Apple could turn iPhones into remote controls for cars

SAN FRANCISCO

Only a day after the first customers began using Apple pay, Apple has been granted a patent which could turn future iPhones into remote controls for cars.

In September, the technology company launched Apple Pay which enables clients to pay for items just by holding the iPhone near contactless readers with your finger on the Touch ID. Clients started making payments on Oct. 20.

Turning the iPhone into a remote control for cars could be a future step for Apple, but it is known that being granted a patent does not necessarily mean that the concept will be applied in the real world. 

The United States Patent and Trademark Office, an Agency of the Department of Commerce, granted Apple the “accessory control with geo-fencing” patent on Tuesday.

The patent's abstract says that the vehicle accessory can transmit a signal to your mobile device, which will monitor the phone's location as well as the location of the vehicle.

“Upon determining that a location-based criterion has been satisfied, the mobile device can transmit a second signal to the vehicle accessory indicating that a function of the vehicle is to be controlled," the abstract says.

“Thus, for example, the mobile device can activate or de-activate vehicle features (e.g. door locking, vehicle defrosting etc.) in a manner that capitalizes on efficient signal transmission,” it continued.

www.aa.com.tr/en