System and method for key free access to a vehicle

• US 8,126,450 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarter, Jamie C., Bradford, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US12/237,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/420, 455/414.1, 340/5.61, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/10.2, 340/5.72
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for unlocking a vehicle with a cell phone. Wireless signals are monitored from a cell phone. A signal is received from the cell phone. A distance between the cell phone and the vehicle is determined. Doors of the vehicle are unlocked in response to the cell phone nearing the vehicle. The doors of the vehicle are locked in response to the cell phone being further separated from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a vehicle with a cell phone, the method comprising:

monitoring wireless signals from a cell phone;

receiving a signal from one or more cell phones, the signal indicating a distance between the one or more cell phones and the vehicle;

determining whether the one or more cell phones are authorized to access systems of the vehicle;

monitoring the distance between the one or more cell phones and the vehicle;

determining a priority for implementing user preferences in response to receiving signals from a plurality of cell phones authorized to access the systems of the vehicle;

performing one or more vehicle actions specified by the user preferences and associated with distance thresholds according to the priority, the one or more vehicle actions including at least unlocking doors of the vehicle in response to (1) the one or more cell phones nearing the vehicle, (2) the one or more cell phones being within a threshold distance, and (3) the one or more cell phones being authorized to access the systems of the vehicle; and

securing the vehicle in response to determining there is no user interaction with the vehicle within a time period or the one or more cell phones becoming further separated from the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection from at least one of the one or more cell phones that confirms that the unlocking is authorized.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user selection is capable of being tactile feedback to the cell phone, a keyed entry on the cell phone, a voice identifier received by the cell phone, and a biometric read from the user by the cell phone as established by the user preferences.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle scans for the signal at designated intervals.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle transmits a status of the vehicle to one or more cell phones registered to receive alerts from the vehicle according to the user preferences and in response to vehicle conditions.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

authorizing the one or more cell phones to access the systems of the vehicle; and

establishing the user preferences including the distance thresholds associated with each of the user preferences, the user preferences including at least vehicle configuration, locking and unlocking preferences, media preferences, and environmental preferences.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing the priority for user preferences for circumstances during which the signals are received from the plurality of cell phones authorized to access the systems of the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle actions are performed in response to determining the cell phone is a specified distance from the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving further comprises:

automatically performing the one or more vehicle actions in response to determining the one or more cell phones are authorized to access systems of the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance is capable of being determined utilizing global position system information from the one or more cell phones if the one or more cell phones are configured with a GPS, wireless triangulation if a wireless network is available, and an increasing or decreasing signal strength of a direct signal between the cell phone and the vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle performs a number of safety actions in response to safety parameters being violated, vehicle conditions, and locations of the one or more cell phones.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving is performed repetitively to determine whether the one or more cell phones are nearing the vehicle or being further separated from the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking further comprises opening one or more doors of the vehicle.

14. A vehicle system for controlling functions of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more cell phones, wherein the transceiver is configured to determine a distance between the one or more cell phones and the vehicle system utilizing GPS information and a direct signal between the transceiver and the one or more cell phones, and wherein the transceiver is configured to receive an identifier from the cell phone that authenticates the one or more cell phones are authorized to access the vehicle system; and

control logic in communication with the transceiver configured to determine a priority for implementing user preferences in response to receiving signals from a plurality of cell phones authorized to access the systems of the vehicle, and perform one or more vehicles actions specified by user preferences associated with the one or more cell phones including at least unlock the doors in response to determining the distance is within a threshold, wherein the identifier is authorized to activate the control logic.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the control logic controls a plurality of vehicle systems including a light system, an engine start system, and an alarm system, and wherein the identifier is a command to control one or more of the plurality of vehicle systems received from the one or more cell phones.

16. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a scanner operable to read the identifier;

a user interface configured to receive the threshold, and one or more commands including the command, and register the one or more cell phones as authorized to control the vehicle system.

17. A vehicle system comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to;

receive a signal from one or more cell phones authorized to control the vehicle system,

determine a distance between the one or more cell phones and a vehicle;

determining a priority for implementing user preferences in response to receiving signals from a plurality of cell phones authorized to access the vehicle system;

monitoring the distance between the one or more cell phones and the vehicle; and

send one or more commands controlling the vehicle system in response to monitoring a plurality of distance measurements indicating one or more users are approaching the vehicle and are within a distance threshold of the vehicle associated with each the one or more commands and further in response to the user preferences.

18. The vehicle system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions are further configured to:

verify an identifier of the one or more cell phones to determine the one or more cell phones are authorized to control the vehicle system; and

transmit a status of the vehicle to cell phones registered to receive alerts for the vehicle.

19. The vehicle system according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle system controls locks, lights, engine start, and alarm of the vehicle, and wherein the one or more commands implements one or more action in the vehicle system based on user preferences.

20. The vehicle system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions relocks the door in response to detecting no user interaction with the vehicle within a time period or in response to all of the one or more cell phones being separated from the vehicle by the distance threshold.