SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A VEHICLE

• US 20170228952A1
• Filed: 04/25/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: Infinitekey, Inc. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Eric, Ellis, J. Michael, Day, Aaron, Dykema, Kurt, Guthrie, Warren E., Bouws, Brent, Klamer, David L., Pilcher, Kent D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,410,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A system and method for using a portable device to communicate with a vehicle to authorize one or more vehicle operations. The portable device may authorize the vehicle to unlock/lock doors, start the vehicle engine, or mobilize the vehicle, or a combination thereof. The vehicle may include a vehicle transmitter system with one or more transmitters disposed at various locations on the vehicle, and the portable device may be configured to monitor a communication strength between the portable device and the one or more transmitters of the transmitter system. Based on the monitored signal strength, the portable device may determine location information about itself.

Claims

1. A system that authorizes a vehicle operation of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle system capable of controlling the vehicle operation, said system comprising:

a master transmitter configured to communicate to the vehicle system authorization to initiate the vehicle operation, wherein said master transmitter includes a vehicle interface capable of communicating said authorization to the vehicle system via a vehicle bus;

a plurality of remote beacon transmitters disposed on the vehicle, each of said plurality of remote beacon transmitters capable of wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal;

a portable device configured to wirelessly communicate an authorization code to said master transmitter to authorize the vehicle operation, said portable device including a transceiver capable of receiving said beacon signals from said plurality of remote beacon transmitters;

wherein said portable device is configured to determine, based on said beacon signals, location information regarding a location of said portable device relative to the vehicle; and

wherein said portable device communicates said authorization code to said master transmitter, based on said location information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable device is configured to determine said location information based on a relative strength between each beacon signal received from said plurality of remote beacon transmitters.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein, in response to said portable device determining said portable device is in proximity to and exterior to the vehicle, said portable device communicates said authorization code to said master transmitter, wherein said authorization code authorizes said master transmitter to authorize the vehicle system to unlock a vehicle door.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein, in response to said portable device determining said portable device is within the vehicle and in proximity to a driver seat of the vehicle, said portable device communicates said authorization code to said master transmitter, wherein said authorization code authorizes said master transmitter to authorize the vehicle system to at least one of start and mobilize the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an authentication server remote from the vehicle and said portable device, said authentication server capable of communicating wirelessly with the vehicle and said portable device, wherein both said master transmitter and said portable device receive information from said authentication server including at least of one or more one shared keys, one or more server provided authorization codes, and protocol information;

wherein said authorization code transmitted by said portable device is based on said information; and

wherein said master transmitter uses said information as a basis for determining whether said authorization code is valid.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable device and said master transmitter communicate using an asymmetric key pair, wherein said portable device is configured to communicate with said master transmitter using a public key, and wherein said master transmitter is configured to validate communication from said portable device based on a secret key accessible to said master transmitter, wherein said public key and said secret key form said asymmetric key pair.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said master transmitter is configured to calibrate said beacon signal transmitted from said one or more remote beacon transmitters, wherein said master transmitter is configured to calibrate said one or more remote beacon transmitters by directing said one or more remote beacon transmitters to adjust a power level of said beacon signal based on a monitored strength of said beacon signal transmitted from each of said one or more remote beacon transmitters.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable device is configured to determine said location information based on one or more of said beacon signals being at least one of above and below a threshold.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said portable device determines said threshold in a calibration mode, wherein said threshold is affected by one or more physical characteristics of the vehicle.

10. A method of authorizing a vehicle operation of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle system capable of controlling the vehicle operation, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of beacon signals in a portable device, the portable device being separate from the vehicle, the plurality of beacon signals being transmitted from the vehicle;

determining, based on reception of the beacon signals, location information related to the portable device relative to the vehicle;

based on the location information, communicating an authorization code to the vehicle authorizing the vehicle to perform the vehicle operation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said determining includes determining location information based on a strength of one or more of the beacon signals.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising communicating to the vehicle at least one of the location information to the vehicle and an instruction to perform the vehicle operation.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the location information is indicative of at least one of whether the portable device is proximate and exterior to the vehicle and whether the portable device is in the interior of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein, in response to receiving the authorization code, the vehicle is authorized for mobilization and starting.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of beacon signals have a transmission rate, and wherein based on receiving the authorization code, a transmission rate of the plurality of beacon signals is reduced to conserve power.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of beacon signals is discontinued based on receiving a valid authorization code.

17. A portable device for communicating with a vehicle, the vehicle including one or more transmitters configured to transmit at least one beacon signal, the vehicle including a vehicle system capable of controlling the vehicle operation, the portable device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the at least one beacon signal transmitted from the one or more transmitters of the vehicle;

a controller configured to determine, based on the at least one beacon signal received by said receiver, location information regarding a location of said portable device relative to the vehicle, said controller configured to communicate an authorization code to the vehicle based on said location information.

18. The portable device of claim 17 wherein said receiver receives a plurality of beacon signals transmitted by the vehicle, wherein said controller is configured to determine said location information based on a relative strength between each of the plurality of beacon signals.

19. The portable device of claim 17 wherein, in response to said controller determining said portable device is in proximity to and exterior to the vehicle, said portable device communicates said authorization code to the vehicle, wherein said authorization code authorizes the vehicle system to unlock a vehicle door.

20. The portable device of claim 17 wherein, in response to said controller determining said portable device is within the vehicle and in proximity to a driver seat of the vehicle, said portable device communicates said authorization code to the vehicle, wherein said authorization code authorizes the vehicle system to at least one of start and mobilize the vehicle.