Revista global de tecnología y optimización

Adding Bluetooth Capabilities to the Vehicle Key Fob

Abstract

Ziad AlHihi

While working to deliver an app that send commands to the vehicle, I noticed it will not function properly when the phone battery dies. I thought to have the other regular key as alternative solution but the customers did not like to carry the bulky keys. I did some research and came up with a credit card form factor with the same functionalities of a regular key. I added value of Bluetooth chip that connects to the app. I also realized some customers own multiple vehicles and I added a memory chip to save the key learning of up to four vehicles. From the app we can decide what the active profile is.

A system includes a mobile device and a fob, each having a short-range wireless transceiver. The mobile device is programmed to transmit a message to the fob indicating a fob action using the mobile device transceiver. The fob is programmed to, using the fob transceiver, receive the message and transmit a second message to a vehicle requesting the vehicle to perform the fob action.

In one or more illustrative examples, a system includes a mobile device and a fob, each having a short-range wireless transceiver. The mobile device is programmed to transmit a message to the fob indicating a fob action using the mobile device transceiver, and the fob is programmed to, using the fob transceiver, receive the message and transmit a second message to a vehicle requesting the vehicle to perform the fob action.

In one or more illustrative examples, a method includes transitioning a fob into valet mode by sending a wireless short-range message to the fob responsive to receiving input to a mobile device to set the fob into valet mode; and transitioning the fob from valet mode into full access mode by sending a second wireless short-range message to the fob responsive to receiving second input to the mobile device to remove the fob from valet mode. In one or more illustrative examples, a system includes a mobile device and a fob, each having a short-range wireless transceiver. The mobile device is programmed to, responsive to user input, transmit a message using the mobile device transceiver to the fob to transition the fob from being configured to control a first vehicle profile to being configured to control a second vehicle profile, and the fob is programmed to, using the fob transceiver, receive the message and control the second vehicle.