Patent Publication Number: US-9886805-B1

Title: Priming vehicle access based on wireless key velocity

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/372,369, filed on Dec. 7, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to wireless keys and, more specifically, priming vehicle access based on wireless key velocity. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Oftentimes, vehicles utilize remote keyless entry systems to enable a user (e.g., a driver) to unlock and/or open a door without inserting a key into a lock. Some remote keyless entry systems include a key fob that is carried by the user. The key fob has a wireless transducer that communicates with a vehicle to initiate the unlocking and/or opening of the door. Other remote keyless entry systems utilize an application operating on a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone) that communicates with the vehicle to unlock and/or open the door. 
     SUMMARY 
     The appended claims define this application. The present disclosure summarizes aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims. Other implementations are contemplated in accordance with the techniques described herein, as will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description, and these implementations are intended to be within the scope of this application. 
     Example embodiments are shown for priming vehicle access based on wireless key velocity. An example disclosed vehicle includes a communication module to receive a signal from a wireless key of a user that includes velocity data of the wireless key and determine a distance to the wireless key. The example disclosed vehicle also includes a vehicle primer to determine an arrival time of the user based on the velocity data and the distance and prime the vehicle for access before the arrival time. 
     An example disclosed method for priming vehicle access includes receiving, via a vehicle communication module, a signal from a wireless key of a user that includes velocity data of the wireless key and determining, via a processor, a distance between a vehicle and the wireless key. The example disclosed method also includes determining an arrival time of the user based on the velocity data and the distance and priming the vehicle for access before the arrival time. 
     An example disclosed system for priming vehicle access includes a wireless key of a user to determine velocity data of the wireless key and transmit the velocity data upon collecting a low-energy beacon. The example disclosed system also includes a vehicle to receive the velocity data from the wireless key, determine an arrival time of the user based on the velocity data and a signal strength of the signal, and prime the vehicle for access before the arrival time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to embodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and related elements may be omitted, or in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated, so as to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. In addition, system components can be variously arranged, as known in the art. Further, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example vehicle and an example wireless key in accordance with the teachings herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of electronic components of the wireless key of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of electronic components of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an example method to prime the vehicle of  FIG. 1  based on a velocity of the wireless key of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     Remote keyless entry systems oftentimes are utilized by a vehicle to enable a user (e.g., a driver) to unlock and/or open a door of the vehicle without inserting a key into a lock of the vehicle. In some instances, a remote keyless entry system includes a key fob that is carried by the user. The key fob includes a wireless transducer that communicates with the vehicle to initiate the unlocking and/or opening of the vehicle door. In other instances, a remote keyless entry system utilizes an application operating on a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone) that communicates with the vehicle to unlock and/or open the door. The key fob and/or the mobile device application may include a button that the user presses to initiate communication to the vehicle (e.g., to instruct the vehicle to unlock the door). Some remote key entry systems include a passive entry system in which the vehicle unlocks a door upon detecting that a corresponding key fob and/or mobile device is within a proximity of the vehicle. In some instances, a user carrying the key fob and/or mobile device may potentially arrive at the vehicle before the passive entry system is able to unlock the door. 
     Examples disclosed herein include a vehicle that collects velocity data of a wireless key (e.g., a key fob, a mobile device, etc.), determines an expected arrival time of a user carrying the wireless key based on the velocity data, and primes the vehicle for entry by the user before the expected arrival time. As used herein, “priming a vehicle,” “priming a vehicle for access,” and “priming a vehicle for entry” refer to initiating one or more systems and/or devices of the vehicle that facilitate entry of the vehicle by the user. For example, priming the vehicle includes activating lights (e.g., interior lights, exterior lights) of the vehicle, unlocking one or more doors, and/or priming one or more doors of the vehicle. As used herein, “priming a door” refers to instructing an electronic latch to unlock a corresponding door upon detection that a user has attempted to open a door (e.g., by touching a handle of the door). 
