Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kevin Thomas Hille

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Thomas Lee Miller

Daniel M King

Karl Wojcik

Anthony Dwayne Cooprider

Ronald Patrick Brombach

Robert Bruce Kleve

Aaron Matthew DeLong

Scott Alan Watkins

Timothy Thivierge, Jr

Terry Thomas Cwik

Matthew J Dalebout

Brian Bennie

Vivekanandh Elangovan

Cameron Smyth

Eugene Karpinsky

Andrew D Sarkisian

Farhan Ehsan

Santosh Kumar Lalwani

Aaron Lewis Mills

Shimul Bhuva

William David Treharne

Kirk Pebley

Lawrence Daniel Cepuran

Xin Ye

Filip Tomik

Aldi Caushi

Stuart C Salter

Ali Hassani

Hamid M Golgiri

Ryan Edwin Hanson

David Celinske

John Anthony DeMarco

Scott Howard Gaboury

Anthony Gerald King

Lisa Therese Boran

James Weinfurther

Todd Ansbacher

Gregory William Farrey

David McNabb

Mark Andre Zielinski

David Paul Kaminski

James Theodore Cikalo

David Bardelski

Mohamad Yassine

Micheal Nikiforuk

Salman Ahsan

Thomas Kasper

James E Kaminske

Ronald Patrick Bromnach

Responsive to a magnitude of current associated with power from a vehicle being supplied to upfitter loads approaching a predefined threshold, a controller discontinues supply of power to vehicle loads according to a user defined priority order of the vehicle loads such that the vehicle loads of lowest priority among the priority order of the vehicle loads are sequentially shed to maintain the magnitude less than the predefined threshold.

Automotive power supply, upfitter module architectures, and user defined load shedding related to same

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for an enhanced valet mode for vehicles. An example method may include receiving a request to enter a valet mode of the vehicle. The example method may also include enabling the valet mode of the vehicle. The example method may also include disabling, based on the valet mode of the vehicle being enabled, a secure idle mode of the vehicle, wherein the secure idle mode of the vehicle includes locking a gear shifter of the vehicle in a park position when an occupant of the vehicle is outside of a cabin of the vehicle.

Systems and methods for enhanced vehicle valet mode

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for an enhanced valet mode for vehicles. An example method may include receiving a request for a temporary valet passcode. The example method may also include generating a temporary valet passcode. The example method may also include displaying a request for entry of the temporary valet passcode. The example method may also include determining that an input has been received. The example method may also include determining that a mobile device is located within the vehicle or within a threshold distance from the vehicle. The example method may also include preventing the vehicle from starting based on authorization of the mobile device for a period of time subsequent to the input being received.

A keyed-alike digital consumer access key is generated for distribution to a plurality of vehicles of a fleet. The keyed-alike digital consumer access key is deployed to the plurality of vehicles. The keyed-alike digital consumer access key is deployed to a mobile device. A request from a mobile device may be received to gain access to the plurality of vehicles. Responsive to validating the mobile device, the mobile device may be sent the keyed-alike digital consumer access key and a unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device, the keyed-alike digital consumer access key for use by the mobile device in authentication to one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the unique identifier for use by the mobile device in tracking which mobile device is accessing the one or more of the plurality of vehicles.

Keyed-alike phone-based keys

A system includes a vehicle, a first passive Near-Field Communication (NFC) device, and a first mobile device communicatively coupled to the vehicle and including a digital vehicle key. The first mobile device distributes the digital vehicle key to the first passive NFC device and informs the vehicle an instance in which the mobile device has distributed the digital vehicle key to the first passive NFC device.

System and method for distributing digital vehicle keys to passive NFC devices via NFC

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for securely creating passwords for performing various keyless operations upon a vehicle. In an exemplary method, a computer receives a request for creating a password for a phone-as-a-key (PaaK) device. The computer determines that the PaaK device is present inside the vehicle and that the vehicle engine has been placed in an accessory state or a run state by an authorized PaaK device located in the vehicle. The computer further determines that a passive entry passive start (PEPS) key fob is present inside the vehicle. A prompt is provided for entry of a password. The computer checks to determine if an entered password has been already assigned to another PaaK device. If unassigned, the computer links the password to the PaaK device and authorizes the entered password as a valid keyless starting password for the vehicle.

