Vehicle master reset

• US 9,238,450 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• 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, Miller, Thomas Lee, Protopapas, Maria Eugenia, Watkins, Scott Alan, Reed, Eric L., Bennie, Brian, Holt, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/481,397
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers

Abstract

Exemplary methods and vehicles are disclosed. Exemplary methods may include determining that a vehicle is a fleet vehicle, establishing a presence of a configuration bit indicating the vehicle is a fleet vehicle, receiving an indication of a conclusion of a vehicle usage session as a fleet vehicle, and resetting a plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to a default setting in response to the conclusion of the vehicle usage. Other exemplary methods may include installing a configuration bit into a vehicle, which indicates that the vehicle is a fleet vehicle, and providing a processor for the vehicle. The processor may be configured to reset a plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to a default setting in response to the configuration bit and an indication of a conclusion of a vehicle usage associated with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining that a vehicle is a fleet vehicle, including establishing a presence of a configuration bit indicating the vehicle is a fleet vehicle;

receiving an indication of a conclusion of a vehicle usage session as a fleet vehicle; and

resetting a plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to a default setting in response to the conclusion of the vehicle usage session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters includes remotely resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising establishing the remotely resetting as remotely resetting with one of a key fob and a wireless device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising establishing the remotely resetting as remotely resetting with a wireless device in communication with a remote database including a plurality of fleet vehicles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters includes entering a vehicle control pattern using a plurality of vehicle control inputs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of vehicle control inputs include at least one of a vehicle door lock switch and an ignition switch.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the configuration bit as being stored on a memory of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the configuration bit as being configured to expire after a predetermined event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined event is one of a vehicle mileage limit and a time limit.

10. A method, comprising:

installing a configuration bit into a vehicle, the configuration bit indicating that the vehicle is a fleet vehicle; and

providing a processor for the vehicle configured to reset a plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to a default setting in response to the configuration bit and an indication of a conclusion of a vehicle usage associated with the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters includes remotely resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising establishing the remotely resetting as remotely resetting with one of a key fob and a wireless device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters includes entering a vehicle control pattern using a plurality of vehicle control inputs.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of vehicle control inputs include at least one of a vehicle door lock switch and an ignition switch.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the indication of the conclusion of the vehicle usage;

and

resetting the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to the default setting in response to the received indication.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a processor in communication with a plurality of user-adjustable vehicle settings; and

a configuration bit stored on the vehicle, the configuration bit indicating that the vehicle is a fleet vehicle;

wherein the processor is configured to reset a plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to a default setting in response to at least the configuration bit and an indication of a conclusion of a vehicle usage associated with the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to reset the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters in response to a remote signal.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a key fob in wireless communication with the vehicle, the key fob configured to transmit the remote signal.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to reset the plurality of user-adjustable vehicle parameters to a default setting in response to at least a vehicle control pattern entered using a plurality of vehicle control inputs.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the plurality of vehicle control inputs include at least one of a vehicle door lock switch and an ignition switch.