Systems and methods for test driving cars with limited human interaction
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a server, a first identifier corresponding to a smart key storage device of a plurality of smart key storage devices, wherein the server is communicatively connected to the plurality of smart key storage devices;
associating the first identifier corresponding to the smart key storage device with a second identifier corresponding to a vehicle key;
receiving, by the server and from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key is stored within a storage compartment of the smart key storage device based on a first sensor of the smart key storage device detecting the second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key stored in the storage compartment of the smart key storage device;
receiving, by the server and from a mobile device, a user request of a user associated with the mobile device to access a vehicle secured by the vehicle key;
identifying, based on the association between the first identifier and the second identifier, the smart key storage device from the plurality of smart key storage devices as corresponding to the vehicle;
providing, via the server and in response to the user request, an unlock instruction to the smart key storage device;
receiving, by the server and from the smart key storage device after providing the unlock instruction, an indication that the vehicle key has been removed from the storage compartment based on the first sensor detecting removal of the vehicle key; and
updating a user record associated with the user to indicate removal of the vehicle key in response to the indication that the vehicle key has been removed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects described herein may allow a user to test drive a vehicle with limited human interaction. In one method, a server may receive a user request from a mobile device of a user to access a vehicle secured by a vehicle key. The server may determine that the vehicle key is stored within a storage compartment of a smart key storage device. The server may provide an unlock instruction to the smart key storage device. The unlock instruction may be provided in response to and/or as part of a request, from the mobile device, to unlock the storage compartment. The server may receive, from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key has been removed from the storage compartment based on a key sensor detecting removal of the vehicle key. This may prompt the server to update a user record to indicate removal of the vehicle key.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a server, a first identifier corresponding to a smart key storage device of a plurality of smart key storage devices, wherein the server is communicatively connected to the plurality of smart key storage devices; associating the first identifier corresponding to the smart key storage device with a second identifier corresponding to a vehicle key; receiving, by the server and from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key is stored within a storage compartment of the smart key storage device based on a first sensor of the smart key storage device detecting the second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key stored in the storage compartment of the smart key storage device; receiving, by the server and from a mobile device, a user request of a user associated with the mobile device to access a vehicle secured by the vehicle key; identifying, based on the association between the first identifier and the second identifier, the smart key storage device from the plurality of smart key storage devices as corresponding to the vehicle; providing, via the server and in response to the user request, an unlock instruction to the smart key storage device; receiving, by the server and from the smart key storage device after providing the unlock instruction, an indication that the vehicle key has been removed from the storage compartment based on the first sensor detecting removal of the vehicle key; and updating a user record associated with the user to indicate removal of the vehicle key in response to the indication that the vehicle key has been removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a server; and a plurality of smart key storage devices communicatively connected to the server and including a smart key storage device, wherein the smart key storage device comprises a first sensor and a storage compartment configured to store a vehicle key; wherein the server is configured to; receive a first identifier corresponding to the smart key storage device; associate the first identifier corresponding to the smart key storage device with a second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key; receive, from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key is stored within the storage compartment based on the first sensor detecting the second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key stored in the storage compartment; receive a user request of a user to access a vehicle secured by the vehicle key; identify, based on the association between the first identifier and the second identifier, the smart key storage device from the plurality of smart key storage devices as corresponding to the vehicle; provide an unlock instruction to the smart key storage device based on the user request and the association between the first identifier and the second identifier; receive, from the smart key storage device after providing the unlock instruction, an indication that the vehicle key has been removed from the storage compartment based on the first sensor detecting removal of the vehicle key; update a user record associated with the user to indicate removal of the vehicle key in response to the indication that the vehicle key has been removed; determine that a wrong vehicle key is stored within the storage compartment; and update the user record associated with the user to indicate a return of the wrong vehicle key in response to the indication that the wrong vehicle key is stored; and wherein the smart key storage device is configured to; detect, via the first sensor, the second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key stored in the storage compartment; send, to the server, the indication that the vehicle key is stored within the storage compartment; receive the unlock instruction from the server; detect, via the first sensor, removal of the vehicle key; send, to the server, the indication that the vehicle key has been removed from the storage compartment; detect, via the first sensor of the smart key storage device, a third identifier corresponding to the wrong vehicle key; and send, to the server, the third identifier corresponding to the wrong vehicle key. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising
one or more processors; - and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to; receive a first identifier corresponding to a smart key storage device of a plurality of smart key storage devices, wherein the apparatus is communicatively connected to the plurality of smart key storage devices; associate the first identifier corresponding to the smart key storage device with a second identifier corresponding to a vehicle key; receive, from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key is stored within a storage compartment of the smart key storage device, based on a first sensor detecting the second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key stored in the storage compartment of the smart key storage device; receive a user request of a user to access a vehicle secured by the vehicle key; identify, based on the association between the first identifier and the second identifier, the smart key storage device from the plurality of smart key storage devices as corresponding to the vehicle provide, in response to the user request, an unlock instruction to the smart key storage device; receive, from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key has been removed from the storage compartment based on the first sensor detecting removal of the vehicle key after providing the unlock instruction; update a user record associated with the user to indicate removal of the vehicle key in response to the indication that the vehicle key has been removed; receive, from the smart key storage device, an indication that the vehicle key has been returned to the storage compartment, based on the first sensor detecting the second identifier corresponding to the vehicle key; and update the user record associated with the user to indicate a return of the vehicle key in response to the indication that the vehicle key has been returned. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification