Enhanced valet function for automobiles

• US 20060290470A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Powers, Robert B., Geisler, Scott P., Massoll, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US11/159,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.74
• 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: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for determining access to private stored in an automobile. The apparatus comprises a means for identifying user classification. The apparatus further comprises a means for selecting an information access state based on the user classification. The apparatus further comprises a means for restricting access to private data based, at least in part, on the information access state.

Claims

1. A method for restricting access to private data in an automobile comprising:

identifying a user classification;

setting a state of an automobile security system based on the user classification; and

restricting access to private data based on the state of the automotive security system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a user classification comprises identifying the user classification based on an indicator stored in an automotive key.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a user classification comprises identifying the user classification based on an indicator stored on a key fob.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a user classification comprises identifying the user classification based on a manually entered code.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a user classification comprises identifying the user classification based on detection of a wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of restricting access further comprises allowing unrestricted access to private data if the automotive security system is in a full access state.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of restricting access further comprises allowing access to some private data if the automotive security system is in an enhanced valet state.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of restricting access further comprises denying access to all private data if the automotive security system is in a lockdown state.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an override to allow service personal to bypass the restrictions to private data.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of setting the information state to a lockdown state further comprising setting a lockdown state if an enhanced valet state has been set and a lockdown indicator is set.

11. A system for determining access to private data comprising:

means for identifying a class of user;

means for selecting an information access state based on the class of user coupled to the means for identifying;

means for restricting access to private data, based, at least in part on the information access state.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the class of user is identified based on an indicator stored in an automotive key.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the class of user is identified based on an indicator stored on a key fob.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the class of user is identified based on a manually entered code.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the class of user is identified based on detection of a short range wireless device.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the information access state is set to a full access state if the automotive user is allowed unrestricted access to private data.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the information access state is set to an enhanced valet state if the automotive user is allowed restricted access to private data.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the information access state is set to a lockdown state if the automotive user is denied access to private data.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising an override to allow service personal to access private data.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the lockdown state is set if the enhanced valet state has been set and a lockdown indicator selected.