System for assigning a smartphone as a temporary key for a vehicle

• US 9,595,145 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yusuf, Adeel, Avery, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAURA N
• Application Number:
  US14/259,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20150310681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• 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: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method of providing access to a vehicle, including wirelessly and electronically discovering a personal electronic device disposed outside of the vehicle. A remote central controller is wirelessly instructed to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the personal electronic device. The certificate from the personal electronic device is wirelessly received within the vehicle. Validation from the a remote central controller that the certificate from the personal electronic device was transmitted from the remote central controller to the personal electronic device is wirelessly received within the vehicle. An electronic key to the vehicle is wirelessly transmitted from the vehicle to the personal electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of providing access to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

wirelessly and electronically discovering a personal electronic device disposed outside of the vehicle;

wirelessly instructing a remote central controller to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the personal electronic device;

wirelessly receiving within the vehicle the certificate from the personal electronic device;

sending the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device to the remote central controller;

validating, at the remote central controller, that the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device matches the certificate sent to the personal electronic device by the remote central controller;

wirelessly receiving within the vehicle validation from the remote central controller that the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device was transmitted from the remote central controller to the personal electronic device; and

wirelessly transmitting from the vehicle to the personal electronic device an electronic key to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of receiving a selection of the personal electronic device from a user, the wirelessly instructing step including instructing the remote central controller to wirelessly transmit the certificate to the selected personal electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of starting an ignition of the vehicle in response to receiving a command from the personal electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of locking or unlocking a door of the vehicle in response to receiving a command from the personal electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of enabling a user to specify at least one privilege to be given the electronic key.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one privilege includes at least one of:

a geographical area in which the electronic key is operational; and

a range of speeds at which the vehicle may travel after being accessed by the key.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic key only temporarily enables access to the vehicle.

8. A method of providing access to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

wirelessly and electronically discovering a personal electronic device disposed outside of the vehicle;

receiving a selection of the personal electronic device from a user;

wirelessly receiving within the vehicle a certificate from the selected personal electronic device;

sending the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device to the remote central controller;

validating, at the remote central controller, that the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device matches the certificate sent to the personal electronic device by the remote central controller;

wirelessly receiving within the vehicle validation from the remote central controller that the certificate received within the vehicle from the selected personal electronic device was transmitted from the remote central controller to the selected personal electronic device; and

wirelessly transmitting from the vehicle to the selected personal electronic device an electronic key to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying an icon representing the discovered personal electronic device on a display of the vehicle, wherein the receiving step includes sensing the user touching the icon.

10. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of starting an ignition of the vehicle in response to receiving a command from the personal electronic device.

11. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of locking or unlocking a door of the vehicle in response to receiving a command from the personal electronic device.

12. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of enabling a user to specify at least one privilege to be given the electronic key.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one privilege includes at least one of:

a geographical area in which the electronic key is operational; and

a range of speeds at which the vehicle may travel after being accessed by the key.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the electronic key only temporarily enables access to the vehicle.

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

enabling a user to choose between providing access online and providing access offline;

if the user chooses providing access online, then;

electronically discovering a personal electronic device disposed outside of the vehicle;

instructing a remote central controller to transmit a certificate to the personal electronic device;

receiving within the vehicle the certificate from the personal electronic device;

sending the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device to the remote central controller;

validating, at the remote central controller, that the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device matches the certificate sent to the personal electronic device by the remote central controller;

receiving within the vehicle validation from the remote central controller that the certificate received within the vehicle from the personal electronic device was transmitted from the remote central controller to the personal electronic device; and

transmitting from the vehicle to the personal electronic device an electronic key to the vehicle; and

if the user chooses providing access offline, then;

electronically discovering a personal electronic device disposed outside of the vehicle;

receiving a selection of the personal electronic device from a user; and

transmitting from the vehicle to the selected personal electronic device an electronic key to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising the further step of receiving a selection of the personal electronic device from a user, the instructing step including instructing the remote central controller to transmit the certificate to the selected personal electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising the further step, in response to receiving a command from the personal electronic device, of at least one of:

starting an ignition of the vehicle;

locking a door of the vehicle; and

unlocking a door of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15 comprising the further step of enabling a user to specify at least one privilege to be given the electronic key.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one privilege includes at least one of:

a geographical area in which the electronic key is operational; and

a range of speeds at which the vehicle may travel after being accessed by the key.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the electronic key only temporarily enables access to the vehicle.