Patent Publication Number: US-7590479-B2

Title: Remote login of a personal computer

Description:
CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a division of application Ser. No. 11/400,439 filed Apr. 7, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,160. Application Ser. No. 11/400,439 was filed as a division of application Ser. No. 10/850,625, which was filed May 21, 2004 and issued on Apr. 18, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,809. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally pertains to electronic control systems and methods and is particularly directed to remotely logging into a personal computer. The present invention is further directed to remotely controlling a plurality of preferred arrangements of at least one component of an automobile in which the personal computer is located. 
   In the prior art it is known to provide a system for remotely controlling the position of a seat in an automobile. Such system includes a seat positioning control system for controlling adjustment of the seat to a given position; and a remote control device for transmitting a signal that causes the seat positioning control system to adjust the seat to the given position. 
   In the prior art it also is known to provide a system for remotely controlling the door locks in an automobile. Such system includes a keyless-entry system for locking and unlocking one or more doors of the automobile and a remote control device for selectively transmitting a lock-request signal for causing the keyless-entry system to lock the doors, and an unlock-request signal for causing the keyless-entry system to unlock one or more doors. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a system for remotely logging into a personal computer, comprising: a controller coupled to the personal computer, wherein the controller includes means for memorizing a login password for the personal computer; and wherein the controller is adapted for responding to a login signal from a remote control device by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer. 
   The present invention also provides a method of remotely logging into a personal computer, comprising the steps of: 
   (a) with a remote control device, transmitting a login signal; and 
   (b) with a controller that is coupled to the personal computer and includes a memorized login password for the personal computer, responding to said login signal by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer. 
   The present invention further provides a computer readable medium for use with a computer in a controller that is coupled to a personal computer, wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for: 
   (a) enabling the controller to memorize a login password for the personal computer; and 
   (b) causing the controller to respond to a login signal received from a remote control device by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer. 
   The present invention may be advantageously combined with the remote control of a plurality of preferred arrangements of at least one component of an automobile in which the personal computer is located. 
   Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a control system according to one aspect of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a portion of a remote control device used in the control system of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a control system according to another aspect of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention includes a controller  10  and a plurality of remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . The controller  10  is installed in an automobile that includes a number of adjustable components  14  and apparatus  16  for arranging the components  14 . The adjustable components  14  may include, but are not limited to, one or more seats  18 , a steering wheel  19 , one or more mirrors  20 , a radio  21 , a cell-phone interface  22 , windows  23 , an air circulation system  24 , an air conditioning system  25  (including heating and/or cooling components) and a GPS receiver  26 . The cell-phone interface  22  can be adjusted for accommodating cell phones having different cell-phone numbers. The windows  23  may include a sunroof window as well as the other windows. The component arranging apparatus  16  are operable to provide a plurality of arrangements of the adjustable automobile components  14 . 
   The controller  10  includes a computer  28  and a keyboard  29 . The computer  28  includes a processor (not shown) and a memory  32 . The memory  32  includes a computer readable medium that contains program instructions  33  and memorized preferred component arrangements  34 . The program instructions  33  also may be contained in a computer readable medium (not shown) that is separate from the computer  10 , from which separate medium the program instructions  33  are downloaded into the computer memory  32 . 
   The controller  10  is coupled to at least one of the component arranging apparatus  16  for controlling the operation of the coupled component arranging apparatus  16 . The coupling between the controller  10  and the component arranging apparatus  16  may be accomplished by direct connection and/or by wireless interface. In most instances, the coupled component arranging apparatus  16  can also be operated independently of the controller  10 . 
   The keyboard  29  is used for causing the computer memory  32  to selectively memorize different preferred component arrangements. 
   Upon one or more of the coupled component arranging apparatus  16  being operated by a first driver to adjust at least one of the adjustable automobile components  14  to provide a first preferred component arrangement, the keyboard  29  is operated to cause the memory  32  to memorize the first preferred component arrangement; and upon such component arranging apparatus  16  being operated by a second driver to adjust at least one of the adjustable automobile components  14  to provide a second preferred component arrangement, the keyboard  29  is again operated to cause the memory  32  to memorize the second preferred component arrangement. Likewise, and upon such component arranging apparatus  16  being operated by a third driver to adjust at least one of the adjustable automobile components  14  to provide a third preferred component arrangement, the keyboard  29  is again operated to cause the memory  32  to memorize the third preferred component arrangement. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable automobile components  14  that are adjusted to be in the preferred component arrangements include at least one seat  18 , typically the driver&#39;s seat, and one or more of the following: the steering wheel  19 , at least one mirror  20 , a radio  21 , a cell-phone interface  22 , a window position control system  23 , the air circulation control system  24 , the air conditioning system  25  and the GPS receiver  26 . 
