Patent Publication Number: US-11381337-B2

Title: Vehicle access with selective jamming radio signal

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/533,426 entitled “Interfering Radio and Vehicle Key Locker” and filed Aug. 6, 2019. Application Ser. No. 16/533,426 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Increasingly, different vehicle-sharing services are providing opportunities to access vehicles. Some vehicle-sharing services provide access by the minute, hour, and/or days. Some vehicle-sharing services provide a fleet of vehicles that are accessed by consumers. Other vehicle-sharing services are peer-to-peer. In some contexts, a company possesses a fleet of vehicles and desires to selectively provide access to different operators or employees for specific periods of time. 
     In vehicle-sharing contexts, logistical challenges arise from physically providing a vehicle key to the intended driver for the proper amount of time. Additionally, providing the vehicle key to a driver may limit access of the vehicle to a different driver who would be authorized to use the vehicle. Furthermore, providing the key to the vehicle exposes the provider to risk that the key will be copied or retained for malicious purposes. Yet an additional risk of providing the key to the vehicle is having the vehicle stolen using the provided key as a means to access or drive the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  includes example keys that may be used to access a vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A-2B  illustrates a vehicle system including a jamming radio for outputting a jamming radio signal to control access to a vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a vehicle system including a jamming radio for outputting a jamming radio signal and a key locker door to control access to a vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a vehicle system including a vehicle reader, a controller unit, a keypad, a server, and a mobile device, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart for a computer-implemented method of selectively providing access to a vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of a system, apparatus, and method for a selectively emitting a radio signal to control access to a vehicle are described herein. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the techniques described herein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     Throughout this specification, several terms of art are used. These terms are to take on their ordinary meaning in the art from which they come, unless specifically defined herein or the context of their use would clearly suggest otherwise. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure include a system that selectively emits a jamming radio signal to control access to a vehicle. When a vehicle key is provided within a vehicle as part of a vehicle-sharing arrangement, there may be some cases where a bad actor is able to move the vehicle using the vehicle key located in the vehicle. By way of an example, a bad actor could gain unauthorized access to the vehicle (e.g. by breaking a window, picking lock) and use the vehicle key that is located in the vehicle to drive the vehicle to a new location (e.g. a garage). Once at the new location, anti-theft devices and/or alarms may be disabled and the vehicle may be further modified or even disassembled without further scrutiny. Hence, controlling access to the vehicle key and also access to the vehicle is highly desirable. 
     A vehicle key may have a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that allows for access to the vehicle and operation of the vehicle. For example, the tag of the vehicle key may have been factory set by the vehicle manufacturer or authorized dealer to allow access and/or allow the vehicle to start/drive. Typically, a vehicle reader transmits an interrogation signal and receives a response signal from the RFID tag of a vehicle key. Based on the response signal from the RFID tag, access to the vehicle or operation of the vehicle is controlled. Therefore, the response signal can authenticate that the correct vehicle key is present and the vehicle may be accessed, started, and operated. 
     When a vehicle key remains in the vehicle for vehicle-sharing contexts, there is the possibility that the vehicle key is used to start and operate the car even when the access to the vehicle is unauthorized. In embodiments of the disclosure, a vehicle key is included in a vehicle key locker sized to store the vehicle key. A jamming radio signal is selectively outputted to interfere with an interrogation signal emitted by the vehicle reader of the vehicle. When the jamming radio signal is outputted, the interrogation signal degenerates into a deteriorated signal that is not capable of successfully soliciting a response signal from the tag of the vehicle tag. Therefore, selectively emitting the jamming radio signal allows for controlling access to the vehicle by way of selectively allowing for an authentication of the vehicle key. The vehicle key may be stored in a vehicle key locker that is inaccessible or hidden from operators of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the jamming radio signal is emitted from a jamming radio of the vehicle key locker. The jamming radio signal may be paused or turned off in response to receiving access data that matches an access code. In one example, a user provides the access data via a touchpad included in vehicle. In one example, a user provides the access data via a mobile device. Consequently, authorized users who provide the correct access data may cause the jamming radio signal to be paused (or halted) to allow the user to access and/or start and operate the vehicle. In contrast, the jamming radio signal will prevent unauthorized users from starting and operating the vehicle as the interrogation signal from the vehicle will not properly interrogate the tag of the vehicle key to elicit the response signal from the tag. 
