Method and apparatus for secure vehicle system access from a remote system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9691204-B2
Application number	US-201414172172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2014
Priority date	Feb 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive a vehicle-access-PIN generation request from a vehicle computing system (VCS). The processor is also configured to generate the vehicle-access-PIN. The processor is additionally configured to associate a vehicle with the vehicle-access-PIN. Further, the processor is configured to return the vehicle-access-PIN to the requesting VCS. Also, the processor is configured to receive a validation request, including a validation-PIN, from a non-vehicle computing system (NVCS). In addition, the processor is configured to validate the validation-PIN by comparison with stored vehicle-access-PINs to find a match and provide access credentials, for a vehicle associated with a stored vehicle-access-PIN that matches the validation-PIN, to the NVCS.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a vehicle-access-PIN generation request from a vehicle computing system (VCS);
generate the vehicle-access-PIN;
associate a vehicle with the vehicle-access-PIN;
return the vehicle-access-PIN to the requesting VCS;
receive a validation request, including a validation-PIN, from a non-vehicle computing system (NVCS);
validate the validation-PIN by comparison with stored vehicle-access-PINs to find a match; and
provide access credentials, for a vehicle associated with a stored vehicle-access-PIN that matches the validation-PIN, to the NVCS.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to associate the vehicle by associating a vehicle identification number (VIN) with the vehicle-access-PIN.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set a duration for the vehicle-access-PIN and to invalidate the vehicle-access-PIN upon expiration of the duration.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-access-PIN generation request includes a vehicle identifier.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to determine which vehicle to associate with the vehicle-access-PIN based on the vehicle identifier.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the NVCS includes a mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the NVCS includes a computer remote from a vehicle.

8. A method comprising:
receiving a vehicle-access-PIN generation request from a vehicle computing system (VCS);
generating the vehicle-access-PIN;
associating a vehicle with the vehicle-access-PIN;
returning the vehicle-access-PIN to the requesting VCS;
receiving a validation request, including a validation-PIN, from a non-vehicle computing system (NVCS);
validating the validation-PIN by comparison with stored vehicle-access-Ms to find a match; and
providing access credentials, for a vehicle associated with a stored vehicle-access-PIN that matches the validation-PIN, to the NVCS.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising associating the vehicle by associating a vehicle identification number (VIN) with the vehicle-access-PIN.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising setting a duration for the vehicle-access-PIN and invalidating the vehicle-access-PIN upon expiration of the duration.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle-access-PIN generation request includes a vehicle identifier.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining which vehicle to associate with the vehicle-access-PIN based on the vehicle identifier.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the NVCS includes a mobile device.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the NVCS includes a computer remote from a vehicle.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
receiving a vehicle-access-PIN generation request from a vehicle computing system (VCS);
generating the vehicle-access-PIN;
associating a vehicle with the vehicle-access-PIN;
returning the vehicle-access-PIN to the requesting VCS;
receiving a validation request, including a validation-PIN, from a non-vehicle computing system (NVCS);
validating the validation-PIN by comparison with stored vehicle-access-Ms to find a match; and
providing access credentials, for a vehicle associated with a stored vehicle-access-PIN that matches the validation-PIN, to the NVCS.

16. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises associating the vehicle by associating a vehicle identification number (VIN) with the vehicle-access-PIN.

17. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises setting a duration for the vehicle-access-PIN and invalidating the vehicle-access-PIN upon expiration of the duration.

18. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle-access-PIN generation request includes a vehicle identifier.

19. The storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises determining which vehicle to associate with the vehicle-access-PIN based on the vehicle identifier.

20. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the NVCS includes a mobile device or a computer remote from a vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Frykman William M
• Pandya Ritesh
• Petersen Brian
• Rork Joseph Paul
• Zechel Kelly Lee

Classifications

• G07C9/33 Primary

  by means of a password · CPC title

• H04L9/32

  including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system {or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials} · CPC title

• H04L9/3226

  using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083) · CPC title

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• B60R25/24

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