METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING AN AUTHORIZED VEHICLE DRIVEAWAY

• US 20130040620A1
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Hille, Kevin Thomas, Kleve, Robert Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,205,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Various embodiments may include methods and system for enabling an authorized vehicle driveaway. A vehicle driveaway authorization code for authorizing a vehicle to be driven and a user authorization code that corresponds to the vehicle driveaway authorization code may be generated. The codes may be generated by, for example, at least one server configured to generate the authorization codes. The at least one server may be communicating with a nomadic device and a vehicle driveaway authorization system. A vehicle driveaway request signal may be received. In response to a receipt of the vehicle driveaway request signal, the vehicle driveaway authorization code may be transmitted to the vehicle driveaway authorization system and the user authorization code may be transmitted to the nomadic device for input to the vehicle driveaway authorization system in order to enable the vehicle to be driven.

Claims

1. A system for authorizing vehicle drive away comprising:

a vehicle computer configured to;

receive input at a touch screen defining a code for use in authorizing drive away of the vehicle;

receive information from an RFID device for use in authorizing drive away of the vehicle;

a cellular telephone for communicating authorization information between the vehicle and a remote authorization server for authorizing drive away of the vehicle; and

enable drive away of the vehicle if drive away is authorized.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is stored on an RFID device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone is embedded in the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is encrypted.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is displayed at a website.

6. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising a remote computer to generate the code for use in authorizing the vehicle drive away event.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the code is wirelessly communicated to the vehicle.

8. A method for authorizing vehicle drive away, the method comprising:

presenting a website to register a user for participation in a vehicle drive away program;

receiving input at the website from the user requesting a vehicle drive away event;

generating a first code used for authorizing the vehicle drive away event;

receiving input comprising the first code at a vehicle;

using a cellular telephone at the vehicle to communicate authorization information between the vehicle and an authorization server for authorizing the drive away event based on the first code; and

enabling drive away of the vehicle if the drive away event is authorized.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first code is received at the vehicle wirelessly from an RFID device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first code is received at the vehicle from input at a touch screen.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the cellular telephone is embedded in the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8 additionally comprising encrypting the first code.

13. The method of claim 8 additionally comprising displaying the first code at the website.

14. The method of claim 8 additionally comprising generating a second code for use in authorizing the vehicle drive away event.

15. The method of claim 14 additionally comprising communicating the second code to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the second code is wirelessly communicated to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the second code is stored on an RFID device.

18. The method of claim 14 additionally comprising encrypting the second code.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the first code is associated with the second code.

20. A method for authorizing vehicle drive away, the method comprising:

presenting a website to configure user for participation in a vehicle drive away program;

receiving input at the website from a user requesting a vehicle drive away event;

encoding an RFID tag with a first code used for authorizing the vehicle drive away event;

wirelessly receiving the first code from the RFID tag;

using a cellular telephone at the vehicle to communicate authorization information between the vehicle and an authorization server for authorizing the drive away event based on the first code; and

enabling drive away of the vehicle if the drive away event is authorized.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the cellular telephone is embedded in the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising encrypting the first code.

23. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising displaying the first code at the website.

24. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising generating a second code for use in authorizing the vehicle drive away event.

25. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising communicating the second code to the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the second code is wirelessly communicated to the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the second code is stored on an RFID device.

28. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising encrypting the second code.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the first code is associated with the second code.