antenna is configured to receive said first signal at a first range and transmit said second signal at a second range, said second range being greater than said first range; wherein said software is configured to flash said microchip, such that said microchip is reprogrammed to operate in either said one-way mode or said two-way mode; and wherein, said software is configured to flash said microchip, such that said microchip is reprogrammed to operate said antenna at either said first range or said second range.

2. A customizable remote control system according to claim 1 further comprising a decoder for translating said first signal and said second signal between said antenna and said remote control transceiver.

3. The customizable remote control system according to claim 2, wherein said first range is approximately ½ mile when said antenna is operating in said one-way mode.

4. The customizable remote control system according to claim 2, wherein said first range is approximately 1 mile when said antenna is operating in said two-way mode.

5. The customizable remote control system according to claim 4, wherein said remote control system operating in said two-way mode has a second range of approximately 2 miles.

6. The customizable remote control system according to claim 1 wherein reprogramming said microchip is configured such that flashing is accomplished by accessing a website.

7. The customizable remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna is linked to said website for said reprogramming of said reprogrammable microchip.

8. The customizable remote control system according to claim 7 wherein said antenna is initially programmed to operate in either said one-way mode or said two-way mode and is subsequently reprogrammed after retail sale of said remote control system.

9. The customizable remote control system according to claim 8 wherein said controller is further configured for generating control signals for controlling said vehicle control system to perform an engine start process, a trunk release process, a remote enter panic process, a lock or unlock process, a silent lock and arm process, a mute horn process, a passive lock process, an enable or disable auto start timer process, an enable or disable turbo time process, or a disable shock sensor process.

10. The customizable remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said customizable remote control system further comprises a trial period mode for configuring said antenna on a temporary basis.

11. The customizable remote control system according to claim 10, wherein during said trial period mode said antenna is configured to temporarily operate in said two-way mode, and at the end of said trial period mode said antenna is configured to operate in said one-way mode.

12. The customizable remote control system according to claim 10, wherein during said trial period mode said antenna is configured to temporarily operate at said second range, and at the end of said trial period mode said antenna is configured to operate at said first range.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of the remote starter system.

(2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for communication between a remote control and an antenna for a remote starter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a protocol for encryption of a signal for a remote starter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a protocol for decryption of a signal for a remote starter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a business method for an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) A remote starter system (1) according to the present invention is comprised of a remote control (10), an antenna (20), and a remote starter (30). In a preferred embodiment, the remote starter system (1) further includes a decoder (22), which can be combined with the antenna (20), for translating signals between the remote control (10) and the remote starter (30).

(7) In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the customizable remote control system (1), which communicates with a vehicle control system (not shown), has a remote control (10) that is a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal. The antenna (20) is also a transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the signal. The remote starter (30) controls the vehicle control system in accordance with the signal from the remote control transceiver (10). More particularly, the remote control system (1) is adapted to operate in a one-way mode, in which the antenna (20) receives a signal from the remote control transceiver (10) but does not send a return signal to the remote control transceiver (10). The remote control system (1) is also adapted to operate in a two-way mode, in which the antenna (20) receives a signal from the remote control transceiver (10) and sends a return signal to the remote control transceiver (10). The antenna (20) is programmed to operate in the one-way mode and the two-way mode. The antenna (20) can be subsequently reprogrammed to operate in either the one-way mode or the two-way mode. Further, the remote control system (1) can also include a decoder (22) for translating signals between the antenna (20) and the remote starter (30).

(8) In an embodiment of the remote control system (1), the antenna (20) is adapted to send and receive signals in a first range. The antenna (20) is also capable of sending and receiving signals in a second range that is longer than the first range. For example, the remote starter system (1) according to the present invention can have a one-way range of ½ mile, a two-way range of 1 mile, and a two-way range of 2 miles. The antenna (20) can be flashed to operate in the desired mode and range according to the end-user.

(9) A remote starter system (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention operates in a two-way mode based on the protocol shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, in step one the remote control (10) sends an encrypted RF (radio frequency) signal to the antenna (20). The RF signal is encrypted according a protocol shown below in FIG. 3. The antenna (20) then decrypts the signal according to a protocol shown in FIG. 4. If the signal is successfully decrypted, then in step two, the antenna (20) sends an acknowledgement via a return RF signal back to the remote control (10). In step three, the antenna (20) sends a decrypted packet to the remote starter (30). The decrypted packet is sent via UART (i.e., a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter), which is an interface between the antenna and the remote starter. In step four, the antenna (20) waits for a response from the remote starter host over UART. In step five, the antenna (20) sends a response to the remote control (10) via an RF signal. The antenna (20) is then reset to continue receiving signals.

