Vehicle unlocking system, device and method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a "vehicle unlocking system, device, and method." Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for unlocking a vehicle. An example vehicle unlocking system includes a remote computing device configured to determine that the remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with a server, responsively request an electronic key, and unlock the vehicle using the electronic key. The system also includes a server configured to store and transmit the electronic key.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle unlocking systems, devices, and methods, and more particularly to techniques involving the use of a remote device, such as a cell phone, rather than a traditional key. Background Art

[0002] Typically, a vehicle can be unlocked using a key. However, in some cases, a user can unlock the vehicle using a separate device, such as a mobile phone or other remote computing device. Some devices may require power to communicate with the vehicle and unlock it, while others may not. Furthermore, some devices may include an electronic key that matches a corresponding electronic key stored in the vehicle. If there is no match, the vehicle may not unlock. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The appended claims define the present application. This disclosure summarizes aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims. Other embodiments according to the technology described herein are contemplated, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon studying the following figures and detailed description, and are intended to fall within the scope of this application.

[0004] Example embodiments of a remote vehicle unlocking system, device, and method are described. The disclosed example vehicle unlocking system includes a remote computing device configured to determine that the remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with a server, responsively request an electronic key, and unlock a vehicle using the electronic key. The vehicle unlocking system also includes a server configured to store and transmit the electronic key.

[0005] An example method is disclosed that includes determining that a remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with a server. The method also includes responsively requesting an electronic key. The method also includes unlocking a vehicle using the electronic key.

[0006] An example non-transitory computer-readable medium is disclosed that includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a set of actions to be performed, the set of actions including determining that a remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with a server. The set of actions also includes responsively requesting an electronic key from the server. The set of actions also includes unlocking a vehicle using the electronic key. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the embodiments illustrated in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and related elements may be omitted or, in some cases, exaggerated in proportion to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. Furthermore, as is known in the art, the system components may be arranged in various ways. Furthermore, in the drawings, like reference numerals throughout the several views designate corresponding parts.

[0008] Figure 1 An example vehicle, remote computing device, and server are shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 2 A simplified block diagram of a computing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0010] Figure 3 An example map view illustrating aspects of various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0011] Figure 4 A flowchart of an example method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] While the invention may be embodied in various forms, certain exemplary and non-limiting embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described below, it being understood that this disclosure is to be considered illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments shown.

[0013] As noted above, the example devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein relate to unlocking a vehicle using a remote computing device rather than a traditional key that must be inserted into a lock and turned. The remote computing device can be a mobile phone or other personal computing device such as a wearable device (e.g., a watch, an activity monitor, or other device configured for wireless communication), and may sometimes be referred to as a Phone as a Key (PaaK) or PaaK device. PaaK technology can facilitate functionality traditionally associated with a key fob or traditional key via applications executed on a smartphone. In some examples, the smartphone may require power to operate the PaaK application and, therefore, may not be able to unlock the vehicle if the phone's battery is depleted. In other examples, however, no power may be required.

[0014] The remote computing device acting as a key may include an electronic key that is transmitted to the vehicle to unlock the doors. In some cases, if the remote computing device's battery is low or dead, it may be impossible to use the remote computing device to unlock the vehicle. This may be the case if the remote computing device requires power to transmit the electronic key to the vehicle. Furthermore, if the phone's battery is dead, it may take several minutes for the phone to charge sufficiently to connect to power and load the appropriate application to unlock the vehicle. This is particularly problematic and may lead to a poor user experience in situations where the vehicle's environment is unsafe or weather conditions are less than ideal, as it may increase the amount of time a user spends waiting outside a locked vehicle.

[0015] In other cases, a low or dead phone battery may not prevent the remote computing device from unlocking the vehicle. As described herein, some remote computing devices can utilize near-field communication technology to communicate with the vehicle. In these examples, the vehicle can be powered without the remote computing device being powered. However, even when the remote computing device is not powered, it can still be used in conjunction with a powered vehicle to unlock the vehicle.

