In-vehicle access application

Abstract

An in-vehicle access application may have different modes of operation. The different modes of operation may allow the in-vehicle access application to interact with different access devices, or interact differently with an access device. When a vehicle is determined to be at a first position, a first mode of operation of the in-vehicle access application can be activated. When a vehicle is determined to be at a second position, a second mode of operation of the in-vehicle access application can be activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing system comprising:
 a processor;   a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to the processor and storing a set of computer executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the computing system to:
 receive a vehicle status signal of a vehicle; 
 determine, based on a first state of the vehicle status signal at a first point in time, that the vehicle is at a first position; 
 responsive to determining that the vehicle is at the first position, activating a first function of the computing system, wherein the first function of the computing system includes identifying a first access device that is external to the vehicle, and interacting with first access device using a wireless communication channel; 
 determine, based on a second state of the vehicle status signal at a second point in time, that the vehicle is at a second position; and 
 responsive to determining that the vehicle is at the second position, activating a second function of the computing system, wherein the second function of the computing system includes exchanging data with a second access device that is external to the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes:
 identifying a toll road within a predetermined distance of the vehicle based on a location of the vehicle;   determining that the vehicle is approaching the toll road; and   transmitting account credentials to a remote tolling server to obtain permission for the vehicle to access the toll road prior to arrival of the vehicle at the toll road.   
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes:
 identifying a toll station within a predetermined distance of the vehicle based on a location of the vehicle;   determining a transponder frequency of the toll station;   prior to arrival of the vehicle at the toll station, tuning a frequency of a tunable transponder integrated as part of the vehicle to match the determined transponder frequency of the toll station; and   transmitting account credentials or verification information to the toll station using the determined transponder frequency when the toll station is in proximity to the vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes determining a protocol message format associated with the toll station, and wherein the account credentials or the verification information are transmitted to the toll station using the determined protocol message format. 
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes initiating a timer to record a duration of time that the vehicle is stopped. 
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 5 , wherein power to the timer is maintained when the vehicle is turned off. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes receiving transaction information via the wireless communication channel, and transmitting account credentials via the wireless communication channel. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes requesting entry of authentication information before transmitting the account credentials. 
     
     
         9 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions is activated when the vehicle status signal indicates that the vehicle has been motionless for over a threshold amount of time, or when the vehicle status signal indicates that a transmission mode of the vehicle is in park. 
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions is activated when the vehicle status signal indicates that the vehicle has reached a predetermined minimum speed, or when the vehicle status signal indicates that a transmission mode of the vehicle is in drive. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing system, a vehicle status signal of a vehicle;   determining, by the computing system based on a first state of the vehicle status signal at a first point in time, that the vehicle is at a first position;   responsive to determining that the vehicle is at the first position, activating a first function of the computing system, wherein the first function of the computing system includes identifying a first access device that is external to the vehicle, and interacting with first access device using a wireless communication channel;   determining, based on a second state of the vehicle status signal at a second point in time, that the vehicle is at a second position; and   responsive to determining that the vehicle is at the second position, activating a second function of the computing system, wherein the second function of the computing system includes exchanging data with a second access device that is external to the vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes:
 identifying a toll road within a predetermined distance of the vehicle based on a location of the vehicle;   determining that the vehicle is approaching the toll road; and   transmitting account credentials to a remote tolling server to obtain permission for the vehicle to access the toll road prior to arrival of the vehicle at the toll road.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes:
 identifying a toll station within a predetermined distance of the vehicle based on a location of the vehicle;   determining a transponder frequency of the toll station;   prior to arrival of the vehicle at the toll station, tuning a frequency of a tunable transponder integrated as part of the vehicle to match the determined transponder frequency of the toll station; and   transmitting account credentials or verification information to the toll station using the determined transponder frequency when the toll station is in proximity to the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes determining a protocol message format associated with the toll station, and wherein the account credentials or the verification information are transmitted to the toll station using the determined protocol message format. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes initiating a timer to record a duration of time that the vehicle is stopped. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein power to the timer is maintained when the vehicle is turned off. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes receiving transaction information via the wireless communication channel, and transmitting account credentials via the wireless communication channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions includes requesting entry of authentication information before transmitting the account credentials. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions is activated when the vehicle status signal indicates that the vehicle has been motionless for over a threshold amount of time, or when the vehicle status signal indicates that a transmission mode of the vehicle is in park. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first or second functions is activated when the vehicle status signal indicates that the vehicle has reached a predetermined minimum speed, or when the vehicle status signal indicates that a transmission mode of the vehicle is in drive.