Method and apparatus for digital temporary vehicle key utilization

• US 9,688,247 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jayaraman, Vijayababu, Suleiman, Ali Mohamad, Clark, Karl Nathan, Nasser, Mohamad, Vangelov, John Naum
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Carlos E
• Application Number:
  US15/227,312
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 340 51, 340 52, 340 528, 340 56, 340 57, 340 572, 340 58, 340 581, 340 71, 340 72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• 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 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/088 Usage controlling of secret information, e.g. techniques for restricting cryptographic keys to pre-authorized uses, different access levels, validity of crypto-period, different key- or password length, or different strong and weak cryptographic algorithms network architectures or network communication protocols for using time-dependent keys in a packet data network H04L63/068
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive vehicle borrower contact information input from a vehicle lender. The processor is also configured to send a digital invitation to use a vehicle using the borrower contact information responsive to the input, and to receive digital confirmation responsive to the electronic invitation. The processor is also configured to establish a digital key responsive to the confirmation and wirelessly send the established digital key to the borrower and the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive borrower contact information input from a vehicle lender;

send a digital invitation to use a vehicle using the borrower contact information, responsive to the input;

receive digital confirmation responsive to the digital invitation;

establish a digital key responsive to the confirmation; and

wirelessly send the established digital key to the borrower and the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact information includes an email address and wherein the digital invitation includes a digital invitation email.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact information includes a phone number and wherein the digital invitation includes a text message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a request from a borrower wireless device when a borrower is within a predefined distance from the vehicle; and

responsive to the request, send an unlock instruction to the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive restrictions from the vehicle lender and associate vehicle use limitations based on the restrictions with the digital key.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the use limitations include a usable time window during which the digital key is operational.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the use limitations include a maximum vehicle speed.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the use limitations include a maximum vehicle load weight.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the use limitations include a geo-fence defining an approved area for vehicle use.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

sending a digital invitation including registration instructions to use a vehicle to a borrower responsive to a vehicle lender input of borrower contact information;

receiving acceptance of the invitation by borrower registration in accordance with the registration instructions;

generating a digital vehicle key responsive to the acceptance; and

sending the digital vehicle key to the borrower and to the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the generating a digital vehicle key further comprises:

associating a use restriction with the digital vehicle key; and

sending the use restriction to the vehicle along with the digital vehicle key.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the use restriction includes a usable time window for vehicle use during which the digital key is usable to start the vehicle and outside of which the digital key is not usable to start the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the use restriction includes a maximum vehicle speed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the use restriction includes a maximum vehicle load limit.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the use restriction includes a geo-fence defining an approved area for vehicle use.