Methods and systems for authenticating one or more users of a vehicle communications and information system

• US 9,064,101 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kleve, Robert Bruce, Petersen, Brian, Pandya, Ritesh, Pleet, Edward Andrew, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): DADA, BEEMNET W
• Application Number:
  US13/945,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3215 using a plurality of channels network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for authorizing use of a vehicle communication and information system may include one or more data processors configured to receive information associating one or more devices with a vehicle computer. The data processor(s) may be also configured to receive information identifying a user requesting authorization to command the vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer. The user(s) may be authorized to command the vehicle controls from the one or more devices associated with the vehicle computer based on performing an authentication process for authenticating the user, determining that the user is an authenticated user based on the authentication process, and enabling command of one or more vehicle controls from the one or more remote devices via the associated vehicle computer based on the user being authenticated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

wirelessly receive user identifying information, including a registration code, associating a user with a vehicle;

authenticate the user as authorized to activate a mobile device for command of controls of the vehicle based on the registration code;

receive a mobile device setup request identifying the mobile device; and

transmit a vehicle computer identification, usable to authenticate the mobile device for vehicle control command, to the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request from the mobile device to command a vehicle control.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to authenticate the user based on the vehicle computer identification stored on the mobile device and enable command of the vehicle control from the device via an associated vehicle computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device setup request and the user identifying information are received from a user personal computer different from the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform an authentication process for authenticating the user;

receive one or more inputs for authentication; and

authenticate the user based on the one or more inputs for the authentication process.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are one or more authentication items selected from touch-based inputs, information from one or more vehicle key transponders, one or more voice commands, one or more codes, one or more patterns of maneuvers, or at least one question and answer process.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are received in response to one or more notifications requesting authentication of the user.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the inputs for authentication are received in the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle computer identification stored in the mobile device is an electronic serial number (ESN).

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the user identifying information associating the user is stored on a centralized system communicating with the mobile device and the processor.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive information identifying the user requesting authorization,

wherein the user identifying information is an identifier associated with the mobile device remote from the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the identifier is a mobile identification number.

13. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a request from a new device to access vehicle-control command;

recognize a current mobile device is logged-in at the vehicle for vehicle-control command;

transmit a new-device login authorization request to the current mobile device;

receive an authorization from the current mobile device confirming that the new device has permission to access vehicle-control command; and

provide vehicle-control command access to the new device based on the authorization.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform an authentication process for authenticating the new device;

receive one or more inputs for authentication; and

authenticate the new device based on the one or more inputs for the authentication process.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are one or more authentication items selected from touch-based inputs, information from one or more vehicle key transponders, one or more voice commands, one or more codes, one or more patterns of maneuvers, or at least one question and answer process.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more inputs for authentication are received in response to an authorization from the current mobile device requesting authentication of the new device.

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

receive a request from a new device to access vehicle-control command;

recognize a current mobile device is logged-in at the vehicle for vehicle-control command;

transmit a new-device login authorization request to the current mobile device; and

receive an authorization from the current mobile device confirming that the new device has permission to access vehicle-control command.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 additionally storing instruction to configure the processor to provide vehicle-control command access to the new device based on the authorization.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the vehicle-control command is remote lock and unlock, remote start, vehicle tracking, radio, and HVAC control.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the new device is a cell phone.