DE102011078018A1 - System for performing remote control functions of motor vehicle e.g. car, has telecommunication center that outputs command for allowing user to perform remote control functions after verifying secondary authorization data - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a computing unit having a detection system for detecting (2) an approach or laying up a vehicle authorization unit e.g. vehicle key on touch screen of computing unit. The computing unit transmits secondary authorization data to telecommunication center, if primary authorization data such as time varying code of vehicle authorization unit is received by computing unit. A command for allowing user to perform remote control functions of motor vehicle is output by telecommunication center after verifying the secondary authorization data.

Description

The invention relates to a system for carrying out remote functions of a motor vehicle.

From the prior art so-called remote functions for motor vehicles are known. Some vehicle manufacturers offer telephone hotlines and / or computer programs or smartphone applications, via which a user can make contact with a telematics center. The telematics center may include a call center and / or a server (in particular with a so-called Internet portal), with which the computer program used or the smartphone application used interacts. After checking the authorization of the user, the user - either verbally to a call center employee or by entering in the computer programs or in the smartphone application - a command to perform a remote function to the telematics center. The telematics center then executes the desired remote function. Known and already marketable remote functions Applicant include, for example, a locking or unlocking the vehicle doors, an activation of a parking heater of the motor vehicle, an operation of the horn of the vehicle and a short-term activation of lighting systems of the vehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system which allows even easier use of remote functions.

This object is achieved by a system according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The system according to the invention comprises a motor vehicle, a vehicle authorization unit that can be worn by a user, a telematics center and a computing unit with a touchscreen. The arithmetic unit in turn comprises a recognition system for detecting an approach of the vehicle authorization unit to the touch screen of the arithmetic unit and / or placing the vehicle authorization unit on the touch screen of the arithmetic unit. If an approach and / or placement of the vehicle authorization unit on the touchscreen has been detected, the first authorization data can be transmitted from the vehicle authorization unit to the arithmetic unit. Upon transmission of the first authorization data, i. as soon as the arithmetic unit has received the first authorization data, second authorization data can be transmitted by the arithmetic unit to the telematics center. The second authorization data may be identical to the first authorization data or similar to the first authorization data. In the case of the identity of the first and second authorization data, the arithmetic unit would to some extent only forward the authorization data received from the vehicle authorization unit to the telematics center. However, the arithmetic unit can also perform a recoding and / or processing and / or analysis and / or other processing of the first authorization data, the result of which is the second authorization data. The telematics center receives the second authorization data and, on the basis of the second authorization data, checks whether the user (or the arithmetic unit, which the user obviously obviously currently uses) is authorized to execute remote functions of the motor vehicle. A result of this check is transmitted by the telematics center back to the arithmetic unit. In the case of a positive result of the check, the arithmetic unit can transmit at least one command for executing at least one remote function of the motor vehicle to the telematics center in order to cause the telematics center to execute the at least one remote function.

The transmission of the first authorization data from the vehicle authorization unit to the arithmetic unit takes place wirelessly. Preferably, the vehicle authorization unit is also suitable for the wireless transmission of authorization data directly to the motor vehicle (eg by radio transmission in the UHF range) and the inventive transmission of the first authorization data takes place by means of the same wireless communication technology, which is also used if the vehicle authorization unit authorization data transmits directly to the motor vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable vehicle authorization unit is designed as a vehicle key. The vehicle key can thus be used on the one hand directly on the vehicle to unlock or lock the vehicle doors and to use or start or start the vehicle. On the other hand, according to the invention, the vehicle key can serve for proving the authorization of its owner to execute a remote function of the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle key, which is the most widely used authentication means in direct interaction with the motor vehicle, is also used as authentication means with regard to remote functions.

