Methods and systems for authenticating one or more users of a vehicle communications and information system

• US 10,692,313 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kleve, Robert Bruce, Petersen, Brian, Pandya, Ritesh, Pleet, Edward Andrew, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dada, Beemnet W
• Application Number:
  US14/712,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20150262439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3215 using a plurality of channels network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for authorizing use of a vehicle communication and information system may include one or more data processors configured to receive information associating one or more devices with a vehicle computer. The data processor(s) may be also configured to receive information identifying a user requesting authorization to command the vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer. The user(s) may be authorized to command the vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer based on performing an authentication process for authenticating the user, determining that the user is an authenticated user based on the authentication process, and enabling command of one or more vehicle controls from the one or more remote devices via the associated vehicle computer based on the user being authenticated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a request from a first mobile device identifying a user attempting to access a vehicle for drive-away;

relay the request to a second mobile device, pre-identified as corresponding to an authorized user for vehicle for drive-away access; and

send authentication data to the first mobile device, usable to access the vehicle for drive-away, in response to receiving a confirmation receipt from the second mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is configured to transmit one or more vehicle controls to a vehicle computer based on the authentication data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the authentication data is an electronic serial number associated with the vehicle.

4. A system comprising:

a processor configured to, in response to a request associated with a user attempting to access a vehicle from a first mobile device;

relay the request to a pre-identified second mobile device associated with an authorized user to access the vehicle; and

send authentication data to the vehicle authorizing vehicle access, in response to receiving a confirmation receipt from the second mobile device.