Patent Publication Number: US-2015063329-A1

Title: Selective vehicle wi-fi access

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to wireless local area networks (WLANs), such as Wi-Fi networks, and more particularly to Wi-Fi networks located at a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern vehicles are often equipped with vehicle telematics units that provide a wide variety of services. For instance, vehicle telematics units can provide vehicle monitoring and diagnostic services as well as the ability to place and receive cellular calls that can communicate voice and/or data. Apart from these monitoring/diagnostic and cellular communication services, vehicle telematics units may also offer separate wireless devices the ability to communicate with the Internet through a WLAN generated by the vehicle, such as a Wi-Fi network. And in some implementations the Wi-Fi network at the vehicle can also be used as an access point for a vehicle owner, vehicle service provider, or other designated entity to access data and generally communicate with the vehicle. Given the available access to vehicle Wi-Fi networks for different wireless devices, it can be helpful to use a method and/or system for selectively permitting and/or restricting access to vehicle Wi-Fi networks. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of selectively permitting access to a vehicle Wi-Fi network. The method includes establishing a plurality of vehicular Wi-Fi access levels each of which provide access to different features at a vehicle; generating a short-range wireless signal that provides Wi-Fi network access at the vehicle; associating a wireless device with one of the established vehicular Wi-Fi access levels; receiving an identity of the wireless device at the vehicle via the short-range wireless signal; determining the level of Wi-Fi access associated with the received identity using the vehicle telematics unit; and controlling access to the different features according to the determined level of Wi-Fi access level associated with the received identity. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of selectively permitting access to a vehicle Wi-Fi network. The method includes accessing a Wi-Fi network provided by a vehicle via a short-range wireless signal; transmitting a wireless device identity to the vehicle via the short-range wireless signal; and receiving one of a plurality of vehicular Wi-Fi access levels that has been assigned to the wireless device identity, wherein each level provides access to different features at the vehicle based on the transmitted wireless device identity. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system of selectively permitting access to a vehicle Wi-Fi network. The system comprises a vehicle telematics unit comprising a processor, a computer-readable medium, and a short-range wireless antenna, wherein the vehicle telematics unit: receives a plurality of wireless identities via a Wi-Fi network generated by the vehicle telematics unit through the short-range wireless antenna; correlates each of the plurality of wireless identities with one of a plurality of vehicular Wi-Fi access levels that each provide access to different features at the vehicle; storing the correlated wireless identities and vehicular Wi-Fi access levels in the computer-readable medium; and controlling access to features available through the Wi-Fi network based on the vehicular Wi-Fi access levels correlated with the wireless identity requesting the features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a communications system that is capable of utilizing the method disclosed herein; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method of selectively permitting access to a vehicle Wi-Fi network. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     The method and system described below selectively permits or restricts wireless access to a vehicular Wi-Fi network based on a plurality of vehicular Wi-Fi access levels each of which permits/restricts access to different vehicle features. When a vehicle offers a vehicular Wi-Fi network, such a network can be used not only as a portal for wireless devices to access the Internet but it can also permit designated users access to selected vehicle features in addition to the Internet. On one hand, anyone with a wireless device, such as a smart phone, may be able to access the Wi-Fi network and connect with the Internet. On the other hand, designated individuals and entities can be granted access to vehicle features that other wireless device users are not. And a plurality of different Wi-Fi access levels can each grant access to a different bundle of features or services that are not available to others. As used herein, “Wi-fi” and “Wi-fi network” refer to any suitable short-range wireless communication, such as wireless local area network (WLAN) communication technologies. WLAN technologies can be based on 802.11 standards, WiMAX, and HiperLAN, for example, as well as other short-range communications, such as Bluetooth and other peer-to-peer communications technologies. 
