SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING KEYS TO VEHICLE TO ESTABLISH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DRIVERS

• US 20090309697A1
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Bennie, Brian, Watkins, Scott Alan, Reed, Eric L., Gusta, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.250
• 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 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a method for programming keys to a vehicle to establish primary keys and secondary keys to control vehicle functionality is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a key identification signal from a first key. The method further comprises generating a key status signal indicative of whether the first key is one of a primary key and a secondary key in response to the key identification signal. The method further comprises transmitting the key status signal to a vehicle interface display. The method further comprises allowing a user to change a status of at least one of the first key and an additional key with the vehicle interface display in response to determining that the key status signal corresponds to the primary key.

Claims

1. A method for programming keys to a vehicle to establish primary keys and secondary keys to control vehicle functionality, the method comprising:

receiving a key identification signal from a first key;

generating a key status signal indicative of whether the first key is one of a primary key and a secondary key in response to the key identification signal;

transmitting the key status signal to a vehicle interface display; and

allowing a user to change a status of at least one of the first key and an additional key with the vehicle interface display in response to determining that the key status signal corresponds to the primary key.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising preventing the user from changing the status of the at least one of the first key and the additional key in response to determining that the key status signal corresponds to the secondary key.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to change the status of the at least one of the first key and the additional key from the primary key to the secondary key in response to determining that the key status signal of the first key corresponds to the primary key.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising tracking the number of miles driven by the vehicle and displaying the number of miles driven by the vehicle on the vehicle interface display while the vehicle is driven with the at least one of first key and the additional key, wherein the at least one of the first key and the additional key is programmed as a secondary key.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising clearing the number of miles driven from the vehicle interface display in response to changing the status of the at least one of the first key and the additional key from the secondary key to the primary key.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the status of the first key and all additional keys in memory and preventing the user from changing status of the first key in response to determining that the additional keys designated as secondary keys.

7. A system for programming at least one key to a vehicle to establish one of a primary key and a secondary key for controlling vehicle functionality based on whether the at least one key is the primary or the secondary key, the system comprising:

a controller configured to receive a key identification signal from a first key and to generate a key status signal indicative of whether the first key is one of the primary key and the secondary key in response to the key identification signal;

a vehicle interface display including at least one switch and configured to;

receive the key status signal;

determine whether the key status signal corresponds to one of the primary key and the secondary key; and

allow a user to change a status of the first key via the at least one switch from the primary key to the secondary key after determining that the key status signal corresponds to the primary key.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the vehicle interface display is further configured to prevent the user from changing the status of the first key in response to determining that the key status signal corresponds to the secondary key.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the vehicle interface display is further configured to allow the user to change status of an additional key with the at least one switch in response to determining that the key status signal of the key corresponds to the primary key.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the key identification signal corresponds to at least one of received key number information and received encryption data and the controller includes a look up table having at least one of stored key number information and stored encryption data.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to compare the at least one of the received key number information and the received encryption data to the at least one of the stored key number information and the stored encryption data to determine whether the first key is the primary key or the secondary key.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the vehicle interface display is further configured to display a total number of keys that are programmed as primary keys and a total number of keys that are programmed as secondary keys.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is a Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) controller and data included within the key identification signal is used to authenticate starting an engine of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is a Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) controller and data included within the key identification signal is used to perform at least one of granting access to an occupant for entry into the vehicle and authenticating engine startup of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 7 further comprising a backup slot configured to receive the first key and wherein the controller is a Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) controller operably coupled to the backup slot such that prior to allowing the user to change status of the first key from the primary key to the secondary key with the at least one switch of the vehicle interface display, the first key is inserted into the backup slot.

16. A system for programming at least one key to a vehicle to establish one of a primary key and a secondary key for controlling vehicle functionality based on whether the at least one key is the primary or the secondary key, the system comprising:

a controller configured to receive a key identification signal from a first key and to generate a key status signal indicative of whether the first key is one of a primary key and a secondary key in response to the key identification signal;

a vehicle interface display including at least one switch and configured to;

receive the key status signal;

determine whether the key status signal corresponds to one of the primary key and the secondary key; and

prevent the user from changing status of the at least one of the first key and an additional key via the at least one switch after determining that the key status signal corresponds to the secondary key.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the vehicle interface display is further configured to allow a user to change a status of the at least one of the first key and the additional key with the at least one switch from the primary key to the secondary key in response to determining that the key status signal corresponds to the primary key.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the key number encryption signal corresponds to at least one of received key number information and received encryption data and the controller includes a look up table having at least one of stored key number information and stored encryption data.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the controller is further configured to compare the at least one of received key number information and received encryption data to the at least one of stored key number information and the stored encryption data to determine whether the first key is a primary key or a secondary key.

20. A method for determining a status of at least one key and for programming the at least one key to a vehicle as one of a primary key and a secondary key, the system comprising:

storing at least one of stored key number information and stored encrypted data for the at least one key;

receiving a key identification signal including at least one of received key number information and received encrypted data from a first key; and

comparing the at least one of the received key number information and the received encrypted data to the at least one stored key number information and stored encrypted data to determine whether the status of the first key is the primary key or the secondary key.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising allowing a user to change the status of at least one of the first key and an additional key with a vehicle interface display from the primary key to the secondary key after determining that the status of the first key is the primary key.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising preventing a user from changing the status of the at least one of the first key and an additional key after determining that the status of the first key is the secondary key.