[0016] For security purposes, the server can be used to provide one or more functions, such as transmitting an electronic key to the vehicle and / or remote computing device, synchronizing the electronic key, or otherwise ensuring that unauthorized persons cannot unlock the vehicle. Problems can arise if the remote computing device or vehicle is in an area with poor connectivity to the server and cannot synchronize, download, or determine the appropriate key to use. In this case, a user may be locked out of the vehicle in an area where the server is unavailable and, therefore, unable to receive the electronic key.

[0017] With these issues in mind, example embodiments of the present disclosure may provide systems, devices, and methods that can enable a PaaK device to unlock a vehicle even when the device battery is low or dead and in locations where communication with a server (which provides the electronic key) is degraded or impossible.

[0018] An example may include using near field communication (NFC) technology on a remote computing device to unlock a vehicle. The phone's NFC technology may include an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store one or more electronic keys and may be configured to operate even when the remote computing device's power source (battery) is depleted. The electronic key may be generated by the remote computing device, the vehicle, a server, or one or more other devices or systems and may be stored in the IC by the remote computing device. The remote computing device may communicate with the server to synchronize with the vehicle so that the remote computing device and the vehicle are synchronized with each other and the remote computing device uses the appropriate electronic key. The vehicle may have corresponding NFC technology that enables the vehicle to communicate with the remote computing device.

[0019] When the remote computing device is fully powered and can communicate with the server, unlocking the vehicle can be a relatively simple process. The remote computing device can initiate communication with the server, and the server can react to synchronize the remote computing device with the vehicle. The remote computing device can then use the appropriate electronic key based on the synchronization and unlock the vehicle.

[0020] However, this process may not work easily or at all if communication between the remote computing device and the server is poor or if the remote computing device battery is dead. In these cases, an electronic key can be provided to the remote computing device before the remote computing device loses communication with the server (due to poor connectivity or battery depletion). This key can then be stored on the IC and used to unlock the vehicle even in the absence of server communication.

[0021] Examples herein may include determining that a remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which communication with a server is impossible, and responsively providing the remote computing device with an electronic key that can be used to unlock the vehicle. This may include providing data used by the remote computing device to synchronize a key and store it on an IC, which data may be used for a limited period of time. Assuming that the remote computing device will lose communication and will not be able to request a new key at a later time, the server may provide the key (or synchronize the remote computing device). The provided electronic key will act as a stopgap measure, enabling the user to unlock the vehicle for a limited time, even if the remote computing device battery dies.

[0022] However, by storing the key on the IC, the remote computing device may be susceptible to third-party sniffing techniques designed to steal the electronic key. Thus, the key stored on the IC may be time-limited and may become invalid after a predetermined time. The vehicle can be configured so that when the key is stored on the IC, corresponding synchronization is performed by the vehicle and the server. And when the predetermined time has passed, the vehicle can be programmed not to use the key to unlock the vehicle. In this way, the time-limited nature of the key can be enforced on the vehicle side rather than the remote computing device side.

[0023] Figure 1An example vehicle 100, a remote computing device 110, and a server 120 are shown. Vehicle 100 can be a standard gasoline-powered vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or any other type of vehicle that implements mobility. Vehicle 100 can be non-autonomous, semi-autonomous, or autonomous. Vehicle 100 includes parts related to mobility, such as a powertrain having an engine, a transmission, a suspension, a drive shaft, and / or wheels. In the example shown, vehicle 100 may include one or more electronic components.

[0024] The vehicle 100 may include a first communication module 102 and a second communication module 104. The first communication module 102 may be configured to communicate with a remote computing device, such as the remote computing device 110, using a short-range wireless communication technology, such as NFC communication. Although examples may be described herein specifically with respect to NFC communication, it should be noted that other short-range wireless technologies may also be used.

