IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,890,654
Granted Patent B2
US 8,890,654 · App. 13/775,553 · Granted Nov 18, 2014

Methodology for emergency transfer of keys for vehicle equipped with biometric access and start

Inventor: John Robert Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G05B1/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,890,654
App. No.
13/775,553
Granted
Nov 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system may include a system controller in communication with a function controller and configured to receive an authentication request. The authentication request may include a user input and the user input may be authenticated by matching the user input with at least one stored input. The controller may determine a vehicle mode and update, via the function controller, a status associated with a key fob in response to the vehicle mode being in an authenticated mode.

Claims (34)

1. A system comprising:

a system controller in communication with a function controller, the system controller configured to:

receive an authentication request, including a user input;

authenticating the user input by matching the user input with at least one stored input;

determining a vehicle mode;

updating, via the function controller, a status associated with a key fob in response to the vehicle mode being in an authenticated mode.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the updated status associated with the key fob indicates the key fob is functional.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the key fob is arranged in a receptacle within a vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the function controller is configured to determine that the key fob is not arranged within the receptacle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the function controller is configured to associate a removed status with the key fob upon removal of the key fob from the receptacle.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a biometric device in communication with the system controller, wherein the user input is a biometric input received from the biometric device.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database in communicated with the function controller and configured to maintain the status associated with the key fob.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authenticated mode includes at least one of a motive, accessory, and delayed accessory mode.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, an access request including a user input;

comparing the user input with at least one stored input;

authenticating the user in response to the user input matching the at least one stored input;

determining a vehicle mode;

updating a status associated with a key fob in response to the vehicle mode being in an authenticated mode.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining that key fob is arranged in a receptacle within a vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the function controller is configured to associate a removed status with the key fob upon removal of the key fob from the receptacle.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user input is a biometric input.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising maintaining the status associated with the key fob in a database.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the authenticated mode includes at least one of a motive, accessory, and delayed accessory mode.

15. A method comprising:

detecting a key fob within a receptacle;

authenticating a first input;

authenticating a second input;

updating, at a computing device, the status associated with the key fob to include a backup status in response to the authentication of the first and second inputs.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first input is a frequency signal including a first input identification and wherein the second input is a frequency signal including a second input identification.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first input is a frequency signal including a first input identification and wherein the second input is a biometric input.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising updating the status associated with the key fob to include an inactive status.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the detecting the key fob includes receiving a signal from the key fob at a function controller.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the signal includes a key fob identification and a vehicle identification number.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2013
From: VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN ROBERT
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 029866/0895 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140240086A1 · Aug 28, 2014