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

• US 9,902,368 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• 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:
  US15/693,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20180009416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561- 566
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/20 Communication devices for vehicle anti-theft devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• 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 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• 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

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 linked to the key fob 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. Profile templates may be used to set and control vehicle access and functions.

Claims

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

a processor;

a 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 linked to the key fob 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 for authenticating the new device based on the fob data and the device data,

and wherein the processor is configured to generate a vehicle function control file based on (i) the vehicle access and/or function control data and (ii) the secure fob key, wherein the vehicle function control file is associated with a profile template configured to control access of the new device to the vehicle and control at least one operational function of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile template is further configured to provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile template associated with 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 execute the vehicle function control file, for obtaining at least one of the following configurations for the vehicle:

the vehicle access control data is configured to limit a time in which the vehicle is 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

/or

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 processor is configured to replace the profile template of the vehicle function control file with a new profile template comprising a new vehicle function control file, configured to control at least one new operational function of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate the vehicle function control file by selecting one of a plurality of profile templates comprising predetermined vehicle access and/or function control data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle function control file is configured to expire after a predetermined period of time.

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 linked to the key fob that are authorized to access the vehicle;

receiving, in the storage, a profile template comprising 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 profile template and the secure fob key, wherein the vehicle function control file is configured to control access of the new device to the vehicle and control at least one operational function of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the profile template is further configured to provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the profile template associated with 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, further comprising executing the vehicle function control file to enable one or more of the following operations:

configuring the vehicle access control data to limit a time in which the vehicle is 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

/or

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, further comprising replacing the profile template of the vehicle function control file with a new profile template comprising a new vehicle function control file, configured to control at least one new operational function of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the vehicle function control file comprises selecting one of a plurality of profile templates comprising predetermined vehicle access and/or function control data.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle function control file is configured to expire after a predetermined period of time.

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

a processor;

a 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 linked to the key fob that are authorized to access the vehicle, and (iii) vehicle access and/or function control data;

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 a profile template defining 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 a profile template associated with the secure fob key to a vehicle subsystem 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 profile template associated with 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.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle function control file is configured to expire after a predetermined period of time.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to execute the vehicle function control file, for obtaining at least one of the following configurations for the vehicle:

the vehicle access control data is configured to limit a time in which the vehicle is 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

/or

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 profile template is further configured to provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.