# US 10,308,217 B2 · Method and apparatus for secure pairing

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- Number: US 10,308,217 B2
- Document ID: US10308217B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/741,020
- Filed: 2015-06-16
- Published: 2016-12-22
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-16
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Joseph Paul Rork; Matthew Atwood Whitaker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308217B2

## CPC

- B60R 25/24: using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
- G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- G07C 9/215: {the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive a request from a mobile device to utilize a vehicle resource. The processor is also configured to determine that a first key has been used to start a vehicle a first time. The processor is further configured to determine that a second key has been used to start the vehicle a second time and approve the request based on the determination that both the first key and the second key were used to start the vehicle a first time and a second time respectively.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a request from a mobile device to utilize a vehicle resource and responsively generate a user-instruction to start a vehicle using a first key immediately followed by starting the vehicle using a second key;
determine compliance with the generated user-instruction; and
approve the request if both the first key and the second key were used to start the vehicle the first time and the second time, respectively.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user-instruction is sent to the mobile device for display.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user-instruction is displayed on a vehicle interface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the request includes a pairing request.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the request includes a request to control a vehicle function.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the request includes a request to utilize a vehicle resource.

### Claim 7

A computer-implemented method comprising:
in response to a request received by a vehicle processor from a mobile device, generating an instruction for a user to start a vehicle first using a first key and then again using a second key; and
providing access to a vehicle resource by the vehicle processor if the vehicle has been started in accordance with the instruction, and if the first and second starts meet predetermined criteria.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, the predetermined criteria comprising:
determining that the first key and second key were used to start the vehicle within a predetermined time window.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising storing an identifier and starting time associated with the first key and an identifier and a starting time associated with the second key when the first key and the second key are used to start the vehicle, respectively, the identifiers transmitted by the vehicle and received by a computer remote from the vehicle.

### Claim 10

A system comprising:
a mobile device processor configured to:
transmit a request to a vehicle processor to utilize a vehicle resource;
control a user interface to display instructions for starting a vehicle a first time using a first key and a second time using a second key; and
receive authorization to access the vehicle resource from the vehicle processor based on the vehicle previously being started with the first key the first time and the second key the second time, the first and second times meeting a predetermined vehicle criteria.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein the mobile device processor communicates with a server remote from the vehicle to receive authorization.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined vehicle criteria includes the first time and second time both being within a predefined time window.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, the vehicle resource including control of a vehicle system via the mobile device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, the vehicle resource including utilization of a vehicle input or output.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, the vehicle resource including requesting information from a vehicle system.