System and method for implementing a vehicle configuration based on parameters that are specified by a mobile computing device when outside of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9428127-B2
Application number	US-201414550903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A mobile computing device is operated to control a vehicle. A digital key for accessing a vehicle is stored for accessing the vehicle. Profile information is associated with the digital key for configuring operation and/or use of a vehicle. The profile information may include one or more outside parameters for implementing one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. When one or more proximity conditions are detected as being satisfied as between the mobile computing device and the vehicle, a communication is sent to the vehicle in order to cause the vehicle to implement one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. The communication can be based on the digital key and may specify the one or more outside parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a mobile computing device to control a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a digital key for accessing the vehicle;
generating a second key, based on the received digital key, to be shared with the vehicle;
associating, with the digital key, one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations for operational or usage facets of the vehicle;
detecting that the mobile computing device is within a threshold proximity of the vehicle;
sending the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations to the vehicle upon detecting that the mobile computing device is within the threshold proximity; and
communicating the second key to the vehicle to enable the vehicle to decrypt and implement the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, while the mobile computing device is outside of the vehicle, confirmation that the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations have been implemented by the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting input to the vehicle using the digital key, the input enabling entry or operation of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations control one or more of an operational state of the vehicle, a position and/or orientation of a seat within the vehicle, a position and/or orientation of a steering wheel of the vehicle, a setting for a media station within the vehicle, an internal lighting configuration within the vehicle, or a climate control of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising predicting a seat position of a user when the mobile computing device is outside the vehicle, and select the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations based at least in part on the predicted seat position.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a data item from a key source, the data item corresponding to or providing a basis for the digital key.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the key source includes at least one of a digital key service that communicates with the mobile computing device over a network, a kiosk that interfaces with the mobile computing device using a proximity or physical connection, a rental car service that interfaces with the mobile computing device using a proximity or physical connection, or a second mobile computing device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second key forms an asymmetric key pair with the digital key.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein sending the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations to the vehicle includes encrypting the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations using the digital key, the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations being decryptable by the vehicle using the second key.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wherein the detecting comprises communicating with the vehicle via a short-range wireless medium.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the mobile computing device is outside the vehicle based at least in part on wireless signals exchanged between the mobile computing device and the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination is based at least in part on a received signal strength indication of the wireless signals.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining comprises:
transmitting an acoustic signal to multiple microphones of the vehicle; and
determining a time at which the acoustic signal was received by each of the multiple microphones.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination is based at least in part on a directional characteristic of the wireless signals.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving one or more restrictions on an operational or usage facet of the vehicle, wherein at least some of the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations are based on the one or more restrictions.

16. A mobile computing device comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the mobile computing device to:
receive a digital key for accessing a vehicle;
generate a second key, based on the received digital key, to be shared with the vehicle;
associate, with the digital key, one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations for operational or usage facets of the vehicle;
detect that the mobile computing device is within a threshold proximity of the vehicle;
send the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations to the vehicle upon detecting that the mobile computing device is within the threshold proximity; and
communicate the second key to the vehicle to enable the vehicle to decrypt and implement the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the mobile computing device to receive, while the mobile computing device is outside of the vehicle, confirmation that the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations have been implemented by the vehicle.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the mobile computing device to transmit input to the vehicle, wherein the input enables entry or operation of the vehicle.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations control one or more of an operational state of the vehicle, a position and/or orientation of a seat within the vehicle, a position and/or orientation of a steering wheel of the vehicle, a setting for a media station within the vehicle, an internal lighting configuration within the vehicle, or a climate control of the vehicle.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the mobile computing device to predict a seat position of a user when the mobile computing device is outside the vehicle, and select the one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations based at least in part on the predicted seat position.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the mobile computing device to:
receive a data item from a key source, the data item corresponding to or providing a basis for the digital key.

22. The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the mobile computing device to determine that the mobile computing device is outside the vehicle based at least in part on wireless signals exchanged between the mobile computing device and the vehicle.

23. The mobile computing device of claim 22 , wherein the determination is based at least in part on a received signal strength indication of the wireless signals.

24. The mobile computing device of claim 22 , wherein the determination is based at least in part on a directional characteristic of the wireless signals.

25. A vehicle comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the vehicle to:
receive, from a mobile computing device, a digital key, a shared access key based on the digital key, and one or more vehicle configurations;
authenticate the digital key; and
upon authenticating the digital key, use the shared digital key to decrypt and implement the one or more vehicle configurations and enable access to the vehicle.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Cooper Rotem
• Lane Frank
• Gujral Sunvir
• Jacobs Paul
• Chandhok Ravinder
• Ben-Zur Liat
• Sharma Sandeep

Classifications

• E05F15/77

  using wireless control · CPC title

• B60R16/037 Primary

  for occupant comfort {, e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel} · CPC title

• H04L63/107

  wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals · CPC title

• H04L67/306

  User profiles · CPC title

• B60R25/245

  where the antenna reception area plays a role · CPC title