METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTHENTICATING ONE OR MORE USERS OF A VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

• US 20120254948A1
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kleve, Robert Bruce, Petersen, Brian, Pleet, Edward Andrew, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Pandya, Ritesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3215 using a plurality of channels network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for authorizing use of a vehicle communication and information system may include one or more data processors configured to receive information associating one or more devices with a vehicle computer. The data processor(s) may be also configured to receive information identifying a user requesting authorization to command the vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer. The user(s) may be authorized to command the vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer based on performing an authentication process for authenticating the user, determining that the user is an authenticated user based on the authentication process, and enabling command of one or more vehicle controls from the one or more remote devices via the associated vehicle computer based on the user being authenticated.

Claims

1. A system for authorizing use of a vehicle communication and information system, the system comprising:

one or more data processors configured to;

receive information associating one or more devices remote from a vehicle with a vehicle computer;

receive information identifying a user requesting authorization to command one or more vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer; and

authorize the user to command one or more vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer by performing the following steps;

performing an authentication process for authenticating the user;

determining that the user is an authenticated user based on the authentication process; and

enabling command of one or more vehicle controls from the one or more remote devices via the associated vehicle computer based on the user being authenticated.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the authentication process includes:

receiving one or more inputs for authentication; and

authenticating the user based on the one or more inputs for authentication.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are one or more authentication items selected from one or more touch-based inputs, information from one or more vehicle key transponders, one or more voice commands, one or more codes, one or more patterns of maneuvers, or at least one question and answer process.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are received in response to one or more notifications requesting authentication of the user.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the inputs for authentication are received in the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the information associating the one or more devices with the data processor is an electronic serial number (ESN).

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the associating information is input at the one or more devices remote from the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the associating information is stored on a centralized system communicating with the one or more devices and the one or more data processors.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the user identifying information is an identifier associated with the one or more devices remote from the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the identifier is a mobile identification number.

11. A computer-implemented method for authorizing use of a vehicle communication and information system, the method comprising:

receiving at one or more data processors information indicating that a vehicle communications and information system (VCIS) is associated with one or more command devices from which one or more users command the VCIS; and

authorizing at the one or more data processors the one or more users to command the VCIS from the one or more associated command devices by;

receiving information identifying one or more authenticating devices associated with the one or more users;

performing an authentication process using the identified authenticating devices to authenticate the one or more users; and

if authenticated based on the authentication process, enabling the one or more users to command the VCIS from the one or more associated command devices.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the authentication process includes initiating a timer to measure a time period during which the one or more users are authenticated using the identified authenticating devices, wherein the one or more users may command the VCIS from the one or more associated command devices if authenticated during the time period.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising counting a number of authentication attempts during the time period, wherein the one or more users are not authenticated if the number of attempts is exceeded.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the one or more devices are remote from a vehicle.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the one or more devices include at least one of a nomadic device or a personal computer.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing the associating information to the one or more users;

receiving the associating information at the one or more remote devices via user input; and

storing the associating information at the one or more data processors.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein the VCIS identifying information is an electronic serial number of the VCIS.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein authorizing the one or more users to command the associated VCIS includes authorizing the user to operate select functions of the VCIS.

19. A method comprising:

receiving at a computer information associating one or more devices for commanding vehicle controls with a vehicle;

receiving at the computer information identifying a user requesting authorization to command vehicle controls from the devices; and

authorizing the command(s) from the devices by;

performing an authentication process to authenticate the user(s); and

if authenticated based on the process, enabling command of the vehicle controls from the devices.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more devices are remote from the vehicle.

21. The method claim 20 where the one or more devices remote from the vehicle are nomadic device or a personal computer.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the authentication process includes:

receiving one or more inputs for authentication; and

authenticating the user(s) based on the one or more inputs for authentication.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are one or more authentication items selected from one or more touch-based inputs, information from one or more vehicle key transponders, one or more voice commands, one or more codes, one or more patterns of maneuvers, or at least one question and answer process.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the authentication process further includes:

initiating a timer to measure a time period during which the one or more inputs for authentication are received;

authenticating the user(s) based on the one or more inputs for authentication if received during the time period.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22 wherein the authentication process further includes:

counting a number of authentication attempts; and

authenticating the user(s) based on the one or more inputs for authentication unless the number of attempts is exceeded.