Remote vehicle control system including common carrier paging receiver and related methods

#The present invention relates to the field of vehicle control systems and related methods, and more particularly, to a vehicle remote control system and method.

#Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft, prevent theft of valuables from a vehicle, deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and occupants. A typical automobile security system, for example, includes a central processor or controller connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors, for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors, windows, and also movement of the vehicle or movement within the vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors, vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential pressure sensors, and switches may be used as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to monitor the area proximate the vehicle.

#The controller typically operates to give an alarm indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel supply and/or ignition power may be selectively disabled based upon an alarm condition.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle function control system in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the vehicle mounted components as shown in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of a security system controller of the system in accordance with the present invention.

#The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

#Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the remote vehicle function control system 5 in accordance with the present invention is first described. The system 5 includes a transmitter 53 coupled to the paging receiver 60 to communicate with the system controller/receiver 10. The illustrated remote vehicle control system 5 includes a plurality of transmitters 51-53 of which two transmitters 51, 52 are illustratively of the conventional handheld type for being carried by a user as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. The third transmitter 53 is a modified version of a conventional remote transmitter as will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art. The handheld transmitter 51, 52 may be powered by respective batteries 51a, 52b, while the transmitter 53 connected to the paging receiver 60 is powered from the vehicle. In other words, a relatively inexpensive remote transmitter 53 can be adapted to interface the paging or second receiver 60 to the vehicle control system 5.

#The paging receiver 60 may of a type available from Motorola of Boynton Beach, Florida under the mark CREATALINK™. Of course, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that other manufacturers' paging receivers may also be used in accordance with the present invention.