# US 2021/0241602 A1 · System and method for finding a key > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241602 A1 - Document ID: US20210241602A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/239,571 - Filed: 2021-04-24 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-02 - Assignees: Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co. - Applicants: Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Magnus NILSSON; Erik LINDBERG NILSSON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241602A1 ## CPC - B60R 25/245: {where the antenna reception area plays a role} - G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms - G08B 3/10: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission - G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - B60R 2325/205: Mobile phones - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A key localization system for finding a vehicle key. The system includes a key unit, a first communication unit, at least one second communication unit, and a processing circuitry operatively connected to the first communication unit and configured to cause the key localization system to send, via the first communication unit, a detect key signal and receive, via the first communication unit, in response to that the key unit has received the detect key signal, a found key signal from at least one of the key unit and the second communication unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A key localization system for finding a vehicle key, wherein the key localization system comprises: a key unit connected to the vehicle key and configured for wireless communication; a first communication unit configured for receiving input indicative of a request to find the vehicle key and configured to establish wireless communication with the key unit; at least one second communication unit comprised in a vehicle and configured for wireless communication with the first communication unit and the key unit configured for wireless communication with at least one of the first communication unit and the at least one second communication unit; and a processing circuitry operatively connected to the first communication unit and configured to cause the key localization system to: receive at the server, a find key request signal, sent from the first communication unit, comprising key identification data and position information data; send from the server a detect key signal configured to be received by at least one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit; send, via the first communication unit, a detect key signal configured to be received by at least one of the key unit and the second communication unit; and receive, via the first communication unit, in response to that the key unit has received the detect key signal, a found key signal from at least one of the key unit and the second communication unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is configured to be associated with the key unit, the first communication unit being comprised in a first vehicle and the at least one second communication unit being comprised in a second vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is configured to be associated with the key unit and wherein the first communication unit is comprised in a portable communication device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication unit is configured to establish wireless communication with the key unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the found key signal received from at least one of the key unit and the second communication unit further comprises vehicle position information for determining the geographical location of the vehicle comprising the second communication unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: send, via the first communication unit, a key alert signal configured to be received by at least one of the key unit and the second communication unit; and in response to receiving the key alert signal at the key unit, generate an alert in the key unit for indicating the location of the key unit to a person in the vicinity of the key unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication unit is configured to receive and re-send at least one of the detect key signal and the found key signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the position information data of the find key request signal is one of the position of the first communication unit or a position information data entered by a user of the first communication unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The key localization system according to claim 8, wherein the detect key signal is configured to be received by at least one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit if the at least one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit is located within a predetermined distance from the geographical position given in the position information data of the find key request signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The key localization system according to claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: send the found key signal to the server via at least one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit; receive the found key signal at the server; and send a find key response signal from the server to the first communication unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The key localization system according to claim 1, wherein the key unit is further configured to receive input from a user to manually activate the found key signal. ### Claim 12 A method for finding a vehicle key, the method comprising: receiving at a server, a find key request signal, sent from a first communication unit, comprising key identification data and position information data; sending from the server a detect key signal configured to be received by at least one of a first communication unit and a second communication unit; sending via a first communication unit, a detect key signal configured to be received by at least one of a key unit and a second communication unit; and receiving via the first communication unit, in response to that the key unit has received the detect key signal, a found key signal from at least one of the key unit and the second communication unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable into a processing circuitry and configured to cause execution of the method according to claim 12 when the computer program is run by the processing circuitry.