     In one general example of how this can work, three different levels of vehicular Wi-Fi access can be established. Other implementations can use greater or fewer number of levels and the features permitted or restricted by each of the levels can also vary. But for purposes of illustrating how the method/system described herein can be implemented, three levels are described. For example, a first level of vehicular Wi-Fi access can restrict all functions other than access to the Internet. A second level of vehicular Wi-Fi access can be applied to wireless devices used by vehicle service personnel allowing access to the Internet as well as to vehicle information and data stored at the vehicle. While the second level of vehicular Wi-Fi access allows more than the first, the second level can block access that may normally be reserved for vehicle owners. With respect to vehicle owners and/or operators, a third level of vehicular Wi-Fi access can permit the vehicle owner or operator to access other features of the vehicle that would be restricted by the first and second levels. For instance, the third level of vehicular Wi-Fi access can permit the vehicle owner/operator wireless access to the contents of a hard drive that stores personal music/photographs or other features of the vehicle that may be reserved for vehicle owners/operators. The levels of vehicular Wi-Fi access and vehicle features associated with them will be discussed below in more detail. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an operating environment that comprises a mobile vehicle communications system  10  and that can be used to implement the method disclosed herein. Communications system  10  generally includes a vehicle  12 , one or more wireless carrier systems  14 , a land communications network  16 , a computer  18 , and a call center  20 . It should be understood that the disclosed method can be used with any number of different systems and is not specifically limited to the operating environment shown here. Also, the architecture, construction, setup, and operation of the system  10  and its individual components are generally known in the art. Thus, the following paragraphs simply provide a brief overview of one such communications system  10 ; however, other systems not shown here could employ the disclosed method as well. 
     Vehicle  12  is depicted in the illustrated embodiment as a passenger car, but it should be appreciated that any other vehicle including motorcycles, trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), marine vessels, aircraft, etc., can also be used. Some of the vehicle electronics  28  is shown generally in  FIG. 1  and includes a telematics unit  30 , a microphone  32 , one or more pushbuttons or other control inputs  34 , an audio system  36 , a visual display  38 , and a GPS module  40  as well as a number of vehicle system modules (VSMs)  42 . Some of these devices can be connected directly to the telematics unit such as, for example, the microphone  32  and pushbutton(s)  34 , whereas others are indirectly connected using one or more network connections, such as a communications bus  44  or an entertainment bus  46 . Examples of suitable network connections include a controller area network (CAN), a media oriented system transfer (MOST), a local interconnection network (LIN), a local area network (LAN), and other appropriate connections such as Ethernet or others that conform with known ISO, SAE and IEEE standards and specifications, to name but a few. 
     Telematics unit  30  can be an OEM-installed (embedded) or aftermarket device that is installed in the vehicle and that enables wireless voice and/or data communication over wireless carrier system  14  and via wireless networking. This enables the vehicle to communicate with call center  20 , other telematics-enabled vehicles, or some other entity or device. The telematics unit preferably uses radio transmissions to establish a communications channel (a voice channel and/or a data channel) with wireless carrier system  14  so that voice and/or data transmissions can be sent and received over the channel. By providing both voice and data communication, telematics unit  30  enables the vehicle to offer a number of different services including those related to navigation, telephony, emergency assistance, diagnostics, infotainment, etc. Data can be sent either via a data connection, such as via packet data transmission over a data channel, or via a voice channel using techniques known in the art. For combined services that involve both voice communication (e.g., with a live advisor or voice response unit at the call center  20 ) and data communication (e.g., to provide GPS location data or vehicle diagnostic data to the call center  20 ), the system can utilize a single call over a voice channel and switch as needed between voice and data transmission over the voice channel, and this can be done using techniques known to those skilled in the art. 
     According to one embodiment, telematics unit  30  utilizes cellular communication according to either GSM or CDMA standards and thus includes a standard cellular chipset  50  for voice communications like hands-free calling, a wireless modem for data transmission, an electronic processing device  52 , one or more digital memory devices  54 , and a dual antenna  56 . It should be appreciated that the modem can either be implemented through software that is stored in the telematics unit and is executed by processor  52 , or it can be a separate hardware component located internal or external to telematics unit  30 . The modem can operate using any number of different standards or protocols such as EVDO, CDMA, GPRS, and EDGE. Wireless networking between the vehicle and other networked devices can also be carried out using telematics unit  30  via a short-range wireless signal. For this purpose, telematics unit  30  can be configured to communicate wirelessly according to one or more wireless protocols, such as any of the IEEE 802.11 protocols, WiMAX, or Bluetooth, and be able to facilitate a Wi-Fi network known to those skilled in the art. When used for packet-switched data communication such as TCP/IP, the telematics unit can be configured with a static IP address or can set up to automatically receive an assigned IP address from another device on the network such as a router or from a network address server. 