     In concert with selectively outputting the radio jamming signal, the vehicle key locker may modulate the shielding of the vehicle key from the interrogation signal of the vehicle reader. For example, for a vehicle key locker made of metal or otherwise provides a Faraday cage that shields the vehicle key from an interrogation signal, a key locker door of the vehicle key locker may open when the correct access data is received. Opening the key locker door allows the interrogation signal of the reader to elicit the response signal from the tag and authenticate the vehicle key. However, there may be cases where the interrogation signal still reaches the vehicle key even when the vehicle key resides in a shielded vehicle key locker. In these cases, selectively outputting the jamming radio signal to interfere with the interrogation signal further ensures security of the vehicle. In addition, selectively outputting the jamming radio signal may be utilized without modulating a shielding of the vehicle key locker, in some embodiments. 
     Utilizing particular embodiments of the disclosure, access to a vehicle may be assigned to a particular person having the access data for a particular amount of time. Furthermore, the physical vehicle key does not need to be exchanged and access to the vehicle key need not be provided so that a user who has access to the vehicle may not retain or copy the vehicle key. In contrast, existing vehicle-sharing services have the vehicle key inside the vehicle and accessible to the user. These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail below with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates example vehicle keys that may be used to access a vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Key  170  is an example wireless key that incorporates a remote control and a blade of the key is not required to access the vehicle and/or start/drive the vehicle. Key  170  includes a tag  173 . Tag  173  may be a passive (unpowered) or an active (powered) tag. In one embodiment, tag  173  is an RFID tag configured to generate a response signal when the tag  173  receives an interrogation signal from an RFID reader of a vehicle associated with the key  170 . 
     Key  180  is an example wireless key that may include a blade of a key for accessing the vehicle and/or start/drive the vehicle. Key  180  may also incorporate a remote control to access the vehicle. Key  180  includes a tag  183 . Tag  183  may be a passive (unpowered) or an active (powered) tag. In one embodiment, tag  183  is an RFID tag configured to generate a response signal when the tag  173  receives an interrogation signal from an RFID reader of a vehicle associated with the key  180 . 
     Vehicle keys that include a tag (e.g. keys  170  and  180 ) may be placed in a vehicle key locker such as vehicle key locker  250  of vehicle system  200 , illustrated in  FIG. 2A . Key locker  250  is sized to store a vehicle key such as key  170  or  180 . In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle key  170  is stored in key locker  250 , although the illustration may not be to scale. Key Locker  250  may be only marginally longer, wider, and taller than vehicle key  170  even though the illustrated block diagram is sizably larger than vehicle key  170 , for illustration of the components of key locker  250 . 
     Key locker  250  may include a key locker body  251  made of metal, plastic, or otherwise, depending on the particular embodiment. In some embodiments, key locker body  251  is fabricated so that it shields the inside of the key locker  250  from radio waves/signals. To accomplish this, the key locker body  251  may be made from metal, incorporate a metal mesh, or otherwise form a Faraday cage. 
     In  FIG. 2A , example key locker  250  includes a wireless interface  263 , processing logic  253 , and jamming radio  255 . Jamming radio  255  includes a radio scanner  258  configured to sense an interrogation signal  283  emitted by a vehicle. Processing logic  253  is coupled to jamming radio  255 , wireless interface  263 , and coupled to receive signals from input  284 . 
     Wireless interface  263  may include antennas and corresponding circuitry to receive and/or transmit BlueTooth, cellular, IEEE 802.11x wireless communication signals and/or optical signals (e.g. infrared signals). Wireless interface  263  may therefore receive a wireless access signal  291  from a mobile device, computer, a radio-based remote control, or optical-based remote control. Wireless interface  263  may also receive a wireless access signal  291  from a cellular communications tower utilizing 2G/3G/4G/LTE/5G or other cellular data standard, in some embodiments. 
