Position-based performance of a vehicle function in a vehicle communication system

Abstract

A vehicle communication system ( 100 ) for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle ( 102 ) comprises a base station ( 104 ) positioned in the vehicle ( 102 ) and a mobile communication unit ( 122 ). The base station ( 104 ) comprises a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit and a first receiver for receiving a signal from the mobile communication unit ( 122 ). The base station ( 104 ) is configured to receive a first request from the mobile communication unit ( 122 ), wherein the first request seeks performance of a first vehicle function, determine a position of the mobile communication unit ( 122 ) relative to the vehicle ( 102 ), compare the position of the mobile communication unit ( 122 ) relative to the vehicle ( 102 ) to a first criteria, and facilitate performance of the first vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit ( 122 ) relative to the vehicle ( 102 ) satisfies the first criteria.

1 . A vehicle communication system for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle, the vehicle communication system comprising:
 a base station positioned in the vehicle; and   a mobile communication unit;   the base station comprising a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit and a first receiver for receiving a signal from the mobile communication unit;   the base station configured to:
 receive a first request from the mobile communication unit, wherein the first request seeks performance of a first vehicle function; 
 determine a position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle; 
 compare the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle to a first criteria; and 
 facilitate performance of the first vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle satisfies the first criteria, wherein the first criteria requires that the position be greater than a first distance from the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first criteria requires that the mobile communication unit is outside of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to:
 receive a second request from the mobile communication unit, wherein the second request seeks performance of a second vehicle function;   compare the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle to a second criteria; and   facilitate performance of the second vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle satisfies the second criteria.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the base station is configured to facilitate performance of the first vehicle function only if the position of the mobile communication unit satisfies the first criteria, and wherein the base station is configured to facilitate performance of the second vehicle function only if the position of the mobile communication unit satisfies the second criteria. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first criteria requires that the position be greater than a first distance from the vehicle, and wherein the second criteria requires that the position be within a second distance from the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first criteria requires that the mobile communication unit is outside the vehicle and the second criteria requires that the mobile communication unit is inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to determine the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle based on a time of flight method. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first transmitter is an ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is an ultra-wideband receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to facilitate performance of the first vehicle function only if the position of the mobile communication unit satisfies the first criteria. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the base station is configured to:
 receive a third request from the mobile communication unit, wherein the third request seeks performance of a third vehicle function;   compare the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle to a third criteria; and   facilitate performance of the third vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle satisfies the third criteria.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the base station is configured to facilitate performance of the first vehicle function only if the position of the mobile communication unit satisfies the first criteria, and wherein the base station is configured to facilitate performance of the second vehicle function only if the position of the mobile communication unit satisfies the second criteria, and wherein the base station is configured to facilitate performance of the third vehicle function only if the position of the mobile communication unit satisfies the third criteria. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle function comprises locking an aperture of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second vehicle function comprises starting an engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the third vehicle function comprises opening or closing an aperture of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A method for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle comprising:
 providing a base station positioned in the vehicle and a mobile communication unit, the base station comprising a first transmitter for transmitting a signal and a first receiver for receiving a signal from the mobile communication unit;   receiving a first request from the mobile communication unit, wherein the first request seeks performance of a first vehicle function;   determining a position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle;   comparing the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle to a predetermined first criteria; and   facilitating performance of the first request if the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle satisfies a first criteria, wherein the first criteria requires that the position be greater than a first distance from the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein determining the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle is based on a time of flight method, optionally wherein the first transmitter is an ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is an ultra-wideband receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The method for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request from the mobile communication unit, wherein the second request seeks performance of a second vehicle function;   comparing the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle to a second criteria; and   facilitating performance of the second vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle satisfies the second criteria.   
     
     
         18 . The method for facilitating control over a function of a vehicle as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving a third request from the mobile communication unit, wherein the third request seeks performance of a third vehicle function;   comparing the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle to a third criteria; and   facilitating performance of the third vehicle function if the position of the mobile communication unit relative to the vehicle satisfies the third criteria.   
     
     
         19 . A vehicle having a vehicle communication system as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A vehicle being adapted to perform a method as claimed in  claim 15 .