IP Library Granted Patent US 8,614,622
Granted Patent B2
US 8,614,622 · App. 12/719,047 · Granted Dec 24, 2013

Method and system for enabling an authorized vehicle driveaway

Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI); Robert Bruce Kleve (Farmington, MI); Kevin Thomas Hille (Plymouth, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,614,622
App. No.
12/719,047
Granted
Dec 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments may include methods and system for enabling an authorized vehicle driveaway. A vehicle driveaway authorization code for authorizing a vehicle to be driven and a user authorization code that corresponds to the vehicle driveaway authorization code may be generated. The codes may be generated by, for example, at least one server configured to generate the authorization codes. The at least one server may be communicating with a nomadic device and a vehicle driveaway authorization system. A vehicle driveaway request signal may be received. In response to a receipt of the vehicle driveaway request signal, the vehicle driveaway authorization code may be transmitted to the vehicle driveaway authorization system and the user authorization code may be transmitted to the nomadic device for input to the vehicle driveaway authorization system in order to enable the vehicle to be driven.

Claims (21)

1. A vehicle driveaway authorization system comprising:

at least one server configured to:

generate a vehicle driveaway authorization code and a user authorization code; and

transmit over a telecommunications network (1) the vehicle driveaway authorization code to at least one vehicle computer and (2) the user authorization code to a nomadic device;

at least one wireless nomadic device configured to receive the user authorization code; and

at least one vehicle computer configured to:

wirelessly receive the vehicle driveaway authorization code for authorizing a vehicle drive, the vehicle driveaway authorization code corresponding to the user authorization code;

receive input at the vehicle defining the user authorization code;

wirelessly receive an identifying signal to identify the wireless nomadic device in a vicinity of a vehicle;

determine whether the wireless nomadic device was previously wirelessly paired with the vehicle based on the identifying signal;

compare the vehicle driveaway authorization code to the user authorization code; and

enable the vehicle to be driven based on a determination that the nomadic device was previously wirelessly paired with the vehicle and if the vehicle driveaway authorization code corresponds to the user authorization code.

2. A vehicle driveaway authorization method comprising:

generating a vehicle driveaway authorization code and a user authorization code;

transmitting over a telecommunications network (1) the vehicle driveaway authorization code to at least one vehicle computer and (2) the user authorization code to a nomadic device;

receiving the user authorization code at a nomadic device;

receiving the vehicle driveaway authorization code at a vehicle computer for authorizing a vehicle drive, the vehicle driveaway authorization code corresponding to the user authorization code;

receiving input to the vehicle computer defining the user authorization code;

wirelessly receiving an identifying signal to identify the nomadic device in a vicinity of a vehicle;

determining whether the nomadic device was previously wirelessly paired with the vehicle based on the identifying signal;

comparing the vehicle driveaway authorization code to the user authorization code; and enabling the vehicle to be driven based on a determination that the nomadic device was previously wirelessly paired with the vehicle and if the vehicle driveaway authorization code corresponds to the user authorization code.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2010
From: VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN ROBERT; KLEVE, ROBERT BRUCE; HILLE, KEVIN THOMAS
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 024048/0064 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110215901A1 · Sep 8, 2011