     An example system disclosed herein includes a vehicle and a wireless key of a user (e.g., a driver or a passenger). As used herein, a “wireless key” refers to a device that communicates with an object (e.g., a vehicle) to activate functions of the object (e.g., to trigger an alarm, to prime a vehicle, to remote start an engine of a vehicle, etc.) from a remote location away from the object. Wireless keys include key fobs and/or applications of mobile devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, smart watches, etc.). The vehicle of the example system includes a communication module (e.g., a short range wireless module) that broadcasts a beacon (e.g., a low-energy beacon such as Bluetooth® low-energy (BLE) beacon). As used herein, a “beacon” is a signal that is intermittently broadcasted by a source. 
     The wireless key of the example system collects or obtains the broadcasted beacon when the wireless key is within a proximity range of the vehicle (e.g., a broadcast range of the beacon). The beacon prompts the wireless key to transmit a signal that includes velocity data (e.g., a speed and a direction of travel) and/or orientation data (e.g., magnetic orientation) of the wireless key to the vehicle. For example, the wireless key includes an accelerometer and/or another meter to determine the speed of the wireless key. In other examples, a global positioning system (GPS) and/or assisted GPS is utilized to determine the velocity of the wireless key. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless key includes a magnetometer and/or another meter to determine the direction of travel and/or a magnetic orientation of the wireless key. 
     The communication module of the vehicle receives the signal from the wireless key and determines a distance between the vehicle and the wireless key based on a signal strength of the signal (e.g., via a received signal strength indicator). The vehicle of the example system also includes a vehicle primer that determines an arrival time of the user at the vehicle based on the velocity data of the wireless key, the orientation data of the wireless key and/or the distance between the wireless key and the vehicle. As used herein, an “arrival time” is an estimated time (e.g., 11:47:59 P.M.) at which and/or an estimated time duration (e.g., 12 seconds) until a wireless key of a user arrives at a vehicle. Further, the vehicle primes the vehicle for access by the user before the determined arrival time. 
     In some examples, the vehicle primer determines a point-of-arrival at which the user is predicted to arrive at the vehicle. For example, based on the velocity data of the wireless key and an orientation (e.g., magnetic orientation) of the vehicle, the vehicle primer may predict the point-of-arrival of the user at the vehicle. The vehicle may include a GPS receiver and/or a magnetometer to determine the orientation of the vehicle. In some examples, the vehicle primer primes the vehicle based on the point-of-arrival. The vehicle primer may prime a door that is nearest to the point-of-arrival to unlock and may keeps other doors of the vehicle farther away from the point-of-arrival unprimed for unlocking. For example, if the vehicle primer predicts that the user is approaching a front, passenger-side door of a vehicle, the vehicle primer primes only that door of the vehicle for unlocking. 
     Turning to the figures.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example vehicle  100  and a user  102  carrying an example wireless key  104  in accordance with the teachings herein. The vehicle  100  may be a standard gasoline powered vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, and/or any other mobility implement type of vehicle. The vehicle  100  includes parts related to mobility, such as a powertrain with an engine, a transmission, a suspension, a driveshaft, and/or wheels, etc. The vehicle  100  may be non-autonomous, semi-autonomous (e.g., some routine motive functions controlled by the vehicle  100 ), or autonomous (e.g., motive functions are controlled by the vehicle  100  without direct driver input). 
