Vehicle Key Location Detection for Secure Carsharing Billing

The system enables self-service verification where the vehicle itself checks whether the key is inside the passenger cabin using its own sensors (door lock sensors, seat occupancy sensors) without requiring the owner's physical presence. The vehicle autonomously determines the key location and communicates this to the remote server, allowing the system to serve itself in the verification process.

The patent replaces the mechanical verification process (owner physically checking for key return) with an automated electronic system. The vehicle's sensors detect key presence, and the remote server processes this information to automatically end the usage period and charge the user's account, eliminating the need for mechanical verification by the owner.

The patent makes existing vehicle components serve multiple functions. The door lock sensors, which originally only detect door lock status, are also used to determine key location. The seat occupancy sensors, which detect passenger presence, are also used to verify key return. This multi-functionality approach increases billing accuracy without adding significant new hardware complexity.

The remote server acts as an intermediary that coordinates the complex verification process. It receives data from the vehicle's sensors, processes the information to determine key location, and automatically executes the billing transaction. This intermediary approach distributes the complexity across the network rather than concentrating it in a single device.