Apparatus for medium-range vehicle communications and control

摘要

Medium-range remote communication and control for a vehicle is achieved with a wireless vehicle telematics unit (12), a medium-range wireless portable fob (14), and an unmodified wireless personal communication device (16). The portable fob (14) includes a medium-range RF transceiver (24) for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit (12) and a short-range wireless transceiver (26) for bi-directional communication with the personal communication device (16). The fob (14) communicates with the vehicle telematics unit (12) in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit (12) and the personal communication device (16). Communication can be initiated by the telematics unit (12) or by the operator via the fob (14) or personal communication device (16). Once communication is initiated, the fob (14) relays: (1) menu options and status information from the telematics unit (12) to the personal communication device (16); and (2) menu selections from the personal communication device (16) to the telematics unit (12). No cellular network service or special programming is required for the personal communications device (16).