Vehicle alert system

Abstract

A system of a vehicle may provide a parking assist function and/or an alert function. The system includes a sensor, a control and a display. The sensor is disposed at a vehicle and is operable to, at least in part, determine a geographical location of the vehicle. The control may be responsive to an output of the sensor and at least one of (i) a database and (ii) a communication from a remote server. Responsive to an input, the control may display parking information pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle. The system may be part of a plurality of networked vehicles equipped with respective sensors and controls. The control of the equipped vehicle may be operable to communicate information pertaining to a determination of an event or break-in to other nearby vehicles of the plurality of networked vehicles.

1 . A parking assist system of a vehicle, said parking assist system comprising:
 a sensor disposed at a vehicle, wherein said sensor is operable to, at least in part, determine a geographical location of the vehicle;   a control responsive to an output of said sensor and at least one of (i) a communication from a remote server and (ii) a database;   a display disposed at the vehicle and viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle; and   wherein, responsive at least in part to historic parking data of the equipped vehicle, said control is operable to display parking information pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The parking assist system of  claim 1 , wherein said parking assist system is operable to record the frequency of parked cars in an area and is operable to determine a likelihood of finding an empty space. 
     
     
         3 . The parking assist system of  claim 2 , wherein said parking assist system is operable to provide a hierarchy of potential parking spaces in an order of likely availability. 
     
     
         4 . The parking assist system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises at least one of (i) a camera of the vehicle and (ii) a global positioning system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The parking assist system of  claim 1 , wherein said control is responsive to a database and wherein said control is operable to record locations where the equipped vehicle has been parked in said database, and wherein said control is operable to display historical parking information. 
     
     
         6 . The parking assist system of  claim 1 , wherein said control is operable to display parking behavior of other vehicles similarly equipped with a parking assist system. 
     
     
         7 . The parking assist system of  claim 1 , wherein said control is operable to display prices for parking at parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The parking assist system of  claim 1 , comprises a user input that is selectively actuated by an occupant of the vehicle to display available parking spaces within a threshold distance from the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . An alert system of a vehicle, said alert system comprising:
 a sensor disposed at a vehicle equipped with said alert system;   a control, wherein said control, responsive to an output of said sensor, is operable to determine an event at the equipped vehicle;   wherein the equipped vehicle comprises a part of a plurality of networked vehicles;   wherein said control of the equipped vehicle, responsive to said determination, is operable to communicate information pertaining to said determination to at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles; and   wherein a control of the at least one other vehicle is operable to receive the communicated information and generate an alert.   
     
     
         10 . The alert system of  claim 9 , wherein, responsive at least in part to receipt of the communicated information, the control of the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles is operable to activate an alarm of the at least one other vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The alert system of  claim 9 , wherein, responsive at least in part to receipt of the communicated information, the control of the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles is operable to activate at least one exterior viewing camera of the at least one other vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The alert system of  claim 9 , wherein said control of the equipped vehicle, responsive to said determination, is operable to communicate information to at least one of (i) the vehicle owner and (ii) the local authorities. 
     
     
         13 . The alert system of  claim 12 , wherein said control of the equipped vehicle (a) transmits a shorter range communication that is received by the control of the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles and (b) transmits a longer range communication that is received by at least one of (i) the vehicle owner and (ii) the local authorities. 
     
     
         14 . The alert system of  claim 9 , wherein said alert system is activated responsive to activation of a security system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The alert system of  claim 9 , wherein said control of the equipped vehicle communicates information to the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles via a short range communication system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The alert system of  claim 15 , wherein, responsive at least in part to receipt of the communicated information, the control of the at least one other vehicle communicates the alert via respective short range communications systems of the at least one other vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . An alert system of a vehicle, said alert system comprising:
 a sensor disposed at a vehicle equipped with said alert system;   a control, wherein said control, responsive to an output of said sensor, is operable to determine an event at the equipped vehicle;   wherein the equipped vehicle comprises a part of a plurality of networked vehicles;   wherein said control of the equipped vehicle, responsive to said determination, is operable to communicate information pertaining to said determination to at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles;   wherein a control of the at least one other vehicle is operable to receive the communicated information and generate an alert;   wherein said control of the equipped vehicle communicates information to the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles via a short range communication system of the equipped vehicle; and   wherein, responsive at least in part to receipt of the communicated information, the control of the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles is operable to activate at least one exterior viewing camera of the at least one other vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The alert system of  claim 17 , wherein, responsive at least in part to receipt of the communicated information, the control of the at least one other vehicle of said plurality of networked vehicles is operable to activate an alarm of the at least one other vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The alert system of  claim 17 , wherein said control of the equipped vehicle, responsive to said determination, is operable to communicate information to at least one of (i) the vehicle owner and (ii) the local authorities, and wherein said control transmits a longer range communication that is received by at least one of (i) the vehicle owner and (ii) the local authorities. 
     
     
         20 . The alert system of  claim 17 , wherein, responsive at least in part to receipt of the communicated information, the control of the at least one other vehicle communicates the alert via a short range communications system of the at least one other vehicle.