Gesture-based remote keyless entry for NFC keys

1. A portable access device comprising:

one or more user input sensors configured to receive user input applied to the access device, the one or more user input sensors including one or more motion or orientation sensors configured to sense motion or orientation of the access device;

one or more environmental sensors configured to receive environmental input regarding surroundings of the access device;

a transceiver configured to send remote keyless entry (RKE) commands;

and

a controller programmed to

utilize a command mapping of motion or orientation user input to the RKE commands to identify which RKE command of the RKE commands to perform based on the motion or orientation user input;

responsive to the environmental input being indicative of command entry, activate the transceiver to send the RKE command; and

otherwise, ignore the user input of the RKE command,

wherein a first region on a top face of the access device is configured for input of a first RKE command; and a second region on a bottom face of the access device is configured for input of a second RKE command, the one or more user input sensors include an orientation sensor configured to determine whether the top face or the bottom face is facing upward and an accelerometer configured to detect changes in g-force responsive to tapping, such that the first RKE command is indicated by the command mapping responsive to the top face of the access device facing upward during the tapping and the second RKE command is indicated by the command mapping responsive to the bottom face of the access device facing upward during the tapping.

2. The access device of claim 1 , wherein the user input includes tapping on the access device, and the one or more user input sensors include an accelerometer configured to detect changes in g-forces responsive to the tapping.

3. The access device of claim 1 , wherein the user input includes rotation of the access device, and the one or more user input sensors include an orientation sensor configured to detect changes in orientation responsive to the rotation.

4. The access device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to deactivate the transceiver responsive to sending the RKE command.

5. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of labeled regions on a face of the access device, wherein the one or more user input sensors are positioned to differentiate and detect input from the user received to each of the plurality of labeled regions.

6. The access device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of labeled regions includes a start tap zone configured to receive tap input to send a remote start RKE command, an unlock tap configured to receive tap input to send an unlock RKE command zone, and a lock tap zone configured to receive tap input to send a lock RKE command.

7. The access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental sensors include a proximity sensor configured to detect proximity to an object, and the controller is programmed to determine the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to lack of detection of the object by the proximity sensor.

8. The access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental sensors include a light sensor configured to detect ambient light, and the controller is programmed to determine the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to detection of ambient light.

9. The access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental sensors include flex sensors, and/or force sensitive resistors embedded into the access device configured to detect bending of the access device, and the controller is programmed to determine the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to an absence of bending of the access device.

10. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a near field communication (NFC) sensor, wherein the controller is further programmed to receive the command mapping via NFC communication to the NFC sensor.

11. A method for utilizing a portable access device, comprising:

receiving motion or orientation user input to one or more motion or orientation sensors configured to sense motion or orientation of the access device;

utilizing a command mapping of motion or orientation user input to remote keyless entry (RKE) commands to identify which RKE command of the RKE commands to perform based on the motion or orientation user input, the command mapping including mapping a first region on a top face of the access device for input of a first RKE command and mapping a second region on a bottom face of the access device for input of a second RKE command;

responsive to environmental input from one or more environmental sensors of the access device being indicative of command entry,

determining whether the top face or the bottom face is facing upward using the one or more motion or orientation sensors;

detecting changes in g-force responsive to the user input using the one or more motion or orientation sensors;

indicating the first RKE command responsive to the top face of the access device facing upward during the user input;

indicating the second RKE command responsive to the bottom face of the access device facing upward during the user input;

activating a transceiver of the access device,

sending the indicated RKE command, and

deactivating the transceiver; and

otherwise, ignore the user input of the RKE command.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising differentiating the user input as being received one of a plurality of labeled regions on a face of the access device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of labeled regions includes a start tap zone for receiving tap input to send a remote start RKE command, an unlock tap for receiving tap input to send an unlock RKE command zone, and a lock tap zone for receiving tap input to send a lock RKE command.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more of:

the one or more environmental sensors include a proximity sensor configured to detect proximity to an object, and further comprising determining the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to lack of detection of the object by the proximity sensor;

the one or more environmental sensors include a light sensor configured to detect ambient light, and further comprising determining the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to detection of ambient light; or

the one or more environmental sensors include flex sensors, and/or force sensitive resistors embedded into the access device configured to detect bending of the access device, and further comprising determining the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to an absence of bending of the access device.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving the command mapping via NFC communication to an NFC sensor of the access device.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for operation of an access device that, when executed by a key controller, cause the key controller to perform operations including to:

receive motion or orientation user input to the access device from one or more user input sensors, the one or more user input sensors including one or more motion or orientation configured to sense motion or orientation of the access device;

receive environmental input regarding surroundings of the access device from one or more environmental sensors;

utilize a command mapping of motion or orientation user input to remote keyless entry (RKE) commands to identify which RKE command of the RKE commands to perform based on the motion or orientation user input, the command mapping including mapping a first region on a top face of the access device for input of a first RKE command and mapping a second region on a bottom face of the access device for input of a second RKE command;

responsive to the environmental input being indicative of command entry, determine whether the top face or the bottom face is facing upward using the one or more motion or orientation sensors, detect changes in g-force responsive to the user input using the one or more motion or orientation sensors, indicate the first RKE command responsive to the top face of the access device facing upward during the user input; indicate the second RKE command responsive to the bottom face of the access device facing upward during the user input, activate a transceiver of the access device, send the indicated RKE command, and deactivate the transceiver; and

otherwise, ignore the user input of the RKE command.

17. The medium of claim 16 , the access device comprising a plurality of labeled regions on a face of the access device, the medium further comprising instructions that, when executed by the key controller, cause the key controller to perform operations including to differentiate and detect user input from the user received to each of the plurality of labeled regions.

18. The medium of claim 16 , further comprising receive the command mapping via NFC communication to an NFC sensor of the access device.

19. The medium of claim 16 , wherein one or more of:

the one or more environmental sensors include a proximity sensor configured to detect proximity to an object, and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the key controller, cause the key controller to perform operations including to determine the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to lack of detection of the object by the proximity sensor;

the one or more environmental sensors include a light sensor configured to detect ambient light, and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the key controller, cause the key controller to perform operations including to determine the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to detection of ambient light; or

the one or more environmental sensors include flex sensors, and/or force sensitive resistors embedded into the access device configured to detect bending of the access device, and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the key controller, cause the key controller to perform operations including to determine the environmental input is indicative of command entry responsive to an absence of bending of the access device.