Method for locating a vehicle
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBrian J. Tucker, Emily C. Schubert, Jesse L. Dorogusker, Joakim Linde, Stephen Chick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable computing device can be used to locate a vehicle in a parking structure. In particular, the portable computing device can communicate with a parking system that manages the parking structure and/or with a vehicle in order to locate the vehicle. Communications between the portable computing device, parking system and vehicle can be based on one or more wireless connections, such as Bluetooth and/or Bluetooth LE connections.
Claims20
A system for locating a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of wireless sensors;
- and
- a server comprising a processor and connected to each of the plurality of wireless sensors, wherein the server is configured to:
- receive, at the server, via a first sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors installed in proximity to a location, a vehicle signal from a wireless transmitter in the vehicle;
- determine, by the server, a location of the vehicle based at least in part on the location of the first sensor;
- receive, at the server, via a second sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors installed in proximity to the location, a device signal from a wireless transmitter in a portable computing device;
- determine, by the server and based on the vehicle signal and the device signal, that the portable computing device is associated with the vehicle;
- and
- transmit, to the portable computing device, information indicative of the determined location of the vehicle.
A method for locating a vehicle, comprising:
- receiving, by a server comprising a processor and connected to each of a plurality of wireless sensors, via a first sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors installed in proximity to a location, a vehicle signal from a wireless transmitter in the vehicle;
- determining, by the server, a location of the vehicle based at least in part on the location of the first sensor;
- receiving, at the server, via a second sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors installed in proximity to the location, a device signal from a wireless transmitter in a portable computing device;
- determining, by the server and based on the vehicle signal and the device signal, that the portable computing device is associated with the vehicle;
- and
- transmitting, from the server to the portable computing device, information indicative of the determined location of the vehicle.
A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, storing program instructions that when executed by a server:
- receive, at the server, wherein the server comprises a processor and is connected to each of a plurality of wireless sensors, via a first sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors installed in proximity to a location, a vehicle signal from a wireless transmitter in a vehicle;
- determine, by the server, a location of the vehicle based at least in part on the location of the first sensor;
- receive, at the server, via a second sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors installed in proximity to the location, a device signal from a wireless transmitter in a portable computing device;
- determine, by the server and based on the vehicle signal and the device signal, that the portable computing device is associated with the vehicle;
- and
- transmit, to the portable computing device, information indicative of the determined location of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.