     One of the networked devices that can communicate with the vehicle telematics unit  30  is a separate wireless device, such as a smart phone  57 . The smart phone  57  can include computer processing capability, a transceiver capable of communicating using a short-range wireless protocol, and a visual smart phone display  59 . In some implementations, the smart phone display  59  also includes a touch-screen graphical user interface and/or a GPS module capable of receiving GPS satellite signals and generating GPS coordinates based on those signals. Examples of the smart phone  57  include the iPhone™ manufactured by Apple, Inc. and the Android™ manufactured by Motorola, Inc. as well as others. These and other similar devices may be used or considered as a type of separate wireless device for the purposes of the method and system described herein. While the smart phone  57  is described as a wireless device used with the method/system, it should be appreciated that other similar and/or simpler wireless devices capable of short-range wireless communication can be successfully substituted for the smart phone  57  to carry out the method/system described herein. An iPad™ manufactured by Apple, Inc. is an example of such a wireless device that may lack cellular communication capability of the smart phone  57  yet be able to communicate with the Wi-Fi network. 
     Processor  52  can be any type of device capable of processing electronic instructions including microprocessors, microcontrollers, host processors, controllers, vehicle communication processors, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It can be a dedicated processor used only for telematics unit  30  or can be shared with other vehicle systems. Processor  52  executes various types of digitally-stored instructions, such as software or firmware programs stored in memory  54 , which enable the telematics unit to provide a wide variety of services. For instance, processor  52  can execute programs or process data to carry out at least a part of the method discussed herein. 
     Telematics unit  30  can be used to provide a diverse range of vehicle services or features that involve wireless communication to and/or from the vehicle. Such services include: turn-by-turn directions and other navigation-related services that are provided in conjunction with the GPS-based vehicle navigation module  40 ; airbag deployment notification and other emergency or roadside assistance-related services that are provided in connection with one or more collision sensor interface modules such as a body control module (not shown); diagnostic reporting using one or more diagnostic modules; and infotainment-related services where music, webpages, movies, television programs, videogames and/or other information is downloaded by an infotainment module (not shown) and is stored for current or later playback. The above-listed services are by no means an exhaustive list of all of the capabilities of telematics unit  30 , but are simply an enumeration of some of the services that the telematics unit is capable of offering. Furthermore, it should be understood that at least some of the aforementioned modules could be implemented in the form of software instructions saved internal or external to telematics unit  30 , they could be hardware components located internal or external to telematics unit  30 , or they could be integrated and/or shared with each other or with other systems located throughout the vehicle, to cite but a few possibilities. In the event that the modules are implemented as VSMs  42  located external to telematics unit  30 , they could utilize vehicle bus  44  to exchange data and commands with the telematics unit. 
     GPS module  40  receives radio signals from a constellation  60  of GPS satellites. From these signals, the module  40  can determine vehicle position that is used for providing navigation and other position-related services to the vehicle driver. Navigation information can be presented on the display  38  (or other display within the vehicle) or can be presented verbally such as is done when supplying turn-by-turn navigation. The navigation services can be provided using a dedicated in-vehicle navigation module (which can be part of GPS module  40 ), or some or all navigation services can be done via telematics unit  30 , wherein the position information is sent to a remote location for purposes of providing the vehicle with navigation maps, map annotations (points of interest, restaurants, etc.), route calculations, and the like. The position information can be supplied to call center  20  or other remote computer system, such as computer  18 , for other purposes, such as fleet management. Also, new or updated map data can be downloaded to the GPS module  40  from the call center  20  via the telematics unit  30 . 
