Method and system for selectively activating a vehicle near field communication module

摘要

A method and system for selective activation of a vehicle near field communication (NFC) module. The vehicle NFC module may be part of a vehicle communication and access system capable of initiating various vehicle functions, such as unlocking one or more doors of the vehicle or starting a motor or engine of the vehicle. With the method and system, a user's mobile device can be used in lieu of a key or a key fob. In situations where the battery power level of the user's mobile device is low, such that Bluetooth or the generation of an active NFC signal is unavailable, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in an active mode. In the active mode, the vehicle NFC module can initiate a connection with a passive mobile NFC target. Otherwise, depending on the battery level of the user's mobile device, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in a standard sleep mode to save power.

主权项

1. A method of selectively activating a vehicle near field communication (NFC) module, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a first mobile device battery signal indicating that a battery power level of a mobile device is at or below a threshold battery power level; in response to receiving the first mobile device battery signal indicating that the battery power level of the mobile device is at or below the threshold battery power level, changing the vehicle NFC module to an active mode; receiving a second mobile device battery signal indicating that the battery power level of the mobile device is above the threshold battery power level; and in response to receiving the second battery signal indicating that the battery power level of the mobile device is above the threshold battery power level, changing the vehicle NFC module to a sleep mode.