[0025] Some examples may include communicating between the communication module 102 and the remote computing device 110 via using a technique where one side is powered and the other side is not powered, such that communication is possible when the first communication module 102 is powered and the remote computing device 110 is not powered.

[0026] The second communication module 104 may be configured to communicate using one or more wireless communication protocols with the server 120. The second communication module 104 may be configured to receive and transmit data, which may include receiving an electronic key and / or receiving data to synchronize the electronic key.

[0027] The first communication module 102 and the second communication module 104 may be part of or may include one or more computing devices, such as Figure 2 Those described.

[0028] In some examples, the vehicle 100 may store one or more electronic keys that may need to be synchronized with the server 120 and / or the remote computing device 110 in order to be used to unlock the vehicle. Once the vehicle is started, the vehicle 100 may receive the electronic key from the server (assuming connectivity is available). Then, if communication with the server is lost during normal operation of the vehicle, the received electronic key may be transmitted from the vehicle 100 to the remote computing device 110. This may provide the remote computing device with an electronic key that can be used for a limited time, such as until the vehicle is cycled on and off again (i.e., one ignition cycle).

[0029] Remote computing device 110 may include circuitry configured to transmit and / or receive data from vehicle 100 and / or server 120, and may also include information about Figure 2 One or more of the characteristics described.

[0030] The remote computing device 110 may include NFC technology 112 having an IC for storing one or more electronic keys. The remote computing device 100 may alternatively or additionally include other short-range wireless communication technologies. The remote computing device 110 may also include a battery 114 and various circuits configured to monitor the battery status.

[0031] In some examples, various methods, systems, and / or devices may be configured to determine that the remote computing device 110 and / or vehicle 100 may or is expected to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device 110 and / or vehicle 100 cannot communicate with the server 120 .

[0032] In some examples, this may include determining that the remote computing device battery will be depleted within a threshold amount of time or it may include determining that the battery has reached a threshold state of charge, such as 30%. If the charge drops below the threshold level, one or more actions described herein may be taken, such as transferring or synchronizing the electronic key and storing the key on the remote computing device IC.

[0033] For example, in response to determining that the battery has dropped below a threshold level, remote computing device 110 can initiate communication with server 120. Remote computing device 110 can request an updated electronic key. In some examples, receiving the key can include receiving data that can be used to generate a key or select a key from a list. Thus, the remote computing device can receive the complete electronic key from the server, or it can receive data from the server that can be used to determine the electronic key by generating a new key, selecting a key from a stored list, or otherwise determining a specific electronic key.

[0034] When the key is requested and then received by the remote computing device 110, the remote computing device 110 can responsively store the electronic key on the corresponding IC. This can enable the remote computing device 110 to communicate with the vehicle 100 using NFC technology even if the remote computing device battery 114 is depleted. The electronic key can then be used to unlock the vehicle.

[0035] When the remote computing device 110 is determined to have entered a compromised state based on a low battery, the electronic key requested by the remote computing device can be time-limited, such that it can only be used within a predetermined time period (e.g., six hours, 24 hours, or a different time period). This time period can vary based on the location of the vehicle, such that a vehicle known to be in a safe area (such as the owner's home or garage) can have a higher predetermined time than a vehicle in an unsafe or unfamiliar area. An undesirable side effect of storing the electronic key on the IC is that a third-party sniffer or other electronic device can read the electronic key and gain unauthorized access to the vehicle. Therefore, to address this issue, the electronic key stored on the IC can be time-limited (i.e., can only unlock the vehicle for a predetermined duration) to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access after the time has elapsed.

[0036] To time-limit a given electronic key, the vehicle 100 may communicate with the server 120 and receive a message indicating that the key provided to the remote computing device 110 is time-limited (due to a low battery). After a predetermined time has passed, the vehicle may no longer recognize the electronic key as an acceptable key and may not unlock based on that key.