     Apart from the audio system  36  and GPS module  40 , the vehicle  12  can include other vehicle system modules (VSMs)  42  in the form of electronic hardware components that are located throughout the vehicle and typically receive input from one or more sensors and use the sensed input to perform diagnostic, monitoring, control, reporting and/or other functions. Each of the VSMs  42  is preferably connected by communications bus  44  to the other VSMs, as well as to the telematics unit  30 , and can be programmed to run vehicle system and subsystem diagnostic tests. As examples, one VSM  42  can be an engine control module (ECM) that controls various aspects of engine operation such as fuel ignition and ignition timing, another VSM  42  can be a powertrain control module that regulates operation of one or more components of the vehicle powertrain, and another VSM  42  can be a body control module that governs various electrical components located throughout the vehicle, like the vehicle&#39;s power door locks and headlights. According to one embodiment, the engine control module is equipped with on-board diagnostic (OBD) features that provide myriad real-time data, such as that received from various sensors including vehicle emissions sensors, and provide a standardized series of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that allow a technician to rapidly identify and remedy malfunctions within the vehicle. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the above-mentioned VSMs are only examples of some of the modules that may be used in vehicle  12 , as numerous others are also possible. 
     Vehicle electronics  28  also includes a number of vehicle user interfaces that provide vehicle occupants with a means of providing and/or receiving information, including microphone  32 , pushbuttons(s)  34 , audio system  36 , and visual display  38 . As used herein, the term ‘vehicle user interface’ broadly includes any suitable form of electronic device, including both hardware and software components, which is located on the vehicle and enables a vehicle user to communicate with or through a component of the vehicle. Microphone  32  provides audio input to the telematics unit to enable the driver or other occupant to provide voice commands and carry out hands-free calling via the wireless carrier system  14 . For this purpose, it can be connected to an on-board automated voice processing unit utilizing human-machine interface (HMI) technology known in the art. The pushbutton(s)  34  allow manual user input into the telematics unit  30  to initiate wireless telephone calls and provide other data, response, or control input. Separate pushbuttons can be used for initiating emergency calls versus regular service assistance calls to the call center  20 . Audio system  36  provides audio output to a vehicle occupant and can be a dedicated, stand-alone system or part of the primary vehicle audio system. According to the particular embodiment shown here, audio system  36  is operatively coupled to both vehicle bus  44  and entertainment bus  46  and can provide AM, FM and satellite radio, CD, DVD and other multimedia functionality. This functionality can be provided in conjunction with or independent of the infotainment module described above. Visual display  38  is preferably a graphics display, such as a touch screen on the instrument panel or a heads-up display reflected off of the windshield, and can be used to provide a multitude of input and output functions. Various other vehicle user interfaces can also be utilized, as the interfaces of  FIG. 1  are only an example of one particular implementation. 
     Wireless carrier system  14  is preferably a cellular telephone system that includes a plurality of cell towers  70  (only one shown), one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs)  72 , as well as any other networking components required to connect wireless carrier system  14  with land network  16 . Each cell tower  70  includes sending and receiving antennas and a base station, with the base stations from different cell towers being connected to the MSC  72  either directly or via intermediary equipment such as a base station controller. Cellular system  14  can implement any suitable communications technology, including for example, analog technologies such as AMPS, or the newer digital technologies such as CDMA (e.g., CDMA2000) or GSM/GPRS. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various cell tower/base station/MSC arrangements are possible and could be used with wireless system  14 . For instance, the base station and cell tower could be co-located at the same site or they could be remotely located from one another, each base station could be responsible for a single cell tower or a single base station could service various cell towers, and various base stations could be coupled to a single MSC, to name but a few of the possible arrangements. 
     Apart from using wireless carrier system  14 , a different wireless carrier system in the form of satellite communication can be used to provide uni-directional or bi-directional communication with the vehicle. This can be done using one or more communication satellites  62  and an uplink transmitting station  64 . Uni-directional communication can be, for example, satellite radio services, wherein programming content (news, music, etc.) is received by transmitting station  64 , packaged for upload, and then sent to the satellite  62 , which broadcasts the programming to subscribers. Bi-directional communication can be, for example, satellite telephony services using satellite  62  to relay telephone communications between the vehicle  12  and station  64 . If used, this satellite telephony can be utilized either in addition to or in lieu of wireless carrier system  14 . 
