OPERATING A KEY FOB IN A CAR SHARING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of operating a key fob for use in a car sharing system, comprising the steps of:
- authenticating the key fob for use with a specific vehicle, the key fob being associated with a set of vehicle commands that may be sent wirelessly from the key fob to the vehicle, wherein the key fob can be activated and deactivated wirelessly to selectively enable and disable sending of the vehicle commands;
receiving a key fob activation command;
obtaining an authorization to control, using the vehicle commands, at least some vehicle functions on the vehicle;
in response to obtaining the authorization, enabling transmissions of any one or more of the vehicle commands from the key fob;
receiving a user input requesting that one of the vehicle commands be sent to the vehicle;
sending the requested one of the vehicle commands to the vehicle; and
subsequently removing the authorization such that the key fob is disabled from further controlling the vehicle functions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of operating a key fob for use in a car sharing vehicle access system, including the steps of: authenticating the key fob for use with a specific vehicle; receiving a key fob activation command; obtaining an authorization to control, using the vehicle commands, at least some vehicle functions on the vehicle; in response to obtaining the authorization, enabling transmissions of any one or more of the vehicle commands from the key fob; receiving a user input requesting that one of the vehicle commands be sent to the vehicle; sending the requested one of the vehicle commands to the vehicle; and subsequently removing the authorization such that the key fob is disabled from further controlling the vehicle functions.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a key fob for use in a car sharing system, comprising the steps of:
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authenticating the key fob for use with a specific vehicle, the key fob being associated with a set of vehicle commands that may be sent wirelessly from the key fob to the vehicle, wherein the key fob can be activated and deactivated wirelessly to selectively enable and disable sending of the vehicle commands; receiving a key fob activation command; obtaining an authorization to control, using the vehicle commands, at least some vehicle functions on the vehicle; in response to obtaining the authorization, enabling transmissions of any one or more of the vehicle commands from the key fob; receiving a user input requesting that one of the vehicle commands be sent to the vehicle; sending the requested one of the vehicle commands to the vehicle; and subsequently removing the authorization such that the key fob is disabled from further controlling the vehicle functions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling a key fob for use in a car sharing system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining vehicle access credentials at a user'"'"'s handheld wireless device (HWD), wherein the vehicle access credentials include a digital vehicle key that allows the user to access and/or operate the vehicle through sending of vehicle commands to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle commands instruct the vehicle to carry out one or more vehicle functions; activating a key fob for use with the vehicle using the HWD; and controlling one or more vehicle functions via manual input to the key fob. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A key fob comprising a housing, one or more manual input sensors, a short range wireless communications (SRWC) circuit, an electronic processor connected to receive input from the sensor(s) and to send and receive messages via the SRWC circuit, computer-readable memory, a program stored in the memory and operable upon execution by the processor to cause the processor to process inputs received via the sensor(s) and messages received via the SRWC circuit and to send via the SRWC circuit vehicle commands based on the received inputs and/or messages;
wherein the processor is operable under control of the program to send the vehicle commands only when enabled via one or more messages received via the SRWC circuit.
Specification