Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a sharable virtual key system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on December 22nd, 2022, published on June 27th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0208462.
The Ford Authority Take
More than one Ford patent has been filed in recent months outlining ways that the automaker’s future models may be able to grant access to users in various ways. That list includes ideas for an advanced key fob, a window-based keyless entry system, a folding backup key, a vehicle access card with a display, and a remote keyless entry system that uses NFC cards. Now, this newly published Ford patent keeps that trend going by presenting us with an idea for a sharable virtual key system.
This new type of system would utilize a two-factor authentication process with virtual keys in both mobile and wearable devices, which could make it far more convenient to access future Ford vehicles, as well as do so in a secure manner. But while the concept of using one’s phone – or even smartwatch – as a key is nothing new, the concept here is that users could share that virtual key to their vehicle with others if they choose to do so.
There are a lot of potential uses for the system outlined in this Ford patent, whether they be commercial in regard to rental car companies or individuals providing renters with virtual keys that expire at the end of that term, or just to let a friend or family member use that vehicle temporarily. Either way, there’s certainly a solid business case to be made for this type of system.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comment
And when the person you want to share with downloads the app to their phone, what other information (buried in the terms and conditions) will they unwittingly be sharing? This is just one more app that wants to suck the data out of your phone so they can hock it to data brokers. And who else can benefit…repo guys, cops, hackers, organized criminals, big brother that doesn’t like your social media posts, etc. Again, this is one more step to remove control of “your” vehicle from you.