     Land network  16  may be a conventional land-based telecommunications network that is connected to one or more landline telephones and connects wireless carrier system  14  to call center  20 . For example, land network  16  may include a public switched telephone network (PSTN) such as that used to provide hardwired telephony, packet-switched data communications, and the Internet infrastructure. One or more segments of land network  16  could be implemented through the use of a standard wired network, a fiber or other optical network, a cable network, power lines, other wireless networks such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), or networks providing broadband wireless access (BWA), or any combination thereof. Furthermore, call center  20  need not be connected via land network  16 , but could include wireless telephony equipment so that it can communicate directly with a wireless network, such as wireless carrier system  14 . 
     Computer  18  can be one of a number of computers accessible via a private or public network such as the Internet. Each such computer  18  can be used for one or more purposes, such as a web server accessible by the vehicle via telematics unit  30  and wireless carrier  14 . Other such accessible computers  18  can be, for example: a service center computer where diagnostic information and other vehicle data can be uploaded from the vehicle via the telematics unit  30 ; a client computer used by the vehicle owner or other subscriber for such purposes as accessing or receiving vehicle data or to setting up or configuring subscriber preferences or controlling vehicle functions; or a third party repository to or from which vehicle data or other information is provided, whether by communicating with the vehicle  12  or call center  20 , or both. A computer  18  can also be used for providing Internet connectivity such as DNS services or as a network address server that uses DHCP or other suitable protocol to assign an IP address to the vehicle  12 . 
     Call center  20  is designed to provide the vehicle electronics  28  with a number of different system back-end functions and, according to the exemplary embodiment shown here, generally includes one or more switches  80 , servers  82 , databases  84 , live advisors  86 , as well as an automated voice response system (VRS)  88 , all of which are known in the art. These various call center components are preferably coupled to one another via a wired or wireless local area network  90 . Switch  80 , which can be a private branch exchange (PBX) switch, routes incoming signals so that voice transmissions are usually sent to either the live adviser  86  by regular phone or to the automated voice response system  88  using VoIP. The live advisor phone can also use VoIP as indicated by the broken line in  FIG. 1 . VoIP and other data communication through the switch  80  is implemented via a modem (not shown) connected between the switch  80  and network  90 . Data transmissions are passed via the modem to server  82  and/or database  84 . Database  84  can store account information such as subscriber authentication information, vehicle identifiers, profile records, behavioral patterns, and other pertinent subscriber information. Data transmissions may also be conducted by wireless systems, such as 802.11x, GPRS, and the like. Although the illustrated embodiment has been described as it would be used in conjunction with a manned call center  20  using live advisor  86 , it will be appreciated that the call center can instead utilize VRS  88  as an automated advisor or, a combination of VRS  88  and the live advisor  86  can be used. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is a flow chart of a method  200  of selectively permitting access to a vehicle Wi-Fi network. The method  200  begins at step  210  by establishing a plurality of vehicular Wi-Fi access levels each of which provide access to different features at the vehicle  12 . As discussed above, access to a Wi-Fi network at the vehicle  12  can be controlled using multiple Wi-Fi access levels. In this implementation, three vehicular Wi-Fi access levels are described. A Wi-Fi access level can exclude access to all vehicle features allowing only access to the Internet or include one or more vehicle features in addition to Internet access. As used herein, vehicle features or services should be appreciated to include a vehicle function, access to vehicle data, or a service available through the Wi-Fi network. For example, a vehicle function can be the ability to remotely control the vehicle  12 , such as by starting or locking/unlocking the vehicle  12 . It can also describe access to DTCs or other vehicle data/information that represents vehicle operation. Vehicle features may also include the ability of a vehicle user/owner to access photographs or music stored in a computer-readable memory, such as digital memory devices  54 , or to receive infotainment. Other vehicle features exist and these examples of vehicle features are merely illustrative of the various functions and services that can be regulated by the Wi-Fi access levels described herein. 
