Patent ID: 8269601

Claim:
A vehicle utilization system permitting use of vehicles having respective identification codes, the system comprising: a key housing a memory configured to store therein a first enabling code enabling use of a first vehicle having an identification code; an enabling unit in the first vehicle configured to enable use of the first vehicle by the user in possession of the key, if the first enabling code stored in the key meets given conditions; and a programming unit configured to generate the first enabling code as a function of the identification code of the first vehicle by processing the identification code of the first vehicle, and to store the first enabling code in the key, wherein the memory is configured to store therein at least a second enabling code, in addition to the first enabling code, for enabling use of a second, different, vehicle usable by the user by means of the key, and generated by the programming unit as a function of a respective identification code of the second vehicle; and wherein the first vehicle has one or more respective adjustable devices, selected from the group comprising an automatic driver's seat, an air conditioning system, an automatic rearview mirror, a car radio, a satellite navigation system, and a cellular communication system, and the memory is configured to store a first personal data relative to personal settings of the one or more adjustable devices of the first vehicle; the enabling unit in the first vehicle being configured to read the first personal data from the memory to activate adjustment of the one or more adjustable devices, and to store in the memory a set of last personal settings of the one or more adjustable devices, reflecting adjustments made by the user on the one or more adjustable devices, thereby automatically updating the first personal data in the key without any user intervention after the user has adjusted the one or more adjustable devices; wherein the second vehicle has one or more respective adjustable devices, selected from the group comprising an automatic driver's seat, an air conditioning system, an automatic rearview mirror, a car radio, a satellite navigation system, and a cellular communication system, and the memory is configured to store a second personal data, different from the first personal data, relative to personal settings of the one or more adjustable devices in the second vehicle, the first and second personal data being stored in a database in association with the respective first and second enabling codes of the first and second vehicles; and wherein the database includes at least first and second records that include respective first fields storing the first and, respectively, second, enabling codes for the corresponding first and, respectively, second vehicles, and respective second fields storing the first and, respectively, second personal data for the one or more adjustable devices of the corresponding first and, respectively, second vehicles.