FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
The patent Rule, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
“A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY DETECTING LOCK STATUS
OF A VEHICLE”
MINDA CORPORATION LIMITED of E-5/2, Chakan Industrial Area, Phase- III M.I.D.C. Nanekarwadi, Tal: Khed, Dist., Pune, Maharashtra, 410-501, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD [001] The present disclosure generally relates to a remote keyless access system. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to techniques for remotely detecting and indicating lock status of a vehicle using a communication device.
BACKGROUND [002] A remote keyless lock device or a remote key fob is a small security hardware device that controls and secures access to a key-fob based entry system or a key-fob based vehicle. The purpose of the remote key-fob is to locate the vehicle and to perform lock/unlock operations from a remote distance. A key-fob based remote access system is increasingly becoming a preferred comfort feature for both two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles.
[003] After reaching to a destination, a vehicle user may park his/her vehicle and may lock the vehicle either using buttons provided on the remote key fob or using a lock button provided on a driver dashboard (in case of two-wheeler vehicles). In either case, the vehicle user is supposed to ensure that the vehicle is securely locked before he/she goes away from the parked vehicle. However, in one example, the vehicle user may forget to securely lock the vehicle. In another example, the user may press the lock button to lock the vehicle, but the vehicle may not be securely locked. In particular, lock command may be issued to the vehicle in response to a remote request; however, the vehicle locking operation may not be successful due to any reason, such as, but not limited, due to malfunctioning of solenoid/sense switches resulting in trunk/boot being partially open, reflecting incorrect lock status. Alternatively, if the user has securely locked the vehicle but as he/she goes out of the vicinity of the vehicle, he/she may not recollect if he/she has really locked the vehicle in a secure manner or not. Thus, the user becomes

anxious and worried. In extreme case he/she may be forced to come back to the parked location of the vehicle to verify whether the vehicle is securely locked or not and put the vehicle in the locked mode, if needed. This will cost considerable amount of time and effort that the user has to put for coming back to check the lock status of the vehicle.
[004] Thus, there exists a need for the technology that solves above-mentioned problems and overcome the disadvantages or difficulties of existing prior art key-fob devices and/or techniques associated therewith. Particularly, there exists a need for techniques that can indicate the lock status of the vehicle to the user regardless of whether the user is distantly located away from the vehicle by some stipulated distance and that can alert the user immediately about failure of vehicle locking operation.
SUMMARY [005] One or more shortcomings discussed above are overcome, and additional advantages are provided by the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the disclosure.
[006] According to an aspect of present disclosure, methods and systems are provided for remotely indicating lock status of a vehicle.
[007] In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the present application discloses a method performed by a communication device for indicating lock status of a vehicle. The method may comprise transmitting a lock command to the vehicle, where the lock command may indicate that a lock button is pressed on the communication device for locking the vehicle.

The method may further comprise receiving a feedback signal from the vehicle, where the feedback signal may comprise information indicating that the lock command is received at the vehicle but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful. The method may further comprise activating a vehicle lock status indicator on the communication device based on the received feedback signal.
[008] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle lock status indicator may be an LED light, and the method may further comprise alerting a user that the lock command is received at the vehicle but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful by blinking the LED light in a predefined manner.
[009] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise storing the received feedback signal in a memory of the communication device and receiving a command from a user indicating the user’s intention to query the vehicle lock status. The method may further comprise indicating the vehicle lock status to the user by activating the vehicle lock status indicator based on the stored feedback signal.
[0010] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device may be a remote key fob device.
[0011] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful when a solenoid or a sensor switch in the vehicle is malfunctioning; or at least one door of the vehicle is ajar.
[0012] In yet another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure,

the present application discloses a communication device for indicating lock status of a vehicle. The communication device may comprise a memory for storing lock status of the vehicle and a transceiver for communicating with the vehicle. The communication device may further comprise a processor communicatively coupled with the memory and the transceiver. The at least one processor may be configured to: transmit a lock command to the vehicle, where the lock command indicates that a lock button is pressed on the communication device for locking the vehicle. The at least one processor may be further configured to receive a feedback signal from the vehicle, the feedback signal may comprise information indicating that the lock command is received at the vehicle but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful. The at least one processor may be further configured to activate a vehicle lock status indicator on the communication device based on the received feedback signal.
[0013] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle lock status indicator may be an LED light, and the processor may be further configured to alert a user that the lock command is received at the vehicle but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful by blinking the LED light in a predefined manner.
[0014] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor may be further configured to store the received feedback signal in the memory; receive a command from a user indicating the user’s intention to query the vehicle lock status; and indicate the vehicle lock status to the user by activating the vehicle lock status indicator based on the stored feedback signal.
[0015] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the

