Methods and devices for managing access to a vehicle
AssigneeKeyfree Technologies Inc.
InventorMatthew VINCENTI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, system, mobile node, administrative module for managing access to a vehicle and/or for activating temporary access to the vehicle. A fixed unit comprising a short range transceiver is provided in the vehicle, for managing access thereto the vehicle. A virtual key is provided to the mobile device that has a primary function other than virtual key management. The fixed unit interacts only via the short range transceiver while granting access, the virtual key may be associated by the mobile device to a valet key device for granting conditional access to the vehicle.
Claims40
A method for managing access to a vehicle comprising:
- providing a fixed unit, in the vehicle, for managing access to the vehicle, the fixed unit comprising a short range radio transceiver;
- activating a virtual key, for granting access to the vehicle, based on a unique identifier of the fixed unit;
- providing the virtual key, over a network, for local storage into a mobile device, the mobile device having a primary function other than virtual key management;
- and
- programming the fixed unit for granting access to the vehicle upon identifying the mobile device, wherein the fixed unit interacts only via the short range radio transceiver while granting access.
A method for activating temporary access to a vehicle comprising a fixed unit for managing access to the vehicle, the method comprising:
- from a mobile device, associating a virtual key to a valet key device for granting conditional access to the vehicle, the mobile device having a primary function other than virtual key management;
- and
- from the mobile device, communicating the parameters of the virtual key to the fixed unit using a short range radio transceiver.
A method for managing access to a vehicle comprising:
- creating a virtual key, for granting access to the vehicle, based on a unique identifier of a fixed unit to be installed in the vehicle;
- programming the fixed unit for granting access to the vehicle upon receiving credentials related to the virtual key from a mobile device, wherein the fixed unit interacts only via a short range radio transceiver while granting access and wherein the mobile device has a primary function other than virtual key management;
- generating an activation code based on the unique identifier of the fixed unit;
- and
- remotely activating the virtual key within the mobile device upon receiving the activation code from the mobile device over a network.
A system for managing access to a remote vehicle comprising:
- a fixed unit, in the vehicle, for managing access to the vehicle, the fixed unit comprising a short range radio transceiver;
- an administrative agent for:
- activating a virtual key based on a unique identifier of the fixed unit, the virtual key granting access to the vehicle;
- providing the virtual key, over a network, for local storage into a mobile device, the mobile device having a primary function other than virtual key management;
- and
- programming the fixed unit for granting access to the vehicle upon identifying the mobile device, wherein the fixed unit interacts only via the short range radio transceiver while granting access.
A mobile device for activating temporary access to a vehicle comprising a fixed unit for managing access to the vehicle, the mobile node comprising:
- a security module for:
- associating a virtual key to a valet key device for granting conditional access to the vehicle, the mobile device having a primary function other than virtual key management;
- and
- communicating the parameters of the virtual key to the fixed unit using a short range radio transceiver.
An administrative agent for managing access to a vehicle comprising a network interface module;
- and
- a security module for:
- creating a virtual key, for granting access to the vehicle, based on a unique identifier of a fixed unit to be installed in the vehicle;
- programming the fixed unit for granting access to the vehicle upon receiving credentials related to the virtual key from a mobile device, wherein the fixed unit interacts only via a short range radio transceiver while granting access and wherein the mobile device has a primary function other than virtual key management;
- generating an activation code based on the unique identifier of the fixed unit;
- and
- remotely activating the virtual key, via the network interface module, within the mobile device upon receiving the activation code from the mobile device over a network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.