Systems and methods for creating a password and/or a keypad code for executing keyless operations upon a vehicle

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for ensuring password security when starting a vehicle having a keyless engine starting system. In an exemplary method, a computer detects a depression of an engine start push button when no phone-as-a-key (PaaK) device or passive-entry-passive-start (PEPS) key fob is present in the vehicle. The computer responds by executing a verification procedure prior to password validation. The verification procedure can include operations such as determining that no PaaK device or PEPS key fob is present either inside the vehicle or within a defined geofence outside the vehicle. If the verification procedure is successful, the computer displays a prompt upon a display screen for entering of a password. The computer then uses various security measures when verifying the validity of an entered password, followed by displaying of a message indicating acceptance or rejection of the password.

Systems and methods for starting a vehicle using a secure password entry system

Method and apparatus are disclosed for end-to-end vehicle secure ECU unlock in a semi-offline environment. An example vehicle electronic control unit includes a first processor and a second processor. The first processor, when unlocked, provides diagnostic information. The second processor sends a seed value to a diagnostic tool. Additionally, the second processor, in response to receiving a second key, unlocks the first processor. The second processor, after receiving a first verifier, decrypts the first verifier to generate a new key, replaces a current key with the new key, and sends a second verifier to the diagnostic tool.

End-to-end vehicle secure ECU unlock in a semi-offline environment

Method and apparatus are disclosed for secure idle for a vehicle generator. An example vehicle includes an outlet external to the vehicle, a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet, and a powertrain control module. The powertrain control module controls the power inverter to supply first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position. Additionally, the powertrain control module, after entering a secure mode, controls an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off.

Secure idle for a vehicle generator

Method and apparatus are disclosed for status tests of wireless communication nodes of vehicles. An example vehicle includes communication nodes including a first node and a second node. The first node is to send a first of test signals to and receive a second of the test signals from the second node. The example vehicle also includes a controller to determine signal strengths of the test signals and at least partially disable passive entry passive start responsive to determining one or more of the communication nodes is impaired based upon the signal strengths.

Status tests of wireless communication nodes of vehicles

An access assessment tool is described for providing a technical solution for selectively controlling access to restricted information and/or implementation of restricted functionalities based on a current vehicle mode and/or validated credentials. The access assessment tool described herein controls the validation of a user or diagnostic tool requesting access to restricted information or implementation of a restricted function before allowing access to the restricted information or allowing implementation of the restricted function.

Customer driving mode for vehicles

Method and apparatus are disclosed for remote keyless entry authentication. An example remote keyless entry system includes a key fob and a vehicle. The key fob generates a secured message with a plaintext space and a ciphertext space. The vehicle (i) determines whether the key fob may be authorized based on first information in the plaintext space, (ii) decrypts an encrypted value in the ciphertext space based on a predicted full counter value, and (iii) determines whether the key fob is authorized based on second information in the encrypted value.

Remote keyless entry message authentication

Method and apparatus are disclosed for a system for keyless entry. An example vehicle includes a valet dongle, a dock configured to connect to the valet dongle; and a valet manager. The valet manager enables the valet dongle to authorize keyless entry and keyless ignition when (a) the valet dongle is removed from the dock while an ignition of the vehicle is on and (b) an authorized passcode is provided via an infotainment head unit.

System for keyless valet parking

A vehicle inventory system may include a passive entry system configured to authenticate a key fob and including at least one antenna and a controller operably arranged with the at least one antenna. The controller causes, during a tag challenge period, the at least one antenna to transmit at least one tag challenge. The tag challenge period is initiated based on an end of a key fob challenge period. The controller further receives a tag response to the challenge indicative of a tag in the vicinity of the vehicle.

Contents inventory tracking system and protocol

A vehicle location system includes a vehicle-based communication unit having a processor. The processor is configured to analyze request signals from a portable communication device. A first audible output device is configured to generate a first audible sound. A second audible output device is configured to generate a second audible sound. The sound generated by the second audible output device is a greater sound pressure than the first audible output device. The processor selectively enables one of the first audible output device and second audible output device based on the processor comparing a proximity characteristic of the request signals to a predetermined threshold.

Dual-stage car finder

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Kevin Thomas Hille