communication device may be a remote key fob device.
[0016] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle lock operation may be unsuccessful when a solenoid or a sensor switch in the vehicle is malfunctioning; or when at least one door of the vehicle is ajar.
[0017] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
OBJECTIVES [0018] The main object of the present disclosure is to remotely detect lock status of a vehicle using a remote key fob.
[0019] Another main object of the present disclosure is to alert a user immediately upon detecting failure of the vehicle locking operation due to malfunctioning of solenoid/sensor switches or due to door ajar case, which is crucial to alert the driver regarding security system health malfunction which requires a priority action.
[0020] Another object of the present disclosure is to display a current status of vehicle lock as and when queried by a user.
[0021] Another main object of the present disclosure is to save/conserve the battery power of the key fob.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0022] Further aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference numerals have been used to refer to identical or functionally similar elements. The figures together with a detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate the embodiments and explain various principles and advantages, in accordance with the present disclosure wherein:
[0023] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary communication system 100 for indicating lock status of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0024] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the communication system 100 for indicating lock status of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0025] Figure 3 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method for indicating lock status of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0026] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0027] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure “a method and system for remotely detecting lock status of a vehicle”. It is understood that the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms; specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It will be appreciated as the description proceeds that the disclosure may be realized in different embodiments.
[0028] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusions, such that a setup, device that comprises a list of components that does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus or device. It could be noted with respect to the present disclosure that the terms like “a system for remotely detecting lock status of a vehicle”, “The system” refers to the same system which is used using the present disclosure.
[0029] In the present document, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0030] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and

alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0031] The term like “key fob” and “remote key fob” may be used interchangeably throughout the description. Further, the terms like “processing unit”, “processor”, and “CPU” may be used interchangeably throughout the description.
[0032] In a typical lock operation of a remote key fob, a user presses a lock command button on the key fob after parking a vehicle. The lock command is transmitted to the vehicle which then performs corresponding vehicle locking operation based on the received command. The vehicle may transmit a feedback signal to the key fob indicating that the vehicle has been securely locked. However, the feedback is not stored anywhere. So, when a user goes away from vehicle and he/she may not recollect if he/she has really locked the vehicle in a secure manner or not. Thus, to verify whether the vehicle is securely locked or not, the user may be forced to come back to the parked location of the vehicle. This will cost considerable amount of time and effort that the user has to put for coming back to check the lock status of the vehicle.
[0033] Another problem arises when the user presses lock command button on the key fob but the actual vehicle locking operation fails due to any reason. In such scenario, any intruder can take advantage and may enter into vehicle after the user goes away from the vehicle. Thus, in such case the

attention of the user needs to be drawn immediately indicating that the vehicle locking operation failed.
[0034] To overcome these and other problems, the present disclosure proposes techniques to remotely detect and indicate lock status of a vehicle. The present disclosure also proposes technique for alerting a user immediately upon detecting a failure of the vehicle locking operation.
[0035] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0036] Referring now to Figure 1, which shows an exemplary communication system 100 for remotely detecting and indicating lock status of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication system 100 may comprise a communication device 110 which may be in communication with a vehicle 120.
[0037] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device 110 may be capable of communicating with the vehicle 120 using one or more technologies including, but not limited to, Bluetooth, Infrared (IR), radio waves, Ultra-Wide Band, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) etc. In another non-limiting embodiment, the

communication device 110 may communicate with the vehicle 120 via a wireless network, such as, but not restricted to, a cellular network and may employ various technologies including Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) etc.
[0038] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device 110 may comprise various command buttons such as a lock button, an unlock button, a vehicle finder button etc. The communication device 110 may be used to lock, unlock, and locate a corresponding vehicle located within proximity of the communication device 110. Additional commands can be created by pressing multiple command buttons as well as pressing a command button multiple times or for prescribed time duration. The communication device 110 may further comprise an inbuilt indicator to provide various indications such as, but not limited to, low battery indication, vehicle lock status indication (i.e., vehicle is in locked, vehicle is unlocked, or lock operation failed) or any other similar and/or related purposes. In current disclosure and for the preferred embodiment, the indicator may be used to provide vehicle lock status indication.
[0039] Now, Figure 1 is explained in conjunction with Figure 2, which is a detailed block diagram 200 of the communication system 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication system 100 may comprise the communication device 110 and the vehicle 120.
[0040] The vehicle 110 may comprise a cell 202, a power supply block 204, a transceiver 206, at least one processor 208, at least one memory 210,