     Processing logic  253  may include one or more processors, microprocessors, multi-core processors, and/or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to execute operations disclosed herein. One or more volatile and/or non-volatile memory (not illustrated) may be communicatively coupled to the processing logic  253  to store instructions to execute operations and/or store data. 
     In  FIG. 2A , vehicle reader  280  is communicatively coupled to vehicle system  299  via communication channel  295 . Communication channel  295  may be either wired or wireless, in different embodiments. In one example, communication channel  295  is a wired communication channel utilizing CAN (Controller Area Network) bus protocols. In one embodiment, vehicle reader  280  is an RFID reader. Vehicle reader  280  is configured to transmit an interrogation signal  283  and is configured to receive a response signal  252  from a vehicle key stored in key locker  250 , in some embodiments. Interrogation signal  283  may be approximately 300 MHz, in some embodiments. Vehicle system  299  may have access to or include a vehicle computer that controls providing access to the vehicle and/or starting and stopping the vehicle. In one embodiment, vehicle system  299  includes a starting circuit that controls whether the vehicle can be started, by turning the keys in the ignition or by pushing a START/STOP button of the vehicle in combination with vehicle system  299  sensing a vehicle key. Vehicle system  299  may generally include electrical modules for operating a powerplant of the vehicle, heating and cooling the vehicle, and providing vehicle information such as speed, position, and maintenance information to the user. Vehicle system  299  may include a plurality of electrical harnesses, vehicle computers, electrical control modules, switches, and buttons. 
     In some embodiments, vehicle system  299  senses that a user is attempting to access the vehicle and prompts reader  280  to transmit interrogation signal  283  in response. For example, if someone engages a door handle of the vehicle, vehicle system  299  may sense the engagement and prompt reader  280  to transmit interrogation signal  283  to authenticate a tag of a vehicle key. In another example, a user engages a starting interface (e.g. key ignition or START/STOP button) and vehicle system  299  prompts reader  280  to transmit the interrogation signal  283  to authenticate that the tag of a proximate vehicle key is authorized to operate the vehicle. 
     Referring briefly to  FIG. 4 , vehicle system  299  is illustrated as receiving access indicators  487  from door handle or door lock  421  as well as a starting interface  423 . Starting interface  423  is illustrated as a START/STOP button  423  that provides operation access to the vehicle. In the case of a vehicle with a petrol-based engine, the START/STOP button may engage a starter to turn over and start the engine of the vehicle. In the case of an electric vehicle, the starting interface  423  may allow for operation of the battery power plant to power the drivetrain of the vehicle to operate/navigate the vehicle. Starting interface  423  may also include a keyed ignition of the vehicle. Hence, vehicle system  299  may prompt reader  280  to transmit interrogation signal  283  in response to sensing engagement from elements  421  or  423  and receiving access indicators  487 A or  487 B, respectively. Access indicator(s)  487  may be an analog electrical signal (e.g. sensing an electrical current value or voltage level) or a digital message (e.g. a digital message on a CAN bus). 
     Returning to  FIG. 2A , processing logic  253  of key locker  250  may receive access indicator  287  on input  284 . Processing logic  253  may also receive access signal  281  on input  284 . Access signal  281  may include access data that a user provides to gain access to the vehicle. Access signal  281  may include a series of key entries from a touchpad, for example. In some embodiments, wireless interface  263  receives access signal  291  and provides access signal  291  to processing logic  253 . Wireless access signal  291  may be provided by a user&#39;s mobile device to gain access to the vehicle, for example. 
