Mobile device application for communicating with vehicles

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for reserving a reservable asset using a mobile device. A mobile device communicates directly with a vehicle-associated control module or through a reservation server using either a TCP/IP communications channel or near-field communications. A member enters a request using the user interface provided by the mobile-device application. The identity of the member is validated the vehicle-associated control module executes the request by sending a signal to a computer or sensor in the vehicle through the vehicle wiring or the vehicle CANbus. The request can be a function, such as unlocking the vehicle doors, illuminating the interior or exterior lights, honking the horn, or activating a panic alarm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile voice communication device for communicating with a vehicle comprising:
 a transmitter positioned in said mobile voice communication device for wirelessly transmitting a signal to a receiver in said vehicle located in a vehicle-associated control module;   a display on the mobile voice communication device through which a user can issue a request to the vehicle to control a function on said vehicle,   wherein said signal includes identification information that identifies the user or mobile voice communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile voice communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of honking a vehicle horn, illuminating the vehicle interior, illuminating the vehicle exterior, unlocking doors, locking doors, opening a trunk, sounding a panic alarm, sounding a security alarm, remote starting the vehicle, opening the vehicle windows, or closing the vehicle windows. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile voice communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the user identity is validated by comparing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, personal identification number, or a mobile-device serial number stored by the vehicle-associated control module to the identifier selected from the group consisting of the password, personal identification number, or serial number sent to the vehicle-associated control module. 
     
     
         4 . A mobile device-based vehicle control system comprising:
 a receiver mounted in a vehicle for receiving communication signals;   a vehicle-associated control module for controlling the operation of vehicle functions, said vehicle-associated control module being connected to said receiver for receiving instructions from said receiver, said vehicle-associated control module including a processor for validating the identity of the user;   a mobile voice communication device including:
 a display configured to receive input from a user, and 
 a transmitter for transmitting a signal representing the input from the user to said receiver, 
 said mobile voice communication device being configured to send a request generated by the input to the vehicle-associated control module, 
   wherein said vehicle-associated control module issues commands to vehicle components to respond to the user input after verifying the identity of the user.   
     
     
         5 . The mobile device-based vehicle control system of  claim 4 , wherein the input is selected from the group consisting of honking a vehicle horn, illuminating the vehicle interior, illuminating the vehicle exterior, unlocking doors, locking doors, opening a trunk, sounding a panic alarm, sounding a security alarm, remote starting the vehicle, opening the vehicle windows, or closing the vehicle windows. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device-based vehicle control system of  claim 4 , further comprising a reservation server and a reservation database, wherein the mobile voice communication device is configured to send the request to the vehicle-associated control module through said reservation server, which is in direct communication with said reservation database. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device-based vehicle control system of  claim 4 , wherein the user identity is validated by comparing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, personal identification number, or a mobile-device serial number stored by the vehicle-associated control module to the identifier selected from the group consisting of the password, personal identification number, or serial number sent to the vehicle-associated control module. 
     
     
         8 . A method for reserving and accessing a vehicle comprising the steps of:
 transmitting from a mobile device to a reservation server at least one user request regarding available vehicles;   accessing vehicle information from a the reservation database connected to the reservation server and sending vehicle information regarding the available vehicles to the mobile device;   displaying information on said mobile device regarding the available vehicles;   receiving a selection from the mobile device that is supplied by a user to reserve a vehicle,   transmitting information to a vehicle-associated control module to grant the user access to the vehicle;   the vehicle-associated control module reserving the selected vehicle for the user by authorizing the vehicle-associated control module to allow the user to access the selected vehicle   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein information regarding availability is displayed as a sliding visual display of time consisting of a timeline and markings to indicate time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the timeline has demarcations selected from a group consisting of shading, coloring, and lines. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the timeline indicates dates and times. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the timeline indicates periods during which the reservable asset is available to reserve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the timeline indicates periods of time during which the reservable asset is not available to reserve. 
     
     
         14 . A method for reserving a vehicle comprising:
 opening a map system on a mobile voice communication device, said map system being capable of displaying currently available vehicles, and said mobile communication device comprising a display and a transmitter;   optionally choosing a reservation time to display vehicles available at the selected reservation time;   selecting the reservable vehicle; and   transmitting the selection to a reservation server which is in direct communication with a reservation database.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile voice communication device transmits to the reservation server a signal that includes identification information to identify the user or mobile voice communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user identity is validated by comparing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, personal identification number, or a mobile-device serial number stored by the reservation server to the identifier selected from the group consisting of the password, personal identification number, or serial number sent to the reservation server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the selection is made from a list of more than one currently available vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the map system displays currently available vehicles nearest to the mobile voice communication device according to a cellular-site position of the mobile voice communication device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the map system displays currently available vehicles nearest to the mobile voice communication device according to a GPS position of the mobile voice communication device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the map system displays currently available vehicles nearest to a designated landmark.