   If a given numbered driver desires to revise his corresponding given numbered preferred component arrangement, the component arranging apparatus  16  are operated to revise the given numbered preferred component arrangement, and the keyboard  29  is operated to cause the memory  32  to memorize the revised given numbered preferred component arrangement. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the keyboard  29  contains three buttons bearing numbers “1”, “2” and “3”, that can be depressed to respectively cause the first, second and third preferred component arrangements  34  to be selectively stored in the memory  32 . In other embodiments, alternative keyboards are provided. 
   The three remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are operable from locations remote from the automobile. The three remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are uniquely adapted for causing the controller  10  to control the component arranging apparatus  16  to provide the three respective memorized given numbered preferred component arrangements that are stored in the computer memory  32 . In a preferred embodiment, each of the three remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , which respectively bear numbers “1”, “2” and “3”, contains a button that is depressed to cause a unique component-arrangement signal  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  to be transmitted for reception by the controller  10 . Unique component-arrangement signals  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  are respectively transmitted by each of the three remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . In a preferred embodiment, the remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are embodied in handheld devices. In alternative embodiments, one or more of the remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  is embodied in a device other than a handheld device. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the three remote control device  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are of a common manufacture, but each can be adapted to transmit only a selected one of the three unique component-arrangement signals  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  so as to be incapable of causing the controller  10  to control the component arranging apparatus  16  to provide a memorized preferred component arrangement other than the given numbered preferred component arrangement for which the remote control device  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  is uniquely adapted. For example, the first remote control device  12   a  is incapable of causing the controller  10  to control the component arranging apparatus  16  to provide either the memorized second preferred component arrangement or the memorized third preferred component arrangement; and the second remote control device  12   b  is incapable of causing the controller  10  to control the component arranging apparatus  16  to provide either the memorized first preferred component arrangement or the memorized third preferred component arrangement. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the commonly manufactured adaptable remote control devices  12  included in the embodiment of the system of  FIG. 1  contains a signal code memory  38 , a code selector  40  and a signal generator  42 . Three different signal codes are stored in the memory  38 . The code selector  40  is utilized to select one of the three stored signal codes corresponding to one of the three numbered preferred component arrangements; and the number of the selected arrangement is applied to the exterior of the remote control device. The signal generator  42  generates a unique component-arrangement signal that corresponds to the code selection. 
   In an alternative embodiment, each of the three remote control device  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  is of a unique manufacture that is adapted to transmit only a selected one of the three unique component-arrangement signals  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c.    
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a distance measuring system  50  is combined with the controller  10  for separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized component arrangements. In a preferred embodiment, the distance measuring system  50  measures the distance that the automobile is driven while the automobile components  14  are in each of the first, second and third memorized preferred component arrangements. The preferred component arrangement that is applicable during each occasion upon which the automobile is driven is indicated by the controller  10  in accordance with the component-arrangement signal  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  received by the controller  10  from one of the remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . The distance measuring system thereby provides a measurement of the distance that the automobile is driven by each of the first, second and third drivers. A display device  52  is coupled to the distance measuring system  50  for displaying the distances driven by a selected one of the drivers during a selected period. Such a display is provided in response to operation of the keyboard  29 . 
   Although three preferred component arrangements and three remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are included in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , two or more than three preferred component arrangements and respective remote control devices for transmitting a corresponding number of differently coded component-arrangement signals can be included in alternative preferred embodiments. 
   In some of the preferred embodiments the controller  10  is also used for enabling each driver to remotely log into his respective personal computer  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  that may be located in the automobile. The personal computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  may be installed in the automobile. Alternatively one, some or all of the personal computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  may be a portable computer, such as a notebook or laptop computer or a handheld computer, which may be located in the automobile from time to time, but need not necessarily be located in the automobile at the time that the controller  10  is used for logging into the respective computer  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c . The controller  10  is coupled to first, second and third personal computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c . The coupling between the controller  10  and an individual one of the personal computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  may be accomplished by a direct connection or by a wireless interface. The coupled computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  can also be logged into independently of the controller  10 . 
   The keyboard  29  is used for causing the computer memory  32  to memorize login passwords for the coupled personal computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  that are respectively associated with the component arrangements preferred by each of the first, second and third drivers. The first login password is for the first personal computer  54   a ; the second login password is for the second personal computer  54   b ; and the third login password is for the third personal computer  54   c.    
   The unique first, second and third component-arrangement signals  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c , which are transmitted by the remote control devices  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and received by the controller  10  are also interpreted by the controller  10  as first, second and third login signals. The controller  10  is adapted for responding to the first login signal by causing the first personal computer  54   a  to be turned on and by sending the memorized first login password  56   a  to the first personal computer  54   a , for responding to the second login signal by causing the second personal computer  54   b  to be turned on and by sending the memorized second login password  56   b  to the second personal computer  54   b , and for responding to the third login signal by causing the third personal computer  54   c  to be turned on and by sending the memorized third login password  56   c  to the third personal computer  54   c.    
