Phone as a key low latency vehicle access

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11062540-B2
Application number	US-201916694820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Nov 25, 2019
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A Phone-as-a-Key (PaaK) system includes a pre-processor, a secure processor disposed in communication with the pre-processor, a cache memory associated with the pre-processor and the secure processor, and a memory for storing executable instructions. The pre-processor and the secured processor are configured to perform steps that can mitigate delay caused by mobile device authentication. For example, the pre-processor authenticates an authentication message associated with a mobile device used as a key for the vehicle, and stores the message in the cache memory. The pre-processor receives a door latch actuation signal, and initializes the secure processor in response. The pre-processor then provides access to the vehicle based on the secure processor initialization instruction, and the authentication message stored in the cache memory. After initialization, the secure processor sends a challenge value for second authorization of the mobile device, and triggers remedial actions if the device fails to respond correctly.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a mobile device as a key to a vehicle, the method comprising:
sending a message to a mobile device configured to trigger sending of a pre-authentication message upon detection that the mobile device has reached a pre-determined distance from the vehicle;
receiving a pre-authentication message from the mobile device sent at a pre-determined interval;
authenticating the pre-authentication message via a pre-processor of an automotive computer;
storing the pre-authentication message in a cache memory of the automotive computer;
receiving a vehicle sensor output associated with detection of a physical touch on vehicle surface;
generating, via the pre-processor, a secure processor initialization instruction responsive to the vehicle sensor output associated with the detection of the physical touch on the vehicle surface, wherein the secure processor initialization instruction initializes a secure processor of the automotive computer; and
providing, via the pre-processor, access to the vehicle based on the secure processor initialization instruction, and the pre-authentication message stored in the cache memory of the automotive computer;
validating the mobile device with a second authentication, the validating comprising:
transmitting, via the secure processor disposed in communication with a wireless transceiver, a validation message associated with a private key associated with the mobile device;
determining a remedial action based on a validation message response; and
determining a series of escalating remedial actions based on a plurality of validation message responses, comprising:
determining a remedial action based on a validation message response and a geo-location of the vehicle or mobile device;
determining a remedial action based on a plurality of validation message responses in a given geo-location of the vehicle or mobile device;
determining a remedial action based on a validation message response and a date and time; and
determining a remedial action based on a plurality of validation message responses in a given date or time of day;

generating an instruction for performing the remedial action; and
performing the remedial action based on the instruction.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the vehicle sensor output comprises:
receiving a user touch to a vehicle surface detected by way of a capacitive sensor or electromagnetic sensor;
receiving a signal indicative of an actuation of a door latch; or
receiving a video feed by way of a video camera associated with the vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the remedial action comprises:
receiving the validation message, via the secure processor, and comparing the validation message, via the secure processor, to a public key associated with the private key; and
selecting the remedial action from a plurality of remedial actions associated with a vehicle operation or a vehicle alarm or other vehicle feature, the selecting responsive to geo-location of the vehicle or mobile device, date and time of day, and determining that the validation message response does not match a predetermined authorized response associated with the private key and the public key.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the remedial action comprises:
determining that the validation message response is not received within a predetermined time interval from receiving the vehicle sensor output; and
selecting the remedial action of a plurality of remedial actions associated with a vehicle operation or a vehicle alarm or other vehicle feature responsive to geo-location of the vehicle or mobile device, date and time of day, and determining that the validation message response is not received within the predetermined time interval from receiving the vehicle sensor output.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3 , wherein determining the remedial action comprises:
determining that the validation message response is received within a predetermined time interval from receiving the vehicle sensor output;
determining that the validation message response is valid; and
allowing vehicle operation based on determining that the validation message response is valid.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the remedial action comprises:
determining that a summation of invalid validation message responses exceeds a first threshold;
determining that the summation of invalid validation message responses exceeds a second threshold for a given geo-location of the vehicle or mobile device;
determining that the summation of invalid validation message responses exceeds a third threshold for a given date or time of day; and
selecting a remedial action of a plurality of remedial actions associated with a vehicle operation or a vehicle alarm based on the first threshold, the second threshold and the third threshold.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a remedial action instruction based on a response to the validation message; and
transmitting, to a vehicle Telematics Control Unit (TCU), the remedial action instruction responsive to determining that the validation message response is invalid or a timeout error occurs;
wherein the remedial action instruction is configured to cause the TCU to sound an alarm or disable a vehicle function.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after authenticating the pre-authentication message associated with the mobile device via the pre-processor of the automotive computer, sending a power mode instruction to the secure processor, the power mode instruction configured to cause a vehicle Telematics Control Unit (TCU) to change a TCU state from a low energy state to a higher energy state.

9. A Phone as a Key (PaaK) system for a vehicle, comprising:
a pre-processor;
a secure processor disposed in communication with the pre-processor;
a cache memory associated with the pre-processor and the secure processor; and
a memory for storing executable instructions, wherein the pre-processor and the secured processor are configured to execute the instructions to:
determine a geo-location of the vehicle and mobile device
determine a current date and time;
send a message to a mobile device, the message configured to trigger sending of a pre-authentication message upon detection that the mobile device has reached a pre-determined distance from the vehicle;
authenticate the pre-authentication message associated with the mobile device;
send a power mode instruction to the secure processor, wherein the power mode instruction is configured to cause a vehicle Telematics Control Unit (TCU) to change a TCU state from a low energy state to a higher energy state;
receive an authentication message, at a pre-determined interval, from a mobile device used as a key for the vehicle;
authenticate the authentication message via the pre-processor;
save the authentication message in the cache memory;
receive a vehicle sensor output associated with user proximity to the vehicle;
generate, via the pre-processor, a secure processor initialization instruction responsive to the vehicle sensor output associated with a user proximity, wherein the secure processor initialization instruction initializes the secure processor of an automotive computer; and
provide, via the pre-processor, access to the vehicle based on the secure processor initialization instruction of the authentication message stored in the cache memory.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Westra Mike Raymond
• Boran Lisa Therese
• Zajac Daniel Aaron
• Caushi Aldi
• Schubert Jochen

Classifications

• Y02D10/00

  Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management · CPC title

• H04W12/062

  Pre-authentication · CPC title

• G06F12/0891

  using clearing, invalidating or resetting means · CPC title

• H04W12/63

  Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent · CPC title

• H04W4/021 Primary

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title