Patent ID: 7990259

Claim:
A vehicle ignition key for use by an occupant of a vehicle, comprising: a shank portion for coupling with a vehicle ignition switch; a grip portion securely attached to said shank portion and including a housing defining at least one chamber therein, said housing including an exterior housing surface; at least one electric actuation switch integrated into said housing and including a switch contact surface complementary with said exterior housing surface to facilitate actuating said actuation switch when said grip portion is grasped and said vehicle ignition key is rotated in an ignition switch; a digital message controller electrically coupled with said at least one electric actuation switch, said digital message controller including memory for storing digitized data therein and a processor for processing said digitized data; a power source electrically coupled with and supplying power to said at least one electric actuation switch and said digital message controller; and a message generator electrically coupled with said digital message controller for transmitting a message to an occupant of a vehicle; wherein said at least one chamber can hold at least one of said digital message controller, said power source, and said message generator; and wherein said at least one electric actuation switch is actuated to initiate processing of said stored digitized data and transmission of said processed digitized data from said digital message controller to said message generator upon rotation of said vehicle ignition key in a vehicle ignition switch.