[0037] In some examples, determining that the remote computing device 110 and / or the vehicle 100 may enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device 110 and / or the vehicle 100 cannot communicate with the server 120 may include determining or predicting that the vehicle and / or the remote computing device 110 will enter a geographic area in which communications with the server 120 are degraded, non-existent, or otherwise reduced. In these geographic areas, it may be difficult or impossible to communicate with the server in order to receive an updated electronic key or data that may be used to synchronize the electronic key.

[0038] In some examples, the electronic key can be transmitted to a remote computing device and / or vehicle before entering a geographic area where communication with the server is reduced or non-existent. The electronic key can be used to unlock the vehicle even in situations where communication with the server is not possible. The electronic key can also be time-limited or region-restricted to prevent potential third parties from gaining unauthorized access to the vehicle.

[0039] In some examples, geographic areas where communications are reduced or non-existent may be determined based on crowdsourced data from multiple vehicles. Additionally, geographic areas may be determined based on historical data from the remote computing device 110, where communications and location data may be collected over time and used to map out geographic areas with good and poor connectivity. Figure 3 These and other scenarios are discussed in more detail.

[0040] Figure 2An example block diagram of a computing device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. One or more features of the computing device 200 may be included in the remote computing device 110, the vehicle 100, the server 120, and other devices or systems described herein.

[0041] Computing device 200 may include processor 210 and memory 220. Processor 210 may be any suitable processing device or group of processing devices, such as, but not limited to: a microprocessor; a microcontroller-based platform; an integrated circuit; one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs); and / or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Memory 220 may be volatile memory (e.g., RAM, including non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, etc.); non-volatile memory (e.g., disk storage, flash memory, electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), memristor-based non-volatile solid-state memory, etc.); unchangeable memory (e.g., EPROM), read-only memory, and / or mass storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives, solid-state drives, etc.). In some examples, memory 220 includes multiple types of memory, particularly volatile memory and non-volatile memory.

[0042] The memory 220 may be a computer-readable medium on which one or more instruction sets, such as software for operating the methods of the present disclosure, may be embedded. The instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic described herein. For example, the instructions may reside completely or at least partially within any one or more of the memory, the computer-readable medium, and / or within the processor during execution of the instructions.

[0043] The terms "non-transitory computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" include a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized database or distributed database, and / or associated caches and servers that store one or more instruction sets. Furthermore, the terms "non-transitory computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" include any tangible medium that can store, encode, or carry an instruction set for execution by a processor or cause a system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" is expressly defined to include any type of computer-readable storage device and / or storage disk and does not include propagating signals.

[0044] The computing device 200 may include a user interface 230 that is configured to provide a user with the ability to interact with and control the computing device 200. The user interface 230 may include one or more input and / or output devices for receiving input from the user and displaying information to the user. The input device may include, for example, a control knob, a dashboard, a digital camera for image capture and / or visual command recognition, a touch screen, an audio input device (e.g., a microphone), buttons, or a touchpad. The output device may include one or more displays (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flat panel display, a solid-state display, etc.) and / or a speaker.

[0045] The computing device 200 may also include one or more communication modules 240. The communication module 240 may allow for wired or wireless communication with one or more other computing devices or systems using one or more communication protocols. The communication module may include a wired or wireless network interface for enabling communication with an external network. The communication module may also include hardware (e.g., a processor, memory, storage device, etc.) and software for controlling the wired or wireless network interface. The communication module may include, among other things, an NFC module, a Bluetooth module, a GPS receiver, a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) module, a WLAN module, and / or a cellular modem, all of which are electrically coupled to one or more corresponding antennas.

[0046] The communication module may also include a wired or wireless interface for enabling direct communication with electronic devices (such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.).

[0047] Figure 3 An example aerial map view illustrating aspects of various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. As noted above, the impaired state of a remote computing device may include the computing device having entered or expected to enter a geographic area where communication with a server is degraded or impossible. This geographic area may be referred to as a "low connectivity area," and the impaired state of the remote computing device may be referred to as a "low connectivity state."

