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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a portable-device processor configured to:   monitor a digital calendar until it is determined that there is a scheduled appointment within a predetermined time period from a current time;   determine a route from a current vehicle location to an appointment location;   determine a projected travel time to the appointment location from the current vehicle location; and   present a departure time recommendation sufficient to reach the appointment location before an appointment time based on the projected travel time.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine at least one travel-time-affecting condition that is projected to be encountered along the route and wherein the projected travel time accommodates the travel-time-affecting condition. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the travel-time-affecting condition includes traffic. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the travel-time-affecting condition includes weather. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the current vehicle location based on vehicle GPS coordinates received from the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the current vehicle location based on phone GPS coordinates. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine if a user is currently located at a vehicle, by comparing a current mobile device location to the current vehicle location, obtained from the vehicle, wherein the projected travel time includes projected travel time from the current mobile device location to the current vehicle location and wherein the departure time indicates a time at which the user should depart from the current mobile device location for the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the projected travel time from the current mobile device location to the current vehicle location is determined based on a predetermined walking speed of the user. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a portable-device processor, cause the portable-device processor to perform a method comprising:
 monitoring a digital calendar until it is determined that there is a scheduled appointment within a predetermined time period from a current time;   determining a route from a current vehicle location to an appointment location;   determining a projected travel time to the appointment location from the current vehicle location; and   presenting a departure time recommendation sufficient to reach the appointment location before an appointment time based on the projected travel time.   
     
     
         10 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises determining at least one travel-time-affecting condition that is projected to be encountered along the route and wherein the projected travel time accommodates the travel-time-affecting condition. 
     
     
         11 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the travel-time-affecting condition includes traffic. 
     
     
         12 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the travel-time-affecting condition includes weather. 
     
     
         13 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises determining the current vehicle location based on vehicle GPS coordinates received from the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises determining the current vehicle location based on phone GPS coordinates. 
     
     
         15 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises determining if a user is currently located at a vehicle, by comparing a current mobile device location to the current vehicle location, obtained from the vehicle, wherein the projected travel time includes projected travel time from the current mobile device location to the current vehicle location and wherein the departure time indicates a time at which the user should depart from the current mobile device location for the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the projected travel time from the current mobile device location to the current vehicle location is determined based on a predetermined walking speed of the user. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 monitoring, via a portable-device processor, a digital calendar until it is determined that there is a scheduled appointment within a predetermined time period from a current time;   determining, via the portable-device processor, a route from a current vehicle location to an appointment location;   determining if a user is currently located at a vehicle, by comparing a current mobile device location to the current vehicle location, obtained from the vehicle   determining, via the portable-device processor, a projected travel time to the appointment location from the current vehicle location, wherein the projected travel time includes projected travel time from the current mobile device location to the current vehicle location when the user is not currently located at the vehicle, based at least in part on a predetermined walking speed of the user; and   presenting, via the portable-device, a departure time recommendation sufficient to reach the appointment location before an appointment time based on the projected travel time, wherein the departure time indicates a time at which the user should depart from the current mobile device location for the vehicle when the user is not currently located at the vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises determining at least one travel-time-affecting condition that is projected to be encountered along the route and wherein the projected travel time accommodates the travel-time-affecting condition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the travel-time-affecting condition includes traffic. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the travel-time-affecting condition includes weather.