Importance

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Abstract

A system for setting vehicle operator preferences is provided. The system includes a vehicle control module for controlling a vehicle component such as an HVAC unit. A data link is connected to the vehicle control module and may be an infrared signal receiver, a radio frequency signal receiver, a vehicle communications bus, or any other suitable data link. A portable handheld computing device includes a program having vehicle preferences stored in a memory. Preferably, the vehicle preferences may be input by the operator into the portable handheld computing device. The portable handheld computing device may be a Handspring.RTM. device, a Palmpilot.RTM. device, or any other suitable portable computing device. The portable handheld computing device sends the vehicle preferences to the vehicle control module through the data link to control the vehicle component. The vehicle preferences are sent by IR, RF, or any other suitable means. The system may be used to control an HVA system, for example. The portable handheld computing device may include a temperature sensor received in an expansion port for sensing the temperature in the area of the portable handheld computing device. The portable handheld computing device may be taken to a sleeping area of a vehicle cab to control the temperature locally when the operator is sleeping.

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First Claim