   In alternative embodiments, a personal computer is not associated with each of the preferred component arrangements. In fact there may not be any personal computers associated with any of the preferred component arrangements. 
   Referring again to the program instructions  33  stored in the memory  32 , such program instructions  33  inter alia (i) enable the memory  32  to memorize a plurality of preferred component arrangements; (ii) cause the controller  10  to respond to respective component-arrangement signals  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  received from locations remote from the automobile by controlling the component arranging apparatus  16  to provide one of the memorized respective preferred component arrangements in accordance with the unique received component-arrangement signal  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c ; (iii) enable the distance measurement system  50  to separately measure the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized preferred component arrangements; (iv) enable the memory  32  to memorize the login passwords for the plurality of coupled personal computers  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c ; and (v) cause the controller  10  to respond to respective login signals  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  received from locations remote from the automobile by causing the respective personal computer  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  to be turned on and by sending the respective memorized login password  56   a ,  56   b ,  56   c  to the respective personal computer. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a preferred embodiment of a control system according to another aspect of the present invention is adapted for controlling the position of a predetermined seat in a given automobile. This system includes a controller  60  and a plurality of remote control devices, including at least a first remote control device  62   a  and a second remote control device  62   b . The controller  60  is installed in an automobile that includes a number of adjustable components  64  and one or more apparatus  66  for arranging the components  64 . The adjustable automobile components  64  include a predetermined seat  68 , preferably the driver&#39;s seat, and may also include, but are not limited to, one or more other components, such, a steering wheel, one or more mirrors, a radio, a cell-phone interface, windows, an air circulation system, and an air conditioning system. The component arranging apparatus  66  are operable to provide a plurality of arrangements of the adjustable components  64  of the automobile. The component arranging apparatus  66  include at least a seat arranging system for adjusting the predetermined seat  68 . 
   The controller  60  includes the same components as described above as being included in the controller  10 , and with respect to such above described components functions in the same manner as the controller  10 . The controller  60  is coupled to the seat arranging system of the component arranging apparatus  66  and may be coupled to one or more of the other component arranging apparatus  66 , such as the system for arranging the steering wheel and the apparatus for arranging one or more mirrors, for controlling the operation of the component arranging apparatus  66  to which the controller  60  is coupled. In most instances, the coupled component arranging apparatus  66  can also be operated independently of the controller  60 . The controller  60  is used to control the adjustment of the predetermined seat  68  to a memorized seat position. 
   The first remote control device  62   a  is adapted for transmitting a first seat-position signal  70   a  indicating one memorized seat position; and the second remote control device  62   b  is adapted for transmitting a second seat-position signal  70   b  that indicates a different memorized seat position than the seat position indicated by the seat-position signal  70   a  transmitted by the first remote control device  62   a.    
   The controller  60  is adapted for responding to the first seat-position signal  70   a  by causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted to the indicated one memorized position and for responding to the second seat-position signal  70   b  by causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted to the indicated different memorized position. 
   Each remote control device  62   a ,  62   b  also is adapted for transmitting an unlock-request signal  72  for causing a keyless-entry system  74  in the given automobile to unlock one or more doors  76  of the given automobile. 
   Each remote control device  62   a ,  62   b  is adapted for transmitting both the respective seat position signal  70   a ,  70   b  and the unlock-request signal  72  in response to a single manipulation of the respective remote control device  62   a ,  62   b , such as by pressing an “unlock door” button. 
   In one embodiment, each remote control device  62   a ,  62   b  also is adapted for transmitting a lock-request signal  78  for causing the keyless-entry system  74  to lock the doors  76  of the given automobile; and the controller  60  is adapted for responding to the lock-request signal  78  by causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted to a locked seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile. 
   In one embodiment, a safety system  80  is coupled to the driver&#39;s seat  68  for preventing the driver&#39;s seat  68  from being adjusted while the driver&#39;s seat  68  is occupied to the seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile. In one aspect of this embodiment, the safety mechanism  80  detects when the driver&#39;s seat  68  is occupied and is coupled to the controller  60  for preventing the controller  60  from responding to the lock-request signal  78  by causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted while the driver&#39;s seat  68  is occupied to the seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile. In another aspect of this embodiment, the safety system  80  includes a mechanism that physically impedes adjustment of the driver&#39;s seat  68  while the driver&#39;s seat  68  is occupied to the seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile. In alternative versions of this embodiment only one or the other of these two aspects of the safety system  80  is included. 
