Remote park-assist authentication for vehicles

• US 10,585,430 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Larkin Bost, Alexander Connor
• Application Number:
  US15/626,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20180364696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/175 Autonomous driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/56 using mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for remote park-assist authentication for vehicles. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit to control motive functions for remote parking, a communication module to receive a signal for remote parking from a mobile device, and a parking authenticator. The parking authenticator is to present an image upon receiving the signal and receive, via the communication module, an audio identification from the mobile device. Also, the parking authenticator is to authenticate the mobile device to initiate remote parking in response to determining the audio identification corresponds to the image.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an autonomy unit to control motive functions for remote parking;

a communication module to receive a signal for remote parking from a mobile device; and

a controller configured to;

present an image upon receiving the signal;

receive, via the communication module, audio identification from the mobile device;

authenticate the mobile device to initiate remote parking in response to determining the audio identification corresponds to the image; and

include an indicator in the image for authenticating the mobile device that identifies a number of alphabetic characters of the audio identification that corresponds to the image.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a display located in a vehicle cabin, wherein the controller is configured to present the image for authenticating the mobile device via the display located in the vehicle cabin.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of a position and an orientation of the display prior to presenting the image for authenticating the mobile device via the display.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a window and a projector, wherein the controller is configured to project the image for authenticating the mobile device onto the window via the projector.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a projector, wherein the controller is configured to project the image for authenticating the mobile device onto a ground surface via the projector.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the mobile device to present the image for authenticating the mobile device via a display of the mobile device.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to retrieve the image for authenticating the mobile device from a database.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, further including the database from which the controller is configured to retrieve the image for authenticating the mobile device.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, further including a second communication module in wireless communication with a network that includes the database, wherein the controller is configured to retrieve the image for authenticating the mobile device from the database via the second communication module.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller further is configured to authenticate the mobile device to initiate remote parking in response to receiving a textual identification from the mobile device and determining that the textual identification corresponds to the image.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, via the communication module, user biometrics from the mobile device; and

authenticate the mobile device in response to identifying the user biometrics correspond to biometrics of an authorized driver.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the user biometrics includes at least one of a fingerprint, voice recognition, and facial recognition.

13. A method for authenticating remote parking, the method comprising:

receiving, via a communication module of a vehicle, a signal for remote parking from a mobile device;

presenting an image upon receiving the signal;

receiving, via the communication module, an audio identification from the mobile device;

authenticating, via a processor, the mobile device to initiate remote parking in response to determining the audio identification corresponds to the image; and

inserting an indicator into the image that identifies a number of alphabetic characters of the audio identification that corresponds to the image.

14. The method of claim 13, further including locking out the mobile device from initiating remote parking for a predetermined period of time in response to receiving a predetermined number of audio identifications from the mobile device that do not correspond to the image.

15. The method of claim 13, further including presenting an alternative image for identification upon receiving a request for the alternative image.

16. The method of claim 13, further including:

receiving, via the communication module, user biometrics from the mobile device, the user biometrics includes at least one of a fingerprint, voice recognition, and facial recognition; and

authenticating the mobile device in response to identifying the user biometrics correspond to biometrics of an authorized driver.

17. The method of claim 13, further including retrieving the image from a database upon receiving the signal and prior to presenting the image.

18. The method of claim 17, further including adding the image and the audio identification to the database upon receiving the image and the audio identification corresponding to the image from an authorized driver.

19. A vehicle comprising:

an autonomy unit to control motive functions for remote maneuver;

a communication module to receive a signal for remote maneuver from a mobile device; and

a controller configured to;

present an image upon receiving the signal;

receive, via the communication module, audio identification from the mobile device;

authenticate the mobile device to initiate remote maneuver in response to determining the audio identification corresponds to the image; and

include an indicator in the image for authenticating the mobile device that identifies a number of alphabetic characters of the audio identification that corresponds to the image.