Methods and systems of selectively enabling a vehicle by way of a portable wireless device

Abstract

A system. The system includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a first wireless communication circuit coupled to the processor. The first wireless communication circuit is configured to receive, from an operations center remotely located with respect to a vehicle, a message comprising an alert concerning a payment event. The system also includes a second wireless communication circuit, distinct from the first wireless communication circuit, coupled to the processor. The second wireless communication circuit is configured to relay the alert to a wireless device. The memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: disable the vehicle responsive to a first command from the operations center, the first command received across the first wireless communication circuit using a first communication protocol, disable the vehicle responsive to a second command from the operations center, the second command relayed through the wireless device across the second wireless communication circuit using a second communication protocol, and disable the vehicle when the wireless device is not communicatively coupled to the onboard device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor;   a first wireless communication circuit coupled to the processor, the first wireless communication circuit configured to receive, from an operations center remotely located with respect to a vehicle, a message comprising an alert concerning a payment event;   a second wireless communication circuit, distinct from the first wireless communication circuit, coupled to the processor, the second wireless communication circuit configured to relay the alert to a wireless device; and   the memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 disable the vehicle responsive to a first command from the operations center, the first command received across the first wireless communication circuit using a first communication protocol 
 disable the vehicle responsive to a second command from the operations center, the second command relayed through the wireless device across the second wireless communication circuit using a second communication protocol; and 
 disable the vehicle when the wireless device is not communicatively coupled to the onboard device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second wireless communication protocol comprises a Bluetooth network protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second wireless communication protocol comprises a ZigBee network protocol. 
     
     
         4 . A system comprising:
 a wireless device configured to communicate with other devices by way of a wireless communication network; and   an onboard device located on a vehicle, the onboard device comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory coupled to the processor; 
 a first wireless communications circuit coupled to the processor, the first wireless communication circuit configured to receive, from an operations center remotely located with respect to the vehicle, a message comprising an alert concerning a payment event; 
 a second wireless communication circuit, first wireless communication circuit coupled to the processor, the second wireless communication circuit configured to relay the alert to the wireless device via the wireless network; and 
 the memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 disable the vehicle responsive to a first command from the operations center, the first command received across the first wireless communication circuit; 
 disable the vehicle responsive to a second command from the operations center, the second command relayed through the wireless device across the second wireless communication circuit; and 
 disable the vehicle when the wireless device is not communicatively coupled to the onboard device. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the operations center using a short message service (SMS) communication channel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the operations center using a voice communication channel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the operations center using an email communication channel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a mobile telephone; a handheld computer; a laptop computer; and a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device comprises a component communicatively coupled to at least one selected from the group consisting of: a navigation system installed in the vehicle, a communications network operating in the vehicle, an engine control module, a transmission control module, and a control module for controlling a component of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless device is controllable via input components associated with the navigation system, and wherein the navigation system displays output related to operation of the wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to receive user entry of a password. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit the entered password to the operations center for validation. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit the entered password to the onboard device for validation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the onboard device is configured to validate the entered password. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the onboard device is configured to relay the entered password to the operations center for validation. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor disables the vehicle responsive to a predetermined number of unsuccessful password entry attempts. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the operations center via a wireless telephone network. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the onboard device is configured to transmit messages to the wireless device via the personal area network, and wherein the wireless device is configured to output messages to a user. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the messages comprise text-based alerts. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to receive input from a user specifying operational preferences, and wherein the onboard device is configured to receive specified operational preferences from the wireless device and configured to reconfigure its operation in response to the received specified operational preferences. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the alert concerning a payment event comprises an extension of an operability period for the vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16  wherein, upon validation of the password, the alert concerning a payment event comprises an extension of an operability period for the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15  wherein, upon validation of the password, the alert concerning a payment event comprises a command causing enabling operation of the vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the wireless device is further configured to enter a service mode on receiving a service password. 
     
     
         25 . A method for relaying an alert concerning a trigger event to a user, comprising:
 at an operations center, detecting a trigger event;   transmitting a message from the operations center to a device located onboard a vehicle, the message comprising an alert concerning the trigger event, the onboard device being adapted to selectively disable the vehicle;   at the onboard device, relaying the alert to a wireless device via a wireless network, the wireless device being portable and movable with respect to the vehicle;   outputting, at the wireless device, an indication of the alert to notify a user of the trigger event; and   wherein the onboard device is configured to disable the vehicle when the wireless device is not communicatively coupled to the onboard device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the trigger event comprises a non-payment event. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the trigger event comprises a payment event. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein relaying the alert comprises transmitting a message comprises transmitting a message comprising the alert via the wireless network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising disabling the vehicle in response to the message from the operations center. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising enabling the vehicle in response to the message from the operations center. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the trigger event comprises a payment event, the method further comprising:
 at the wireless device, prompting the user for payment input; and   responsive to failing to receiving input indicating payment, disabling the vehicle.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein outputting an indication of the alert comprises outputting at least one of a text message, beep, and voice message. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 prompting the user to contact the operations center; and   responsive to the user accepting the prompt, initiating wireless communication between the wireless device and the operations center.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein initiating wireless communication between the wireless device and the operations center comprises initiating voice communication. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein initiating wireless communication between the wireless device and the operations center comprises initiating at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 SMS communication; and   e-mail communication.   
     
     
         36 . A method for relaying an alert concerning a trigger event to a user, comprising:
 at an operations center, detecting a trigger event;   transmitting a message from the operations center to a wireless device, the message comprising an alert concerning the trigger event, the wireless device being portable and movable with respect to the vehicle;
 at the wireless device, relaying the alert, via a wireless network, to a device located onboard a vehicle, the onboard device being adapted to selectively disable the vehicle; 
 outputting, at the wireless device, an indication of the alert to notify a user of the trigger event; and 
 wherein the onboard device is configured to disable the vehicle when the wireless device is not communicatively coupled to the onboard device. 
   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the trigger event comprises a nonpayment event. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the trigger event comprises a payment event. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising disabling the vehicle in response to the message from the operations center. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising enabling the vehicle in response to the message from the operations center.