Methods and apparatus for impeding a vehicle entry system relay attack

1. A vehicle remote keyless entry system that can control functions of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a transceiver;

a processor based controller, operatively connected to the transceiver;

a remote device configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller via the transceiver, the controller configured to:

predefine one or more substantially concentric radio frequency authorization zones around the controller that includes at least a first zone and a second zone, a boundary of the second zone being predefined as closer around the controller than a boundary of the first zone,

instruct the transceiver to transmit a polling signal, which can be received by the remote device within the one or more substantially concentric authorization zones, with different polling intervals for each of the first zone and the second zone,

instruct the transceiver to receive a verification signal from the remote device that the controller can use to authenticate an access code of the remote device and determine a location of the remote device within the first zone or the second zone, and

selectively enable one or more of the vehicle functions when the controller determines the remote device is located outside of the second zone.

2. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the transceiver to change the interval of the polling signal to a first random interval within the first zone and a second random interval within the second zone.

3. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the verification signal from the remote device at a corresponding transmission interval as the polling signal, and upon verification of the corresponding transmission interval of the verification signal, verify an identity of the remote device.

4. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a verification signal from the remote device that varies in output power according to a predetermined schedule.

5. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the power variations of the verification signal to a predetermined power variation schedule for the verification signal, and upon verification of the predetermined power variation of the verification signal, verify an identity of the remote device.

6. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the verification signal from the remote device that increases in output power according to a predetermined schedule as the remote device moves closer to the controller.

7. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to define the second zone as substantially concentric around the controller as a low radio frequency zone and configure the first zone as substantially concentric around the controller as a radio frequency zone that has a higher frequency than the second zone.

8. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively disable all vehicle functions that are controlled by the remote device when the remote device transmits the verification signal from the first zone.

9. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to divide at least one of the first zone and the second zone into two or more sectors.

10. The vehicle remote keyless entry system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a location of the remote device within one of the sectors and selectively enable vehicle functions related to the sector location of the remote device and selectively disable vehicle functions related to one or more other sectors.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one closure that includes at least one locking device configured to selectively lock and unlock the closure; and

a remote keyless entry system that can control functions of a vehicle, the remote keyless entry system including:

a transceiver;

a processor based controller, operatively connected to the transceiver;

a remote device configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller via the transceiver, the controller configured to:

predefine one or more substantially concentric radio frequency authorization zones around the controller that includes at least a first zone and a second zone, a boundary of the second zone being predefined as closer around the controller than a boundary of the first zone,

instruct the transceiver to transmit a polling signal, which can be received by the remote device within the one or more substantially concentric authorization zones, with different polling intervals for each of the first zone and the second zone,

instruct the transceiver to receive a verification signal from the remote device that the controller can use to authenticate an access code of the remote device and determine a location of the remote device within the first zone or the second zone, and

selectively enable one or more of the vehicle functions when the controller determines the remote device is located outside of the second zone.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the transceiver to change the interval of the polling signal to a first random interval within the first zone and a second random interval within the second zone.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a verification signal from the remote device that varies in output power according to a predetermined schedule,

compare the power variations of the verification signal to a predetermined power variation schedule for the verification signal, and

upon verification of the predetermined power variation of the verification signal, verify an identity of the remote device.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively disable all vehicle functions that are controlled by the remote device when the remote device transmits the verification signal from the first zone.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:

divide at least one of the first zone and the second zone into two or more sectors,

determine a location of the remote device within one of the sectors, and

selectively enable vehicle functions related to the sector location of the remote device and selectively disable vehicle functions related to one or more other sectors.

16. A method of operating a remote keyless entry system for a vehicle, the method comprising:

defining at least a first authorization zone and a second authorization zone around a controller, the second authorization zone being defined as a substantially concentric second area around the controller, and the first authorization zone being defined as a substantially concentric first area around the second authorization zone;

transmitting a first polling signal for reception by a remote device at a first frequency into at least a portion of the first authorization zone;

receiving, from the remote device, a first verification signal in response to the first polling signal if the remote device is in at least the portion of the first authorization zone;

transmitting a second polling signal for reception by the remote device at a second frequency into at least a portion of the second authorization zone;

receiving, from the remote device, a second verification signal in response to the second polling signal if the remote device is in at least the portion of the second authorization zone;

selectively enabling at least a first vehicle function when the first verification signal is validated; and

selectively enabling at least a second vehicle function when the second verification signal is validated.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first polling signal is transmitted at a first patterned polling interval and the second polling signal is transmitted at a second patterned polling interval.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the remote device, the one of the first verification signal and the second verification signal using a varying output power pattern.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

dividing at least one of the first authorization zone and the second authorization zone into a plurality of sectors; and

assigning one or more apportioned functions of the at least first vehicle function or the at least second vehicle function to the plurality of sectors.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

selectively enabling the one or more apportioned functions assigned to the plurality of sectors when one of the first verification signal and the second verification signal is validated from one of the plurality of sectors.