Vehicle remote control and voice message recording device with remote control system and related methods

A vehicle remote control and voice message recording device for a vehicle remote control system comprising a vehicle remote function controller and associated receiver in the vehicle, the vehicle remote control and voice message recording device comprising:

• a housing to be carried by a user;
• a plurality of vehicle function switches carried by said housing;
• a transmitter in said housing for transmitting signals to the receiver to operate the vehicle remote function controller responsive to user activation of said plurality of vehicle function switches;
• a record and playback circuit in said housing for recording and playing back a voice message from the user, said record and playback circuit comprising a storage circuit having a plurality of channels for respective individual voice messages;
• and
• a selector cooperating with said record and playback circuit for permitting user selection of a desired channel of said storage circuit for recording a respective individual voice message therein based upon selective operation of a respective switch of said plurality of vehicle function switches, and for permitting user selection of the desired channel of said storage circuit for playing back the respective individual voice message therein based upon selective operation of the respective switch of said plurality of vehicle function switches.

A method for operating a remote vehicle control and voice message recording device to be carried by a user including a plurality of vehicle function switches and a storage circuit in combination with a vehicle remote function controller and associated receiver in the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting signals from the remote vehicle control and voice message recording device to the receiver to operate the vehicle remote function controller;
• storing a plurality of voice messages in the storage circuit having a plurality of channels for respective individual voice messages;
• and
• selecting a desired channel for recording a respective individual voice message therein based upon selective operation of a respective switch of the plurality of vehicle function switches;
• and selecting the desired channel for playing back the respective individual voice message therein based upon selective operation of the respective switch of the plurality of vehicle switches.