Method and Apparatus for Virtual Key Delivery

• US 20150161832A1
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Esselink, Chad Evert, Roberts, David Randolph, Woloszyn, Thomas, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Marchwicki, Julius, Mitchell, David Chase, Krozal, Christian
• Application Number:
  US14/097,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161832A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive a request for temporary vehicle usage. The processor is also configured to associate a requesting user with an available vehicle and generate a temporary vehicle access code and start code, usable during a predetermined time period. The processor is further configured to send the access code and start code to both the user and the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a request for temporary vehicle usage;

associate a requesting user with an available vehicle;

generate a temporary vehicle access code and start code, usable during a predetermined time period; and

send the access code and start code to both the user and the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is a vehicle renter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to access a cloud-based account associated with a rental agency and select the available vehicle from a pool of vehicles associated with the rental agency in the cloud-based account.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor accesses a stored rolling code associated with the available vehicle, and stored in the cloud-based account, to generate the temporary vehicle start code.

5. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive input of a temporary access code;

verify the access code;

verify that a specified access code enablement time has passed;

enable the access code if the enablement time has passed;

provide access to the vehicle if the access code is enabled; and

enable usability of a physical key for vehicle start-up usage if the access code is enabled and access to the vehicle is provided.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to verify that a specified access code disablement time has not passed.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, if the disablement time has passed, the processor disables the access code.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein, if the disablement time has passed, the processor disables usability of the physical key.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor only disables usability of the physical key if the vehicle is in park and the ignition is off.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor only disables usability of the physical key if a grace period has passed following the disablement time.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a vehicle startup code;

verify the startup code;

verify that a startup code enablement time has passed;

enable the startup code if the startup code enablement time has passed; and

provide vehicle startup upon code entry if the startup code is enabled.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the startup code enablement time and the access code enablement time are the same time.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving input of a temporary access code;

verifying the access code;

verifying that a specified access code enablement time has passed;

enabling the access code if the enablement time has passed;

providing access to the vehicle if the access code is enabled; and

enabling usability of a physical key for vehicle start-up usage if the access code is enabled and access to the vehicle is provided.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising verifying that a specified access code disablement time has not passed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising disabling the access code if the disablement time has passed.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising disabling usability of the physical key, if the disablement time has passed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the physical key usability is only disabled if the vehicle is in park and the ignition is off.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the physical key usability is only disabled if a grace period has passed following the disablement time.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a vehicle startup code;

verifying the startup code;

verifying that a startup code enablement time has passed;

enabling the startup code if the startup code enablement time has passed; and

providing vehicle startup upon code entry if the startup code is enabled.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the startup code enablement time and the access code enablement time are the same time.