Methods and Apparatus for Wireless Device Application Having Vehicle Interaction

Abstract

A computer-implemented remote starting method includes instructing the remote start of a vehicle using a wireless device. The method also includes inputting, to the wireless device, a desired vehicle interior temperature. The method further includes sending a remote start instruction to a vehicle from the wireless device, including at least the desired temperature and monitoring a current temperature of the vehicle. The method additionally includes outputting, on the wireless device, the current vehicle temperature.

1 . A computer-implemented remote starting method comprising:
 instructing the remote start of a vehicle using a wireless device;   inputting, to the wireless device, a desired vehicle interior temperature;   sending a remote start instruction to a vehicle from the wireless device, including at least the desired temperature;   monitoring a current temperature of the vehicle; and   outputting, on the wireless device, the current vehicle temperature.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented remote starting method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) comprising:
 receiving a remote start instruction, including at least a desired vehicle interior temperature;   activating a vehicle power system;   determining a current vehicle temperature;   if the current vehicle temperature does not equal the desired vehicle interior temperature, setting a vehicle climate control system to achieve the desired interior vehicle temperature; and   activating a vehicle engine.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 locking vehicle doors.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 monitoring a vehicle interior temperature; and   reporting the vehicle interior temperature to a device from which the remote start instruction was received.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 monitoring a vehicle interior temperature; and   if a vehicle interior temperature equals the desired vehicle interior temperature, deactivating the vehicle engine.   
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system, comprising:
 checking a digital calendar for at least one temporally proximate appointment having an associated address;   determining a current vehicle location;   estimating a travel time from the current vehicle location to the address associated with the at least one appointment; and   outputting a recommended departure time, the recommended departure time no later than an at least one appointment start time less the estimated travel time.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 obtaining one or more factors that may affect travel time; and wherein the estimating a travel time further comprises estimating a travel time based at least in part on the obtained one or more factors.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more factors include a current weather status. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more factors include a weather forecast for weather during a time of travel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more factors include a current traffic status. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining if a user is located at a vehicle;   if a user is not located at a vehicle, estimating a walking travel time from a user's current location to the vehicle; and   adjusting the estimated travel time by the estimated walking travel time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining if a user is located at a vehicle further comprises:
 determining a location of a wireless device;   determining a location of the vehicle, in communication with the wireless device; and   comparing the location of the wireless device and the vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining if a user is located at a vehicle further comprises:
 determining if the wireless device is currently BLUETOOTH paired with the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), comprising:
 estimating a travel time to a destination;   determining if a vehicle is likely to reach the destination within a temporal proximity to an appointment time, based at least in part on the current time and the estimated travel time;   if the vehicle is estimated to arrive later than the temporal proximity to the appointment time, notifying a driver that the driver may be late to an appointment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining if at least one usable item of contact information is associated with the appointment in a digital calendar; and   using the usable item of contact information to notify a contact that the driver may be late to the appointment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an estimated time of arrival to the contact.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 querying the driver to determine if a contact should be contacted with a late-notification; and   contacting the contact with a late-notification following receiving an affirmative response from the driver to the querying.