Vehicle with extended range remote control key fob

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10688963-B2
Application number	US-201715812759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2017
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle that includes in-vehicle controller(s) coupled to an external network transceiver, and configured to register a key fob and/or a mobile device configured as a key fob. The transceiver is configured to communicate autonomously with remote servers to respond to a key fob signal received from the server, which includes an authentication code and a remote control command generated by the key fob and/or mobile device configured as the key fob. In further variations, the key fob is also configured to be paired and/or registered by an external mobile device, by the authentication code, and to generate the remote control command via the mobile device. In response to the key fob signal, the controller(s) autonomously adjust vehicle systems, such as locking or unlocking, arming and disarming a security system, adjusting cabin and/or seat temperature and configuration preferences, as well as other driver vehicle preferences.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a controller onboard a vehicle coupled to an external network transceiver, and configured to:
register a key fob with the vehicle using an authentication code, and
communicate autonomously with a remote server, and
in response to a key fob signal received from a mobile device via the remote server, the signal including the authentication code and a remote control command, autonomously modify operation of at least one component of the vehicle according to the remote control command,

wherein the mobile device is configured to
register with the key fob using the authentication code, and
responsive to receiving the remote control command from the key fob, send the authentication code and the remote control command to the vehicle via the remote server as a key fob signal.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard controller is further configured to respond to the key fob signal from the remote server when the key fob is beyond a range of an onboard wireless vehicle transceiver configured with a communication signal range less than the external network transceiver.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard controller is further configured to:
in response to detecting the key fob within a range of an onboard wireless vehicle transceiver configured with a communication signal range less than the external network transceiver,
discontinue communication with the remote server.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard controller is further configured to:
in response to not detecting the key fob within a range of an onboard wireless vehicle transceiver configured with a communication signal range less than the external network transceiver,
communicate autonomously and periodically with the remote server by the external network transceiver to detect the remote control command from the key fob.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard controller is further configured to register a mobile device, and is further configured to:
in response to not detecting the key fob and detecting the mobile device within a range of an onboard wireless vehicle transceiver configured with a communication signal range less than the external network transceiver,
communicate periodically and autonomously with the mobile device by the wireless transceiver to detect the remote control command from the key fob.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the remote control command includes at least one of an unlock, lock, engine start, cabin temperature adjust, security system arm or disarm, and driver preference command.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the onboard controller is further configured to register a mobile device with the authentication code; and
the mobile device is configured as the key fob and to generate the key fob signal to include the remote control command.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the onboard controller is further configured to:
in response to not detecting the mobile device as the key fob within a range of an onboard wireless vehicle transceiver configured with a communication signal range less than the external network transceiver,
communicate periodically and autonomously with the remote server by the external network transceiver to detect the remote control command from the mobile device as the key fob.

9. The vehicle according to claim 7 , comprising:
the remote control command includes at least one of an unlock, lock, engine start, cabin temperature adjust, security system arm or disarm, and driver preference command.

10. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:
by an onboard controller coupled to an external network transceiver:
registering a key fob by an authentication code,
communicating autonomously with a remote server by the external network transceiver, and
in response to a key fob signal received from the remote server sent by a mobile device that includes the authentication code and a remote control command, autonomously modifying operation of at least one component of the vehicle according to the remote control command,
wherein the mobile device is configured to
register with the key fob using the authentication code, and
responsive to receiving the remote control command from the key fob, send the authentication code and the remote control command to the vehicle via the remote server as a key fob signal.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
the onboard controller registering the mobile device, and by the onboard controller,
in response to not detecting the key fob and detecting the mobile device within a range of an onboard wireless transceiver coupled to the onboard controller,
communicating autonomously and periodically with the mobile device by the onboard wireless transceiver to detect the remote control command from the key fob.

12. The method according to claim 10 , comprising:
the onboard controller registering the mobile device with the authentication code; and
the mobile device operating as the key fob and generating the key fob signal to include the remote control command.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
by the onboard controller,
in response to not detecting the mobile device as the key fob within a range of an onboard wireless transceiver coupled to the onboard controller,
communicate autonomously and periodically with the remote server by the external network transceiver to detect the remote control command from the mobile device as the key fob.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hatton David Anthony
• Gersabeck David Marvin
• Nelson Thomas
• Simons Michael Andrew
• Alhihi Ziad
• Conroy Ryan

Classifications

• B60R2325/205

  Mobile phones · CPC title

• B60R25/24 Primary

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• B60R25/209

  Remote starting of engine · CPC title