METHOD OF MAKING A VEHICLE AVAILABLE AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEM FOR MAKING A VEHICLE AVAILABLE

• US 20150343993A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: FERRIERES, Lionel, LEVALLOIS, Eugenie, DUBOIS, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,566,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A method of making a vehicle available, including sending a message to unlock at least one vehicle door from a remote vehicle management server, following a user request, the user request having been subject to identification of the user and authorization of use by the user for the vehicle. The method further includes sending a message, independent of the above-mentioned unlocking message, authorizing starting of the vehicle by a control system of the vehicle from the remote vehicle management server.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method for making a vehicle available, comprising:

sending a message allowing unlocking of at least one door of the vehicle from a remote vehicle management server, in response to a user request, the user request having formed a subject of an identification of the user and an authorization of use by the user of the vehicle; and

sending a message, independent of the message allowing the unlocking, authorizing starting of the vehicle by a control system of the vehicle from the remote vehicle management server.

13. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, wherein the identification and authorization of use are carried out by a remote user server which is separate from the remote vehicle management server,

the message allowing the unlocking of at least one door being sent by the remote vehicle management server to the vehicle upon reception of an unlock message sent by the remote user server after processing the user request by the remote user server,

the message authorizing the starting of the vehicle being sent by the remote vehicle management server to the vehicle upon reception of an unprotect message sent by the remote user server,

the unlock and unprotect messages sent by the remote user server to the remote vehicle management server lacking an identifier of the user.

14. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 13, wherein the remote vehicle management server sends the message authorizing the starting of the vehicle only when the remote user server has received from the user a value of a variable parameter relating to the vehicle, and the value corresponds to a value previously recorded by the remote vehicle management server or by the remote user server.

15. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control system of the vehicle authorizes the starting of the vehicle only after a key or a fob of the vehicle is identified, and after the vehicle receives the messages allowing the unlocking of at least one door and authorizing the starting of the vehicle.

16. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, wherein the remote vehicle management server sends the message authorizing the starting of the vehicle only after a manual opening of a door of the vehicle is detected.

17. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 13, wherein the remote user server does not authorize a release of the vehicle by the user until the remote user server:

detects availability of a communication network allowing the vehicle to communicate with the remote vehicle management server,

and/or receives an inventory validation message from the user.

18. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a booking of the vehicle by the user, during which the user supplies to the remote user server a value for delaying by a predetermined duration the sending of the message allowing the unlocking of at least one door of the vehicle.

19. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sending a message allowing the unlocking of at least one door of the vehicle takes place only after determining a distance between the user and the vehicle, and if the distance determined during the determination is less than a predetermined threshold.

20. The method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, wherein upon reception by the vehicle of the message allowing the unlocking of at least one door of the vehicle, the vehicle inhibits a visual and/or audible door-opening indicating function.

21. A system for making a vehicle available comprising:

means for implementing the method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, the means including;

a remote user server configured to identify a user and to authorize use of the vehicle by the user upon reception of a user request, and configured to communicate with a remote vehicle management server,

the remote vehicle management server configured to send to the vehicle a message allowing unlocking of at least one door of the vehicle in response to reception of an unlock message sent by the remote user server,

the remote vehicle management server configured to send to the vehicle a message independent of the message allowing the unlocking, authorizing starting of the vehicle by a control system of the vehicle, upon reception of an unprotect message sent by the remote user server.

22. A non-transitory computer readable mechanism including a computer program including instructions for implementing the method for making a vehicle available as claimed in claim 12, when executed on one or more processors.