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 smart phone comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:   receive instruction to launch a vehicle control application, stored in a memory of the smartphone;   launch the vehicle control application, responsive to the instruction;   provide, via the application, an option to start a vehicle from the smart phone;   wirelessly connect the smart phone to the vehicle via a wireless communication medium of the smart phone;   receive selection of the start option, input to the smart phone; and   responsive to selection of the start option, wirelessly send a command to the connected vehicle to start.   
     
     
         2 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 provide, via the application, an option to lock the vehicle;   receive selection of the lock option, input into the smart phone; and   responsive to selection of the lock option, wirelessly send a command to the connected vehicle to lock.   
     
     
         3 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 provide, via the application, an option to unlock the vehicle;   receive selection of the unlock option, input into the smart phone; and   responsive to selection of the unlock option, wirelessly send a command to the connected vehicle to unlock.   
     
     
         4 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 provide, via the application, an alarm option to activate an alarm of the vehicle;   receive selection of the alarm option, input into the smart phone; and   responsive to selection of the alarm option, wirelessly send a command to the connected vehicle to activate an alarm.   
     
     
         5 . A vehicle comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:   receive a wireless connection request from a smart phone;   connect to the smart phone responsive to the wireless connection request to establish a wireless connection;   wirelessly receive a command from the smart phone over the wireless connection, instructing activation of a vehicle control identified by the command; and   activate the vehicle control responsive to the received command.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle control includes an engine ignition or start control. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to lock the vehicle prior to activating the engine ignition or start control and responsive to receiving the command. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle control includes a door lock control. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle control includes a vehicle alarm control. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a smart phone including one or more first processors; and   a vehicle including one or more second processors,   wherein the one or more first processors are configured to:   receive instruction to launch a vehicle control application, stored in a memory of the smartphone;   launch the vehicle control application, responsive to the instruction;   provide, via the application, an option to start a vehicle from the smart phone;   wirelessly connect the smart phone to the vehicle via a wireless communication medium of the smart phone;   receive selection of the start option, input to the smart phone; and   responsive to selection of the start option, wirelessly send a command to the connected vehicle to start, and   wherein the one or more second processors are configured to:   receive a wireless connection request from the smart phone;   connect to the smart phone responsive to the wireless connection request to establish a wireless connection;   wirelessly receive the command from the smart phone over the wireless connection; and   activate a vehicle engine responsive to receiving the command.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more second processors are further configured to lock the vehicle prior to activating the vehicle engine and responsive to the received command. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more first processors are further configured to provide, via the application, a second option in addition to the start option, the second option identifying a vehicle function controllable based on input to the mobile phone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more second processors are further configured to wirelessly receive an instruction to control a vehicle function associated with the second option and responsively activate a control system associated with the vehicle function. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second option includes a vehicle lock option. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control system includes a vehicle lock controller and the responsive activation includes locking a vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second option includes a vehicle unlock option. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the control system includes a vehicle lock controller and the responsive activation includes unlocking a vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second option includes a vehicle alarm option. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the control system includes a vehicle alarm controller and the responsive activation includes activating a vehicle alarm. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more first processors are further configured to:
 receive indication of at least one vehicle-specific function, identified based on information received from the vehicle over the wireless connection and controllable from the smart phone; and   adapt an interface of the smart phone to provide a control option for controlling the vehicle-specific function through the smart phone.