Apple’s Future Car Could Be Keyless, Letting Users Safely Share It With Friends
Image via xcarrot_007 / Shutterstock.com
Although nothing has been officially mentioned of it, it’s pretty clear that Apple is working on its own version of a car. In a new patent, the company demonstrates that it’s considering a way of making the car a shareable device with “friend key sharing.”
With this technology, no traditional car key is involved; it’s predicted that the car won’t utilize anything of the sort from its launch date, whenever it may be. There’s already a feature on the iPhone that allows users to add their car keys to the Wallet app, doing away with the omnipresent dilemma of misplaced car keys. There’s no reason this shouldn’t come to the Apple Car, too.
Developing that, the tech giant appears to be working on an entirely digital key concept. This leads to the key sharing system, which, as described in the patent, would allow someone else to use the car without you needing to reveal any confidential data or hand over a key.
“If access is controlled by secret data, the owner must communicate the secret data to the individual. If the communication is insecure, a third party can observe the secret data,” the document considers.
Instead, Apple has pivoted towards a token-based system that would be powered by an external device, most probably an iPhone. The token can be shared with another individual, which autoevolution predicts will be an app on another iPhone.
Image via Apple
The concept, detailed in a myriad of diagrams, is reminiscent of a one-time access code: after the other party has finished using the car, access automatically expires.
Of course, patents don’t necessarily equate to confirmation. But it’d be interesting to watch this one action, since it has the potential to transform car ownership and operation as we know it.
[via autoevolution, images via xcarrot_007 / Shutterstock.com and Apple]
Also check out these recent news
