METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN VEHICLES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

• US 20120030467A1
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: SCHAEFER, MARK S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,768,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/169
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0869 involving random numbers or seeds

Abstract

Methods and systems for facilitating communications between a vehicle and a service provider are provided. A first address of a vehicle communication device and a second address of a service provider communication device are obtained at a remote location that is remote to both the vehicle and the service provider. A set of keys, including a first key and a second key, is generated at the remote server. The first key is for use by the vehicle in establishing communications with the service provider, and the second key is for use by the service provider in establishing communications with the vehicle. The first key is provided to the vehicle, and the second key is provided to the service provider.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communications between a vehicle having a first communication device with a first address and a service provider having a second communication device with a second address, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining the first address and the second address at a remote location that is remote to both the vehicle and the service provider;

generating a set of pairing keys at the remote location using the first address and the second address, the set of pairing keys comprising;

a first key for use by the vehicle in establishing communications with the service provider; and

a second key for use by the service provider in establishing communications with the vehicle;

providing the first key to the vehicle; and

providing the second key to the service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing the first key at the vehicle; and

storing the second key at the service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of providing the first key comprises the step of transmitting the first key to the vehicle; and

the step of providing the second key comprises the step of transmitting the second key to the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

obtaining the first address from a manufacturer of the first communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle was purchased at a dealership, and the method further comprises the steps of:

obtaining the first address from the dealership.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

assigning a value for the first address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the first key and the second key comprises the steps of:

generating a random number;

generating a security code; and

executing an algorithm to generate the first key and the second key using the first address, the second address, the random number, and the security code.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a notification as to a communication connection between the first communication device and the second communication device; and

providing instructions to facilitate a flow of information between the first communication device and the second communication device based on the notification, the first address, and the second address.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing instructions comprises the step of providing a sequence of queries to the service provider for use in obtaining the information from the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing instructions comprises the step of providing a description of goods or services offered by the service provider to the vehicle.

11. A system for facilitating communications between a vehicle having a first communication device with a first address and a service provider having a second communication device with a second address, the system comprising:

a processor disposed in a remote location that is remote to the vehicle and the service provider, the processor configured to generate a set of pairing keys using the first address and the second address, the set of pairing keys comprising;

a first key for use by the vehicle in establishing communications with the service provider; and

a second key for use by the service provider in establishing communications with the vehicle; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to;

transmit the first key to the vehicle; and

transmit the second key to the service provider.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a first memory disposed at the vehicle and configured to store the first key; and

a second memory disposed at the service provider and configured to store the second key.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is configured to:

transmit the first key via a wireless network to the vehicle; and

transmit the second key via the wireless network to the service provider.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle was purchased at a dealership, and the system further comprises:

a receiver configured to obtaining the first address from the dealership.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a receiver configured to obtain the second address from the service provider.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first key and the second key by:

generating a random number;

generating a security code; and

executing an algorithm to generate the first key and the second key using the first address, the second address, the random number, and the security code.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a notification as to a communication connection between the first communication device and the second communication device,

wherein;

the processor is further configured to generate instructions to facilitate a flow of information between the first communication device and the second communication device based on the notification, the first address, and the second address; and

the transmitter is further configured to transmit the instructions to the vehicle, the service provider, or both.

18. A method for communicating between a vehicle and a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication connection between a first communication device of the vehicle and a second communication device of the service provider; and

verifying identities of the first communication device and the second communication device using a set of pairing keys generated at a remote server that is remote from the vehicle and the service provider, the set of pairing keys comprising;

a first key stored at the vehicle for use in providing an identity of the first communication device to the second communication device; and

a second key stored at the service provider for use in providing an identity of the second communication device to the first communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

providing information from the service provider to the vehicle after the identities are verified.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

providing information from the vehicle to the service provider after the identities are verified.