Vehicle control system including token verification and code reset features
First Claim
1. A vehicle function control system comprising:
- at least one uniquely coded token for being carried by a user and comprising at least one first electrical conductor;
a token reader at the vehicle comprising at least one second electrical conductor for connecting to the at least one first electrical conductor of said at least one uniquely coded token and for reading the unique code therefrom; and
a controller at the vehicle for controlling at least one vehicle function responsive to said token reader, said controller comprising token learning means for learning the unique code of said at least one uniquely coded token to define at least one learned uniquely coded token for controlling the at least one vehicle function, and token verifying means for generating an indication relating to whether a new uniquely coded token has been learned by said token learning means to thereby alert the user of a potentially unauthorized learned uniquely coded token.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a vehicle includes a controller for learning a unique code of a token to define a learned token capable of causing performance of a function associated with the vehicle, for example. The controller performs remote token verification to generate an indication relating to whether a new uniquely coded token has been learned by the controller. The control system is advantageously used for a vehicle security system also enabling starting of the vehicle. The token may be a passive transponder. Token verification may also be incorporated in a remote keyless entry system, and a remote engine starting system, for example. In one embodiment, the token verification is based upon the controller being recently entered into the token learning mode. According to another embodiment, the token verification is based upon a number of learned tokens, a change in that number, or a change in a learned code of a token. The indication may be provided at the vehicle or remote therefrom by any of a light, a visual display, a vibration transducer, a speech message generator, and an audible signal generator, for example. A previous set of authorized token codes may be readily reset or restored to operate the system if unauthorized codes have been more recently added.
-
Citations
90 Claims
-
1. A vehicle function control system comprising:
-
at least one uniquely coded token for being carried by a user and comprising at least one first electrical conductor;
a token reader at the vehicle comprising at least one second electrical conductor for connecting to the at least one first electrical conductor of said at least one uniquely coded token and for reading the unique code therefrom; and
a controller at the vehicle for controlling at least one vehicle function responsive to said token reader, said controller comprising token learning means for learning the unique code of said at least one uniquely coded token to define at least one learned uniquely coded token for controlling the at least one vehicle function, and token verifying means for generating an indication relating to whether a new uniquely coded token has been learned by said token learning means to thereby alert the user of a potentially unauthorized learned uniquely coded token. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A vehicle function control system responsive to at least one uniquely coded token for being carried by a user, the vehicle function control system comprising:
-
a token reader at the vehicle; and
a controller at the vehicle for controlling at least one vehicle function responsive to said token reader, said controller comprising token learning means for learning the unique code of the at least one token to define at least one learned token for controlling the at least one vehicle function, and token verifying means for generating an indication relating to whether a new token has been learned by said token learning means to thereby alert the user of a potentially unauthorized learned token. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A vehicle function control system responsive to at least one uniquely coded token for being carried by a user, the vehicle function control system comprising:
-
a token reader at the vehicle; and
a controller at the vehicle for controlling at least one vehicle function responsive to said token reader, said controller comprising token learning means for learning the unique code of the at least one token to define at least one learned token for controlling the at least one vehicle function, token verifying means for generating an indication relating to whether a new token has been learned by said token learning means to thereby alert the user of a potentially unauthorized learned token, and token code reset means for permitting the user to restore at least one previously learned code and remove at least one more recently learned code. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
-
-
71. A method for controlling at least one vehicle function using at least one uniquely coded token for being carried by a user, the method comprising:
-
reading the token at the vehicle;
providing a controller at the vehicle for controlling at least one vehicle function responsive to reading the token;
learning the unique code of the at least one token into the controller to define a learned token for controlling the at least one vehicle function; and
generating an indication relating to whether a new token has been learned into the controller to thereby alert the user of a potentially unauthorized learned token. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
-
Specification