Temporary key invalidation for electronic key and locking system
US7167084B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07C2209/63
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for rendering electronic keys left behind in a vehicle temporarily inactive. The apparatus comprises a vehicle security control module in wireless communication with the electronic keys, and having operatively coupled together a receiver, a processor, non-volatile memory and a short-range transmitter. When the module receives a valid lock command from any source it sends a short-range interrogation signal to keys within the vehicle. Left-behind keys respond and send their unique ID(s) to the module's receiver. The processor obtains the unique ID(s) from the receiver and sets one or more inhibit flags in memory or equivalent to identify those keys as left-behind keys. The processor thereafter ignores commands from such left-behind keys, thereby rendering them temporarily inoperative until a valid unlock command is received form another source, whereupon the processor clears the inhibit flags from memory and restores the left-behind keys to active status.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.