SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSIGNING DRIVER STATUS TO A SPARE KEY AND FOR PROGRAMMING THE SPARE KEY TO A VEHICLE

• US 20100277273A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Hille, Kevin Thomas, Watkins, Scott Alan, Sultana, Martin J.
• Application Number:
  US12/433,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a method and device for assigning a driver status of one of a primary driver and a secondary driver to a spare key is provided. A controller is configured to receive a first key identification signal from a first key indicative of the driver status for the first key being that of one of the primary and the secondary driver. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver status indicated on the first key identification signal corresponds to the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver. The controller is configured to receive a spare key identification signal and assign the spare key identification signal to correspond to the driver status as indicated on the first key identification signal.

Claims

1. A method for assigning a driver status of one of a primary and second driver to a spare key, the method comprising:

receiving a first key identification signal from a first key indicative of the driver status being one of the primary and the secondary driver;

receiving a spare key identification signal; and

assigning the spare key identification signal to correspond to the driver status as indicated on the first key identification signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the spare key identification signal further comprises receiving the spare key identification signal that includes data therein that has not been stored to the vehicle.

3. The method of 2 further comprising detecting an occurrence of at least one predetermined vehicle operation prior to assigning the spare key identification signal.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising electronically storing the data to the vehicle responsive to detecting the occurrence of the at least one predetermined vehicle operation to program the spare key to the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein detecting the occurrence of at least one predetermined vehicle operation further comprises detecting an occurrence of inserting the first key into the ignition switch and cycling an ignition switch a predetermined number of times.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein detecting the occurrence of at least one predetermined vehicle operation further comprises detecting an occurrence of at least one of locking one or more doors of the vehicle a predetermined number of times and determining whether brakes have been applied.

7. A device for assigning a driver status of one of a primary driver and a secondary driver to a spare key, the device comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a first key identification signal from a first key indicative of the driver status being one of the primary and the secondary driver;

determine whether the driver status indicated on the first key identification signal corresponds to the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver;

receive a spare key identification signal; and

assign the spare key identification signal to correspond to the driver status as indicated on the first key identification signal.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the spare key identification signal includes data therein that has not been stored to the vehicle.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to detect an occurrence of at least one predetermined vehicle operation.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to electronically store the data in response to detecting the occurrence of the at least one predetermined vehicle operation for programming the spare key to the vehicle.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to detect an occurrence of at least one of the first key being inserted into the ignition switch and an ignition switch being cycled a predetermined number of times.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to detect an occurrence of at least one of locking one or more doors of the vehicle a predetermined number of times and determining whether brakes have been applied.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller is a passive anti-theft security (PATS) controller.

14. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller is a passive entry passive start (PEPS) controller.

15. A device for assigning a driver status of one of a primary driver and a secondary driver to a spare key, the device comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a first key identification signal from a first key indicative of the driver status for the first key being that of one of the primary driver and the secondary driver;

receive a second key identification signal from a second key indicative of the driver status for the second key being that of one of the primary driver and the secondary driver;

determine whether the driver status indicated on at least one of the first key identification signal and the second key identification signal corresponds to the primary driver;

receive a spare key identification signal; and

assign the spare key identification signal to correspond to the primary driver if the driver status indicated on the at least one of the first key identification signal and the second key identification signal corresponds to the primary driver.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the spare key identification signal includes data therein that has not been stored to the vehicle from the spare key.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is further configured to detect an occurrence of at least one predetermined vehicle operation.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the controller is further configured to electronically store the data in response to detecting the occurrence of the at least one predetermined vehicle operation to program the spare key to the vehicle.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the controller is further configured to detect an occurrence of at least one of the first key being inserted into the ignition switch and an ignition switch being cycled a predetermined number of times.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the controller is further configured to detect an occurrence of at least one of locking one or more doors of the vehicle a predetermined number of times and determining whether brakes have been applied.