Multiple vehicle authentication for entry and starting systems
First Claim
1. An electronic key for authenticating and activating each of a plurality of vehicles, the electronic key comprising:
- a memory having a first portion configured to retain a unique ID for the electronic key and a second portion adapted to store information uniquely associated with each of the plurality of vehicles; and
a processor in communication with the memory configured to wirelessly obtain a vehicle ID associated with each of the plurality of vehicles and to thereby control operations in at least one of the plurality vehicles if the received vehicle ID for that vehicle matches the information stored in the second portion of the memory.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for one or more electronic keys to be trained to activate multiple vehicles. The apparatus comprises wirelessly communicating electronic key and vehicle authentication modules, each of which comprises inter-coupled processor, non-volatile memory, transmitter and receiver. The module transmitters communicate with the key receiver and vice versa. The key and module exchange ID information during a learning process. These learned IDs are stored in their memories. The key memory stores ID information on a single key and multiple vehicles and the module memory stores ID information on a single vehicle and multiple keys. During authentication, the module and key transmit at least their own IDs to the other. Each compares the received ID to the learned IDs. If they match, authentication is granted and the key command is processed by the vehicle. The number of authenticating keys and vehicles is limited only by onboard memory capacity.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic key for authenticating and activating each of a plurality of vehicles, the electronic key comprising:
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a memory having a first portion configured to retain a unique ID for the electronic key and a second portion adapted to store information uniquely associated with each of the plurality of vehicles; and
a processor in communication with the memory configured to wirelessly obtain a vehicle ID associated with each of the plurality of vehicles and to thereby control operations in at least one of the plurality vehicles if the received vehicle ID for that vehicle matches the information stored in the second portion of the memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for allowing one or more electronic keys to activate multiple individual vehicles, the system comprising:
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at least one wirelessly communicating electronic key comprising a key processor, a key transceiver and a key memory is configured to store a key ID; and
a plurality of authentication modules, each associated with one of the multiple individual vehicles and comprising a module processor, a module transceiver and a module memory configured to store a module ID, wherein the processors of each of the authentication modules and the at least one electronic key are configured to wireless communicate via the transceivers to exchange ID information stored in the key and module memories, to authenticate based at least in part upon matches between the ID information, and to permit the at least one electronic key to activate each the multiple individual vehicles associated with the authentication modules for which such matches are obtained. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for enabling an electronic key having a unique key ID to control operations in multiple vehicles, each having a unique vehicle ID, comprising:
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during a learning phase, sending unique vehicle IDs to the key for storage in key memory and sending the unique key ID to the multiple vehicles for storage in vehicle memory in each of the multiple vehicles; and
during an authentication phase, sending a unique vehicle ID from the vehicle desired to be controlled by the key to the key and sending the unique key ID to the vehicle desired to be controlled by the key; and
comparing in the key the one unique vehicle ID received during the authentication phase with the multiple unique vehicle IDs received during the training phase; and
comparing in the vehicle the unique key ID received during the authentication phase with the unique key ID received during the training phase; and
if the results of both comparing steps provide a match, authenticating the key to the vehicle desired to be controlled by the key; and
if the results of either comparing step fails to provide a match, not authenticating the key. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for enabling a particular electronic key to control functions of multiple vehicles, comprising:
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key-vehicle training to identify a particular key to multiple vehicles by transmitting to and storing in memory in each vehicle information concerning one or more keys; and
key-vehicle authenticating to verify that the particular key has been trained for the vehicle being addressed by the key, by receiving in the vehicle identifying information from a particular key and comparing such information with key identifying information stored in memory in the vehicle during training and enabling the key to control functions of the vehicle if such information matches. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for enabling a particular electronic key to control functions of multiple vehicles, comprising:
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key-vehicle training to identify a particular key to multiple vehicles by transmitting to and storing in memory in the key information concerning the multiple vehicles; and
key-vehicle authenticating to verify that the particular key has been trained for the vehicle being addressed by the key by receiving in the key identifying information from a particular vehicle and comparing such information with multiple vehicle identifying information stored in memory in the key during training and enabling the key to control functions of the vehicle if such information from the particular vehicle matches stored information of at least one vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for enabling a particular electronic key to control functions of multiple vehicles, comprising:
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key-vehicle training to identify a particular key to multiple vehicles by transmitting to and storing in memory in each vehicle information concerning one or more keys and transmitting to and storing in memory in the key information concerning the multiple vehicles; and
key-vehicle authenticating to verify that the particular key has been trained for the vehicle being addressed by the key by;
receiving in the vehicle identifying information from a particular key and comparing such information with key identifying information stored in memory in the vehicle during training; and
receiving in the key identifying information from a particular vehicle and comparing such information with vehicle identifying information stored in memory in the key during training; and
enabling the key to control functions of the vehicle if the information in both receiving steps provide matches. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification