Smart key registration notification system

• US 9,530,260 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sitarski, Nicholas Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dsouza, Adolf
• Application Number:
  US14/742,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20160371902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

A notification system and method for registration of a new key. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to receive and store information regarding the registration of a new key, a processor in communication with the ECU, the processor adapted to determine if a notification should be provided to the user regarding the registration of a new key, the ECU adapted to control where the notification is displayed and a display screen in communication with the ECU, the display screen adapted to display a notification to the user that the new key has been registered.

Claims

1. A notification system for registration of a new key of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to receive and store information regarding the registration of a new key;

a processor in communication with the ECU, the processor adapted to determine if a notification should be provided to the user regarding the registration of the new key;

the ECU adapted to control where the notification is displayed; and

a display screen in communication with the ECU, the display screen displaying a notification to a user that the new key has been registered.

2. The notification system of claim 1 wherein a GPS unit is contained within the vehicle, the GPS in communication with the processor to determine a location of the vehicle when the new key was registered.

3. The notification system of claim 2 wherein the location of the vehicle when the key was registered is displayed on the display screen.

4. The notification system of claim 2 wherein the location of the vehicle when the new key was created is communicated to a third party.

5. The notification system of claim 1 wherein a clock is contained within the vehicle, the clock in communication with the processor to determine what time the new key was created.

6. The notification system of claim 5 wherein the time that the new key was created is displayed on the display screen within the vehicle.

7. The notification system of claim 5 wherein the time that the new key was created is communicated to a third party.

8. A notification system for registration of a new key, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to receive and store information regarding the registration of a new key;

a processor in communication with the ECU, the processor adapted to determine if a notification should be provided to a user regarding the registration of a new key;

the ECU adapted to control where the notification is displayed; and

the ECU automatically sending an electronic communication to the user of the vehicle through email and/or text messaging, the electronic communication including a notification to the user that the new key has been registered.

9. The notification system of claim 8 wherein a GPS unit is contained within the vehicle, the GPS in communication with the processor to determine a location of the vehicle when the new key was registered.

10. The notification system of claim 9 wherein the location of the vehicle when the key was registered is sent to the user via the electronic communication.

11. The notification system of claim 8 wherein the location of the vehicle when the new key was created is communicated to a third party.

12. The notification system of claim 8 wherein a clock is contained within the vehicle, the clock in communication with the processor to determine a time the new key was created.

13. The notification system of claim 12 wherein the time that the new key was created is sent to the user via the electronic communication.

14. The notification system of claim 12 wherein the time that the new key was created is communicated to a third party.

15. A method of providing a notification to the user of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a new vehicle key in connection with an existing vehicle, creating of the new vehicle key by means of a key creator;

storing a time, date and/or a location of when and/or where the vehicle key was created in an electronic control unit (ECU);

displaying the time, date and/or location of when and/or where the vehicle key was created on a display screen; and

determining by a processor if the time, date and/or location of when and/or where the vehicle key was created should be displayed.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of transmitting the time, date and/or location of when and/or where the vehicle key was created to a third party.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of electronically notifying the use via email and/or text message of the time, date and/or location of when and/or where the vehicle key was created.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of displaying the time, date and/or location of when and/or where the vehicle key was created on a display screen within the vehicle automatically upon starting of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of providing an audible alert to the user when the new vehicle key has been created.