     In the illustrated example, the vehicle  100  includes a communication module  106  that is to communicatively couple to the wireless key  104 . In the illustrated example, the communication module  106  is a short-range wireless module that includes a wireless transducer to wirelessly communicate with the wireless key  104  and/or another device that is within a broadcast range or distance of the communication module  106 . The short-range wireless module includes hardware and firmware to establish a connection with the wireless key  104 . In some examples, the short-range wireless module implements the Bluetooth® and/or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) protocols. The Bluetooth® and BLE protocols are set forth in Volume 6 of the Bluetooth® Specification 4.0 (and subsequent revisions) maintained by the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group. In the illustrated example, the vehicle  100  includes one communication module (e.g., the communication module  106 ). In other examples, the vehicle  100  includes a plurality of communication modules that are to communication with the wireless key  104  and are positioned at different locations throughout the vehicle  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the broadcast range of the communication module  106  defines a proximity range  108  of the vehicle  100  in which the communication module  106  is capable of communicating with the wireless key  104  and/or another device. For example, when the wireless key  104  is within the proximity range  108  of the vehicle  100 , the wireless key  104  is able to collect a beacon  110  (e.g., a low-energy beacon such as Bluetooth® low-energy (BLE) beacon) that is broadcasted intermittently by the communication module  106 . In some examples, the beacon  110  is broadcasted by the communication module  106  at a constant rate (e.g., one broadcast per second). In other examples, a rate at which the communication module  106  broadcasts the beacon  110  is dependent upon a distance between the communication module  106  and the wireless key  104 . For example, the communication module  106  may broadcast the beacon  110  at a greater rate the closer the wireless key  104  is to the vehicle  100 . 
     Further, when the wireless key  104  is within the proximity range  108 , the communication module  106  is able to receive a signal  112  (e.g., via Bluetooth® and/or BLE protocols) that is transmitted by the wireless key  104 . For example, the signal  112  received by the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100  may include velocity data (e.g., including a speed and a direction of travel), orientation data and/or other data of the wireless key  104 . In some examples, the vehicle  100  identifies the direction at which the wireless key  104  is approaching the vehicle  100  via Bluetooth® Angle of Arrival. Additionally, the communication module  106  determines a distance between the vehicle  100  and the wireless key  104 . For example, the communication module  106  determines the distance to the wireless key  104  based on a signal strength of the received signal  112 . In some such examples, the communication module  106  utilizes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) corresponding to the received signal  112  to determine the distance to the wireless key  104 . 
     The vehicle  100  of the illustrated example includes a global positioning sensor (GPS) receiver  114 , exterior lights  116 , and interior lights  118 . The GPS receiver  114  determines and/or obtains a position and/or orientation (e.g., magnetic orientation) of the vehicle  100 . In the illustrated example, the exterior lights  116  includes headlamps and tail lights, and the interior lights  118  include an overhead light. 
     The vehicle  100  also includes doors  120  that enable the user  102  to access and/or enter an interior of the vehicle  100 . In the illustrated example, the vehicle  100  is a four-door vehicle such that the doors  120  include a front, driver-side door; a front passenger-side door; a back, driver-side door; and a back, passenger-side door. In other examples, the vehicle  100  may include more or less doors through which the user  102  may access and/or enter the interior of the vehicle  100 . The vehicle  100  also includes electronic latches  122  that prime, lock, and/or unlock the doors  120 . In the illustrated example, each of the electronic latches  122  controls a respective one of the doors  120 . In some examples, each of the electronic latches  122  is communicatively coupled to a sensor (e.g., a capacitive touch sensor, an infrared sensor, an angular rotation sensor, etc.) of the corresponding door  120  to detect when the user  102  is attempting to open the door  120 . In the illustrated example, each of the electronic latches  122  is communicatively coupled to a vehicle primer  124  that may send a signal to one or more of the electronic latches  122  to unlock, lock, and/or prime the corresponding one or more of the doors  120 . 
     The vehicle primer  124  also is communicatively coupled to communication module  106  and/or the GPS receiver  114  of the vehicle  100 . In operation, the vehicle primer  124  collects the data of the wireless key  104  (e.g., the velocity data, the orientation data) that is received by the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100 . In some examples, the vehicle primer  124  utilizes sensor fusion (e.g., executes a sensor fusion algorithm) to combine and/or reduce uncertainty associated with the data received from the wireless key  104 . Additionally, the vehicle primer  124  obtains the distance between the vehicle  100  and the wireless key  104  that is determined, for example, by the communication module  106  based on the RSSI of the signal  112  received from the wireless key  104 . Alternatively, the vehicle primer  124  may determine the distance between the vehicle  100  and the wireless key  104  based on data collected by the vehicle  100  and/or the wireless key  104 . 
