A method of detecting a vehicle access device within a predetermined distance of a vehicle; determining a geographic location of the vehicle; detecting a time of day; determining previous door unlocking behavior associated with the vehicle access device and selecting, using one or more processors, a vehicle access point to unlock based on the geographic location, time of day, which may be a day of the week, and previous unlocking behavior. The access point may be one or more of a door, trunk, tailgate, sliding door, hatch, hood and gas cap. The method may also include determining from which direction the vehicle access device is approaching when selecting a vehicle access point. The apparatus involved may be comprise of a vehicle access device, which may be one of a key fob, smartphone, portable computing device, tablet computer and smart watch, 106, a vehicle lock manager 104, GPS module (210, Fig 2), date/time module (208, Fig 2), user intent module (216, Fig 2), and lock activation module (212, Fig 2). The method also may involve a vehicle 102 comprising of a plurality of doors having associated door locks and a vehicle lock manager 104.
Vehicle unlocking systems and methods
2017-03-15
Patent
Electronic Resource
English