Integrated immobilizer fob pairing

• US 9,454,860 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KeylessRide, Secured Mobility LLC
• Original Assignee: Secured Mobility LLC
• Inventors: Lopez, Emmanuel Enrique
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/212,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/12.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• 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

Abstract

An original generator generates a sequence of access values that are stored into a longer range communication device. A short range communication device, which can be the original generator, uses short range communication during a programming process to transmit an identification number to enable subsequence access from the longer range communication device using the sequence of access values.

Claims

1. A method performed by a service provider and allowing a plurality of end users to program vehicle access systems and remote access devices, comprising:

actuating one or more functions of an original code generator, the original code generator comprising short range communication and longer range communication functions, to generate a series of access values referenced by an access index, each actuation causing the access index to change, the series of access values being a subset of a larger series of valid access values;

storing the series of access values in a communication system configured to, upon receiving unique label identifier as an input, permit downloading of the series of access values;

disabling one or more longer range communication functions of the original code generator;

labeling the original code generator with the unique label identifier;

setting an access index of the original code generator to reference a preceding access value;

providing one or more remote access devices to each end user of a plurality of end users, wherein each remote access device comprises short range communication and longer range communication functions;

sending the original generator device to a plurality of end users; and

instructing each end user of the plurality of end users to program the end users remote access device and the end users vehicle access system of the end users vehicle, by;

downloading the series of access values from the communications system onto the end user'"'"'s remote access device;

programming the end users vehicle access system to subsequently allow the end user'"'"'s remote access device to use longer range communication to control one or more functions of the end users vehicle, wherein programming comprises;

initiating a programming mode of the end users vehicle;

presenting the original generator to an immobilizer of the end users vehicle access system; and

communicating, via short range communication, an identification value and the access index from the original generator to the end users vehicle access system;

retaining the end users remote access device; and

sending away the original generator.

2. A method for operating a dual range communication device that is configured for short and longer range communication functionalities with a vehicle, the longer range communication for authentication with vehicle access systems, comprising:

saving a series of access values generated by the dual range communication device, the series of access values being a subset of an entire set of valid access values for said vehicle access systems;

setting an access index into the dual range communication device, wherein the access index references a first access value that precedes other values from the series of access values;

disabling one or more longer range functionalities of the dual range communication device;

labeling the dual range communication device with a unique label to identify the series of access values originated from the dual range communication device;

sending the dual range communication device to a plurality of users to pair longer range communication devices of the users such that during a programming process for each longer range communication device, pairing by communicating through a short range antenna of the dual range communication device, an identification value to a certain vehicle access system of the access systems of vehicles of the users; and

configuring the dual range communication device to communicate, during the programming process, the access index to the vehicle access systems using the short range antenna.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein communicating through the short range antenna comprises communicating to an immobilizer device of the vehicle access systems.

4. The method of claim 2,

wherein communicating to a first vehicle access system of the plurality of vehicle access systems enables a first remote access device to subsequently remotely control functions of a vehicle when the first remote access device transmits, via a first longer range antenna, a first value from the series of access values to the first vehicle access system;

and

wherein communicating to a second vehicle access system of the plurality of vehicle access systems enables a second remote access device to operate with the second vehicle access system when the second remote access device transmits, via a second longer range antenna, the first value from the series of access values to the second vehicle access system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein disabling one or more long range functionalities comprises at least one of:

opening a circuit;

shorting a circuit;

covering a button;

disabling a button;

or

programming code to preserve the access index.

6. A system for pairing remote access devices with access systems of vehicles, comprising:

a communication system for storing a certain sequence of access values;

a certain access system of a vehicle;

a plurality of remote access devices; and

a dual range communication device comprising;

a microcontroller unit identified by a certain identification value;

a memory configured to store an access index referencing a first access value that precedes other values from the certain sequence of access values configured for said vehicle access systems;

a short range antenna;

a longer range antenna for operating longer range communication functionalities including authentication with vehicle access systems; and

a unique label for identifying the certain sequence of access values originated from the short range communication device;

wherein the communication system is configured to download the certain sequence of access values to each of the plurality of remote access devices;

wherein the dual range communication device is configured to disable one or more longer range functionalities; and

wherein the dual range communication device is configured to communicate, using the short range antenna, the access index to the certain access system to enable subsequent access to the certain access system by the certain remote access device of the plurality of remote access devices via a corresponding longer range antenna of the certain remote access device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the certain remote access device stores the certain sequence of access values in a memory, the certain sequence of access values being a subset of access values generated by the dual range communication device with the microcontroller unit associated with the certain identification value.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of dual range communication devices, each dual range communication device comprising;

a microcontroller unit associated with an identification value different from other microcontrollers of other dual range communication devices;

a memory configured to store an access index;

a short range antenna;

a longer range antenna; and

a label different from labels of other short range communication devices; and

a communication system configured to store a unique access sequence for each one of the plurality of short range communication devices with a different label.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication system is configured to store an access number as the access index of the selected remote access device.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a control unit physically coupled to an access system through an on-board port;

wherein the remote access devices are at least one of;

a phone;

a tablet;

a laptop;

each remote access device is configured to download, from a communication system, an application to communicate with the control unit to operate the vehicle access system.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the dual range communication device further comprises a protective design disabling the access index from changing, the protective design comprising at least one of:

opening a circuit;

shorting a circuit;

covering a button;

disabling a button;

or

programming code to preserve the index.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the dual range communication device is configured to communicate, using the short range antenna, the certain identification value to an immobilizer of the certain access system.

13. A dual range communication device that is configured for short and longer range communication functionalities with a vehicle, the longer range communication for authentication with vehicle access systems, comprising:

a short range antenna configured for wireless communication;

a longer range antenna;

a memory configured to store a plurality of access values and an access index referencing a first access value that precedes other values from the plurality of access values;

a unique label for identifying the plurality of access values originated from the dual range communication device; and

a microcontroller unit identifiable by an identification value;

wherein the dual range communication device is configured to;

disable one or more long range functionalities of the dual range communication device,

communicate, using the short range antenna, the plurality of access values to a separate remote access device;

communicate, using the short range antenna, the device identification value with an immobilizer of a vehicle to enable access to the vehicle from the separate remote access device via a longer range antenna of the separate remote access device, and

communicate, using the short range antenna, the access index to an access system of the vehicle.

14. The dual range communication device of claim 13, wherein the separate remote access device is configured to utilize the plurality of access values generated by the dual range communication device having the identification value, the access values being a subset of a larger set of valid access values for the access system of the vehicle.

15. The dual range communication device of claim 13, wherein the short range antenna is a near field antenna.

16. The dual range communication device of claim 13, wherein the short range antenna communicates using one or more frequencies approximately ranging from 1 kilohertz to 100 megahertz, each of the one or more frequencies being lower than any frequency used by the longer range antenna.

17. The dual range communication device of claim 13, wherein the longer range antenna communicates using other frequencies approximately ranging from 300 megahertz to 500 megahertz, the longer range antenna configured to operate over a range of at least 3 meters.

18. The dual range communication device of claim 13, wherein the memory is configured to store an index counter, and wherein the index counter is configured to be reset before the dual range communication device communicates with an immobilizer.

19. The dual range communication device of claim 18, further comprising a protective design to prevent the index counter from changing.