     Further, the vehicle primer  124  of the illustrated example collects data associated with the vehicle  100 . For example, the vehicle primer  124  collects position and/or orientation (e.g., magnetic orientation) data of the vehicle  100  from the GPS receiver  114  and/or sensor(s) (e.g., sensors  304  of  FIG. 3 ) of the vehicle  100 . In some examples, the GPS receiver  114  collects position and/or orientation data of the vehicle  100  that is/are determined utilizing satellite-based GPS and/or terrestrial-based Assisted GPS. 
     Based on the collected data, the vehicle primer  124  determines an arrival time of the user  102  at the vehicle  100 . For example, the vehicle primer  124  may determine a time (e.g., 7:22:51 P.M.) at which the user  102  is estimated to arrive at the vehicle  100 . and/or an estimated time duration (e.g., 4.5 seconds) until the user  102  is estimated to arrive at the vehicle  100 . Additionally, the vehicle primer  124  primes the vehicle  100  (e.g., activates the external lighting  116  and/or the internal lighting  118 , primes and/or unlocks one or more of the doors  120 , etc.) before the arrival time to enable the user  102  to access the interior of the vehicle  100  upon reaching the vehicle  100 . 
     By priming the vehicle  100  based on velocity, orientation and/or other data received from the wireless key  104 , the vehicle primer  124  is capable of priming the vehicle  100  before a user (e.g., the user  102 ) who is moving quickly toward the vehicle  100  arrives at the vehicle  100 . For example, if the user  102  is moving quickly toward the vehicle  100 , the vehicle primer  124  may determine to prime the vehicle  100  before the communication module  106  broadcasts another beacon to ensure that the vehicle  100  is primed before the user  102  arrives at the vehicle  100 . Alternatively, if the user  102  is moving slowly toward the vehicle  100 , the vehicle primer  124  may determine to wait, broadcast another beacon, and receive additional corresponding velocity data from the wireless key  104  before determining whether and/or when to prime the vehicle  100 . 
     Additionally, the vehicle primer  124  may determine a point-of-arrival at which the vehicle primer  124  predicts that the user  102  is to arrive at the vehicle  100 . For example, the vehicle primer  124  determines the point-of-arrival based on the velocity data of the wireless key  104  and/or the orientation data of the vehicle  100 . Further, the vehicle primer  124  may adjust or tailor how the vehicle  100  is primed based on the point-of-arrival. For example, if the determined point-of-arrival of the user  102  is near one of the doors  120  (e.g., the front, driver-side door) of the vehicle  100 , the vehicle primer  124  may unlock and/or prime the door  120  nearest the point-of-arrival and keep the other of the doors  120  farther away from the point-of-arrival (e.g., the front, passenger-side door; the back, driver-side door; the back, passenger-side door) locked and/or unprimed. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of electronic components  200  of the wireless key  104 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the electronic components  200  include a microcontroller unit, controller, or processor  202 . Further, the electronic components  200  include memory  204 , a communication module  206 , and sensors  208 . 
     In the illustrated example, the processor  202  is structured to include a characteristic determiner  210 . The processor  202  may be any suitable processing device or set of processing devices such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, an integrated circuit, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). 
     The memory  204  may be volatile memory (e.g., RAM including non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, etc.), non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatile solid-state memory, etc.), unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs), read-only memory, and/or high-capacity storage devices (e.g., hard drives, solid state drives, etc). In some examples, the memory  204  includes multiple kinds of memory, particularly volatile memory and non-volatile memory. 
     The memory  204  is computer readable media on which one or more sets of instructions, such as the software for operating the methods of the present disclosure, can be embedded. The instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. For example, the instructions reside completely, or at least partially, within any one or more of the memory  204 , the computer readable medium, and/or within the processor  202  during execution of the instructions. 
     The terms “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” include a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. Further, the terms “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” include any tangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. As used herein, the term “computer readable medium” is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and to exclude propagating signals. 
