METHOD FOR UNLOCKING A VEHICLE DOOR FOR AN AUTHORIZED USER
First Claim
1. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:
- providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door;
providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door;
providing a control at the equipped vehicle;
providing a near field communication device at the equipped vehicle;
wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the equipped vehicle;
responsive to the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle is an authorized device;
authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle; and
responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle includes providing a control at the vehicle, providing a near field communication device at the vehicle, and wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the vehicle, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the vehicle. Responsive to the near field communication device of the vehicle communicating with the smartphone, it is determined whether or not the smartphone is an authorized device. The smartphone is authenticated as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the smartphone being authenticated as an authorized device, the locking mechanism is actuated, at least in part via the control, to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device.
20 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door; providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door; providing a control at the equipped vehicle; providing a near field communication device at the equipped vehicle; wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the equipped vehicle; responsive to the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle is an authorized device; authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle; and responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door; providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door; providing a control at the equipped vehicle; wherein the control is at least partially located at the door handle assembly of the equipped vehicle; providing a near field communication device at the door handle assembly; providing an antenna at the door handle assembly, wherein the antenna is associated with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly; wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the door handle assembly, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the equipped vehicle; responsive to the near field communication device of the door handle assembly communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly is an authorized device; authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly; responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device; and controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle via a vehicle communication bus of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door; providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door; providing a control at the equipped vehicle; providing an illumination source having at least one light emitting diode as an integrated part of the door handle assembly; providing a near field communication device at the door handle assembly; providing an antenna at the door handle assembly, wherein the antenna is associated with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly; wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the door handle assembly, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the equipped vehicle; responsive to the near field communication device of the door handle assembly communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly is an authorized device; authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly; responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device; and controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification