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

• US 9,569,403 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Petersen, Brian, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Pandya, Ritesh, Kruntovski, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US13/463,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 701/9, 701/24, 701/27, 701/29.6, 701/30.3, 701/32.6, 701/210, 701/486, 701/522, 701/537, 180/173, 180/287
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems

Abstract

A system includes a processor, configured to wirelessly communicate with at least a vehicle computing system, wherein the processor is further configured to receive input from a vehicle owner indicating that transfer of administrative rights to vehicle systems is desired. The processor is further configured to send a confirmation message to a new owner of the vehicle and send a confirmation request to the vehicle computing system, following receipt of a response to the first confirmation message. Also, the processor is configured to establish the new owner as having administrative rights upon receipt of a response to the confirmation request.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor, configured to wirelessly communicate with at least a vehicle computing system, wherein the processor is further configured to receive input from a vehicle owner indicating that transfer of administrative rights to vehicle systems is desired;

wherein the processor is further configured to

send a confirmation message to a new owner of the vehicle,

send a confirmation request to the vehicle computing system, following receipt of a response to the first confirmation message, and

establish the new owner as having administrative rights upon receipt of a response to the confirmation request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input from a vehicle owner is received through a vehicle computing system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the input from a vehicle owner is received through a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the confirmation message is an email.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the confirmation message is a text message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the confirmation message includes a selectable item for responding to the confirmation message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the confirmation request includes instructions for the vehicle computing system to display the confirmation request in the vehicle upon vehicle key-on.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to decommission the vehicle owner'"'"'s administrative rights in conjunction with establishing the new owner as having administrative rights.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request from a current administrator for administrative rights transfer to a new administrator;

sending a confirmation message to the new administrator;

sending a confirmation request to a vehicle computing system, upon receipt of a confirmation response from the new administrator; and

establishing the new administrator as having administrative rights, upon receipt of a response to the confirmation request from the vehicle computing system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the request for administrative rights transfer is received from a vehicle computing system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the request for administrative rights transfer is received from a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the confirmation message includes a selectable item for responding to the confirmation message.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the confirmation request includes instructions for the vehicle computing system to display the confirmation request in the vehicle upon vehicle key-on.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to decommission the vehicle owner'"'"'s administrative rights in conjunction with establishing the new owner as having administrative rights.

15. A system comprising:

a processor, configured to communicate at least with a vehicle computing system, wherein the processor is further configured to

receive a request from a non-administrator to make the non-administrator an administrator;

responsive to the request, send a message to a current administrator seeking permission to process the request and further send a confirmation request to a vehicle computing system, and

responsive to a confirmation received from either

the current administrator, after the request has been sent to the vehicle computing system, or

the vehicle computing system,

establish the non-administrator as an administrator.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the confirmation request to the vehicle computing system is not sent until a predetermined period of time has passed.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the request to make the non-administrator an administrator is received from the vehicle computing system.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the request to make the non-administrator an administrator is received from a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the message to the current administrator is an email.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the message to the current administrator is a text message.