SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR KEY FREE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE

• US 20100075656A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarter, Jamie C., Bradford, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• 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 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A system and method for unlocking a vehicle with a cell phone. Wireless signals are monitored from a cell phone. A signal is received from the cell phone. A distance between the cell phone and the vehicle is determined. Doors of the vehicle are unlocked in response to the cell phone nearing the vehicle. The doors of the vehicle are locked in response to the cell phone being further separated from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a vehicle with a cell phone, the method comprising:

monitoring wireless signals from a cell phone;

receiving a signal from the cell phone;

determining a distance between the cell phone and the vehicle;

unlocking doors of the vehicle in response to the cell phone nearing the vehicle; and

locking the doors of the vehicle in response to the cell phone being further separated from the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection that confirms that the unlocking is authorized.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user selection is tactile feedback to the cell phone.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user selection is one or more keyed entries on the cell phone by a user.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user selection is a biometric of a user read by the cell phone.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more keyed entries is a command associated with one or more systems of the vehicle for remotely controlling the one or more systems.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

securing the vehicle in response to a user not interacting with the vehicle within a time period; and

transmitting a status of the vehicle to the cell phone.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking and locking are performed in response to determining the cell phone is a specified distance from the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving further comprises:

authenticating the cell phone is authorized to control systems of the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell phone broadcasts a global position system location of the cell phone to the vehicle to determine the distance.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance is determined by the vehicle based on an increasing or decreasing signal strength of the signal.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining is performed repetitively to determine whether the cell phone is nearing the vehicle or being further separated from the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

implementing the unlocking in response scanning the cell phone.

14. A vehicle system for controlling functions of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with a cell phone, the transceiver further operable to determine a distance between the cell phone and the vehicle system, and the transceiver further operable to receive an identifier from the cell phone; and

control logic in communication with the transceiver operable to unlock the doors in response to determining the distance is within a threshold, wherein the identifier is authorized to control the control logic.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the control logic controls a plurality of vehicle systems including a light system, an engine start system, and an alarm system, wherein the identifier is a command to control one or more of the plurality of vehicle systems.

16. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a scanner operable to read the identifier;

a user interface configured to receive the threshold, one or more commands including the command, and register one or more cell phones including the cell phone to control the vehicle system.

17. A vehicle system comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions ate configured to;

receive a signal from a cell phone authorized to control the vehicle system, determine a distance between the cell phone and a vehicle; and

send a command controlling the vehicle system in response to a plurality of distance measurements indicating the user is approaching the vehicle and is within a distance threshold of the vehicle and further in response to receiving an indicator from the user.

18. The vehicle system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions further:

verify an identifier of the cell phone to determine the cell phone is authorized to control the vehicle system; and

transmit a status of the vehicle to the cell phone.

19. The vehicle system according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle system controls locks, lights, engine start, and alarm of the vehicle, and wherein the command implements one or more action in the vehicle system based on user preferences.

20. The vehicle system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions relocks the door in response to detecting no user interaction with the vehicle within a time period or in response to the user being separated from the vehicle by the distance threshold.