and a command module 212. The communication device 110 may comprise a cell 214, a transceiver 216, at least one processor 218, at least one memory 220, a vehicle lock status indicator 224, and push button switches 222 corresponding to the command buttons.
[0041] The processors 208, 218 may include, but not restricted to, a general-purpose processor, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), microprocessors, microcomputers, micro-controllers, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0042] The at least one processor 208 may be communicatively coupled with the memory 210 and the transceiver 206. The at least one processor 218 may be communicatively coupled with the memory 220 and the transceiver 216. The memory 210, 220 may include a Random-Access Memory (RAM) unit and/or a non-volatile memory unit such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), optical disc drive, magnetic disc drive, flash memory, Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a memory space on a server or cloud and so forth. The memory 220 may store status of lock received from the vehicle 120. The memory 210 may store unique identity of the communication device 110.
[0043] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device 110 may be any device which can remotely operate

the vehicle 120 such as smartphone, a key fob etc. In a preferred embodiment, the communication device 110 may be a remote key fob device. In one embodiment, the lock status indicator 224 may be any indicator for indicating status of a vehicle lock such as, a visual indicator (e.g., LED light) or a voice indicator (e.g., alarm). In a preferred embodiment, the lock status indicator 224 may be LED light.
[0044] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, after parking the vehicle 120, a user may press the lock command button on the key fob 110 to lock the vehicle 120. As the user presses the lock command button, the pushbutton switches 222 may sense the user command and send the command to the processor 218. The processor 218 may decode the received command to form a data string or code. The processor 218 may output the data string to the transceiver 216 which then transmits the command in the form of data string by radio waves to the transceiver 206 of the vehicle 120. The vehicle side processor 208 may then authenticate the received command and perform corresponding action (i.e., lock operation) on the vehicle 120 after successful authentication of the received command. During the authentication process, the processor 208 may verify that the command is coming from an authentic key-fob associated with the vehicle 120. This verification is based on unique identity of the key-fob 110 which is stored in the memory 210 of the vehicle 120. Similar operation takes place when a user presses the unlock command button on the key fob 110. Thus, the vehicle lock or unlock operation takes place by pressing corresponding command button on the key fob 120.
[0045] Once the vehicle 120 is securely locked, the processor 208 may generate a feedback signal and may transmit the feedback signal via the transceiver 206 to the key fob 110. The feedback signal may comprise

information indicating that the vehicle 120 has been securely locked or vehicle locking operation is successful. The transceiver 216 of the key fob 110 may receive this feedback signal and may store the same in the memory 220. Similarly, when the vehicle user operates unlock command using the key fob 110, the vehicle 120 may transmit feedback signal comprising information indicating that the vehicle unlock operation is successful to the key fob 110. This status may also be stored in the memory 220 of the key fob 110.
[0046] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle locking operation might fail even after receiving a lock command from the key fob 110. If the vehicle locking operation is failed, the processor 208 accordingly transmits feedback signal to the key fob 110, the feedback signal may comprise information indicating that the key fob lock button was pressed successfully (i.e., the lock command was successfully received by the vehicle 120) but the actual vehicle locking operation is unsuccessful. The feedback signal may be stored and saved in the memory 220 of key fob 110.
[0047] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the key fob 110 is provided with a lock status indicator 224 which gets activated based on the received feedback signal. For example, the lock status indicator may blink in a predefined manner to indicate the current lock status of the vehicle 120 and may alert the user if the vehicle locking operation is unsuccessful. In one non-limiting embodiment, the lock status may be indicated immediately after receiving the feedback signal from the vehicle 120. In another non-limiting embodiment, the lock status may be indicated upon receiving a user request for querying lock status.
[0048] Consider a scenario where a user parks the vehicle 120 and

