METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A KEY FOB BASE STATION ENABLING REMOTE CAR ACCESS USING A NOMADIC DEVICE

• US 20160049033A1
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Livio, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Myine Electronics, Inc. (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: SIGAL, Jacob R., GROVER, Joey Ray, BURKE, Michael, SMEREKA, Scott, FISCHER, Joel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,754,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• 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 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

A vehicle key base station is configured to comprise at least one controller in communication with a key fob and a nomadic device using one or more transceivers. The at least one controller may be configured to receive a security code request from the nomadic device. The at least one controller may be further configured to verify the nomadic device is approved to communicate with vehicle key fob based on a pre-registration configuration. If the nomadic device is approved, the at least one controller may be further configured to transmit the request to the key fob and receive the vehicle security code from the key fob. The at least one controller may be further configured to transmit the vehicle security code to the nomadic device.

Claims

1. A vehicle key base station comprising:

at least one controller communicating with a key fob and a nomadic device via one or more transceivers, the at least one controller configured to;

receive a security code request from the nomadic device;

verify that the nomadic device is approved to communicate with vehicle key;

if the nomadic device is approved, transmit a request to the key fob for a vehicle security code;

receive the vehicle security code from the key fob; and

transmit the vehicle security code to the nomadic device.

2. The vehicle base station of claim 1, wherein the vehicle security code is an encrypted message having at least one of a manufacturer code, a corresponding key fob serial number, and encrypted data.

3. The vehicle base station of claim 2, wherein the nomadic device transmits the vehicle security code to a vehicle computing system to enable at least one of an unlock request, an ignition start request, a trunk open request, an enable alarm request, a disable alarm request, and a lock request.

4. The vehicle base station of claim 3, wherein the nomadic device transmits the ignition start request to the vehicle computing system to start a vehicle powertrain system via the vehicle security codes.

5. The vehicle base station of claim 1, wherein the nomadic device is approved to communicate with the vehicle key based on a pre-registration configuration.

6. The vehicle base station of claim 5, wherein the pre-registration configuration is a list of an authorized user based on at least one of a mobile telephone number, a password, and an electronic mail address.

7. The vehicle base station of claim 1, wherein the one or more transceivers enable the at least one controller to establish wireless communication with the nomadic device via a wireless network and to communicate with the key fob via short-range wireless communication.

8. A vehicle computing system comprising:

a key fob base station; and

at least one processor in communication with the key fob base station and a transceiver, the processor configured to;

receive a security code request from a nomadic device via the transceiver;

verify that the nomadic device is approved to communicate with a key fob at the key fob base station;

if the nomadic device is approved, transmit the security codes to the nomadic device;

receive a key fob functions from the nomadic device mimicking the key fob;

authenticate the security codes to enable communication with the nomadic device; and

if authentication is approved, enable the key fob function.

9. The vehicle computing system of claim 8, wherein the one or more security codes comprise at least one of a manufacturer code, a corresponding key fob serial number, and encrypted data.

10. The vehicle computing system of claim 9, wherein the one or more security codes enable at least one of a unlock request, an ignition start request, a trunk open request, enable alarm request, and a lock request.

11. The vehicle computing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a remedial action command from the key fob base station via the nomadic device.

12. The vehicle computing system of claim 11, wherein the remedial action command is at least one of a powertrain shutdown, reduce powertrain speed, and a warning message.

13. The vehicle computing system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to output the warning message at an infotainment display to notify a driver of unauthorized possession of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle computing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a location data to the key fob base station via the nomadic device.

15. A computer-implemented product including instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

establish communication with a key fob base station;

transmit a request for security data from a key fob via the key fob base station;

receive the security data; and

in response to input via user interface, transmit a key fob function to a vehicle computing system based on the key fob security data.

16. The computer-implemented product of claim 15, wherein the security data is an encrypted message having at least one of a manufacturer code, a corresponding key fob serial number, and encrypted data.

17. The computer-implemented product of claim 16, wherein the security data enables the vehicle computing system to perform at least one of an unlock request, an ignition start request, a trunk open request, and a lock request.

18. The computer-implemented product of claim 15, further includes additional instructions to cause the processor to determine if a user is approved to receive the security data based on a pre-registration configuration at the key fob base station.

19. The computer-implemented product of claim 18, the pre-registration configuration is a list of an authorized user based on at least one of a mobile telephone number, a password, and an electronic mail address.

20. The computer-implemented product of claim 15, further includes additional instructions to cause the processor to receive a remedial action command from the key fob base station, wherein the remedial action is at least one of a powertrain shutdown, reduce powertrain speed and a warning message.