System and method for remote convenience function control having a rekey security feature

A method of remote convenience function control, said method comprising:

• transmitting a first signal containing a remote control function request and a security key from a portable transceiver;
• receiving the first signal at a controller transceiver;
• performing the requested function in response to receipt of the first signal;
• transmitting a second signal with a new security key from the controller transceiver in response to receipt of the first signal;
• receiving the second signal containing the new security key at the portable transceiver;
• and
• updating to the new security key at the portable transceiver in response to receipt of the second signal.

A remote convenience system for remote control performance of a function, said system comprising:

• portable transceiver means for remote control requests;
• and
• controller transceiver means for receiving said remote control requests and for controlling performance of the requested function;
• said portable transceiver means and said controller transceiver means including security means for communicating security keys between said portable transceiver means and said control transceiver means, and for preventing said controller transceiver means from controlling performance of the requested function unless a proper current security key is provided by said portable transceiver means to said controller transceiver means, and said security means including means for changing the current security key for a subsequently requested controlled performance of a function in response to a proper communication exchange between said portable transceiver means and said controller transceiver means.

A remote convenience system for remote control performance of a function, said system comprising:

• portable transceiver means for a remote control request via a first transmitted signal containing a current security key;
• and
• controller transceiver means for receiving said remote control request via said first transmitted signal and for controlling performance of the requested function only if the current security key contained in said first transmitted signal is valid;
• said portable transceiver means including means for holding the current security key and for providing the current security key contained in said first transmitted signal,
• said controller transceiver means including means for holding the current security key and for comparing the held current security key with the current security key contained in said first transmitted signal to determine if the current security key contained in said first transmitted signal is valid, said controller transceiver means including means, responsive to the current security key contained in said first transmitted signal being determined to be valid, for providing a new security key to said portable transceiver means via a second transmitted signal to said portable transceiver means, and said portable transceiver means including means for acknowledging receipt of the new security key via a third transmitted signal to said controller transceiver means and for updating the current held security key to the new security key within said means for holding of said portable transmission.

A remote convenience system for remote control performance of a function, said system comprising:

• portable transceiver means for remote control requests;
• and
• controller transceiver means for receiving said remote control requests and for controlling performance of the requested function;
• each of said portable transceiver means and said controller transceiver means including memory means for retaining, while said system awaits occurrence of a remote control request, a security key used to verify authenticity of the currently occurring remote control request, said controller transceiver means including means for causing said memory means of said portable transceiver means to return, while said system awaits occurrence of a subsequent remote control request, a new, different security key to be used to verify authenticity of the subsequent remote control request.