     Processing logic  253  may be configured to receive an access indicator  287  indicative of a user attempting to access the vehicle.  FIG. 2B  shows that, in operation, processing logic  253  may activate jamming radio  255  to output jamming radio signal  257  in response to receiving access indicator  287 . Activating the jamming radio  255  in response to receiving access indicator(s)  287  may reduce the power consumption associated with embodiments where the jamming radio signal  257  is constantly outputted until the correct access data is received. When jamming radio signal  257  encounters interrogation signal  283 , interrogation signal  283  degenerates into a deteriorated signal  286  that is not capable of soliciting a response from tag  173  and thus tag  173  does not output a response signal  252  even though reader  280  is transmitting an interrogation signal  283 . Consequently, reader  280  is unable to authenticate key  170  and access to or operation of the vehicle is denied. In contrast to  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2A  shows that when jamming radio  255  does not output jamming radio signal  257 , interrogation signal  283  is able to elicit response signal  252  from tag  173  and therefore authenticate tag  173  and provide access and/or operation of the vehicle. Therefore, selectively outputting jamming radio  255  and jamming radio signal  257  can control access to and permission to operate the vehicle. Jamming radio signal  257  may be between 40 kHz and 200 kHz, in some examples. Jamming radio signal  257  may include other frequencies that would sufficiently interfere with interrogation signal  283 . 
     Processing logic  253  is configured to selectively activate/deactivate jamming radio  255  from outputting the jamming radio signal  257  based on receiving access data included in access signal  281 / 291 . When the access data included in access signal  281 / 291  matches an access code accessible to processing logic  253 , processing logic  253  is configured to deactivate jamming radio  255  from emitting jamming radio signal  257  so that interrogation signal  283  can elicit response signal  252  from tag  173  to authenticate key  170 . Once processing logic  253  has deactivated jamming radio  255  from outputting jamming radio signal  257 , processing logic  253  may be configured to wait for a pre-determined time period (e.g. 0.5 seconds) since deactivating jamming radio  255  and then activate or reactivate jamming radio  255  to output jamming radio signal  257 . 
     There are various ways for a user to provide the access data to gain access to the vehicle. In one embodiment, an input interface such as keypad  440  of  FIG. 4  can be placed on the inside of a vehicle (e.g. under the windshield) and the buttons of the keypad  440  are capacitive-sense buttons such that the buttons are sensitive to a finger “pressing” the button through the glass of the vehicle. In one embodiment, keypad  440  is configured to be mounted on the outside of the vehicle. 
     In one embodiment, a user uses a mobile application (running on mobile device  430  of  FIG. 4 ) having access data to wirelessly transmit the access data to the wireless interface  263  of vehicle key locker  250 . In one embodiment, the access data is transmitted from a mobile device to wireless interface  263  via a BlueTooth protocol. The user may enter the access data into the mobile application or the access data may be provided to the mobile application via a server that stores reservation data for users that is associated with a vehicle that the user selected. The access data may be received by the mobile device via a cellular connection or a WiFi connection. 
     In one embodiment, the access data is transmitted from a mobile device to wireless interface  263  using IEEE 802.11x protocols and frequencies. Wireless interface  263  may be configured to receive and/or transmit BlueTooth and/or WiFi. In one embodiment, the access data is transmitted from a mobile device to wireless interface  263  using cellular data (cellular data tower not illustrated) transmitted using 2G/3G/4G/LTE/5G or other cellular data standard that is used now or hereafter. 
