# US 10,370,005 B2 · Method and apparatus for vehicle valet control devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,005 B2 - Document ID: US10370005B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/832,328 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch; Aaron Delong; Vivekanandh Elangovan; Timothy Thivierge, Jr.; Brian Wilkerson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370005B2 ## CPC - B60W 50/12: Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation - B60R 25/102: a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner - B60R 25/20: Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off - B60R 25/33: of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates - B60W 30/182: Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes - G08G 1/205: {Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental} - G08G 1/207: {with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries} - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 4/024: Guidance services - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system includes a processor configured to place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage. The processor is also configured to determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode and activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle, responsive to the tag motion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a processor configured to: place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage; determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode; and responsive to the tag motion as well as responsive to detecting an increasing wireless signal strength from the valet tag, activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the vehicle into valet mode responsive to an owner request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the vehicle into valet mode responsive to detecting movement of the valet tag independent of vehicle movement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the vehicle into valet mode responsive to detecting detachment of the valet tag from a predefined attachment position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external indicator includes illumination of a vehicle lighting system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external indicator includes activation of a vehicle audible system, audible from a vehicle exterior. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine an distance to and heading of the valet tag, based on signals received from the valet tag; and send a wireless message to a preidentified owner portable device, indicating an approximate location of the tag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the approximate location of the tag is relative to a vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the approximate location of the tag is in the form of GPS coordinates, determinable by the processor based on vehicle GPS coordinates and tag distance and tag directionality from the vehicle. ### Claim 10 A system comprising: a processor configured to: place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage: determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode; and responsive to the tag motion as well determining that the tag ceased motion, following activation of the valet mode, for at least a predetermined time period, activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to activate the external indicator responsive to: detecting tag motion; determining that the tag ceased motion, following activation of the valet mode, for at least a predetermined time period; and determining the tag is within a predefined distance from the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: periodically seek a signal from the valet tag, when the vehicle is not in valet mode; and issue an alert to a user responsive to the signal from the tag not being detected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to store vehicle GPS coordinates each time the signal from the tag is detected during the periodic seeking. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the alert includes the GPS coordinates saved the most recent time the signal from the tag was detected. ### Claim 15 A computer-implemented method comprising: determining that a valet tag is in motion after having ceased motion for a predetermined period of time; determining that a vehicle is in a valet mode, restricting vehicle functionality; and providing a visual or audible indicator, usable to find the vehicle from a location exterior to the vehicle, responsive to determining that the tag is in motion and that the vehicle is in valet mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining that the tag is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and providing the visual or audible indicator once the tag is within the predetermined distance, in addition to being responsive to determining that the tag is in motion and that the vehicle is in valet mode.