[0048] Some examples may be described with respect to determining that a remote computing device is expected to enter or has entered an impaired state. However, it should be understood that one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include determining that a vehicle (such as vehicle 300) has entered or is expected to enter an impaired state (instead of or in addition to the remote computing device).

[0049] Determining that the remote computing device will enter an impaired state of low connectivity may include determining the current location of the remote computing device or predicting its future location. The current location may be determined based on GPS signals via communication with one or more network cellular towers or in any other manner.

[0050] The future or predicted location of the vehicle and / or remote computing device can be determined based on a route or a destination entered (e.g., using a map or vehicle guidance application). In some examples, the location can be determined based on a route generated by the remote computing device and / or the vehicle. The future location can be determined based in part on the current vehicle location and vehicle speed, acceleration, direction, heading, or other vehicle sensor data.

[0051] In some examples, a history of vehicle locations can be used. This can include determining future locations based on patterns in the vehicle's parked locations, such as work location, home location, store location, etc. Additionally, past destinations and parked locations can be used to determine or predict the vehicle's future location based on a learned schedule for time of day, day of the week, etc.

[0052] Determining geographic areas of low connectivity can include storing communication data over time and constructing a map of low and high connectivity areas. The data can be transmitted to a server that can provide a connectivity map based on the connectivity of one or more vehicles, remote computing devices, or more. In some examples, determining areas of low connectivity can include using terrain data that may hinder communication (e.g., mountains, valleys, etc.). This can also include using data about one or more structures (e.g., a parking lot can provide low connectivity based on concrete or other interference). Other information can also be used to determine areas of low connectivity.

[0053] Some examples may include determining that the remote computing device is about to enter a low connectivity state based on the location of the vehicle and / or the remote computing device itself. This may include using GPS or other information to determine the location of the remote computing device and / or the vehicle, and comparing the determined location to a map of low connectivity areas to determine whether the vehicle is expected to enter a low connectivity area.

[0054] This may also include determining that the vehicle's location is within a threshold distance of a geographic area of ​​low connectivity. Vehicle speed and heading (among other data) may be considered to determine when communication with the remote computing device and / or vehicle may end. For example, this may include determining the distance from the current vehicle location to a parking lot or other parking location within the low connectivity area. This may also include determining the distance to the edge of the low connectivity area.

[0055] In response to determining that the vehicle and / or remote computing device locations are within a threshold distance, the remote computing device may request, and the server may transmit, the electronic key or data that may be used to synchronize the electronic key.

[0056] The threshold distance may be determined based on distance from a communication source (eg, one or more cellular towers), distance to a parking lot or other known low-connectivity geographic area, distance to an edge of a known low-connectivity area, or more.

[0057] In some examples, the threshold distance can vary based on the vehicle's speed and the time required to transmit or synchronize the electronic key. For example, if transmitting the electronic key requires ten seconds, the threshold distance can correspond to the current vehicle speed times ten seconds (plus a buffer distance) to allow sufficient time for the electronic key to be transmitted before communication is lost. Once the vehicle reaches the threshold distance, the updated key can be sent to the remote computing device and / or the vehicle.

[0058] In some examples, the vehicle, remote computing device, and / or server may determine a predicted parking location for the vehicle. This may include or be based on any of the data described above (e.g., historical parking locations, time of day, entered destination, etc.). If the determined parking location or destination is within a geographic area determined to have low connectivity, the electronic key or synchronization data may be transmitted responsively (while communication between the server and the vehicle / remote computing device is still ongoing). This may include waiting until the vehicle approaches the destination, or immediately transmitting once it is known that the vehicle will be parked in a low connectivity area to preempt signal loss.

[0059] Historical parking data may include any locations where the vehicle has previously been parked. This data may be used in conjunction with time of day, day of week, and one or more other patterns to determine or predict the likely parking location of the vehicle at any given time.

