IP Library Granted Patent US 12,617,372
Granted Patent B2
US 12,617,372 · App. 17/411,985 · Granted May 5, 2026

Systems and methods for enhanced vehicle valet mode

Inventors: Aaron DeLong (Toledo, OH); Eugene Karpinsky (Farmington Hills, MI); Cameron Smyth (Wyandotte, MI); Timothy Thivierge (Carleton, MI); Daniel King (Northville, MI); Kevin Hille (Plymouth, MI); Farhan Ehsan (Lasalle, CA); John Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI); Santosh Lalwani (Dearborn, MI)
B60R25/243B60K35/10B60K35/22B60R25/045B60R25/209B60R25/23H04W4/40B60K35/85B60K2360/794B60R2325/205
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,617,372
App. No.
17/411,985
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for an enhanced valet mode for vehicles. An example method may include receiving, by a vehicle, a request for a temporary valet passcode. The example method may also include determining, that a passive entry passive start (PEPS) key fob is not present inside the vehicle. The example method may also include presenting a request for a second passcode. The example method may also include determining that the second passcode has been input. The example method may also include determining that the second passcode matches a pre-established passcode that is stored in memory of the vehicle. The example method may also include generating, using an enhanced valet mode, a first temporary valet passcode based on the determination that the second passcode matches a pre-established passcode that is stored in the memory.

Claims (60)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a vehicle and at a first time, a first request for a first temporary valet passcode;

determining that (1) an owner passcode is stored in memory of the vehicle and a passive entry passive start (PEPS) device is present inside the vehicle or (2) the owner passcode is not stored in the memory of the vehicle, wherein the owner passcode is a pre-established passcode;

initiating a simple valet mode of the vehicle based on the determination that the owner passcode is stored in the memory and the PEPS device is present inside the vehicle or the determination that the owner passcode is not stored in the memory of the vehicle;

receiving, by the vehicle and at a second time, a second request for the first temporary valet passcode;

determining that the owner passcode is stored in the memory of the vehicle and the PEPS device is not present inside the vehicle;

initiating, based on the determination that the owner passcode is stored in the memory of the vehicle and the PEPS device is not present inside the vehicle, an enhanced valet mode instead of the simple valet mode;

presenting, based on initiating the enhanced valet mode, a request for the owner passcode;

receiving an entry of an input passcode;

determining that the input passcode matches the owner passcode; and

generating, by the vehicle and through the enhanced valet mode, the first temporary valet passcode and a second temporary valet passcode that are different than the owner passcode based on the determination that the input passcode matches the owner passcode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting, based on generating the first temporary valet passcode, the first temporary valet passcode on a human machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle; and

sending the second temporary valet passcode to a mobile device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the vehicle, a third temporary valet passcode associated with a keypad of a door of the vehicle, wherein a size of the third temporary valet passcode is based on a maximum passcode size associated with the keypad of the door, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode is associated with an ignition of the vehicle;

opening the door of the vehicle based on receiving the third temporary valet passcode at the keypad; and

triggering the ignition of the vehicle based on receiving the first temporary valet passcode.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first temporary valet passcode and second temporary valet passcode are different than the third temporary valet passcode, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode and the second temporary valet passcode are created based on the third temporary valet passcode, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode and the second temporary valet passcode include a combination of the third temporary valet passcode and additional values.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the mobile device is a validated Phone-as-a-Key (Paak) mobile device.

6 . A vehicle comprising:

a processor operable to execute a set of computer-executable instructions; and

memory operable to store the set of computer-executable instructions operable to:

receive, at a first time, a first request for a first temporary valet passcode;

determine that (1) an owner passcode is stored in memory of the vehicle and a passive entry passive start (PEPS) device is present inside the vehicle or (2) the owner passcode is not stored in the memory of the vehicle, wherein the owner passcode is a pre-established passcode;

initiate a simple valet mode of the vehicle based on the determination that the owner passcode is stored in the memory and the PEPS device is present inside the vehicle or the determination that the owner passcode is not stored in the memory of the vehicle;

receiving, by the vehicle and at a second time, a second request for the first temporary valet passcode;

determine that the owner passcode is stored in the memory of the vehicle and the PEPS device is not present inside the vehicle;

initiate, based on the determination that the owner passcode is stored in the memory of the vehicle and the PEPS device is not present inside the vehicle, an enhanced valet mode instead of the simple valet mode;

present, based on initiating the enhanced valet mode, a request for the owner passcode;

receive an entry of an input passcode;

determine that the input passcode matches the owner passcode; and

generate, by the vehicle and through the enhanced valet mode, the first temporary valet passcode and a second temporary valet passcode that are different than the owner passcode based on the determination that the input passcode matches the owner passcode.