successfully presses the lock command button on the key fob 110. However, due to some reasons the vehicle locking operation may fail. In one embodiment, the vehicle locking operation may fail due to malfunctioning of a solenoid or a sensor switch in the vehicle 120 resulting in trunk/boot being partially open. In another embodiment, the vehicle locking operation may fail when at least one door of the vehicle 120 is ajar/half-locked (a door may appear to be ajar due to lower force applied on the door while closing). In such an event of failure of locking operation, the user’s attention needs to be drawn immediately towards “locking operation failure” so that he can initiate a corrective action immediately. For example, if the lock operation is failed due to door ajar, the user may himself rectify the situation by shutting all the doors once again with due force applied. While, if sensor/solenoid etc. has failed, the user may contact a service station.
[0049] As described above in paragraph [0046], when the vehicle locking operation is failed, the vehicle 120 transmits a feedback signal comprising information indicating that the key fob lock button was pressed successfully (i.e., the lock command was successfully received by the vehicle 120) but the actual vehicle locking operation is unsuccessful. The key fob 110 is programmed in such a way that after receiving the feedback signal from the vehicle 120, the lock status indicator 224 gets activated and alerts the user by blinking in a first predefined pattern to annunciate the “vehicle locking operation failure” status, a cursory glance towards the key fob 110 may attract the user’s attention for the failure of the locking operation. This way the key fob 110 alerts the user, immediately after pressing the lock button, about the lock operation failure and the user can take corrective actions. Corrective actions may include, but not limited to, closing all doors with due force or contacting service station. Thus, the key fob 110 alerts the vehicle user regarding security system health malfunction which requires a priority

action.
[0050] Consider another scenario where the user parks the vehicle 120 and presses the lock command button to lock the vehicle 120. However, after walking a few steps away (within the vicinity of the vehicle 120) from the parked location of the vehicle 120, the user wants to re-confirm “successfully locked” status of the vehicle 120 without requiring any additional time/effort.
[0051] As described above in paragraph [0045], if the vehicle locking operation is successful, the vehicle 120 transmits feedback signal information indicating that the vehicle 120 has been securely locked or vehicle locking operation is successful. The lock status indicator 224 gets activated and alerts the user by blinking in a second predefined pattern to annunciate the “successfully locked” status and hence a cursory glance at the key fob 110 can re-assure the user that the vehicle 120 is securely locked. This way the user does not need to spend any extra time/effort in checking the lock status of the vehicle 120 and hence the user experience is improved.
[0052] Thus, in above described scenarios, by seeing the lock status indicator blinking patterns, the user can easily detect the vehicle locking operation failure status (i.e., key fob lock command button is successfully pressed but the actual vehicle lock operation failed) and vehicle locking operation success status (i.e., key fob lock command button is successfully pressed and the actual vehicle locking operation is successful).
[0053] Consider another scenario where the user parks the vehicle 120 and goes out of the vicinity of the vehicle 120. Now, the user forgets if he has really pressed the lock button or not; or if the user pressed the lock button but he/she wants to know whether the vehicle locking operation was successful

or not. The user is not in the vicinity of the vehicle 120. Suppose that he has settled down in his workplace. Thus, the user becomes worried and anxious about the lock status of the vehicle 120 i.e., if the vehicle is securely locked at the parked location or not. One way to check this is to go back at the parked location to manually verify the lock status. However, this requires extra time/effort from the user.
[0054] As described above in paragraphs, the feedback signal may comprise information indicating the vehicle lock status (i.e., vehicle is locked/ vehicle is unlocked/ or lock operation failed) is transmitted from the vehicle 120 to the key fob 110 and is stored in the memory 220 of the key fob 110. Thus, the user may query the feedback information stored in the memory 220 by operating a prescribed command button sequence for this purpose. The key fob 110 may indicate the lock status by blinking the lock status indicator 224 in a corresponding prescribed pattern. The user gets to know about the status of the vehicle lock by seeing the blinking pattern of the lock status indicator 224. In other words, by seeing the blinking pattern of the lock status indicator 224 the user may come to know that:
(i) Vehicle is securely locked i.e., key fob lock command button successfully pressed (or lock command is received successfully at the vehicle) and the actual vehicle locking operation is successful; (ii) Vehicle locking operation failed i.e., key fob lock command button successfully pressed (or lock command is received successfully at the vehicle) but the actual vehicle locking operation is unsuccessful; or (iii) Vehicle is unlocked i.e., lock button not pressed.
[0055] The memory 220 of the key fob 110 stores the feedback information

