Apparatus and method for transmitting static and dynamic information to a personal communication device in a vehicle

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to a portable personal communication device (PCD) is provided. The apparatus comprises a communication module positioned in the first vehicle. The communication module is configured to transmit a first signal including static information and dynamic information to the first PCD. The static information includes one of a first vehicle serial number and a vehicle type and the dynamic information includes one of a connect status, a driver alert rating, and a silent alarm. The first PCD is arranged to control operation thereof based on at least one of the static information and the dynamic information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to a portable personal communication device (PCD), the apparatus comprising:
 a communication module positioned in the first vehicle and being configured to: transmit a first signal including static information and dynamic information to the first PCD, the static information including one of a first vehicle serial number and a vehicle type and the dynamic information including one of a connect status, a driver alert rating, and a silent alarm and the first PCD being arranged to control operation thereof based on at least one of the static information and the dynamic information.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first vehicle serial number comprises a sequence of characters which uniquely identifies the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the first vehicle serial number to the first PCD such that the first vehicle serial number corresponding to the first vehicle is learned thereto, and wherein the first PCD filters out a second vehicle serial number as provided on a second signal for a second vehicle within range of the communication module. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle type comprises information corresponding to whether the vehicle is one of a personal vehicle, a taxi, a limousine, and a train. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the vehicle type to the first PCD for restricting operation thereof in the event the vehicle type indicates that the first vehicle is the personal vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the vehicle type to the first PCD for providing full operation thereof in the event the vehicle type indicates that the first vehicle is one of the taxi, the limousine, and the train. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the connect status to indicate whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module for controlling operation of the first PCD. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the connect status to a second PCD to indicate whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module, the second PCD allowing full operation thereof if the connect status indicates that first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the driver alert rating to the first PCD and to at least one second PCD to indicate whether a driver is experiencing an impaired condition. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the silent alarm to one of the first PCD and at least one second PCD positioned in one of the first vehicle and a second vehicle to indicate that a driver in the first vehicle is in a distressed state. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for transmitting vehicle information to a portable personal communication device (PCD), the apparatus comprising:
 a communication module configured to transmit a first signal including dynamic information to one of a first PCD and a second PCD, the dynamic information including one of a connect status, a driver alert rating, and a silent alarm and the first PCD being arranged to control operation thereof based on the dynamic information.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the connect status to indicate whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module for controlling operation of the first PCD. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the connect status to the second PCD to indicate whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module, the second PCD allowing full operation thereof if the connect status indicates that first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the connect status to the second PCD to indicate whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module, the second PCD restricting operation thereof if the connect status indicates that first PCD is not engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the driver alert rating to the first PCD and to second PCD to indicate whether a driver is experiencing an impaired condition. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the communication module is further configured to provide the silent alarm to one of the first PCD positioned in one of the vehicle and the second PCD positioned in another vehicle to indicate that a driver in the vehicle is in a distressed state. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for receiving vehicle information from a communication device in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one of a first communication device (PCD) and a second PCD configured to receive a first signal including dynamic information from the communication device, the dynamic information including one of a connect status, a driver alert rating, and a silent alarm and the first PCD being further configured to control operation thereof based on the dynamic information.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the connect status is indicative of whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module for controlling operation of the first PCD. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second PCD is configured to receive the connect status to determine whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module and to allow full operation thereof if the connect status indicates that first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second PCD is configured to determine whether the first PCD is engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module and to restrict operation thereof if the connect status indicates that first PCD is not engaged in bi-directional communication with the communication module.