     In some embodiments, jamming radio  255  includes a radio scanner sensor  258 . In other embodiments, radio scanner  258  is a stand-alone component and communicatively coupled to processing logic  253 . Radio scanner sensor  258  may be intermittently activated to scan for interrogation signal  283  emitted by the vehicle reader  280 . The jamming radio  255  may be configured to be activated to output the jamming radio signal  257  when the interrogation signal  283  is sensed by the radio scanner sensor  258 . Radio scanner sensor  258  may include a radio antenna that is configured to sense the radio frequency of interrogation signal  283 . When the radio frequency of interrogation signal  283  is sensed by radio scanner sensor  258 , the jamming radio  255  outputs jamming radio signal  257  so that reader  280  cannot complete the authentication of key  170 . Radio scanner  258  may be intermittently activated for less than 100 milliseconds in any given second of time to scan for interrogation signal  283 . This may assist to reduce the power consumption associated with constantly outputting a jamming radio signal  257 . In some embodiments, radio scanner  258  is configured to be “listening” for less than 10% of the time to save on power consumption. In one embodiment, radio scanner sensor  258  is configured to be “listening” for less than 5% of the time to save on power consumption. By way of example, radio scanner sensor  258  may be configured to “listen” for 2 ms and “sleep” for 48 ms to save on electrical power consumption while also being responsive to interrupt interrogation signal  283  (and block authentication of key  170  or  180 ) in any given 50 ms period of time. If radio scanner sensor  258  does sense interrogation signal  283  in the 2 ms “listening” period, it immediately outputs a sense signal to jamming radio  255  so jamming radio  255  is prompted to output jamming radio signal  257 . In embodiments where radio scanner sensor is separate from jamming radio  255  and separately communicatively coupled to processing logic  253 , radio scanner sensor  258  may output the sense signal to processing logic  253 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example vehicle system  300  where key locker  350  includes a key locker door  360  and access actuator  365  in addition to the features of key locker  250 , in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , reader  280  may be prevented from authenticating key  170  because tag  173  is shielded from receiving interrogation signal  283  by the key locker body  351 . Key locker body  351  is fabricated so that it shields the inside of the key locker  350  from radio waves/signals. To accomplish this, the key locker body  351  may be made from metal, or incorporate a metal mesh, or otherwise form a Faraday cage. However, key locker  350  also includes access actuator  365  configured to open and close key locker door  360 . When key locker door  360  is open, tag  173  is no longer shielded from interrogation signal  283  and thus reader  280  can authenticate key  170 . Yet, when key locker door  360  is closed, key  170  and tag  173  are substantially shielded from interrogation signal  283  and thus it may be more difficult or impossible for reader  280  to authenticate key  170 . Therefore, controlling the operation of key locker door  360  may, on its own, be sufficient to control access to the vehicle by selectively shielding key  170  from interrogation signal  283 . 
     However, some vehicle readers  280  emit a very strong interrogation signal  283  that may penetrate shielding of key locker body  351  even when key locker door  360  is closed. And, some vehicle readers  280  actually increase the transmission power of interrogation signal  283  when the vehicle unsuccessfully authenticates a key. For example, if a starting interface of a vehicle is engaged, but the vehicle is unable to authenticate a key, the vehicle reader may increase transmission power of interrogation signal  283  in order to further its effort to authenticate a key. 
     In contexts where interrogation signal  283  may be successful in authenticating a key housed by a key locker where the key locker door  360  is closed, jamming radio  255  may be included in a system to further assist in shielding key  170  by interfering with interrogation signal  283 . Thus, in some embodiments, key locker door  360  is opened and jamming radio  255  is deactivated when access data matches an access code. When no access to the vehicle is granted, key locker door  360  is closed and jamming radio  255  is selectively activated to interfere with interrogation signal  283  to prevent authentication of key  170 . 
     As such, in some embodiments, key locker  350  includes key locker door  360  configured to substantially shield tag  173  of vehicle key  170  from receiving interrogation signal  283  and shields vehicle key  170  from transmitting radio signals (e.g. response signal  252 ) outside key locker body  351  when the key locker door  360  is closed. Processing logic  353  is communicatively coupled to access actuator  365  to control the opening of key locker door  360 , in  FIG. 3 . 
     When key locker door  360  is to be opened, access actuator  365  receives an actuation signal from processing logic  353 , in the illustrated embodiment. Access actuator  365  may include a stepper motor that is mechanically coupled to key locker door  360  to open the key locker door  360  a distance defined by the actuation signal. In some embodiments, a servo, motor, actuator, or combination may be utilized to move key locker door  360 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a vehicle system  400  that includes a key locker  450 , in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Vehicle system  400  includes a controller unit  403 , a keypad  440 , a mobile device  430 , vehicle system  299 , vehicle reader  280 , and a key locker  450 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Controller unit  403  includes processing logic  407 , cellular interface  411 , and wireless interface  413 . Wireless interface  413  may include a cellular radio configured for sending and/or receiving cellular data utilizing 2G/3G/4G/LTE/5G or other cellular data standard that is used now or hereafter. Processing logic  407  may include one or more processors, microprocessors, multi-core processors, and/or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to execute operations disclosed herein. One or more volatile and/or non-volatile memory (not illustrated) may be communicatively coupled to the processing logic  407  to store instructions to execute operations and/or store data. In some embodiments, processing logic  407  includes one or more volatile or non-volatile memories to store data such as an access code. 
