Virtual key for vehicle servicing

• US 10,189,443 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Niemiec, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Testardi, David A
• Application Number:
  US15/348,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20180126952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

Technical solutions are described for facilitating access for servicing a vehicle. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving a servicing notification for the vehicle, and generating, in response, a virtual key for servicing the vehicle. The computer-implemented method also includes facilitating access for servicing the vehicle based on the virtual key.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for unlocking a vehicle for servicing the vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a telematics module, a sensor measurement of the vehicle from a diagnostic sensor of the vehicle;

determining, by a vehicle diagnostic module, a servicing request for the vehicle based on the sensor measurement;

generating, by a virtual key generator, a virtual key for servicing the vehicle, the virtual key including a time duration, a geographic location for servicing the vehicle, and an identifier of a specific virtual key device to be used to unlock the vehicle, wherein generating the virtual key comprises;

sending, by a service provider server, a servicing authorization request to a user device;

receiving, by the service provider server, from the user device, a selection of a service provider to service the vehicle and a selection of the geographic location at which to service the vehicle, wherein the service provider has the specific virtual key device;

sending, by the service provider server, a first authorization request to the user device, the first authorization request includes a time range for accessing the vehicle at the geographic location by the service provider;

receiving, by the virtual key generator, from the user device, a selection of the time duration at which to service the vehicle at the geographic location, the selection of the time duration made from within the time range;

generating, by the virtual key generator, the virtual key using the geographic location, the time duration, and the identifier of the specific virtual key device; and

sending, by the virtual key generator, the virtual key to the specific virtual key device; and

unlocking, by a virtual key module, the vehicle to allow access for servicing the vehicle based on the specific virtual key device when the specific virtual key device associated with the identifier has the virtual key stored therein, and is brought within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle at the geographic location and during the time duration.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the servicing request is determined according to a predetermined servicing schedule.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the virtual key for servicing the vehicle further comprises:

sending, by the user device, second authorization request for the virtual key to the virtual key generator.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the second authorization request specifies the time duration for accessing the vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the second authorization request specifies the location for accessing the vehicle.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the second authorization request specifies the identifier of the specific virtual key device for storing the virtual key.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the specific virtual key device is an electronic communication device.

8. A system for unlocking a vehicle, the system comprising:

a diagnostic module configured to generate a servicing notification for the vehicle based on one or more sensor measurements;

a virtual key generator configured to generate a virtual key for servicing the vehicle, the virtual key including a time duration, a geographic location for servicing the vehicle, and an identifier of a specific virtual key device to be used to unlock the vehicle, wherein generating the virtual key comprises;

sending, using a telematics module, a servicing authorization request to a user device;

receiving, from the user device, a selection of a service provider to service the vehicle and a selection of the geographic location at which to access the vehicle for servicing, the service provider having the specific virtual key device;

sending, by a service provider server, a first authorization request to the user device, the first authorization request includes a time range for servicing the vehicle at the geographic location by the service provider;

receiving, from the user device, a selection of the time duration at which to service the vehicle at the geographic location, the selection made from the time range;

generating, by a virtual key generator, the virtual key using the geographic location, the time duration, and the identifier of the specific virtual key device; and

sending, by the virtual key generator, to the specific virtual key device, the virtual key; and

a virtual key module configured to unlock the vehicle when the specific virtual key device of the service provider that is selected for servicing the vehicle is within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the diagnostic module generates the servicing notification according to a predetermined servicing schedule.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the authorization request authorizes the virtual key to unlock the vehicle only by the specific virtual key device that stores the virtual key.

11. A computer program product for unlocking a vehicle for servicing the vehicle, the computer program product comprising non-transitory storage medium with computer executable instructions embedded therein, the non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions to:

generate a servicing notification for servicing the vehicle based on one or more sensor measurements;

generate a virtual key for servicing the vehicle, the virtual key including a time duration, a geographic location for servicing the vehicle, and an identifier of a specific virtual key device to be used to unlock the vehicle, wherein generating the virtual key comprises;

sending a servicing authorization request to a user device;

receiving, from the user device, a selection of a service provider to service the vehicle and the geographic location at which to service the vehicle, the service provider has the specific virtual key device;

sending, by service provider server, a first authorization request to the user device, the first authorization request includes a time range for servicing the vehicle at the geographic location by the service provider;

receiving, from the user device, a selection of the time duration at which to service the vehicle at the geographic location, the time duration selected from the time range;

generating, by a virtual key generator, the virtual key using the geographic location, the time duration, and the identifier of the specific virtual key device; and

sending, by the virtual key generator, to the specific virtual key device, the virtual key; and

unlock the vehicle when the specific virtual key device of the service provider selected for servicing the vehicle is within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium further comprises instructions to:

generate the virtual key to unlock the vehicle only by the specific virtual key device that stores the virtual key.