APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC IDENTIFICATION FOR VEHICLE ACCESS

• US 20170352210A1
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: MAIWAND, HEIKO, ROEHDER, MARTIN, WHITE, PAYTON, CAMHI, JAIME
• Granted Patent: US 9,865,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

A system for providing dynamic access to a vehicle via a plurality of devices. A device and/or a server of an authentication network stored fob data relating to one or more key fobs linked to the vehicle, and device data that includes data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle. The vehicle receives an access request indicating that a new device is requesting access to the vehicle, whereupon a challenge may be transmitted to one or more of the authorized devices. The one or more devices may respond, granting access to vehicle functions. The vehicle and/or authentication network generate a secure fob key based on the response and transmit the secure fob key to the new device. The new device may be authenticated to access vehicle functions based at least in part on the fob key.

Claims

1. A system for authorizing access to vehicle functions for a vehicle, comprising:

a processor;

data storage, operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage configured to store fob data relating to a key fob linked to the vehicle, and device data comprising data relating to one or more devices linked to the key fob that are authorized to access the vehicle; and

communications circuitry, operatively coupled to the processor, the communications circuitry configured to receive an access request from the vehicle indicating that a new unauthorized, device is requesting access to the vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to transmit a challenge via the communications circuitry to one of the one or more devices that are linked to the key fob and authorized to access the vehicle and receive a response thereto,

wherein the processor is configured to generate a secure fob key based on the response and transmit the secure fob key to the new device,

and wherein the processor is configured to authenticate the new device based at least in part on the fob key, wherein the new device is authorized to access the vehicle upon completion of the authentication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fob key comprises a public/private key for authenticating the new device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fob key comprises device information relating to the new device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the challenge comprises a message that the new device is requesting access to the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to process the response to determine access permission and/or parameters for the new device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to apply the access permission and/or parameters for the new device when generating the secure fob key.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the device data comprising data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle are stored in the data storage in a trusted environment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the device data comprises identification data.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fob key comprises a public/private key for authenticating the new device and further comprises device information relating to the new device.

19. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to apply the access permission and/or parameters for the new device based on the secure fob key and allow and/or restrict access to vehicle functions based on the access permissions and/or parameters.

20. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the device data comprising data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle are stored in the data storage in a trusted environment.

9. A method for authorizing access to a vehicle, comprising:

storing fob data in a data storage operatively coupled to a processor, wherein the fob data relates to a key fob linked to the vehicle;

storing device data in the data storage, the device data comprising data relating to one or more devices linked to the key fob that are authorized to access the vehicle;

receiving, via communications circuitry operatively coupled to the processor, an access request from the vehicle indicating that a new, unauthorized, device is requesting access to the vehicle;

transmitting a challenge via the communications circuitry to one of the one or more devices that are linked to the key fob and authorized to access the vehicle;

receiving a response via the communications circuitry;

generating, via the processor, a secure fob key based on the response and transmitting the secure fob key to the new device; and

authenticating the new device based at least in part on the fob key, wherein the new device is authorized to access the vehicle upon completion of the authentication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the fob key comprises generating a public/private key for authenticating the new device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the fob key comprises utilizing device information relating to the new device.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein transmitting the challenge comprises transmitting a message that the new device is requesting access to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising processing the response, via the processor, to determine access permission and/or parameters for the new device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising applying, via the processor, the access permission and/or parameters for the new device when generating the secure fob key.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein storing the device data comprises storing the device data in the data storage in a trusted environment.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the device data comprises identification data.

17. A vehicle for authorizing access for vehicle functions for a new unauthorized, device, comprising:

a processor;

data storage, operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage configured to store fob data relating to a key fob linked to the vehicle, and device data comprising data relating to one or more devices linked to the key fob that are authorized to access the vehicle; and

communications circuitry, operatively coupled to the processor, the communications circuitry comprising antennas for detecting the presence of a user and configured to receive an access request from the new, unauthorized, device requesting access to the vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to message the one or more devices that are linked to the key fob and authorized to access the vehicle, via an authorization network, that the access request from the new device has been made,

wherein the communications circuitry is configured to receive a secure fob key for the new device based on a response to the message,

and wherein the processor is configured to authenticate the new device based at least in part on the secure fob key, wherein the new device is authorized to access vehicle function upon completion of the authentication.