     Keypad  440  is communicatively coupled to controller unit  403  via communication channel  492 . In one example, communication channel  492  is a wireless communication channel (e.g. BlueTooth and/or WiFi/802.11x). Mobile device  430  is communicatively coupled to controller unit  403  via communication channel  493 . In one example, communication channel  493  is a wireless communication channel (e.g. BlueTooth and/or WiFi/802.11x). Vehicle system  299  is communicatively coupled to controller unit  403  via communication channel  491 . In one example, communication channel  491  is a wired communication channel utilizing CAN (Controller Area Network) bus protocols. Processing logic  407  may include an input to receive communication channel  491 . Key locker  450  is communicatively coupled to controller unit  403  via communication channel  494 . Key locker  450  may include the features of key locker  250  or  350 . In one example, communication channel  494  is a wireless communication channel (e.g. BlueTooth and/or WiFi/802.11x). In one example, communication channel  494  is a wired communication channel, utilizing I 2 C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), or SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) protocols. Communication channel  494  may be an encrypted channel. Vehicle reader  280  is communicatively coupled to vehicle system  299  via communication channel  495 . 
     Door handle or door lock  421  is coupled to provide access indicator  487 A to vehicle system  299  via communication channel  496  when a user engages a door handle or a door lock of the vehicle. Starting interface  423  is coupled to provide access indicator  487 B to vehicle system  299  via communication channel  497  when a user engages starting interface  423 . Access indicators  487 A and/or  487 B may be passed from vehicle system  299  to controller unit  403  via communication channel  491 , in some embodiments. In an embodiment (not illustrated), door handle or door lock  421  and/or starting interface  423  are coupled to controller unit  403  so that controller unit  403  may receive access indicator(s)  487 A and/or  487 B directly. Communication channels  491 ,  492 ,  493 ,  494 ,  495 ,  496 , and  497 , may be either wired or wireless, in different embodiments. 
     Server  445  is communicatively coupled to communicate with controller unit  403  via wireless interface  413  or cellular interface  411 . The access code(s)  489  that the access data is compared to may be sent to system  400  by a provisioning server such as server  445 . Server  445  may then also separately provide the access data  488  that matches the access code  489  to mobile device  430  via communication channel  499  so a user can enter the access data  488  into keypad  440  to gain access to the vehicle. Access data  488  may also be wirelessly provided to system  400  via a wireless communication interface  493 . 
     Key locker  450  may include any of the features of key locker  250  and  305 , although  FIG. 4  illustrates that some of the components that were included in key lockers  250  and  350  may be included in controller unit  403 . For example, a wireless interface  413  may be included in controller unit  403  instead of key locker  450  and wireless communications may be received on wireless interface  413  and transmitted to key locker  450  via communication channel  494 . Similarly, processing logic  407  may perform some or all of the processes described with respect to processing logic  253  or  353 . Furthermore, jamming radio  255  may be located within controller unit  403  and coupled to processing logic  407  instead of being included in key locker  450 , in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart of an example process of selectively providing access to a vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The order in which some or all of the process blocks appear in process  500  should not be deemed limiting. Rather, one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure will understand that some of the process blocks may be executed in a variety of orders not illustrated, or even in parallel. All or a portion of the process blocks of process  500  may be executed by processing logic  253 ,  353 , or  407 , for example. 
     In process block  505 , a jamming radio signal (e.g. jamming radio signal  257 ) is emitted from a jamming radio (e.g.  255 ) of a key locker. The jamming radio signal is configured to interfere with an interrogation signal emitted by a vehicle for verifying a tag of a vehicle key that provides access to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the jamming radio signal may be emitted from a jamming radio that is disposed in the vehicle, but not included in the key locker. 
