Vehicle key management

• US 10,293,787 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Brombach, Ronald Patrick, King, Daniel M., Protopapas, Maria Eugenia, Mawari, Maeen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Allen T
• Application Number:
  US15/674,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20190047514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 340 52- 525
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing keys that operate a given vehicle include a processor. Responsive to identifying a received first key for operating the vehicle as having an administrative status, the processor is configured to enable creation of a second key for operating the vehicle having the administrative status, and enable creation of a third key for operating the vehicle having a secondary status and a passcode. Responsive to receiving and identifying the third key as having the secondary status, the processor is configured to enable alteration of the passcode.

Claims

1. A system comprising,

a processor configured to,

responsive to identifying a received first key for operating a vehicle as having an administrative status, enable creation of a second key for operating the vehicle having the administrative status, and creation of a third key having a secondary status and including a passcode for operating the vehicle, and

responsive to receiving and identifying the third key as having the secondary status, enable alteration of the passcode.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising,

a database including a plurality of fourth keys for operating the vehicle each having the secondary status, wherein the fourth keys include a first set of keys and a second set of keys, the first set of keys includes the third key and is associated with a first privilege level within the database, the second set of keys is associated with a second privilege level within the database, and the second privilege level enables a vehicle feature that is disabled for the first privilege level, and

a vehicle configured to, responsive to receiving and identifying the third key as associated with the first privilege level within the database, disable the vehicle feature.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to,

responsive to receiving an administrative login that does not operate the vehicle,

enable selection of a plurality of the fourth keys via a graphical user interface, and

delete the selected fourth keys via a single user input on the graphical user interface.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is geographically remote from the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the fourth keys is associated within the database with a subscriber to a ride sharing service, the first privilege level comprises a first subscription level for the ride sharing service, and the second privilege level comprises a second subscription level for the ride sharing service that is costlier than the first subscription level.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to,

responsive to receiving an update that enables a new vehicle feature for the first subscription level or that disables an existing vehicle feature for the first subscription level, transmit the update to the vehicle over a wireless network.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle comprises the database, and the processor is further configured to, responsive to receiving a new key or an update to one of the fourth keys, transmit the new key or the update to the vehicle over a wireless network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to receiving the first key,

enable, via a user interface, uploading of a biometric, and

enable, via the user interface, selecting the biometric as the second key having the administrative status and as the third key having the secondary status.

9. A system comprising,

a database including first and second keys for operating a vehicle, each of the first and second keys being assigned to a subscriber of a ride sharing service, and a vehicle feature being enabled for the first keys and not the second keys within the database, and

a vehicle configured to, responsive to receiving one of the first keys, enable the vehicle feature based on the database.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is further configured to, responsive to receiving one of the second keys, disable the vehicle feature.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle feature being enabled for the first keys and not the second keys within the database comprises the first keys being associated with a first subscription level for the ride sharing service within the database, and the second keys being associated with a second subscription level for the ride sharing service within the database that is less costly than the first subscription level.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a processor remote from the vehicle and configured to, responsive to receiving an update that enables a new vehicle feature for the first subscription level or that disables an existing vehicle feature for the first subscription level, transmit the update to the vehicle over a wireless network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle comprises the database, and the system further comprises a processor remote form the vehicle and configured to, responsive to receiving a new key or an update to one of first or second keys, transmit the new key or the update to the vehicle over a wireless network.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a processor geographically remote from the vehicle and configured to, responsive to receiving an administrative login that does not operate the vehicle,

enable selection of a plurality of the first keys and the second keys via graphical user interface, and

delete the selected keys via a single user input on the graphical user interface.

15. A method comprising,

by a processor,

responsive to identifying a received first key for operating a vehicle as having an administrative status, displaying a GUI that enables user creation of a second key for operating the vehicle having the administrative status and of a third key for operating the vehicle having a secondary status and a passcode, and

responsive to receiving and identifying the third key as having the secondary status, enabling alteration of the passcode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, responsive to identifying the received first key for operating the vehicle as having the administrative status,

enabling selection, from a database including a plurality of fourth keys for operating the vehicle that includes the third key and that each has the secondary status, a plurality of the fourth keys via a graphical user interface (GUI), and

responsive to a single user input on the GUI, deleting the selected fourth keys.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, by a vehicle,

storing a database including a plurality of fourth keys for operating the vehicle each having the secondary status, wherein the fourth keys include a first set of keys and a second set of keys, the first set of keys includes the third key and is associated with a first subscription level for a ride sharing service within the database, the second set of keys is associated with a second subscription level for the ride sharing service within the database that is costlier than the first subscription level, and the second subscription level enables a vehicle feature that is disabled for the first subscription level, and

responsive to receiving and identifying the third key as associated with the first subscription level within the database, disable the vehicle feature.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, by the processor, responsive to receiving an update that enables a new vehicle feature or disables an existing vehicle feature for the first subscription level, transmitting the update to the vehicle over a wireless network.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising, by the processor, responsive to receiving a new key or an update to one of the fourth keys, transmitting the new key or the update to the vehicle over a wireless network.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising, responsive to receiving the first key,

enabling, via a graphical user interface (GUI), uploading of a biometric, and

enabling, via the GUI, selecting the biometric as the second key having the administrative status and as the third key having the secondary status.