[0060] Figure 3 Vehicle 300 is shown at first location 302. One or more embodiments described herein may include determining that a possible parking location or future location of vehicle 300 is second location 320, structure 322. This may be determined based on a schedule or history of vehicle 300, for example, because structure 322 is the workplace of the driver of vehicle 300 and the vehicle is routinely parked at structure 322 during work hours Monday through Friday.

[0061] It may be determined that structure 322 is located in geographic area 310 that includes poor connectivity. The poor connectivity may be due to one or more factors, such as the nature of structure 322 (e.g., metal walls, concrete, etc.) and the location of one or more network connection points (e.g., cellular towers, etc.). Geographic area 310 may be a low connectivity area where a server may be unable to communicate with vehicle 300 and / or a remote computing device that may be used to unlock the vehicle.

[0062] It can be determined that the vehicle 300 is about to enter a low connectivity geographic area 310, and the electronic key can be transmitted to the remote computing device in response. Additionally, data (including the electronic key or synchronization information) can be transmitted to the vehicle 300 to ensure that the vehicle and the remote computing device are synchronized and that the computing device is able to unlock the vehicle even when not connected to the server.

[0063] In some examples, an electronic key can be transmitted by a server to both the vehicle and the remote computing device. The electronic key can include two or more parts that can be matched together to ensure that the remote computing device is authorized to unlock the vehicle. Thus, the remote computing device can receive a first part of the key, and the vehicle can receive a second part of the key.

[0064] In some examples, the electronic key can be erased from the IC after a given period of time, such as 6 hours, 24 hours, or longer. Furthermore, the computing device, vehicle, and / or server can be configured to erase the electronic key once the vehicle is started and / or once communication is established between the vehicle / remote computing device and the server. This can prevent the electronic key stored in the remote computing device IC from being sniffed or stolen by a third party.

[0065] In some examples, a backup electronic key may be generated and / or sent to the vehicle at startup. This backup key may only be valid until the next key cycle (or 24 hours). The backup key validity may be determined based on a threshold value different from the other predetermined times described above. When connectivity with the server is lost, the backup key may be transmitted by the vehicle (instead of the server) to the remote computing device. The backup key may be stored in volatile memory on the remote computing device and pushed to the programmable IC when the remote computing device battery is low. This may be particularly useful when connectivity is suddenly lost and there is no ability to transmit or synchronize with the server.

[0066] In some embodiments, the example vehicles disclosed herein may include one or more components configured to charge a remote computing device battery when the vehicle is locked and when the remote computing device is located outside the vehicle. Example technology for this feature is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 615,600, entitled “Vehicle Unlocking Systems Devices And Methods,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0067] Figure 4 An example method 400 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 400 may enable a remote unlock device with a depleted battery and / or entering an area of ​​low connectivity to receive an electronic key to unlock a vehicle. Figure 4The flowcharts of the embodiment of the present invention represent machine-readable instructions stored in a memory and may comprise one or more programs that, when executed by a processor, may cause the vehicle 100, the remote computing device 110, the server 120, and / or one or more systems or devices described herein to perform one or more functions described herein. Figure 4 The flowchart shown in describes an example procedure, but many other methods of performing the functions described herein may be used instead. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be rearranged or performed in series or in parallel with each other, and the blocks may be changed, eliminated, and / or combined to perform the method 400. In addition, due to the combination of Figures 1 to 3 The method 400 is disclosed by the components of FIG. 4 , and therefore some functions of those components will not be described in detail below.

[0068] Method 400 may begin at block 402. At block 404, method 400 may include determining whether a battery of the remote computing device is low. This may include comparing a current state of charge to a threshold state of charge to determine whether the current charge is sufficiently low.

[0069] If the battery of the remote computing device is low, method 400 may include, at block 410 , transmitting the electronic key to the remote computing device before the battery is depleted.

