Keyless car sharing mechanism using smartphones and inbuilt WiFi systems for authentication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845071-B1
Application number	US-201615174206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 6, 2016
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A method of operating/renting keyless motor vehicles includes configuring a user's smartphone to wirelessly communicate with the security systems of at least a selected keyless vehicle, whereby the user's smartphone can transmit a digital key to the security system of a keyless vehicle to permit operation thereof. A digital key for a selected keyless vehicle is transmitted to the user's smartphone, and the user is provided with an authorization code that can be used to gain entry into the selected vehicle. The user enters the authorization code using the user input device of the selected keyless vehicle, and the user's smartphone then transmits the digital key to the security system of the selected keyless vehicle. The user can enter and operate the selected vehicle without receiving a conventional key and/or key fob.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating keyless motor vehicles, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of keyless motor vehicles, each keyless vehicle having a security system including a user input device on an exterior of the vehicle, a wireless communication device that is configured to wirelessly communicate with smartphones, and a powered latch system including one or more electrically powered latches that are configured to both unlock and unlatch vehicle doors, and wherein the security system is configured to actuate the powered latch system to both unlock and unlatch at least one vehicle door and permit entry into the vehicle upon entry of an authorization code via the user input device, and wherein the security system is also configured to permit operation of the keyless vehicle upon receiving a digital key;
configuring a user's smartphone to wirelessly communicate with the security systems of at least a selected one of the keyless vehicles whereby the user's smartphone can transmit a digital key to the security system to permit operation of a selected keyless vehicle;
receiving a vehicle selection from a user to thereby identify a selected keyless vehicle that has been selected for rental;
transmitting a digital key for the selected keyless vehicle to the user's smartphone;
providing the user with an authorization code that can be used to gain entry to the selected vehicle;
wherein the user enters the authorization code using the user input device of the selected keyless vehicle to both unlock and unlatch at least one vehicle door, enters the selected vehicle, and transmits the digital key to the security system of the selected keyless vehicle utilizing the user's smartphone, such that a user can enter and operate the selected vehicle without receiving a conventional key and/or key fob.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
providing a user with a list of keyless vehicles that are available for rental.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the user's smartphone is configured to wirelessly communicate with the security systems of the keyless vehicles by installing a program on the smartphone.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the program is sent to the user's smartphone via email after the user has selected a keyless vehicle to rent.

5. The method of claim 1 , including:
sending the location of the selected keyless vehicle to the user's smartphone.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the location comprises GPS coordinates, and the smartphone is configured to provide a map showing the location of the selected keyless vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the user input device comprises a touch pad having a plurality of discreet inputs that can be individually actuated by contact by a user to input an authorization code.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the security system of the selected keyless vehicle is configured to establish wireless communication with the user's phone after the user enters the authorization code.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the security system automatically resets after establishing wireless communication with the user's smartphone such that the user's smartphone is the only smartphone that can be used to operate the selected keyless vehicle.

10. A method of operating keyless motor vehicles, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of keyless motor vehicles, each keyless vehicle having a security system including a user input device on an exterior of the vehicle, a wireless communication device that is configured to wirelessly communicate with smartphones, and a powered latch system, and wherein the security system is configured to actuate the powered latch system and permit entry into the vehicle upon entry of an authorization code via the user input device, and wherein the security system is also configured to permit operation of the keyless vehicle upon receiving a digital key;
configuring a user's smartphone to wirelessly communicate with the security systems of at least a selected one of the keyless vehicles whereby the user's smartphone can transmit a digital key to the security system to permit operation of a selected keyless vehicle;
receiving a vehicle selection from a user to thereby identify a selected keyless vehicle that has been selected for rental;
transmitting a digital key for the selected keyless vehicle to the user's smartphone;
providing the user with an authorization code that can be used to gain entry to the selected vehicle;
wherein the user enters the authorization code using the user input device of the selected keyless vehicle, enters the selected vehicle, and transmits the digital key to the security system of the selected keyless vehicle utilizing the user's smartphone, such that a user can enter and operate the selected vehicle without receiving a conventional key and/or key fob; and wherein:
the selected keyless vehicle does not include a lock cylinder for mechanically unlocking the selected keyless vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 , including:
providing an interactive display at a vehicle rental facility whereby a user can enter credit card and driver's license information using the interactive display.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the interactive display is configured to provide information concerning keyless vehicles that are available for rental, and a rental agreement that can be accepted by a user.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the interactive display is operably connected to an electronic communication system that sends an electronic message to the user's smartphone, wherein the electronic message comprises the digital key for the selected keyless vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the security systems of the keyless vehicles can be reset to require a new digital key; and including:
resetting the security system of the selected keyless vehicle after the selected keyless vehicle has been returned by a user such that the digital key that was transmitted to the user can no longer be used to operate the selected keyless vehicle.

15. A method of operating keyless motor vehicles, comprising:
receiving a vehicle selection from a remote user;
transmitting authorization and access codes to a user's smartphone;
manually entering the access code to both unlock and unlatch a vehicle door; and
causing the user's smartphone to generate a wireless authorization code that is received by a selected vehicle to thereby permit the vehicle to be driven if the wireless authorization code is verified by the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the authorization code is identical to the access code.

17. The method of claim 15 , including:
causing the security system of the selected vehicle to conduct a handshake operation with the first smartphone and permit operation of the selected vehicle if an authorized access code has been entered.

18. The method of claim 15 , including:
providing an interactive device at a vehicle rental facility; and wherein:
the vehicle selection is entered by a user utilizing the interactive device.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Krishnan Venkatesh

Classifications

• G07C9/22

  in combination with an identity check of the pass holder · CPC title

• B60R25/24 Primary

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

• G06Q30/06

  Buying, selling or leasing transactions · CPC title

• G07C9/00309

  operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• G06Q30/0645

  Rental transactions; Leasing transactions · CPC title