Remote monitoring method

Abstract

A smart key carried with a user is provided with switches for monitoring a vehicle in remote places, such as a departure-time monitor switch, a return-time monitor switch and an all item monitor switch. The switches are associated with monitor information indicating various vehicle states. When the departure-time monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information such as parking position, rainfall state, etc. useful to the user at departure time from the vehicle. Similarly, when the return-time monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information useful at return time such as door open/closed state and lock state. When the all item monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information of all monitor items.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A remote monitoring method comprising steps of: 
 detecting which one of a plurality of switches of a communication terminal is operated by a user to request monitor information about a monitor object located away from the communication terminal;    transmitting a request signal from the communication terminal, the request signal being indicative of the switch detected by the detecting step as being operated by the user;    collecting monitor information about the monitor object in response to the request signal, the monitor information including a plurality of states of the monitor object and variable for each switch indicated by the request signal;    transmitting the monitor information provided by the collecting step from the monitor object; and    displaying on the communication terminal the plurality of states included in the monitor information transmitted from the monitor object.    
   
   
       10 . The remote monitoring method according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein the monitor object is a vehicle,    wherein the plurality of switches include a first switch for monitoring departure-time states of the vehicle and a second switch for monitoring return-time states of the vehicle.    
   
   
       11 . The remote monitoring method according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein the plurality of states includes at least one of a vehicle door state, a vehicle interior image, a vehicle parking position, a vehicle interior/exterior temperature and a rainfall state.    
   
   
       12 . The remote monitoring method according to  claim 9 , further comprising step of: 
 relaying, by an information center, the request signal to the monitor object and the monitor information to the communication device.    
   
   
       13 . The remote monitoring method according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein the monitor object is a vehicle, and    wherein the plurality of switches are provided in a vehicle door remote control device in addition to a vehicle door control switch of the remote control device.