corresponding to a lock/unlock command till a next feedback information corresponding to a new lock/unlock command is received from the vehicle 120. Thus, if the user forgets to press the lock button, it means that the memory 220 of the key fob 110 comprises previous feedback information and the previous feedback information corresponds to unlock command. In such scenario the lock status indicator 224 may blink a third prescribed pattern to alert the user that the vehicle is unlocked i.e., the lock button was not pressed (option- iii).
[0056] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the lock status indicator 224 is a LED light which annunciates in different patterns for each one of: vehicle 120 securely locked; locking operation failed; and vehicle 120 is unlocked. For e.g., the LED blinks in the first predefined pattern to alert that the vehicle locking operation failed; the LED blinks in the second predefined pattern to indicate that the vehicle is successfully locked; and in a third predefined pattern to alert that the vehicle 120 is unlocked. These predefined patterns may any combination of a number of times the LED blinks in a given time interval; a time duration for which the LED blinks, a time difference between two successive blinking, and a color of the LED blinking pattern.
[0057] In another non-limiting embodiment, to save the battery power of the key fob 110, the key fob 110 automatically and immediately blinks the LED only in case of vehicle locking operation failure. Thus, by seeing the LED blinking pattern the user can easily check the lock status of the vehicle 120 and can take early corrective action, if needed. This blinking lasts for a pre-defined time interval only to save the battery power of the key fob 110.
[0058] Figure 3 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method 300 for

indicating lock status of a vehicle 120, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 300 is merely provided for exemplary purposes, and embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any methods or procedures for indicating lock status of a vehicle 120.
[0059] The method 300 may include, at block 302, transmitting a lock command to the vehicle 120. The lock command may indicate that a lock button is pressed on the communication device 110 for locking the vehicle 120. For example, the processor 218 in conjunction with the transceiver 216 may be configured to transmit the lock command to the vehicle 120.
[0060] At block 304, the method 300 may include receiving a feedback signal from the vehicle 120. The feedback signal may comprise information indicating that the lock command is received at the vehicle, but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful. For example, the processor 218 in conjunction with the transceiver 216 may be configured to receive the feedback signal from the vehicle 120.
[0061] At block 306, the method 300 may include activating a vehicle lock status indicator on the communication device 110 based on the received feedback signal. For example, the processor 218 in conjunction with the transceiver 216 may be configured to activate the vehicle lock status indicator on the communication device 110 based on the received feedback signal.
[0062] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle lock status indicator may be an LED light, and the method may further comprise alerting a user that the lock command is received at the vehicle 120 but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful by blinking the LED light in a predefined manner. For example, the processor 218 may be configured to alert a user that the lock command is received at the vehicle

120 but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful by blinking the LED light in a predefined manner.
[0063] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device 110 may be a remote key fob device.
[0064] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle lock operation may be unsuccessful when a solenoid or a sensor switch in the vehicle is malfunctioning or when at least one door of the vehicle is ajar/half-open.
[0065] At block 308, the method 300 may include store the received feedback signal in a memory 220 of the communication device 110. For example, the at least one processor 218 may be configured to store the received feedback signal in the memory 220 of the communication device 110.
[0066] Suppose the user goes out of the vicinity of the vehicle 120 and wants to check the vehicle lock status. The user issues a command using the communication device 110 to query the lock status of the vehicle 120. The user presses a query button provided on the communication device 120. If the dedicated query button is not provided on the communication device 110, the user may operate a prescribed command button sequence/pattern for this purpose.
[0067] At block 310, the method 300 may include receive a command from a user indicating the user’s intention to query the vehicle lock status. For example, the at least one processor 218 may be configured to receive the command from the user indicating the user’s intention to query the vehicle lock status.