     In method  200 , a first Wi-Fi access level can permit users of the Wi-Fi network provided by the vehicle  12  to access the Internet much like a wireless device, such as smart phone  57 , would access a public Wi-Fi network. And a second Wi-Fi access level can provide access to vehicle features not available to wireless devices granted the first Wi-Fi access level. One example of the second Wi-Fi access level can permit a vehicle service department, such as a vehicle dealership, access to vehicle data. This vehicle data can include DTCs or other information that reflects the operating condition of the vehicle  12 . In another example, the second Wi-Fi access level could be used for valet parking services and permit valet employees the ability to remotely lock/unlock and start the vehicle  12  as well as access the Internet through the Wi-Fi network. The third Wi-Fi access level can permit access to each vehicle feature offered by the vehicle  12 . It should be appreciated that in other implementations only first and second Wi-Fi access levels may be used. Or that first, second, third, and fourth Wi-Fi access levels may be used. Ultimately, the number of Wi-Fi access levels can be varied as part of the method/system described herein. The method  210  proceeds to step  220 . 
     At step  220 , the wireless device is associated with one of the established vehicular Wi-Fi access levels. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. In one implementation, one or more wireless devices, such as smart phone  57 , can be provide its identity to the vehicle telematics unit  30  and the identity can be associated or correlated with one of the three Wi-Fi access levels used to access the Wi-Fi network provided by the vehicle telematics unit  30 . For instance, the vehicle telematics unit  30  can receive the MAC address of the wireless device and correlate/associate one of the Wi-Fi access levels with the received MAC address. The correlated wireless identities and vehicular Wi-Fi access levels can then be stored in the digital memory devices  54 . By correlating the identities of the wireless devices with the Wi-Fi access levels using the vehicle telematics unit  30 , the vehicle telematics unit  30  can determine which vehicle features are permitted to each wireless device and can do so using a single Wi-Fi network. With respect to the single Wi-Fi network, this can be described by the vehicle  12  implementing a Wi-Fi network from the vehicle  12  by broadcasting a single network name or service set identifier (SSID). 
     In another implementation, the vehicle  12  can implement the Wi-Fi network by broadcasting a plurality of network names (e.g., SSIDs) and each network name can correspond to a different Wi-Fi access level. The wireless device using the Wi-Fi network in this implementation can receive the identity of a particular Wi-Fi access level in the form of a Wi-Fi network name and a password associated with the Wi-Fi network name. The Wi-Fi network name and associated password can be saved at the wireless device. That is, in a scheme that uses three Wi-Fi access levels, the vehicle telematics unit  30  can broadcast a first Wi-Fi network name that corresponds to the first Wi-Fi access level, a second Wi-Fi network name that corresponds to the second Wi-Fi access level, and a third Wi-Fi network name that corresponds to the third Wi-Fi access level. Wireless devices that are authorized to access vehicle features included with the second and third Wi-Fi access levels can each be directed to access the second Wi-Fi network name or third Wi-Fi network name, respectively. Individual passwords can be given to the second and/or third Wi-Fi network names. Thus, when a particular wireless device is designated as being able to access vehicle features granted by the second Wi-Fi network name, a second Wi-Fi network name password can permit that wireless device to access those features. Similarly, when a particular wireless device is designated as being able to access vehicle features granted by the third Wi-Fi network name, a third Wi-Fi network name password that is different from the second Wi-Fi network name password can permit that wireless device to access those features. In some implementations, the first Wi-Fi network name may not require a password. However, it is also possible to require that users of the first Wi-Fi network name use a password for access to the Internet. The method  200  proceeds to step  230 . 
     At step  230 , an identity of the wireless device is received at the vehicle  12  via the short-range wireless signal implementing the Wi-Fi network. The level of Wi-Fi access associated with the received identity is determined using the vehicle telematics unit  30  and controlled according to the determined level of Wi-Fi access associated with the received identity. Depending on how the Wi-Fi network is implemented, this can involve different steps. For instance, if the Wi-Fi network is implemented using a single network name, the vehicle telematics unit  30  can receive the identity of the wireless device, access stored combinations of wireless device identity/level of Wi-Fi access, and permit/deny access to vehicle functions. If the Wi-Fi network is implemented using multiple network names, the vehicle telematics unit  30  can verify passwords received from wireless devices and permit/deny access to vehicle functions based on the validity and identity of the passwords. The method  200  then ends. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. 
     As used in this specification and claims, the terms “e.g.,” “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.