[0070] Block 406 of method 400 may include determining whether the remote computing device may lose connection with the server.If the battery is not low at block 404 and there is no predicted imminent loss of connection, method 400 may return to block 404.

[0071] If, however, there is a predicted loss of connectivity at block 406, method 400 may include transmitting the electronic key to the vehicle at block 408. This may alternatively include transmitting data that may be used to synchronize or generate the key.

[0072] At block 410, method 400 may include transmitting the key to the remote computing device. And at block 412, method 400 may include storing the electronic key on an IC of the remote computing device. In some examples, the key may be stored on the IC in response to the remote computing device receiving the key (i.e., immediately or soon after receiving the key). Alternatively, the key may be stored in volatile memory of the remote computing device and stored on the IC after determining that the battery is low and the remote computing device is about to lose power.

[0073] At block 414, method 400 may include determining whether a certain time has elapsed since the electronic key was transmitted to the remote computing device. As described above, the electronic key may be time-limited to prevent unauthorized access after the time has expired. If the time has elapsed, block 418 may include deleting the electronic key. The key may be deleted from the remote computing device, or alternatively, the vehicle may be programmed to no longer recognize or accept the electronic key after the time has elapsed.

[0074] However, if the time has not elapsed, method 400 may include detecting an attempt to unlock the vehicle at block 416. The attempt may be detected by the vehicle. At block 420, method 400 may include determining whether the electronic key from the remote computing device matches the key for the vehicle. If the keys match, the vehicle may be unlocked at block 422. However, if the keys do not match, method 400 may return to block 414. Method 400 may end at block 424.

[0075] In this application, the use of disjunctive conjunctions is intended to be inclusive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. Specifically, reference to "the" or "an" is intended to also refer to one of a possible plurality of such objects. Furthermore, the conjunction "or" may be used to convey the simultaneous presence of features rather than mutually exclusive alternatives. The term "include" is inclusive and has the same scope as "comprises."

[0076] The above embodiments, particularly any "preferred" embodiments, are possible examples of implementations and are set forth only for a clear understanding of the principles of the present invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the technology described herein. It is intended that all modifications be included within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

[0077] According to the present invention, a vehicle unlocking system is provided having: a remote computing device configured to: determine that the remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device cannot communicate with a server; responsively request an electronic key; and unlock a vehicle using the electronic key; and a server configured to store and transmit the electronic key.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the compromised state comprises a low battery, and wherein the electronic key is configured to unlock the vehicle for a predetermined time period, such that after the predetermined time period has elapsed the electronic key is no longer able to unlock the vehicle.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the compromised state includes a low connectivity state, the server is further configured to determine a geographic area where communication between the server and the remote computing device is degraded, and wherein the remote computing device is further configured to: determine that the location of the vehicle is within a threshold distance from the geographic area; and responsively request the electronic key.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the server is further configured to determine a geographic area where communication between the server and the remote computing device is degraded, and wherein the remote computing device is further configured to: determine a predicted parking location of the vehicle; and determine that the predicted parking location of the vehicle is within the geographic area.

[0081] According to the present invention, a method for unlocking a vehicle includes determining that a remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device cannot communicate with a server; responsively requesting an electronic key; and unlocking the vehicle using the electronic key.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the impaired state includes a low battery.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the electronic key is configured to unlock the vehicle for a predetermined period of time, such that after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the electronic key is no longer able to unlock the vehicle.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the impaired state includes a low connectivity state, the method further comprising determining that the remote computing device is to enter the low connectivity state based on the location of the vehicle.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by determining a geographical area in which communication with the server is degraded.

[0086] According to one embodiment, a geographic area is determined based on location data and communication data from a plurality of remote computing devices.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by determining that the location of the vehicle is within a threshold distance from a geographic area; and responsively requesting an electronic key.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by determining a predicted parking location of the vehicle; and determining that the predicted parking location of the vehicle is within the geographic area.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the predicted parking location is determined based on historical parking data corresponding to the vehicle.

