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  Remote monitoring methodUSPTO Application #: 20060293802Title: Remote monitoring method Abstract: A smart key carried with a user is provided with switches for monitoring a vehicle in remote places, such as a departure-time monitor switch, a return-time monitor switch and an all item monitor switch. The switches are associated with monitor information indicating various vehicle states. When the departure-time monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information such as parking position, rainfall state, etc. useful to the user at departure time from the vehicle. Similarly, when the return-time monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information useful at return time such as door open/closed state and lock state. When the all item monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information of all monitor items. (end of abstract) Agent: Posz Law Group, PLC - Reston, VA, US Inventors: Junichi Kitao, Ifushi Shimonomto, Toshio Shimomura USPTO Applicaton #: 20060293802 - Class: 701002000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, And Relative Location, Vehicle Control, Guidance, Operation, Or Indication, Remote Control System The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060293802. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-168778 filed on Jun. 7, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system and method for monitoring a monitor object such as a vehicle by remote operations in remote places. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In recent years, vehicles are required to enhance security performance for preventing vehicle theft and dragging. [0004] As a system for enhancing security performance, a vehicle remote monitoring system is proposed to monitor a present position and states of a vehicle, locks and unlocks doors, starts up an engine and performs other operations in remote places by using a cellular phone (e.g., a car communication system by use of portable mail function (i-mobisses), [online], updated: Apr. 16, 2004, Apex Communications Co., Ltd., (searched May 10, 2004), Internet<URL:http://www.apexc,co.jp/what.html, httpl://www,apex-c,co.jp/product01.html>). [0005] Specifically, various items including monitor items such as "vehicle present position confirmation," "vehicle state confirmation," and "map viewing," and operation items such as "door lock/unlock," and "engine remote startup" are listed on a display screen of a cellular phone, and the user selects desired items from them to transmit mail. [0006] When the selected items are monitor items, information of the specified items is received as mail in a user's cellular phone. By browsing it, the user can obtain the information. When the selected item is an operation item, a specified operation (e.g., engine startup) is performed in the vehicle. Mail indicating that the operation has terminated is received in the cellular phone. [0007] In the above vehicle remote monitoring system, however, monitor items selectable by the user are only listed. Therefore, for example, when a present position of a vehicle and a map in the vicinity of the present position are to be obtained at the same time, first by selecting "vehicle present position confirmation" and transmitting mail, a present position information of the vehicle is obtained. Then, by selecting "map viewing" and transmitting mail, detailed map data in the vicinity of the vehicle present position is obtained. In this way, an operation must be performed for each of the items to be monitored. [0008] Thus from among plural listed monitor items, each of items the user desires at that time must be selected and mail must be transmitted. As the number of the items to be monitored (items to be selected from a list) increases, the number of user's operations will increase. [0009] Therefore, the monitor method in the above vehicle remote monitoring system lacks user's operability and is very difficult to use particularly to aged or other users unfamiliar with cellular phones. The above system has been difficult for application to a wide range of users. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention has an object to enhance user's convenience in a remote monitoring system and method. [0011] In a remote monitoring system and method according to the present invention, at least one of switch units is associated with plural pieces of vehicle information, and upon receiving a request signal corresponding to a switch unit associated with plural pieces of vehicle information, a vehicle information communication device obtains the plural pieces of vehicle information and wirelessly transmits them to a communication terminal. [0012] As the vehicle information, there are all possible pieces of information on the vehicle and its surroundings such as door open/closed state, window open/closed state, lock state, parking position, indoor and outdoor temperatures, and interior image. As methods of outputting vehicle information in communication terminals, there are various methods that enable users to obtain vehicle information, such as a method of displaying on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display screen, an output method by voice, and a method of printing on paper. [0013] As an example of associating plural pieces of vehicle information with one switch unit, when one switch unit is to be used as a departure-time switch unit, that is, a switch unit for obtaining necessary vehicle information when a user is going out in the vehicle, by associating a parking position and room temperature of various vehicle information with the switch unit, the user can obtain the two pieces of vehicle information at the same time by operating the switch unit. [0014] When one switch unit is to be used as a return-time switch unit, that is, a switch unit for obtaining necessary vehicle information after a user gets off the vehicle and comes home, the user may associate a lock state and window open/closed state of various pieces of vehicle information with the switch unit. Furthermore, as a switch for confirming all information for obtaining all confirmable vehicle information, all vehicle information may be associated. [0015] The above methods of using the switch units are only examples. It may be decided as required with which switch units what vehicle information is to be associated. [0016] Therefore, according to the vehicle remote monitoring system constructed as above, since the user can collectively obtain desired vehicle information at a given situation (time, user's behavior situation, etc.), that is, necessary and sufficient vehicle information at that time simply by operating one switch unit, a vehicle remote monitoring system convenient for the user can be provided. [0017] The switch units may take various forms as long as the user can operate to obtain desired vehicle information. For example, the switch units may be displayed on a liquid crystal display screen as soft switches to transmit request signal when externally touched on the screen or operated (selection of the switch units) within the screen. [0018] In the case of soft switches, when they are always displayed, the user can immediately select a desired switch unit at desired timing and obtain vehicle information corresponding to it. However, when the switch units are not displayed when the user wants to obtain vehicle information, the user must display the switch units before selecting a desired switch unit. [0019] Accordingly, the switch units may be those constructed by mechanical switches. According to this construction, since the user has only to operate a switch unit (e.g., presses a push-button switch) constructed as a mechanical switch to transmit a request signal so that corresponding vehicle information can be obtained, user's convenience can be further enhanced. [0020] When the correspondence between the switch units and vehicle information is set in advance (e.g., at the time of vehicle manufacturing) and cannot be changed, some users may require not all vehicle information associated with the switch units. Specifically, some users may require other information (e.g., rainfall state. etc. ) rather than "room temperature" as vehicle information obtained when the departure-time switch unit is operated. Continue reading... Full patent description for Remote monitoring method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Remote monitoring method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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