Apparatus, system and method for vehicle access and function control utilizing a portable device

• US 9,870,665 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Maiwand, Heiko, Roehder, Martin, White, Payton, Camhi, Jaime
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Allen T
• Application Number:
  US15/261,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20170352215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561- 566
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• 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 2009/00984 fob
• 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 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A system for providing dynamic access to a vehicle via a plurality of devices. A device and/or a server of an authentication network stored fob data relating to one or more key fobs linked to the vehicle, and device data that includes data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle. The vehicle receives an access request indicating that a new device is requesting access to the vehicle, whereupon a challenge may be transmitted to one or more of the authorized devices. The one or more devices may respond, granting access to vehicle functions. The vehicle and/or authentication network generate a secure fob key and access limitations based on the response and transmit the secure fob key to the new device. The new device may be authenticated to access vehicle functions subject to the limitation based at least in part on the fob key.

Claims

1. A system for authorizing access to vehicle functions for a vehicle, comprising:

a processor;

data storage, operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage configured to store (i) fob data relating to a key fob linked to the vehicle, (ii) device data comprising data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle, and (iii) vehicle access and/or function control data; and

communications circuitry, operatively coupled to the processor, the communications circuitry configured to communicate with a new device is requesting access to the vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to generate a secure fob key based on the fob data and the device data,

and wherein the processor is configured to generate a vehicle function control file based on the vehicle access and/or function control data and the secure fob key, wherein the vehicle function control file is configured to authenticate the new device with the vehicle via the secure fob key and to at least one of (i) limit access of the new device to the vehicle, (ii) limit an operational function of the vehicle, and (iii) provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure fob key comprises a public/private key for authenticating the new device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle access/function control data comprises at least one of vehicle access control data, sensor control data, vehicle function control data, alerts/messaging data and entertainment system control data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to generate the vehicle function control file such that

the vehicle access control data is configured to limit a time in which the vehicle to be accessed via the new device;

the sensor control data is configured to control a sensor parameter in the vehicle;

the vehicle function control data is configured to control vehicle function and/or performance in the vehicle;

the alerts/messaging data is configured to provide alerts and/or messages associated with the vehicle access/function control data in the vehicle; and

the entertainment system control data is configured to control at least one function of the entertainment system in the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the device data comprises identification data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate a user profile for the new device that is associated with vehicle function control file.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate the vehicle function control file based on an interface configured to selectively provide the vehicle access and/or function control data.

8. A method for authorizing access to vehicle functions for a vehicle, comprising:

receiving, in a storage, fob data relating to a key fob linked to the vehicle;

receiving, in the storage, device data comprising data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle;

receiving, in the storage vehicle access and/or function control data;

establishing communications, via communications circuitry, with a new device that is requesting access to the vehicle,

generating, via a processor, a secure fob key based on the fob data and the device data; and

generating, via the processor, a vehicle function control file based on the vehicle access and/or function control data and the secure fob key, wherein the vehicle function control file is configured to authenticate the new device with the vehicle via the secure fob key and to at least one of (i) limit access of the new device to the vehicle, (ii) limit an operational function of the vehicle, and (iii) provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secure fob key comprises a public/private key for authenticating the new device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle access/function control data comprises at least one of vehicle access control data, sensor control data, vehicle function control data, alerts/messaging data and entertainment system control data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the vehicle function control file comprises:

configuring the vehicle access control data to limit a time in which the vehicle to be accessed via the new device;

configuring the sensor control data to control a sensor parameter in the vehicle;

configuring the vehicle function control data to control vehicle function and/or performance in the vehicle;

configuring the alerts/messaging data to provide alerts and/or messages associated with the vehicle access/function control data in the vehicle; and

configuring the entertainment system control data to control at least one function of the entertainment system in the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the device data comprises identification data.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating a user profile for the new device that is associated with vehicle function control file.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein generate the vehicle function control file comprises selectively providing the vehicle access and/or function control data via an interface.

15. A vehicle for authorizing access for vehicle functions for a new device, comprising:

a processor;

communications circuitry, operatively coupled to the processor, the communications circuitry configured to communicate with a new device is requesting access to the vehicle to receive a vehicle function control file comprising a secure fob key and vehicle access and/or function control data;

wherein the processor is configured to authenticate the new device via the secure fob key, and, based on the authentication, apply the vehicle function control file to a vehicle system of the vehicle to at least one of (i) limit access of the new device to the vehicle, (ii) limit an operational function of the vehicle, and (iii) provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the secure fob key comprises a public/private key for authenticating the new device.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle access/function control data comprises at least one of vehicle access control data, sensor control data, vehicle function control data, alerts/messaging data and entertainment system control data.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to apply the vehicle function control file such that

the vehicle access control data is configured to limit a time in which the vehicle to be accessed via the new device;

the sensor control data is configured to control a sensor parameter in the vehicle;

the vehicle function control data is configured to control vehicle function and/or performance in the vehicle;

the alerts/messaging data is configured to provide alerts and/or messages associated with the vehicle access/function control data in the vehicle; and

the entertainment system control data is configured to control at least one function of the entertainment system in the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the fob key comprises identification data associated with the new device.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to stop applying the vehicle function control file to the vehicle system when the vehicle ignition is turned off.