(10) Further referring to FIG. 2, if the RF signal from the remote control (10) is successfully decrypted by antenna (20), then the antenna (20) sends an acknowledgement back to the remote control (10). On the other hand, if the RF signal from the remote control (10) is not successfully decrypted by the antenna (20), then the antenna (20) does not send an acknowledgement back to the remote control (10), but instead will reset to continue receiving signals from the remote control (10).

(11) Referring to step five in FIG. 2, the “frames” (i.e., tabular data) for the return signal sent by the remote starter (30) via antenna (20) back to the remote control (10) are comprised of remote ID, data byte, and additional data byte. In order that the return signal is sent to the correct remote control (10), the remote ID sent is the remote ID of the last two-way remote used. If the last remote was a one-way, then the frame may not be sent to antenna (20). Further, the data byte comprises a state code, which is a 5-bits code used to trigger an event to antenna (20). Other bits show the current status of the vehicle and the remote starter. Each bit is set when the state is true, and cleared when it is false. Additional data byte may include status bit, engine runtime, query data, error code, and other data.

(12) The frames can be used for one-way operation or both one-way and two-way operations. If the remote starter detects a two-way remote control and the command has a two-way response, the data status message will be sent to the antenna (20) with the proper status and state code from the remote starter (30). The state code is used to acknowledge a specific or generic received message. It is also used to send an event information to the antenna (20). All status sent by the remote starter (30) is refreshed before sending to the antenna (20). For example, if the ignition is ON and a door is open, the frame sent to the antenna (20) will reflect this state.

(13) In an embodiment of the invention, the remote starter (30) can communicate with the antenna (20) as to the following:

(14) The remote starter (30) can request the antenna (20) to know the manufacturer ID of the remote control (10). The antenna (20) would respond with the manufacturer response message.

(15) The remote starter (30) can request the antenna (20) to provide a protocol ID that is implemented in the antenna (20). The antenna (20) would respond with the protocol ID.

(16) The remote starter (30) can send a signal to the antenna (20) to indicate the alarm status of the vehicle, whether the alarm is enabled or disabled.

(17) The antenna (20) can send a signal to the remote starter (30) to lock or unlock the doors of a vehicle. In a two-way mode, the antenna (20) will send a status signal to the remote control (10). The remote starter (30) can send a command to the vehicle control systems to flash the parking lights or sound the horn.

(18) In an exemplary use of the remote starter system (1) in a one-way mode, the remote control (10) sends a signal to start the engine to antenna (20), which is decoded and sent to the remote starter (30). The remote starter (30) can command the vehicle to flash the parking lights 1× to confirm receipt of the command and 2× to confirm engine ignition. The parking lights will turn ON for the entire running time. For remote stop, the remote control (10) sends a signal to stop the engine to antenna (20), which is decoded and sent to the remote starter (30). The parking lights will turn off.

(19) In an exemplary use of the remote starter system (1) in a two-way mode, the remote control (10) sends a signal to start the engine to the antenna (20), which is decoded and sent to the remote starter (30). The remote starter (30) sends a status data packet (e.g., status: start on; state code: start; additional data: none) via the antenna (20) to the remote control (10). When the start sequence is successfully processed (accessories, ignition, start), a second status data packet (e.g., status: start On/Engine On; state code: start success; additional data: running time) is sent from the remote starter (30) via the antenna (20) to the remote control (10).

(20) The remote starter system (1) is capable of other functionalities, such as remote trunk release, remote enter panic, remote exit panic, remote silent lock and arm, remote silent disarm and unlock, remote lock/unlock, mute (horn operation), passive mode for automatically locking doors after a period of time, enabling/disabling of auto-start timer, enabling/disabling of turbo timer, turn on or off shock sensor, etc.

(21) A method for the sale and flashing of the remote starter system (1) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The remote starter system (1) is sold with the capability to operate in both a one-way mode and a two-way mode, with either short range or long range capability. The consumer has a specified trial period for test-using the remote starter in the different modes. During this trial period, the consumer will have the option of test-using the remote starter in a one-way mode and a two-way mode. The consumer will also have the option of test-using it for short range operation and long range operation. At the conclusion of the trial period, the consumer selects the desired mode and other functionalities. The remote starter system (1) is flashed according to means known in the art, either manually or via a USB interface to a computer for online firmware reprogramming.

(22) The remote starter system (1) according to the present invention can reduce dealer inventory carrying cost by 50% and maximize inventory because the remote starter system (1) can be flashed to be the equivalent of one-way or two-way starters. In effect, the remote starter system (1) is an “all-in-one” system, having expandable functionalities through a post-sale upgrade. For example, the range of the remote starter system (1) can be up-graded post sale through a software update.

(23) The above-described embodiment is 'merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.