[0068] At block 312, the method 300 may include indicating the vehicle lock status to the user by activating the vehicle lock status indicator based on the stored feedback signal. For example, the at least one processor 218 may be configured to indicate the vehicle lock status to the user by activating the vehicle lock status indicator based on the stored feedback signal. This way, the user can easily know the vehicle lock status without physically going to the vehicle parked location. Thus, the time and effort of the user that could otherwise have been consumed in going to the parking location to check lock status, is saved and hence, the user experience is improved.
[0069] Therefore, from the above disclosure, it may be worth noting that the present disclosure provides an easy, convenient, efficient, and time saving technique for remotely detecting the lock status of a vehicle. Further, the techniques disclosed herein enable immediate detection of the vehicle locking operation failure and therefore, help the user in taking corrective action in a timely manner. Further, the techniques described herein minimize the communications, processing load, memory and power consumptions at both the vehicle and key fob side.
[0070] The above method 300 may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules, and functions, which perform specific functions or implement specific abstract data types. The present disclosure is applicable for any vehicle that uses the remote key fob based locking mechanism.
[0071] The order in which the various operations of the method are

described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the methods can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.
[0072] The various operations of method described above may be performed by any suitable means capable of performing the corresponding functions. The means may include various hardware and/or software component(s) and/or module(s), including, but not limited to the processors 218 of Figure 2. Generally, where there are operations illustrated in Figures, those operations may have corresponding counterpart means-plus-function components.
[0073] It may be noted here that the subject matter of some or all embodiments described with reference to Figures 1-2 may be relevant for the methods and the same is not repeated for the sake of brevity.
[0074] Furthermore, one or more computer-readable storage media may be utilized in implementing embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. A computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical memory on which information or data readable by a processor may be stored. Thus, a computer-readable storage medium may store instructions for execution by one or more processors, including instructions for causing the processor(s) to perform steps or stages consistent with the embodiments described herein. The term “computer-readable medium” should be understood to include tangible items and exclude carrier waves and transient signals, i.e., non-transitory. Examples include Random Access Memory

(RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, hard drives, Compact Disc (CD) ROMs, Digital Video Disc (DVDs), flash drives, disks, and any other known physical storage media.
[0075] Certain aspects may comprise a computer program product for performing the operations presented herein. For example, such a computer program product may comprise a computer readable media having instructions stored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein. For certain aspects, the computer program product may include packaging material.
[0076] The terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
[0077] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the appended claims.
[0078] The foregoing description of the various embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to

other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to limit the embodiments shown herein, and instead the embodiments should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method (300) performed by a communication device (110) for indicating lock
status of a vehicle (120), the method (300) comprising:
transmitting (302) a lock command to the vehicle (120), wherein the lock command indicates that a lock button is pressed on the communication device (110) for locking the vehicle (120);
receiving (304) a feedback signal from the vehicle (120), wherein the feedback signal comprises information indicating that the lock command is received at the vehicle (120) but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful; and
activating (306) a vehicle lock status indicator on the communication device (110) based on the received feedback signal.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle lock status indicator is
an LED light, and wherein the method further comprises:
alerting a user that the lock command is received at the vehicle but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful by blinking the LED light in a predefined manner.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
storing the received feedback signal in a memory of the communication device;
receiving a command from a user indicating the user’s intention to query the vehicle lock status; and
indicating the vehicle lock status to the user by activating the vehicle lock status indicator based on the stored feedback signal.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device is a
remote key fob device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle lock operation is
unsuccessful when:
a solenoid or a sensor switch in the vehicle is malfunctioning; or at least one door of the vehicle is ajar.
6. A communication device (110) for indicating lock status of a vehicle (120), the
communication device (110) comprising:
a memory (220) for storing lock status of the vehicle (120); a transceiver (216) for communicating with the vehicle (120); and a processor (218) communicatively coupled with the memory (220) and the transceiver (216), wherein the processor (218) is configured to:
transmit a lock command to the vehicle (120), wherein the lock command indicates that a lock button is pressed on the communication device (110) for locking the vehicle (120);
receive a feedback signal from the vehicle (120), wherein the feedback signal comprises information indicating that the lock command is received at the vehicle (120) but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful; and
activate a vehicle lock status indicator on the communication device (110) based on the received feedback signal.
7. The communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the vehicle lock
status indicator is an LED light, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
alert a user that the lock command is received at the vehicle but the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful by blinking the LED light in a predefined manner.
8. The communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor is
further configured to:
store the received feedback signal in the memory;
receive a command from a user indicating the user’s intention to query the

vehicle lock status; and
indicate the vehicle lock status to the user by activating the vehicle lock status indicator based on the stored feedback signal.
9. The communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the communication device is a remote key fob device.
10. The communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the vehicle lock operation is unsuccessful when:
a solenoid or a sensor switch in the vehicle is malfunctioning; or at least one door of the vehicle is ajar.