A new Apple patent published on Tuesday could foreshadow future CarPlay functionality that lets users unlock car doors, start vehicle engines and perform other tasks based on a user's proximity to their vehicle.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple U.S. Patent No. 8,868,254 for "Accessory control with geo-fencing," which turns any iPhone into an advanced car remote when paired with a CarPlay-like accessory device, according to AppleInsider.
The idea of controlling a vehicle's basic functions has been around for decades and popularized by third-party auto parts manufacturers and adopted by car companies around the world.
Some of the first systems were created to turn on integrated engine block heaters from inside during winter months, while more contemporary vehicles can do anything from cool down the cabin to roll down windows.
Apple's invention brings the power of iOS devices into the mix, more specifically the geo-location abilities of the iPhone and iPads. By using components provided in Apple's recent portables, the remote control system is capable of monitoring and invoking car convenience functions based on geofences, according to AppleInsider.
First, a vehicle accessory capable of connecting with an iPhone, like a CarPlay head unit, figures out that a car is parked and sends out the first signal in the form of a vCard or other digital format containing geographic coordinates and other location information. Bluetooth LE is also an appropriate means of communication, though other methods can be used, according to the patent.
After receiving the vCard, an individual's iPhone generates a virtual geofence around the car and monitors its own position compared to the car's tagged spot. After estimating its current location proximate to the car's geofenced spot, an iPhone can then send suitable control signals to the accessory at any time.
For example, when a user is leaving their car, a signal may be sent to lock the car doors, according to the patent.
The in-car accessory is also cellular-enabled, which opens the door to a much wider set of control possibilities. For example, an iPhone can send a signal to warm up the vehicle's cabin when it estimates a user is approaching within a five-minute radius through pattern analysis algorithms.
In order to prevent accidents, rules must be applied to the control scheme. The accessory, for example, may not be able to start the vehicle's engine until the iPhone user is sitting in the driver's seat. These instructions safeguard against unwanted consequences and wasted energy use, according to the patent.
The patent describes a number of variations on the remote control concept, like descriptions of an accessory head unit similar to those outlined by the CarPlay specification.
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