     In process block  510 , an access signal (e.g. access signal  281  or  291 ) is received on an input to the key locker. The input may be a wireless interface, a cellular interface, or a wired analog or digital input. Access data included in the access signal may be provided by a keypad or a mobile device. 
     In process block  515 , when the access signal does not include access data that matches an access code, process  500  may return to process block  505 . When the access signal includes access data that matches an access code in process block  515 , process  500  proceeds to process block  520 . Processing logic  253 ,  353 , or  407  may facilitate the comparison of the access data to the access code. 
     In process block  520 , the jamming radio signal is halted or paused when the access data of the access signal matches the access code. Halting the output of the jamming radio signal allows the interrogation signal emitted by the reader of the vehicle to authenticate the tag of the vehicle key to provide access to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the jamming radio signal is paused for a pre-determined time period to allow the vehicle reader to authenticate the key included in a key locker and after the pre-determined time period, process  500  returns to process block  505  to resume the output of the jamming radio signal. In some embodiments of the disclosure, process  500  further includes opening a key locker door (e.g. key locker door  360 ) of the key locker when access data of the access signal matches the access code in process block  515 . 
     In some embodiments, process  500  further includes receiving an access indicator (e.g.  287 / 487 ) indicative of a user attempting to access the vehicle and outputting the jamming radio signal is in response to receiving the access indicator. The access indicator may be generated by a user interacting with a door handle (e.g. pulling up on the door handle or pressing a button on or near the door handle to facilitate opening the door), door lock (e.g. turning a bladed key in the door lock), or starting interface of the vehicle, for example. 
     In some embodiments, process  500  further includes sensing the emission of the interrogation signal emitted by the vehicle and outputting the jamming radio signal is in response to sensing the emission of the interrogation signal. Radio scanner sensor  258  may be configured to sense the interrogation signal, for example. The radio sensor scanner may be included in the key locker or located elsewhere in the vehicle. In one embodiment, radio scanner sensor  258  is included in controller unit  403 . The radio scanner sensor may be intermittently activated for less than 100 milliseconds of any given second of time to scan for the interrogation signal of the vehicle. A jamming radio may be configured to be activated to output the jamming radio signal when the interrogation signal is sensed by the radio scanner sensor. 
     In some vehicles, the interrogation signal increases in power when the vehicle reader fails to authenticate a vehicle key. In some embodiments of process  500 , the radio scanner sensor performs a plurality of measurements of the interrogation signal over time, and when the measurements of the interrogation signals are increasing in power, the jamming radio signal of the jamming radio is also increased in power so that the interrogation signal  283  is not successful in authenticating the vehicle key. 
     The above disclosure has been discussed in the context of vehicle-sharing although it is contemplated that systems and methods of this disclosure could be used in the context of vacation rentals or short-term housing rentals to provide key access to a property for a limited period of time. 
     The term “processing logic” in this disclosure may include one or more processors, microprocessors, multi-core processors, and/or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to execute operations disclosed herein. In some embodiments, memories (not illustrated) are integrated into the processing logic to store instructions to execute operations and/or store data. Processing logic may include analog or digital circuitry to perform the operations disclosed herein. A “memory” or “memories” described in this disclosure may include volatile or non-volatile memory architectures. 
     Communication channels described herein may include wired or wireless communications utilizing IEEE 802.11 protocols, BlueTooth, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), I 2 C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), USB (Universal Serial Port), CAN (Controller Area Network), cellular data protocols (e.g. 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G), or otherwise. 
     The processes explained above are described in terms of computer software and hardware. The techniques described may constitute machine-executable instructions embodied within a tangible or non-transitory machine (e.g., computer) readable storage medium, that when executed by a machine will cause the machine to perform the operations described. Additionally, the processes may be embodied within hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or otherwise. 
     A tangible non-transitory machine-readable storage medium includes any mechanism that provides (i.e., stores) information in a form accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, network device, personal digital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one or more processors, etc.). For example, a machine-readable storage medium includes recordable/non-recordable media (e.g., read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.). 
     The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. 
     These modifications can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.