   In one embodiment, a safety system  80  is coupled to the driver&#39;s seat  68  and the controller  60  for preventing the controller  60  from causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted while the driver&#39;s seat  68  is occupied in response to any signal  70   a ,  70   b ,  72 ,  78  received by the controller  60  from a remote control device  62   a ,  62   b  or from a source that is remote from the automobile. 
   In one embodiment, a seat adjusting apparatus (included in the component arranging apparatus  66 ), which adjusts one or more seats in response to the controller  60 , is inhibited from applying more than a threshold amount of force while moving the seats (included in the adjustable automobile components  64 ) in a backward or forward direction in order to reduce or prevent damage to someone or something disposed behind or in front of a seat. In one aspect of this embodiment, the threshold is determined to be not more than the amount of force that would be required to overcome static resistance against said movement imposed by a minimum dimension of someone or something disposed behind or in front of the seat. In another aspect of this embodiment, the presence of someone or something behind or in front of the seat is detected while the seat is being adjusted by detecting an increase in the amount of force being applied above the threshold required to more the seat when there is no resistance to such movement, and in response to detecting such an increase further adjustment of the seat is inhibited. 
   The embodiment of  FIG. 3  may also include a plurality of personal computers  82   a ,  82   b , which are coupled to the controller  60  so that the controller  60  can enable each driver to remotely log into his respective personal computer  82   a ,  82   b  that may be located in the automobile by using his respective remote control device  62   a ,  62   b . In this regard the controller  60  includes the same components as described above as being included in the controller  10  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , and with respect to such above described components the controller functions in the same manner as the controller  10  to memorize login passwords for the personal computers  82   a ,  82   b , to turn on the personal computers  82   a ,  82   b  and to send the memorized login passwords  84   a ,  84   b  to the personal computers  82   a ,  82   b . The personal computers  82   a ,  82   b  may be installed in the automobile or portable in the same manner as the personal computers  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c  included in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and the personal computers  82   a ,  82   b  may be coupled be the controller  60  in the same manner as the personal computers  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c  are coupled be the controller  10 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the program instructions stored in the memory of the computer in the controller  60  inter alia (i) enable the memory to memorize a plurality of preferred seat positions and the locked seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile; (ii) cause the controller  60  to respond to a seat-position signal  70   a ,  70   b  that is received with an unlock-request signal  72  from a location remote from the automobile by causing the predetermined seat to be adjusted to a memorized seat position indicated by the respective received seat-position signal  70   a ,  70   b ; (iii) causes the controller  60  to respond to a lock-request signal  78  received from a location remote from the automobile by causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted to a locked position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile; (iv) prevent the controller  60  from responding to the lock-request signal  78  by causing the driver&#39;s seat  68  to be adjusted while the driver&#39;s seat  68  is occupied; (v) enable the computer memory of the controller  60  to memorize the login passwords for the plurality of coupled personal computers  82   a ,  82   b ; and (vi) cause the controller  60  to respond to respective login signals  54   a ,  54   b  received from locations remote from the automobile by causing the respective personal computer  82   a ,  82   b  to be turned on and by sending the respective memorized login password  84   a ,  84   b  to the respective personal computer. 
   In one or more alternative embodiments, portions of the controller may be included in one or more of the remote control devices. For example, the remote control devices may include a keyboard, which is coupled to the computer memory by a wireless interface, wherein such a keyboard is adapted for causing the computer memory to selectively memorize the different preferred component arrangements and/or to memorize the login passwords for the respective personal computers. 
   In one or more alternative embodiments portions of the controller are contained in physically separate devices. For example, some portions of the controller computer, the controller computer memory and/or the controller computer processor may be contained within separate devices that are disparately coupled to different arranging apparatus for adjusting respectively different automobile components. 
   In one or more alternative embodiments, one, more or all of the remote control devices may include a plurality of numbered buttons that may be depressed selectively for transmitting the respective unique component-arrangement signals or login signals. 
   In one or more alternative embodiments a controller and one or more remote control devices are included in a system for remotely logging into one or more personal computers in the manner described hereinabove, wherein such system does not include a component arrangement function and/or is independent of a door unlocking function. 
   Not all of the features of the various embodiments described herein are included in any single embodiment of the present invention. 
   The benefits specifically stated herein do not necessarily apply to every conceivable embodiment of the present invention. Further, such stated benefits of the present invention are only examples and should not be construed as the only benefits of the present invention. 
   While the above description contains many specificities, these specificities are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention, but rather as examples of the preferred embodiments described herein. Other variations are possible and the scope of the present invention should be determined not by the embodiments described herein but rather by the claims and their legal equivalents. The claims require no implicit limitations. Each claim is to be construed explicitly as stated, or by its legal equivalent. 
   Regarding the method claims, except for those steps that can only occur in the sequence in which they are recited, and except for those steps for which the occurrence of a given sequence is specifically recited or must be inferred, the steps of the method claims do not have to occur in the sequence in which they are recited.