[0090] According to the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a set of actions, the set of actions comprising: determining that a remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with a server; responsively requesting an electronic key from the server; and unlocking a vehicle using the electronic key.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the compromised state comprises a low battery, and wherein the electronic key is configured to unlock the vehicle for a predetermined time period, such that after the predetermined time period has elapsed the electronic key is no longer able to unlock the vehicle.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the impaired state includes a low connectivity state, and the set of actions further comprises: determining that the remote computing device is to enter the low connectivity state based on the location of the vehicle.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by determining a geographic area in which communication with the server is degraded, wherein the geographic area is determined based on location data and communication data from a plurality of remote computing devices.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by determining a geographic area in which communications with the server are degraded; determining that the location of the vehicle is within a threshold distance from the geographic area; and responsively requesting an electronic key.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by determining a geographic area in which communication with the server is degraded; determining a predicted parking location of the vehicle; and determining that the predicted parking location of the vehicle is within the geographic area.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the predicted parking location is determined based on historical parking data corresponding to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle unlocking system, comprising: A server configured to: Storing electronic keys; and transmitting said electronic key in response to the request; as well as A remote computing device, the remote computing device being configured to: requesting an electronic key from the server in response to determining that the remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with the server; receiving the electronic key; as well as The electronic key is used to unlock the vehicle.

2. The vehicle unlocking system of claim 1 , wherein the compromised condition comprises a low battery of the remote computing device, and wherein the electronic key is configured to unlock the vehicle for a predetermined time period such that after the predetermined time period has elapsed, the electronic key is no longer capable of unlocking the vehicle.

3. The vehicle unlocking system of claim 1 , wherein the compromised state comprises a low connectivity state, the server is further configured to determine a geographic area where communication between the server and the remote computing device is degraded, and wherein the remote computing device is further configured to: determining that the vehicle's location is within a threshold distance from the geographic area, indicating that the remote computing device is to enter the low connectivity state; and The electronic key is responsively requested.

4. The vehicle unlocking system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to determine a geographic area where communication between the server and the remote computing device is degraded, and wherein the remote computing device is further configured to: determining a predicted parking location for the vehicle; and Determining that the predicted parking location of the vehicle is within the geographic area indicates that the remote computing device will enter the impaired state.

5. A method for operating a remote computing device to unlock a vehicle, comprising: requesting an electronic key from the server in response to determining that the remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with the server; receiving the electronic key from the server; as well as The electronic key is used to unlock the vehicle. The method of claim 5 , wherein the compromised state comprises a low battery of the remote computing device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic key is configured to unlock the vehicle for a predetermined time period, such that after the predetermined time period has elapsed, the electronic key can no longer unlock the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the impaired state comprises a low connectivity state, the method further comprising: determining that the remote computing device will enter the low connectivity state based on the location of the vehicle; determining a geographic area where communication between the server and the remote computing device is degraded; determining that the location of the vehicle is within a threshold distance from the geographic area, indicating that the remote computing device is to enter the low connectivity state; as well as The electronic key is responsively requested.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the geographic area is determined based on location data and communication data from a plurality of remote computing devices.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining a geographic area where communication between the server and the remote computing device is degraded; determining a predicted parking position of the vehicle; as well as Determining that the predicted parking location of the vehicle is within the geographic area indicates that the remote computing device will enter the impaired state. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predicted parking location is determined based on historical parking data corresponding to the vehicle.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a remote computing device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor of the remote computing device, cause performance of a set of actions comprising: requesting an electronic key from the server in response to determining that the remote computing device is about to enter a compromised state in which the remote computing device is unable to communicate with the server; receiving the electronic key from the server; as well as The electronic key is used to unlock the vehicle.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the compromised state comprises a low battery of the remote computing device, and wherein the electronic key is configured to unlock the vehicle for a predetermined time period such that after the predetermined time period has elapsed, the electronic key is no longer capable of unlocking the vehicle.

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