7 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

present, based on generating the first temporary valet passcode, the first temporary valet passcode on a human machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle; and

send the second temporary valet passcode to a mobile device.

8 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

generate, by the vehicle, a third temporary valet passcode associated with a keypad of a door of the vehicle, wherein a size of the third temporary valet passcode is based on a maximum passcode size associated with the keypad of the door, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode is associated with an ignition of the vehicle;

open the door of the vehicle based on receiving the third temporary valet passcode at the keypad; and

trigger the ignition of the vehicle based on receiving the first temporary valet passcode.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first temporary valet passcode and second temporary valet passcode are different than the third temporary valet passcode, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode and the second temporary valet passcode are created based on the third temporary valet passcode, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode and the second temporary valet passcode include a combination of the third temporary valet passcode and additional values.

10 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the mobile device is a validated Phone-as-a-Key (Paak) mobile device.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations of:

receiving, by a vehicle and at a first time, a first request for a first temporary valet passcode;

determining that (1) an owner passcode is stored in memory of the vehicle and a passive entry passive start (PEPS) device is present inside the vehicle or (2) the owner passcode is not stored in the memory of the vehicle, wherein the owner passcode is a pre-established passcode; initiating a simple valet mode of the vehicle based on the determination that the owner passcode is stored in the memory and the PEPS device is present inside the vehicle or the determination that the owner passcode is not stored in the memory of the vehicle;

receiving, by the vehicle and at a second time, a second request for the first temporary valet passcode;

determine that the owner passcode is stored in the memory of the vehicle and the PEPS device is not present inside the vehicle;

initiating, based on the determination that the owner passcode is stored in the memory of the vehicle and the PEPS device is not present inside the vehicle, an enhanced valet mode instead of the simple valet mode;

presenting, based on initiating the enhanced valet mode, a request for the owner passcode, wherein the owner passcode is a pre-established passcode;

receiving an entry of an input passcode;

determining that the input passcode matches the owner passcode; and

generating, by the vehicle and through the enhanced valet mode, the first temporary valet passcode and a second temporary valet passcode that are different than the owner passcode based on the determination that the input passcode matches the owner passcode.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform operations of:

presenting, based on generating the first temporary valet passcode, the first temporary valet passcode on a human machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle; and

sending the second temporary valet passcode to a mobile device.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform operations of:

generating, by the vehicle, a third temporary valet passcode associated with a keypad of a door of the vehicle, wherein a size of the third temporary valet passcode is based on a maximum passcode size associated with the keypad of the door, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode is associated with an ignition of the vehicle;

opening the door of the vehicle based on receiving the third temporary valet passcode at the keypad; and

triggering the ignition of the vehicle based on receiving the first temporary valet passcode.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the first temporary valet passcode and second temporary valet passcode are different than the third temporary valet passcode, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode and the second temporary valet passcode are created based on the third temporary valet passcode, and wherein the first temporary valet passcode and the second temporary valet passcode include a combination of the third temporary valet passcode and additional values.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2021
From: DELONG, AARON; KARPINSKY, EUGENE; SMYTH, CAMERON; THIVIERGE, TIMOTHY; KING, DANIEL; HILLE, KEVIN; EHSAN, FARHAN; VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN; LALWANI, SANTOSH
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 057475/0004 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 63081391 · Sep 22, 2020
Provisional Application 63081389 · Sep 22, 2020
Provisional Application 63081388 · Sep 22, 2020
Related Publication 20220089123A1 · Mar 24, 2022
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