     The communication module  206  of the electronic components  200  of the wireless key  104  is to communicatively couple to the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100 . The communication module  206  of the illustrated example includes a short-range wireless module having a wireless transducer to communicate with the communication module  106  when the vehicle  100  is within a proximity range of distance of the wireless key  104 . The short-range wireless module includes hardware and firmware to establish a connection with the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100 . In some examples, the short-range wireless module implements the Bluetooth® and/or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) protocols. 
     The sensors  208  monitor properties or characteristics related to the wireless key  104  and/or a device on which the wireless key  104  is installed. In examples in which the wireless key  104  is a key fob, the sensors  208  are located within the key fob and monitor properties or characteristics of the key fob and/or an environment in which the key fob is located. In examples in which the wireless key  104  is an application of a mobile device, the sensors are located within the mobile device and monitor properties or characteristics of the mobile device and/or an environment in which the mobile device is located. In the illustrated example, the sensors  208  include a gyroscope  212 , an accelerometer  214 , and a magnetometer  216 . For example, the accelerometer  214  measures a velocity at which the wireless key  104  is moving. The gyroscope  212  and/or the magnetometer  216  measures a magnetic orientation of the wireless key  104  and/or a direction in which the wireless key  104  is moving. In other examples, satellite-based GPS and/or terrestrial-based Assisted GPS is utilized to determine the location, the orientation, and/or the velocity of the wireless key  104 . 
     In operation, the characteristic determiner  210  of the processor determines velocity data, orientation data, and/or other data of the wireless key  104  based on data collected by the gyroscope  212 , the accelerometer  214 , the magnetometer, and/or any other of the sensors  208  of the wireless key  104 . In some examples, the characteristic determiner  210  utilizes sensor fusion (e.g., executes a sensor fusion algorithm) in which data collected from a plurality of the sensors  208  is combined to reduce uncertainty associated with the data collected from the sensors  208 . Further, the communication module  206  collects the beacon  110  broadcasted by the communication module  106  when the wireless key  104  is located within the proximity range  108  of the vehicle  100 . Additionally or alternatively, the communication module  206  includes a GPS receiver to determine a velocity and/or orientation of the wireless key  104  via GPS and/or a cellular communication transceiver to determine a velocity and/or orientation of the wireless key  104  via Assisted GPS. Upon collecting the beacon  110 , the communication module  206  of the wireless key  104  generates the signal  112  to include the velocity data, orientation data, and/or other data of the wireless key  104  and transmits or sends the signal  112  to the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of electronic components  300  of the vehicle  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the electronic components  300  include a body control module  302 , the GPS receiver  114 , the communication module  106 , sensors  304 , electronic control units (ECUs)  306 , and a vehicle data bus  308 . 
     The body control module  302  controls one or more subsystems throughout the vehicle  100 , such as external lighting, power windows, an immobilizer system, power mirrors, etc. For example, the body control module  302  includes circuits that drive one or more of relays (e.g., to control wiper fluid, etc.), brushed direct current (DC) motors (e.g., to control power seats, power windows, wipers, etc.), stepper motors, LEDs, etc. 
     The body control module includes a microcontroller unit, controller or processor  310  and memory  312 . In some examples, the body control module  302  is structured to include vehicle primer  124 . Alternatively, in some examples, the vehicle primer  124  is incorporated into another electronic control unit (ECU) with its own processor  310  and memory  312 . The processor  310  may be any suitable processing device or set of processing devices such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, an integrated circuit, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The memory  312  may be volatile memory (e.g., RAM including non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, etc.), non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatile solid-state memory, etc.), unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs), read-only memory, and/or high-capacity storage devices (e.g., hard drives, solid state drives, etc). In some examples, the memory  312  includes multiple kinds of memory, particularly volatile memory and non-volatile memory. 
     The memory  312  is computer readable media on which one or more sets of instructions, such as the software for operating the methods of the present disclosure, can be embedded. The instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. For example, the instructions reside completely, or at least partially, within any one or more of the memory  312 , the computer readable medium, and/or within the processor  310  during execution of the instructions. 
