Methods and systems for authenticating one or more users of a vehicle communications and information system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9569403-B2
Application number	US-201213463225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2012
Priority date	May 3, 2012
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A system includes a processor, configured to wirelessly communicate with at least a vehicle computing system, wherein the processor is further configured to receive input from a vehicle owner indicating that transfer of administrative rights to vehicle systems is desired. The processor is further configured to send a confirmation message to a new owner of the vehicle and send a confirmation request to the vehicle computing system, following receipt of a response to the first confirmation message. Also, the processor is configured to establish the new owner as having administrative rights upon receipt of a response to the confirmation request.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a processor, configured to wirelessly communicate with at least a vehicle computing system, wherein the processor is further configured to receive input from a vehicle owner indicating that transfer of administrative rights to vehicle systems is desired;
wherein the processor is further configured to
send a confirmation message to a new owner of the vehicle,
send a confirmation request to the vehicle computing system, following receipt of a response to the first confirmation message, and
establish the new owner as having administrative rights upon receipt of a response to the confirmation request.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input from a vehicle owner is received through a vehicle computing system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input from a vehicle owner is received through a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the confirmation message is an email.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the confirmation message is a text message.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the confirmation message includes a selectable item for responding to the confirmation message.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the confirmation request includes instructions for the vehicle computing system to display the confirmation request in the vehicle upon vehicle key-on.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to decommission the vehicle owner's administrative rights in conjunction with establishing the new owner as having administrative rights.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving a request from a current administrator for administrative rights transfer to a new administrator;
sending a confirmation message to the new administrator;
sending a confirmation request to a vehicle computing system, upon receipt of a confirmation response from the new administrator; and
establishing the new administrator as having administrative rights, upon receipt of a response to the confirmation request from the vehicle computing system.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the request for administrative rights transfer is received from a vehicle computing system.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the request for administrative rights transfer is received from a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the confirmation message includes a selectable item for responding to the confirmation message.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the confirmation request includes instructions for the vehicle computing system to display the confirmation request in the vehicle upon vehicle key-on.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to decommission the vehicle owner's administrative rights in conjunction with establishing the new owner as having administrative rights.

15. A system comprising:
a processor, configured to communicate at least with a vehicle computing system, wherein the processor is further configured to
receive a request from a non-administrator to make the non-administrator an administrator;
responsive to the request, send a message to a current administrator seeking permission to process the request and further send a confirmation request to a vehicle computing system, and
responsive to a confirmation received from either
the current administrator, after the request has been sent to the vehicle computing system, or
the vehicle computing system,

establish the non-administrator as an administrator.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the confirmation request to the vehicle computing system is not sent until a predetermined period of time has passed.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the request to make the non-administrator an administrator is received from the vehicle computing system.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the request to make the non-administrator an administrator is received from a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the message to the current administrator is an email.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the message to the current administrator is a text message.

Assignees

• Petersen Brian
• Kleve Robert Bruce
• Pandya Ritesh
• Kruntovski Michael
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Petersen Brian
• Kleve Robert Bruce
• Pandya Ritesh
• Kruntovski Michael

Classifications

• G06F21/604 Primary

  Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems · CPC title

• G06F17/00 Primary

  Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) · CPC title

• G06F21/00

  Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity · CPC title