A from the point of view of the user often complex and cumbersome authentication or authentication process by means of user name and password and / or by answering security questions can thus be omitted. Instead, the user authenticates himself by means of his vehicle key.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first authorization data contain a time varying code. The first authorization data are transmitted from the vehicle key to the arithmetic unit. Due to the temporal variation (eg changing at least a part of the first authorization data every 60 seconds), it is possible to prevent the arithmetic unit from being used by the touchscreen of the arithmetic unit after removal of the vehicle key in order to initiate remote functions of the vehicle. The time-varying code, which arrives in unaltered or optionally also modified form with the second authorization data for the telematics center, must be evaluable by the telematics center with regard to its authenticity. For this purpose, suitable comparative data can be stored at the telematics center. The comparison data can also vary over time, preferably in the same time rhythm as the code contained in the first authorization data.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recognition system of the arithmetic unit comprises at least two antennas arranged on different sides of the touchscreen. For example, assuming a conventional rectangular touch screen, one of two antennas may be located near the top left corner of the touch screen surface and the second antenna near the bottom right corner of the touch screen surface. As antennas, such antennas can be used, which are also used in so-called comfort access systems, which are offered by some motor vehicle manufacturers. In comfort access systems (often referred to as keyless entry systems), the vehicle key only has to be carried by the user. To unlock the vehicle door then the approach of the user's hand to the door handle of the vehicle door or the touch or actuation of the door handle is sufficient, since the presence of the vehicle key is detected in the area outside the vehicle door by said antennas.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arithmetic unit comprises means for detecting an approach of a mobile phone to the touch screen of the arithmetic unit and / or placing a mobile phone on the touch screen of the arithmetic unit. The detection means may for this purpose comprise a reading unit for reading a transponder arranged at the mobile telephone. In particular, the mobile phone can be equipped with an RFID chip and / or an NFC label and the arithmetic unit has an RFID reader or NFC reader.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arithmetic unit can be configured such that it uses a mobile telephone whose approach and / or its placement on the touchscreen has been recognized as the gateway of a communication connection between the arithmetic unit and the telematics center. If the telematics center itself is also connected to the Internet, no other communication connection between the computing unit and the telematics center must exist or be used. The user can then establish the communication connection by using a mobile phone, preferably his own mobile phone. The responsibility and the costs for the communication between the arithmetic unit and the telematics center can thus be borne by the user even if the arithmetic unit and / or a possibly existing Internet connection of the arithmetic unit does not belong to the possession or the area of responsibility of the user. This can be the case in particular when the arithmetic unit is publicly available and / or is available to a larger group of users. In particular, an order tablet PC in a catering business can serve as such a computing unit.

The touch screen is preferably designed as a so-called multi-touch screen, which is in particular able to detect multiple touches at different points of the touch screen simultaneously.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This results in further details, preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention. In detail, show schematically

1 a diagram for the representation of communication flows, which lead to the provision of at least one remote function service in a multitouch screen computing unit,

2 a diagram for the representation of communication flows, which lead to the execution of a remote function by a telematics center,

3 3 is a flow chart for illustrating the method steps that are carried out in the multitouch screen computing unit for providing the at least one remote service service;

4 a flowchart illustrating the processing steps that occur in the multitouch screen computing unit for causing the remote function to be performed by the telematics center;

5 a schematic diagram of the arrangement of two antennas on the multi-touch screen,

6 a graphical interface of a multi-touch screen.

Various utilities for triggering remote functions (or remote services) for motor vehicles are known from the prior art. An example is the smartphone application MY BMW REMOTE of the Applicant. To prove the authorization of the user to perform remote functions for a particular motor vehicle, the specification of a user name and a password and / or the answering of stored security questions is usually required. Instead of a credential or an authorization check is often spoken by an authentication process between the user and telematics center. The user authenticates himself (eg with user name and password) to the telematics center and is then authenticated or authorized by the telematics center. Authentication is a verification of the claim of authenticity of the user. After the verification, the user at the telematics center is considered authentic and granted corresponding rights, for example the execution of remote functions.

The invention is based on the approach of using the vehicle key, which is the most widely used authentication means in direct interaction with the motor vehicle, also with regard to remote functions as an authentication means.

• – ein Kraftfahrzeug, bei welchem bestimmte Komponenten durch Fernfunktionen gesteuert bzw. beeinflusst werden sollen (z.B. Verriegeln/Entriegeln der Fahrzeugtüren, Aktivierung der Standheizung, Betätigung der Hupe, kurzzeitige Aktivierung der Lichthupe),
• – ein Fahrzeugschlüssel zu dem Kraftfahrzeug,
• – eine Telematikzentrale mit Internetanbindung (im Folgenden ggf. auch als „telematic database“ oder auch kurz als „database“ bezeichnet),
• – ein Multitouch-Screen (streng genommen handelt es sich um eine Recheneinheit mit Multitouch-Screen; im vorliegenden Beispiel wird jedoch ausgegangen von einer äußeren Gestalt der Recheneinheit als Tablet-PC, die sich im Wesentlichen auf das Erscheinungsbild des Touchscreens selbst reduziert; deshalb wird verkürzend der Name Multitouch-Screen für die gesamte Recheneinheit verwendet),
• – ein Gateway zur Anbindung des Multitouch-Screens an das Internet (z.B. in Gestalt eines Mobiltelefon, das durch ein so genanntes Pairing kommunikativ mit dem Multitouch-Screen verbunden ist).