     The sensors  304  are arranged in and around the vehicle  100  to monitor properties of the vehicle  100  and/or an environment in which the vehicle  100  is located. One or more of the sensors  304  may be mounted to measure properties around an exterior of the vehicle  100 . Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the sensors  304  may be mounted inside a cabin of the vehicle  100  or in a body of the vehicle  100  (e.g., an engine compartment, wheel wells, etc.) to measure properties in an interior of the vehicle  100 . For example, the sensors  304  include accelerometers, odometers, tachometers, pitch and yaw sensors, wheel speed sensors, microphones, tire pressure sensors, biometric sensors and/or sensors of any other suitable type. In the illustrated example, the sensors  304  include a magnetometer  314  and an ambient light sensor  316 . For example, the magnetometer  314  may determine an orientation (e.g., magnetic orientation) of the vehicle  100 . Additionally or alternatively, the ambient light sensor  316  may measure an amount of ambient light around the vehicle  100  to enable the body control module  302  to adjust a brightness of the exterior lights  116  and/or the interior lights  118  based on the amount of ambient light. 
     The ECUs  306  monitor and control the subsystems of the vehicle  100 . For example, the ECUs  306  are discrete sets of electronics that include their own circuit(s) (e.g., integrated circuits, microprocessors, memory, storage, etc.) and firmware, sensors, actuators, and/or mounting hardware. The ECUs  306  communicate and exchange information via a vehicle data bus (e.g., the vehicle data bus  308 ). Additionally, the ECUs  306  may communicate properties (e.g., status of the ECUs  306 , sensor readings, control state, error and diagnostic codes, etc.) to and/or receive requests from each other. For example, the vehicle  100  may have seventy or more of the ECUs  306  that are positioned in various locations around the vehicle  100  and are communicatively coupled by the vehicle data bus  308 . In the illustrated example, the ECUs  306  include a headlamp control unit  318 , a door control unit  320 , and an engine control unit  322 . For example, the headlamp control unit  318  operates the exterior lights  116  of the vehicle  100 , the door control unit  320  operates (e.g., locks, unlocks, primes) of power locks of the doors  120  of the vehicle  100 , and the engine control unit  322  controls remote starting of an engine of the vehicle  100 . 
     The vehicle data bus  308  communicatively couples the communication module  106 , the GPS receiver  114 , the body control module  302 , the sensors  304 , and the ECUs  306 . In some examples, the vehicle data bus  308  includes one or more data buses. The vehicle data bus  308  may be implemented in accordance with a controller area network (CAN) bus protocol as defined by International Standards Organization (ISO) 11898-1, a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus protocol, a CAN flexible data (CAN-FD) bus protocol (ISO 11898-7) and/a K-line bus protocol (ISO 9141 and ISO 14230-1), and/or an Ethernet™ bus protocol IEEE 802.3 (2002 onwards), etc. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an example method  400  to prime a vehicle based on a velocity of a wireless key. The flowchart of  FIG. 4  is representative of machine readable instructions that are stored in memory (such as the memory  204  of  FIG. 2  and/or the memory  312  of  FIG. 3 ) and include one or more programs which, when executed by a processor (such as the processor  202  of  FIG. 2  and/or the processor  310  of  FIG. 3 ), cause the wireless key  104  to implement the example characteristic determiner  210  of  FIG. 2  and/or the vehicle  100  to implement the example vehicle primer  124  of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . While the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 4 , many other methods of implementing the example characteristic determiner  210  and/or the example vehicle primer  124  may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be rearranged, changed, eliminated, and/or combined to perform the method  400 . Further, because the method  400  is disclosed in connection with the components of  FIGS. 1-3 , some functions of those components will not be described in detail below. 
     Initially, at block  402 , the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100  broadcasts the beacon  110 . At block  404 , the communication module  206  of the wireless key  104  collects the beacon  110 . For example, the communication module  206  collects the beacon  110  upon entering the proximity range  108  of the vehicle  100 . At block  406 , the characteristic determiner  210  of the wireless key  104  determines wireless key data. For example, the characteristic determiner  210  determines velocity data (e.g., a speed and a direction of travel) of the wireless key  104  based on data collected from one or more of the sensors  208  of the wireless key  104 . At block  408 , the characteristic determiner  210  identifies whether there is other wireless key data (e.g., orientation data) to determine. If the characteristic determiner  210  identifies that there is other data, blocks  406 ,  408  are repeated until no other wireless key data remains to be determined. 
