Remote programming system and method for replacement vehicle keys

Abstract

A remote programming system for engine control units of vehicles operates by coupling an onboard diagnostic interface device with an engine control unit of a vehicle, communicatively linking the interface device with a hand held device, communicatively linking the hand held device with a back end programming machine that is remotely located from the vehicle, communicating identifying information about the vehicle to the programming machine via the interface device, the hand held device, and the communication network(s), determining an action and programming information needed to program the engine control unit of the vehicle to accept a replacement key, sending the action and programming information from the programming machine to the hand held device via the communication network(s), and programing the engine control unit of the vehicle to accept the replacement key to activate the vehicle using or responsive to use of the action and programming information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors configured to receive identifying information about a vehicle via an onboard diagnostic interface device coupled with the vehicle,   the one or more processors configured to obtain programming information useful to program the vehicle to accept a key to activate the vehicle,   the one or more processors configured to program the vehicle or direct a user to program the vehicle to accept the replacement key to activate the vehicle using the programming information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the identifying information from an onboard diagnostic card as the interface device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the key is a replacement key, prior to programming the vehicle to accept the key to activate the vehicle, the vehicle is restricted to accepting another previous key to activate the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to be communicatively connected with the interface device via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to be communicatively connected with the interface device via a wired connection. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are included in a mobile phone. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 obtaining identifying information of a vehicle using an electronic device that is coupled with the vehicle via an onboard diagnostic interface device;   obtaining, via the electronic device, programming information used to program the vehicle to accept a key to activate the vehicle using the identifying information; and   using the programming information to program the vehicle or to direct a user to program the vehicle to accept the key to activate the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the identifying information and the programming information is obtained using a mobile phone or a tablet computer as the electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein, prior to programming the vehicle to accept the key to activate the vehicle, the vehicle is restricted to only accepting another previous key to activate the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the identifying information is obtained from the vehicle via a wireless communication connection between the onboard diagnostic interface device and the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the identifying information is obtained from the vehicle via a wired connection between the onboard diagnostic interface device and the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the identifying information includes a vehicle identification number. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the programming information differs for different vehicles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the programming information includes operations to be performed by the user using the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication at the electronic device that the vehicle was successfully programmed to accept the key.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 communicatively linking, via one or more communication networks, an onboard diagnostic interface device with an engine control unit of a vehicle and with a back-end programming machine that is remotely located from the vehicle;   communicating identifying information about the vehicle to the programming machine via the interface device and the one or more communication networks;   determining, at the programming machine, programming information needed to program the engine control unit of the vehicle to accept a replacement key to activate the vehicle; and   sending the programming information from the programming machine to the interface device via the one or more communication networks.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 programming the engine control unit of the vehicle to accept the replacement key to activate the vehicle using the one or more actions and programming information.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, prior to programming the engine control unit of the vehicle to accept the replacement key to activate the vehicle, the engine control unit is restricted to only accepting another previous key to activate the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein communicatively linking the interface device with the programming machine includes establishing a wireless communication connection between the interface device and one or more communication networks. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein communicating the identifying information about the vehicle to the programming machine via the interface device includes obtaining the identifying information from the engine control unit using the interface device, wherein the identifying information includes at least a vehicle identification number.