Various components participate in the system described below and the method described below. These are in particular

• A motor vehicle in which certain components are to be controlled or influenced by remote functions (eg locking / unlocking the vehicle doors, activation of the auxiliary heating, actuation of the horn, brief activation of the flashlight),
• A vehicle key to the motor vehicle,
• - a telematics center with Internet connection (hereinafter also referred to as "telematic database" or also referred to as "database" for short),
• - a multi-touch screen (strictly speaking, it is a multi-touch screen processor, but in the present example it assumes that the computing unit is an external form of tablet PC, which is essentially reduced to the appearance of the touchscreen itself; shortening the name multitouch screen used for the entire arithmetic unit),
• A gateway for connecting the multi-touch screen to the Internet (eg in the form of a mobile phone communicatively connected to the multi-touch screen by so-called pairing).

In the present example, the motor vehicle has a comfort access system known per se from the state of the art. To unlock a vehicle door of the motor vehicle, the vehicle key only has to be carried by the user (for example in the trouser pocket or jacket pocket) and the door handle of the vehicle door must be touched by hand. The vehicle key need not be inserted into a door lock nor does the user need to press a push button or similar control on the vehicle key to unlock the vehicle door. Rather, the presence of the vehicle key in the area outside the vehicle door is detected by a plurality of vehicle-mounted antennas of a type common in convenience access systems (hereinafter referred to as KEA keyless entry antenna), and the door unlock is triggered by the mere touch of the door handle ,

In the vehicle key or in the present example, the chassis number of the motor vehicle (or another unique permanent identification code of the motor vehicle) is stored. In addition, the vehicle key generates a time varying code (here every 60 seconds) (hereinafter also referred to as "A code"), which is e.g. can have a length of 64 bits. On the basis of the A-code can be checked whether the vehicle key is actually currently placed on the multi-touch screen - and not just in the past was on the multitouch screen, but is now long gone. If the car key is removed from the multitouch screen, changes to the A code can no longer be monitored by the multitouch screen and the multitouch screen thus loses the option of authenticating itself independently of the telematics center.

The telematics center provides the remote functions that are executable for the motor vehicle. The telematics center can receive authorization data, in particular the A code, from a multitouch screen and authenticate the multitouch screen on the basis of the same (and possibly further authorization data). Furthermore, the telematics center can receive commands from the multitouch screen (after its authentication) by which the multitouch screen (or a user using the multitouch screen) requests the execution of certain remote functions. On the request of an authenticated multi-touch screen (or user) out leads the Telematics Center a corresponding remote function. For this purpose, communication methods between the telematics center and the motor vehicle can be used, which are known per se from the prior art.

The multi-touch screen is able to recognize a car key placed on the touch screen and to read authorization data from it. The conventional touch-recognition mechanism of the touchscreen may already be sufficient to detect the application of the vehicle key. In addition, however, it is necessary to communicate with it, in particular to read out authorization data, in this case in particular the A code. For this purpose, at least one antenna of the type KEA, ie of the same type as in the motor vehicle, is provided in the multi-touch screen. Preferably, even several antennas of the KEA type are arranged in the multi-touch screen, for example two antennas of the KEA type on different, in particular substantially opposite, sides of the touchscreen surface. By using multiple antennas and their spatial arrangement can be determined or limited where the vehicle key is with respect to the antennas. Thus, independently or in combination with the conventional touch-detection mechanism of the touch screen, it can be checked whether a vehicle key which communicates with the at least one antenna is actually located on the touchscreen surface or exactly where it is located. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the arrangement of two antennas KEA1 and KEA2 of the type KEA on a multi-touch screen MTS on opposite sides of the touchscreen surface TF.