     At block  410 , the communication module  206  of the wireless key  104  generates the signal  112  to include the wireless key data and transmits the signal  112  to the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100 . The communication module  106  of the vehicle  100  receives the signal  112  from the wireless key  104  at block  412 . Further, at block  414 , the communication module  106  of the vehicle  100  determines a distance between the vehicle  100  and the wireless key  104  based on the signal strength (e.g., the RSSI) of the signal  112 . 
     At block  416 , the vehicle primer  124  collects vehicle data from the vehicle  100 . For example, the vehicle primer  124  may determine orientation data of the vehicle  100  based on data collected from the GPS receiver  114  and/or one or more of the sensors  304  of the vehicle  100 . At block  418 , the vehicle primer  124  identifies whether there is other vehicle data to be collected. If the vehicle primer  124  identifies that there is other vehicle data, blocks  416 ,  418  are repeated until no other vehicle data remains to be determined. 
     At block  420 , the vehicle primer  124  determines whether the wireless key is approaching the vehicle  100 . In response to determining that the wireless key  104  is not approaching the vehicle  100 , the method  400  returns to block  402 . In response to determining that the wireless key  104  is approaching the vehicle  100 , the method  400  proceeds to block  422 . 
     At block  422 , the vehicle primer  124  determines the arrival time of the user  102  at the vehicle  100 . For example, the vehicle primer  124  determines the arrival time based on the velocity data of the wireless key  104 . In some examples, the vehicle primer  124  may compare the arrival time to a first predetermined threshold. For example, if the user  102  is moving slowly such that the user  102  will not arrive at the vehicle  100  before the first predetermined threshold (e.g., the arrival time is greater than the predetermined threshold), the method  400  returns to block  402  so that the communication module  106  of the vehicle may broadcast another beacon (block  402 ) and receive subsequent additional wireless key data from the wireless key  104  (block  412 ). Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle primer  124  may compare the arrival time to a second predetermined threshold. If the wireless key  104  is moving so quickly that the wireless key  104  is to reach the vehicle  100  before the second predetermined threshold, the method  400  may return to block  402 . For example, the wireless key  104  may be determined to reach the vehicle  100  before the second predetermined threshold if the wireless key  104  is in and/or on another vehicle (e.g., a bus, a plane, a train, a motorcycle, a bicycle, etc.). In such examples, the method  400  returns to block  402  to prevent the vehicle  102  from being primed based on a wireless key located in another vehicle. 
     At block  424 , the vehicle primer  124  determines the point-of-arrival at which the user  102  is to arrive at the vehicle  100 . For example, based on the velocity data of the wireless key  104  and the orientation data of the vehicle  100 , the vehicle primer  124  may determine that the user  102  is approaching one of the doors  120  (e.g., the front, driver-side door) of the vehicle  100 . At block  426 , the vehicle primer  124  primes the vehicle  100  for the user  102 . For example, the vehicle primer  124  may unlock and/or prime one or more of the doors  120 , activate the exterior lights  116  and/or the interior lights  118 , etc. to prime the vehicle  100 . In some examples, the vehicle primer  124  primes the vehicle  100  based on the point-of-arrival. For example, the vehicle primer  124  may unlock one of the doors  120  closest to the point-of-arrival and may keep the other of the doors  120  locked that are farther away from the point-of-arrival. 
     In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a” and “an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. Further, the conjunction “or” may be used to convey features that are simultaneously present instead of mutually exclusive alternatives. In other words, the conjunction “or” should be understood to include “and/or”. The terms “includes,” “including,” and “include” are inclusive and have the same scope as “comprises,” “comprising,” and “comprise” respectively. 
     The above-described embodiments, and particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations and merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the techniques described herein. All modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.