Keyed-alike phone-based keys

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022073032-A1
Application number	US-202017013118-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Sep 4, 2020
Publication date	Mar 10, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A keyed-alike digital consumer access key is generated for distribution to a plurality of vehicles of a fleet. The keyed-alike digital consumer access key is deployed to the plurality of vehicles. The keyed-alike digital consumer access key is deployed to a mobile device. A request from a mobile device may be received to gain access to the plurality of vehicles. Responsive to validating the mobile device, the mobile device may be sent the keyed-alike digital consumer access key and a unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device, the keyed-alike digital consumer access key for use by the mobile device in authentication to one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the unique identifier for use by the mobile device in tracking which mobile device is accessing the one or more of the plurality of vehicles.

First claim

1 . A system for managing access to a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
a server programmed to:
generate a keyed-alike digital consumer access key for distribution to a plurality of vehicles of a fleet;
deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the plurality of vehicles;
receive a request from a mobile device to gain access to the plurality of vehicles; and
responsive to validating the mobile device, send the mobile device the keyed-alike digital consumer access key and a unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device, the keyed-alike digital consumer access key configured to be used by the mobile device to authenticate the mobile device to the plurality of vehicles, the unique identifier configured to be used b the mobile device to track which mobile device is accessing the plurality of vehicles.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to receive a request from a fleet administrator to generate and deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to access a listing of table identifiers to identify the plurality of vehicles to which to deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to periodically:
revoke the keyed-alike digital consumer access key; generate a new keyed-alike digital consumer access key; and deploy the new keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the plurality of vehicles; and deploy the new keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the mobile device responsive to the mobile device performing a security challenge.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to, responsive to receipt of an indication that one of the plurality of vehicles is no longer a fleet vehicle, automatically revoke the keyed-alike digital consumer access key from the one of the plurality of vehicles.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to validate a vehicle for addition to the plurality of vehicles responsive to a security challenge sent to the vehicle from the server being validly responded to by the vehicle, the security challenge including confirming presence of a physical key in the vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the physical key is a key fob or an NFC card.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to:
receive a second request including an identifier of one of the plurality of vehicles; query the one of the plurality of vehicles for information; and provide, the information responsive to the second request, the information including the unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device having accessed the one of the plurality of vehicles.

10 . A method for managing access to a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
generating a keyed-alike digital consumer access key for distribution to a plurality of vehicles of a fleet; deploying the keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the plurality of vehicles; receiving a request from a mobile device to gain access to the plurality of vehicles; and responsive to validating the mobile device, sending the mobile device the keyed-alike digital consumer access key and a unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device, the keyed-alike digital consumer access key configured to be used by the mobile device to authenticate the mobile device to the plurality of vehicles, the unique identifier configured to be used by the mobile device to track which mobile device is accessing the plurality of vehicles.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving a request from a fleet administrator to generate and deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising accessing a listing of table identifiers to identify the plurality of vehicles to which to deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising periodically:
revoking the keyed-alike digital consumer access key; generating a new keyed-alike digital consumer access key; deploying the new keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the plurality of vehicles; and deploying the new keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the mobile device responsive to the mobile device performing a security challenge.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of an indication that one of the plurality of vehicles is no longer a fleet vehicle, automatically revoking the keyed-alike digital consumer access key from the one of the plurality of vehicles.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising validating a vehicle for addition to the plurality of vehicles responsive to a security challenge sent to the vehicle being validly responded to by the vehicle, the security challenge including confirming presence of a physical key in the vehicle.

17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a second request including an identifier of one of the plurality of vehicles; querying the one of the plurality of vehicles for information; and providing, the information responsive to the second request, the information including the unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device having accessed the one of the plurality of vehicles.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for managing access to a fleet of vehicles, that, when executed by a processor of a server, cause the server to perform operations including to:
generate a keyed-alike digital consumer access key for distribution to a plurality of vehicles of a fleet; deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the plurality of vehicles; receive a request from a mobile device to gain access to the plurality of vehicles; and responsive to validating the mobile device, send the mobile device the keyed-alike digital consumer access key and a unique identifier corresponding, to the mobile device, the keyed-alike digital consumer access key configured to be used by the mobile device to authenticate the mobile device to the plurality of vehicles, the unique identifier configured to be used by the mobile device to track which mobile device is accessing the plurality of vehicles.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The medium of claim 18 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the server, cause the server to perform operations including to access a listing of table identifiers to identify the plurality of vehicles to which to deploy the keyed-alike digital consumer access key.

21 . The medium of claim 18 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the server, cause the server to perform operations including to periodically:
revoke the keyed-alike digital consumer access key; generate a new keyed-alike digital consumer access key; deploy the new keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the plurality of vehicles; and deploy the new keyed-alike digital consumer access key to the mobile device responsive to the mobile device performing a security challenge.

22 . The medium of claim 18 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the server, cause the server to perform operations including to, responsive to receipt of an indication that one of the plurality of vehicles is no longer a fleet vehicle, automatically revoke the keyed-alike di

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hassani Ali
• Hanson Ryan Edwin
• Golgiri Hamid M
• Hille Kevin Thomas

Classifications

• B60R25/241 Primary

  whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers · CPC title

• B60R2325/108

  Encryption · CPC title

• B60R2325/103

  Near field communication [NFC] · CPC title

• B60R2325/205

  Mobile phones · CPC title

• B60R2325/101

  Bluetooth® · CPC title