Vehicle key function control from a mobile phone based on radio frequency link from phone to vehicle

• US 9,252,951 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Katzer, Robin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/304,861
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 705/14.64, 705/14.66, 705/67, 705/44, 340/5.61, 340/989, 340/5.8, 340/5.86, 340/FOR.114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0863 involving passwords or one-time passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for using one-time keys in a packet data network H04L63/067
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0877 using additional device, e.g. trusted platform module [TPM], smartcard, USB or hardware security module [HSM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853

Abstract

A method of provisioning a mobile communication device with key functionality is disclosed. The method comprises a web portal receiving a request to add key functionality to a mobile communication device and a vehicle. The method comprises registering the mobile communication device via a vehicle key server as a precondition to add a key and a salt to the mobile communication device and a vehicle, wherein the key and the salt are codes. The method comprises accessing a vehicle key data store via the vehicle key server, wherein the data store comprises keys and salts. The method comprises transmitting the key and the salt to a trusted service manager (TSM) server via the vehicle key server; transmitting the salt to the vehicle, and transmitting the salt and the key to the mobile communication device, whereby the mobile communication device is enable to command the vehicle to unlock, lock, or start.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an application stored in the memory, that when executed by the processor,

receives a key and a salt from a vehicle key server, wherein the key and the salt are numeric codes that are associated with the mobile communication device and a vehicle, and wherein the salt is random data that is used as an input to a one-way function that hashes a password or passphrase,

generates a plurality of credentials based on the key and the salt using an algorithm, wherein the credentials are numeric codes that serve to unlock the vehicle,

transmits a credential of the plurality of credentials to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle receives and compares the received credential with a plurality of credentials stored by the vehicle and the vehicle performs an unlock command and unlocks the vehicle when the received credential from the mobile communication device matches one of the plurality of credentials stored by the vehicle,

generates a new salt, and

transmits a sync command to the vehicle, wherein the sync command comprises the new salt, whereby the vehicle is commanded by the mobile communication device to generate a second plurality of credentials based on the key and the new salt using the algorithm.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the key, the salt, and credentials are binary numbers, each number comprising at least 16 bits.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the key, the salt, and credentials are binary numbers, each number comprising at least 32 bits, 64 bits, and 128 bits.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the within the communicative relationship of the mobile communication device and the vehicle, the mobile communication device has dominance in ordering sync commands.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device communicates with the motor vehicle and sends the sync command over a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless protocol.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to communicate using a radio transceiver according to one of a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless protocol, a global system for mobile communications (GSM) wireless protocol, a long term evolution (LTE) wireless protocol, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) wireless protocol, or another well-known wireless protocol.

7. A method of unlocking a motor vehicle using a mobile communication device with key functionality, comprising:

receiving by a mobile communication device a key and a salt from a vehicle key server, wherein the key and the salt are numeric code values that are associated with the mobile communication device and a vehicle, and wherein the salt is random data that is used as an input to a one-way function that hashes a password or passphrase;

generating by the mobile communication device a plurality of credentials based on the key and the salt using an algorithm, wherein the credentials are numeric codes that unlock the vehicle associated with the key;

transmitting by the mobile communication device a credential of the plurality of credentials to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle receives and compares the received credential with a plurality of credentials stored by the vehicle;

performing, by the vehicle, an unlock command and unlocking the vehicle when the received credential from the mobile communication device matches one of the plurality of credentials stored by the vehicle;

deleting by the mobile communication device used credentials that are no longer available for unlocking the vehicle;

sending a sync command by the mobile communication device to the vehicle, wherein the command comprises a new salt generated by the mobile communication device;

whereby the vehicle is commanded by the mobile communication device to generate a second plurality of credentials based on the key and the new salt using the algorithm; and

generating by the mobile communication device new credentials that are available for use to unlock the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device has a dominant role in the communication relationship between the mobile communication device and the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the number of credentials that the mobile communication device generates using the algorithm is 256.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device communicates with the vehicle using a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless protocol with a frequency of 300 to 400 megahertz.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the vehicle uses a radio transceiver to communicate with the mobile communication device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the mechanism that the mobile communication device uses to communicate with the vehicle is an application.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the application is either pre-loaded before the mobile communication device is used or post-loaded after the mobile communication device is used.