KEYLESS VEHICLE SYSTEM THAT ENABLES SERVICING

• US 20170349146A1
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venkatesh
• Application Number:
  US15/174,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20170349146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/307 using data concerning maintenance or configuration

Abstract

A method and system for servicing keyless vehicles is provided. The keyless vehicles include security systems that permit operation of the keyless vehicles if the security system receives a unique security signal from a smartphone. The method includes receiving a service request and unique first security data information from a customer concerning a location of a first keyless vehicle that requires service. An authorized person is transported to the first keyless vehicle in a second keyless vehicle. A customer'"'"'s smartphone is provided with unique second security data whereby a customer can enter and operate the second keyless vehicle utilizing the customer'"'"'s smartphone. The authorized person drives the first keyless vehicle to a service facility utilizing a second smartphone that is configured to generate a security signal to permit operation of the first keyless vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of transporting and servicing keyless vehicles, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of keyless vehicles, each keyless vehicle having a security system that is operably connected to a wireless communication system capable of communicating with a remote smartphone, wherein the security system is configured to permit entry and operation of the keyless vehicle upon receiving a security signal from a smartphone that is unique to each keyless vehicle;

providing a security program for smartphones that permits smartphones to be configured to receive unique security data for one or more specific keyless vehicles, and generate unique security signals that are received by the keyless vehicles, whereby a smartphone can be used to enter and operate specific keyless vehicles if the smartphone has acquired unique security data for the specific keyless vehicle;

receiving a service request for a first keyless vehicle that is associated with a first smartphone that is configured to generate a first security signal for entry and operation of the first keyless vehicle;

receiving unique first security data for the first keyless vehicle;

receiving information concerning a pick up location for the first keyless vehicle;

transporting an authorized person to the pick up location for the first keyless vehicle in a second keyless vehicle;

providing the first smartphone with unique second security data concerning the second keyless vehicle whereby the first smartphone is capable of generating a unique second security signal whereby the first smartphone can be utilized to enter and operate the second keyless vehicle;

wherein the authorized person enters and operates the first keyless vehicle utilizing a second smartphone that is configured to utilize the unique first security data to generate a unique first security signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the authorized person drives the first keyless vehicle to a vehicle servicing facility.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the authorized person wirelessly transmits the unique second security data to the first smartphone from the second smartphone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the unique second security data is transmitted to the first smartphone after the authorized person reaches the location of the first vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the first smartphone is utilized to transmit at least one of the service request and the unique first security data.

6. The method of claim 4, including:

transporting the first keyless vehicle to a customer-specified location after the vehicle has been serviced utilizing a smartphone that is configured to generate a first security signal utilizing the unique first security data;

transporting the second keyless vehicle to the servicing facility utilizing a smartphone that is configured to generate a second security signal utilizing the unique second security data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the unique first security data is transmitted to a computer system at a vehicle servicing facility from a computer or a smartphone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the unique second security data is transmitted to the first smartphone from a computer system at a vehicle servicing facility.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first keyless vehicle includes at least one mechanical key cylinder that is configured to receive a key to permit entry into the vehicle and/or operation of the vehicle if the security system of the first keyless vehicle is disabled.

10. A method of transporting and servicing keyless vehicles that are configured to communicate with wireless communication devices that permit operation of the keyless vehicles without mechanical keys, the method comprising:

receiving a service request for a first keyless vehicle that is associated with a first wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device is configured to generate a first security signal for operation of the first keyless vehicle utilizing unique first security data;

receiving unique first security data for the first keyless vehicle;

receiving information concerning a pick up location for the first keyless vehicle;

transporting an authorized person to the pick up location for the first keyless vehicle in a second keyless vehicle;

providing the first wireless communication device with unique second security data concerning the second keyless vehicle whereby the first wireless communication device is capable of generating a unique second security signal whereby the first wireless communication device can be utilized to operate the second keyless vehicle;

wherein the authorized person operates the first keyless vehicle utilizing a second wireless communication device that is configured to utilize the unique first security data to generate a unique first security signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first keyless vehicle includes a user input device that can be used to enter a security code that permits entry into the vehicle; and

including;

providing the authorized person with an access code, wherein the authorized person enters the access code utilizing the user input device to thereby gain access to the vehicle interior.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the user input device comprises a touchpad.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the authorized person drives the first keyless vehicle to a vehicle servicing facility.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the authorized person wirelessly transmits the unique second security data to the first smartphone from the second smartphone.

15. A method of servicing keyless vehicles that can be operated upon receiving unique wireless security codes, comprising:

receiving a first security code and location of a customer'"'"'s remote vehicle;

using a smartphone to generate a wireless second security code to drive a second vehicle to the customer'"'"'s vehicle, and to generate a wireless first security code and drive the customer'"'"'s vehicle to a garage;

transmitting a second security code to a customer'"'"'s smartphone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the customer'"'"'s vehicle includes a touchpad;

entering a security code using the touchpad;

causing a door of the vehicle to unlock and/or unlatch if an authorized security code is entered using the touchpad.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the customer'"'"'s vehicle is configured to unlock and/or unlatch one or more vehicle doors if the vehicle receives a wireless security signal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

a customer provides the first security code and vehicle location to a garage using the customer'"'"'s smartphone.

19. The method of claim 15, including:

driving the customer'"'"'s vehicle from the garage to a drop off location using a smartphone that is configured to generate a wireless first security code; and

driving the second vehicle from the drop off location to the garage using a smartphone that is configured to generate a wireless second security code.