Method and apparatus for streamlined remote telematics authorization

• US 8,954,218 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Petersen, Brian, Zechel, Kelly Lee, Pandya, Ritesh, Kruntovski, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEINLE, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US13/710,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 701/32, 701/32.6, 701/34.4
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215

Abstract

A vehicle system providing a temporary validation authorization request for one or more processors configured to transmit a signal from the vehicle system to a server once the one or more processors are installed in the vehicle. Once the server receives the installation signal, the processor may receive an in-vehicle authorization message from the server. The in-vehicle authorization message may be accepted by a user-input acceptance transmitted to the server. The system may determine temporary validation authorization if it is determined that the user accepted the in-vehicle authorization message within a predetermined amount of time following transmission of the signal to the server indicating that the processor was installed. Once authorized, the system may initialize to allow for assembly line testing. The temporary validation authorization initializes the vehicle system for temporary communication with the server while on a vehicle manufacturing assembly line for testing to ensure a quality product.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a processor configured to;

transmit an installation signal, indicating that the processor is installed in the vehicle, from a transmitter to a receiver in communication with a server;

receive a wireless validation authorization signal from the server;

output a validation authorization prompt at the vehicle;

receive user input at the vehicle accepting the validation authorization prompt;

transmit to the server, indication that a user has accepted the validation authorization prompt;

receive a temporary validation from the server indicating that user acceptance of the validation authorization prompt was recognized at the server within a first predetermined amount of time, wherein the first predetermined amount of time is up to and including 15 days from the server'"'"'s receipt of the installation signal; and

enable vehicle system validation authorization upon receipt of the temporary validation.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the processor is additionally configured to disable system validation authorization once vehicle system validation is complete.

3. The vehicle system of claim 2 wherein disabling system validation authorization includes a reset of the processor to factory settings.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the processor is additionally configured to disable system validation authorization after a second predetermined amount of time.

5. The vehicle system of claim 4 wherein the second predetermined amount of time is set to 96 hours.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined amount of time is 12 hours.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

8. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the validation authorization prompt is displayed on a LCD touchscreen.

9. A method comprising:

transmitting a wireless installation signal, indicating that a vehicle computer system has been installed in a vehicle, from the vehicle computer system to a server;

transmitting a validation authorization request to the server, including an identification of the vehicle in which the vehicle computer system was installed;

determining at the server whether the validation authorization request was received within a first predetermined amount of time wherein the first predetermined amount of time is up to and including 15 days with respect to receipt of the installation signal; and

receiving the request within the first predetermined amount of time, and in response authorizing a second predetermined amount of time during which the server is permitted to send an in-vehicle authorization prompt to the vehicle computer system and receive an authorization prompt acceptance from the vehicle computing system to allow temporary authorization for validation.

10. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising disabling of the temporary authorization for validation when the second predetermined amount of time allowed for the temporary authorization has expired.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the disabling includes disconnecting communication to the server and reinitializing the vehicle computer system.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to:

establish communication connection with a server for temporary authorization of a vehicle system;

transmit vehicle identification;

receive a wireless validation authorization signal, authorizing override of standard system initialization;

output a validation authorization prompt at the vehicle;

receive user input accepting the validation authorization prompt;

transmit to server an indication that the user has accepted the validation authorization prompt; and

temporarily authorize access to the vehicle system, in response to determining that the user accepted the validation authorization prompt within a predetermined amount of time wherein the predetermined amount of time is up to and including 15 days following transmission of the vehicle identification.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the processor is caused to receive a factory reset message to reinitialize the vehicle system.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the processor is caused to disable communication with the server after validation is complete.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the vehicle identification includes an electronic serial number.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the vehicle identification includes a pre-shared key.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the vehicle identification includes an integrated circuit card identifier.