System for keyless valet parking

• US 10,131,321 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ahsan, Salman, Elangovan, Vivekanandh, Hille, Kevin Thomas, Farrey, Gregory William, Kasper, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/653,168
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00753 operated by active electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for a system for keyless entry. An example vehicle includes a valet dongle, a dock configured to connect to the valet dongle; and a valet manager. The valet manager enables the valet dongle to authorize keyless entry and keyless ignition when (a) the valet dongle is removed from the dock while an ignition of the vehicle is on and (b) an authorized passcode is provided via an infotainment head unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a valet dongle;

a dock configured to connect to the valet dongle; and

a processor executing instructions to enable the valet dongle to authorize keyless entry and keyless ignition when the valet dongle is removed from the dock while an ignition of the vehicle is on and an authorized passcode is provided via an infotainment head unit.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the valet dongle includes a wireless communication module, a button, and a connector.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the dock includes a port to engage with a connector of the valet dongle when the valet dongle is docked with the dock, and wherein, when the valet dongle is docked, the valet dongle is communicatively and electrically coupled to the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the dock is recessed into a panel of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein to enable the valet dongle, the processor is to provide the valet dongle with a temporary authorization code that authorizes the keyless entry and the keyless ignition for a limited amount of time.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is to, after enabling the valet dongle, instruct subsystems of the vehicle to enter a valet mode, the valet mode disabling or restricting features of the subsystems.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is to disable the valet dongle after being enabled when the valet dongle is docked in the dock, an input to end a valet mode is received via the infotainment head unit, and an authorized mobile device is present.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein after disabling the valet dongle, the processor is to instruct subsystems of the vehicle to exit the valet mode.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is to enable the keyless ignition when the valet dongle is enabled and the valet dongle is docked in the dock.

10. A method comprising:

enabling, with a processor, a valet dongle associated with a vehicle to operate a keyless entry and a keyless ignition system when an authorized passcode is provided via an infotainment head unit while the valet dongle is engaged with a dock and an ignition of the vehicle is on;

after enabling the valet dongle, disabling the valet dongle when;

the valet dongle is docked in the dock,

an input to end a valet mode is received via the infotainment head unit, and

an authorized mobile device is present.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the valet dongle is not a phone or a key fob.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein enabling the valet dongle includes providing the valet dongle with a temporary authorization code that authorizes the keyless entry and the keyless ignition system, the temporary authorization code being valid for a limited period of time.

13. The method of claim 10, including, after enabling the valet dongle, instructing subsystems of the vehicle to enter the valet mode, the valet mode disabling or restricting features of the subsystems.

14. The method of claim 13, including, after disabling the valet dongle, instructing the subsystems of the vehicle to exit the valet mode.

15. The method of claim 10, including enabling the keyless ignition when the valet dongle is enabled and the valet dongle is docked in the dock.