SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PHONE-AS-A-KEY RANGE EXTENSION

• US 20170309098A1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Watters, Brock, Thornburg, Doug B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,875,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for phone-as-a-key range extension are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes an integrated antenna array with a plurality of antenna located on a roof of the vehicle. The plurality of antenna includes a personal area network antenna. The example vehicle also includes a personal area network module communicatively connected to the personal area network antenna. Additionally, the vehicle includes a key phone unit communicatively connected to the personal area network module. The example key phone unit performs key fob functions as requested by an authorized mobile device.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an integrated antenna array including a BLUETOOTH antenna communicatively connected to a first BLUETOOTH module;

second BLUETOOTH modules initially in a sleep mode; and

a phone-as-a-key unit communicatively connected to the first and second BLUETOOTH modules via a dedicated data bus and configured to;

in response to detecting an authorized mobile device executing a phone-as-a-key application, wake the second BLUETOOTH modules; and

perform functions requested by the mobile device.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second BLUETOOTH modules are located around the vehicle and configured to detect the location of the authorized mobile device relative to the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein to wake the plurality of second BLUETOOTH modules, the phone-as-a-key unit is configured to instruct the second BLUETOOTH modules to enter a standard power mode from the sleep mode.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the phone-as-a-key unit is configured to determine when the mobile device is approaching the vehicle based on a received signal strength indicator received from the mobile device.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second BLUETOOTH modules are configured to determine the location of the authorized mobile device relative to the vehicle, and wherein, in response to the authorized mobile device being proximate a door of the vehicle, the phone-as-a-key unit is configured to unlock the door.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second BLUETOOTH modules are configured to determine the location of the authorized mobile device relative to the vehicle, and wherein, in response to the authorized mobile device being proximate a door of the vehicle, the phone-as-a-key unit is configured to instruct BLUETOOTH modules in the interior of the vehicle to enter the standard power mode from the sleep mode.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein, in response to the third BLUETOOTH modules determining that the mobile device is inside the vehicle, the phone-as-a-key unit is configured to enable a push-button ignition system.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first BLUETOOTH module is configured to communicatively couple with a smart watch, and wherein the mobile device is the smart watch.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the phone-as-a-key unit is to, in response to detecting the mobile device executing the phone-as-a-key application:

start a timer; and

in response to the timer expiring and no longer detecting the mobile device executing the phone-as-a-key application, cause the second BLUETOOTH modules to enter the sleep mode.

5. (canceled)

9. A method comprising:

detecting, with a phone-as-a-key unit communicatively coupled to first and second BLUETOOTH modules via a dedicated data bus, a location of a mobile device executing a phone-as-a-key application via;

an integrated antenna array on a roof of the vehicle that include a plurality of antenna for different communication protocols, the plurality of antenna including a BLUETOOTH antenna, the first BLUETOOTH module communicatively connected to the BLUETOOTH antenna, and

the second BLUETOOTH modules that are initially in a sleep mode; and

in response to the mobile device being authorized to communicate with the vehicle;

waking the second BLUETOOTH modules, and

performing key fob functions requested by the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein waking the second BLUETOOTH modules includes instructing the second BLUETOOTH modules to enter a standard power mode from the sleep mode.

11. The method of claim 9, including determining when the mobile device is approaching the vehicle based on a received signal strength indicator received from the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 9, including:

determining, via the second BLUETOOTH modules, the location of the mobile device relative to the vehicle; and

in response to the mobile device being proximate a door of the vehicle, unlocking the door.

14. The method of claim 9, including:

determining, via the second BLUETOOTH modules, the location of the mobile device relative to the vehicle; and

in response to the mobile device being proximate a door of the vehicle, instructing a third BLUETOOTH modules in the interior of the vehicle to enter the standard power mode from the sleep mode.

15. The method of claim 14, including, in response to the plurality of third BLUETOOTH modules determining that the mobile device is inside the vehicle, enabling a push-button ignition system.

12. (canceled)

16. A tangible computer readable medium comprising instruction that, when executed, cause a vehicle to:

detect with a phone-as-a-key unit communicatively coupled to first and second BLUETOOTH modules via a dedicated data bus, a location of a mobile device executing a phone-as-a-key application via;

an integrated antenna array on a roof of the vehicle that include a plurality of antenna for different communication protocols, the plurality of antenna including a BLUETOOTH antenna, the first BLUETOOTH module communicatively connected to the BLUETOOTH antenna, and

the second BLUETOOTH modules that are initially in a sleep mode; and

in response to the mobile device being authorized to communicate with the vehicle;

wake the second BLUETOOTH modules, and

perform key fob functions requested by the mobile device.