Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Brian Wilkerson

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Vivekanandh Elangovan

Timothy Thivierge, Jr

David Anthony Hatton

Aaron Matthew DeLong

Aaron Matthew Delong

A system includes a processor configured to place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage. The processor is also configured to determine that a valet lag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode and activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle, responsive to the tag motion.

Method and apparatus for vehicle valet control devices

A system includes a processor configured to place a vehicle into a valet mode, restricting vehicle usage. The processor is also configured to determine that a valet tag, having a wireless connection to the vehicle, is in motion, while the vehicle is in valet mode and activate an external indicator usable to find the vehicle, responsive to the tag motion.

Various embodiments may include a vehicle-based system and method for managing a user's personal information and events. A user's personal communications (such as verbal and non-verbal communications) may be monitored to identify one or more unscheduled personal events. A determination may be made whether the unscheduled personal events conflict with one or more previously scheduled personal events or personal events pending for scheduling. The scheduled personal events or pending personal events may be obtained from recorded conversations, emails, text messages, social networking messages, and the like. Based on the determination, one or more actions may be taken on the unscheduled personal events. A determination may also be made whether to add the contact with whom the user is having a personal communication to the user's address book based on whether a personal relationship exists with the contact.

Vehicle-based methods and systems for managing personal information and events

A computer-implemented method includes receiving coordinates, at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), corresponding to a vehicle's location. The method also includes using the VACS to compare the coordinates to a predetermined set of geographic borders, wherein the geographic borders determine at least language boundaries. The method further includes using the VACS to determine a local language based at least in part on the coordinate comparison. The method additionally includes using the VACS to transmit an emergency message in at least the determined local language.

Automatic emergency call language provisioning

A computer-implemented method includes downloading data elements from a wireless device. The method includes determining whether a user account exists in storage and determining whether the user account currently has stored data elements of the same type as the downloaded data elements associated therewith. The method further includes comparing the downloaded data elements to the stored data elements. This method also includes storing any downloaded data elements not currently existing in the data elements associated with the user account and not in conflict with data elements associated with the user account. The method further includes resolving conflicts between downloaded data elements and currently existing data elements, to establish which of the conflicting elements is representative of a proper version of the element. Finally, the method includes storing the proper version of the element resulting from each conflict resolution.

Automatic wireless device data maintenance

One or more embodiments include a computer-implemented method and system for providing reply reminders to a vehicle occupant in a vehicle. Information indicating one or more unanswered communications from a nomadic telephone device may be wirelessly received at a vehicle computer. Time and/or date information for the unanswered communication may also be received. By automatically monitoring a passage of time, a determination may be made if one or more unanswered communications have been answered within a predefined reply period. If the one or more unanswered communications have not been answered within the predefined reply period, a reply reminder may be generated and presented in a vehicle.

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Westland, MI, United States of America

Brian Wilkerson