On the multi-touch screen, a computer program is installed, in which the steps to be performed by the multi-touch screen are implemented by software technology and its execution ensures the implementation of the method steps. In detail, these steps result from the representations in the 1 . 2 . 3 and 4 , Part of the computer program is a graphical user interface, through which (after successful authentication of the user on the basis of his vehicle key) commands for the execution of remote functions are intuitively understandable. For example, the graphical user interface may include a pictorial representation of a vehicle door, the tapping of which results in a command for unlocking / locking the corresponding door of the motor vehicle. The computer program may for example have been downloaded from a website of the vehicle manufacturer. Updates for the computer program can also be downloaded from such a website.

The presently described process comprises two essential process parts. A first part of the procedure comprises the authentication of the user by means of his vehicle key and the graphic representation of available remote functions on the display of the multi-touch screen. A second part of the procedure comprises the issuing of a command for the execution of a remote function from the multitouch screen to the telematics center, the execution of the remote function by the telematics center and the feedback of the successful execution to the multitouch screen, so that they output a corresponding graphical representation to the user can.

1 and 3 represent essential aspects of the first part of the procedure. 2 and 4 represent essential aspects of the second part of the procedure.

1 shows a diagram for illustrating communication flows, which lead to the provision of at least one remote service service in the multi-touch screen. The user (person) places his car key on the multitouch screen (1st leave key in MT). The multi-touch screen detects the vehicle key, locates it on the touchscreen surface (2nd localize key) and reads data, in particular authorization data, in particular the chassis number Car_id and the said A code, from the vehicle key (3rd read key). The multitouch screen then connects to the Internet via a gateway (GW) and via this to the telematics center (database). The gateway technology can be WLAN, GPRS or other well-known wireless technologies. To authenticate the user or the multi-touch screen, the multi-touch screen sends authorization data to the telematics center, in particular Car_id and A code. The telematics center authenticates the user or the multitouch screen by means of Car_id and A code and returns to the multitouch screen which remote functions are available (4. Authentication and send available services; The multitouch screen displays the available remote functions within a graphical user interface and provides associated services (6. Display services).

2 shows a diagram for illustrating communication flows, which lead to the execution of a remote function by a telematics center. The user (person) makes an input on the multitouch screen to select one of the available remote functions (1st trigger service). The multitouch screen requests confirmation of the selection (2nd Confirm). The multi-touch screen reads the car key again, in particular Car_id and A code (3rd read key). To authenticate the user or the multi-touch screen, the multi-touch screen sends Car_id and A code again via the gateway (GW) to the telematics center (database). Together with Car_id and A-Code, a command for executing the remote function selected by the user is transmitted to the telematics center. The telematics center authenticates the user or the multitouch screen by means of Car_id and A code (4. Authenticate). After successful authentication, the telematics center executes the remote function of the motor vehicle (Car) corresponding to the received command (5. Execute). After successful execution, the user or the multi-touch screen is informed about the successful execution (6. Inform). The graphical user interface of the multi-touch screen will be adjusted accordingly (7. Display graphic result).

3 shows a self-explanatory flow chart to illustrate the running in the arithmetic unit with multitouch screen process steps of the above first part of the method.

The identifiers in 3 are to be understood as follows:

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

301

begin

302

Locate vehicle keys

303

Is there a car key in the vicinity of the multi-touch screen?

304

Is the car key on the touchscreen surface?

305

Read Car_id and A-code from car key

306

Send Car_id and A-code to telematics center

307

Receive validity of the authorization data (Car_id and A-Code)

308

Authorization data valid?

309

Receive available remote functions

310

Represents available remote functions in graphical user interface

311

The End

312

Error message: contact dealer

313

Wait 60 seconds

4 shows a self-explanatory flowchart for illustrating the running in the arithmetic unit with multi-touch screen process steps of the above second part of the method.

The identifiers in 4 are to be understood as follows:

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

401

User gives command to trigger a remote function

402

Place animated graphic of the corresponding action (e.g., opening door lock)

403

Re-read Car_id and A-Code from car key

404

Send command together with Car_id and A code to telematics center

405

Receive confirmation of successful execution

406

Show changed graphical user interface (takes into account remote function executed, eg door lock unlocked)

407

The End

6 exemplifies how a graphical interface of a multi-touch screen can be designed if a mobile phone acting as a gateway 601 and a vehicle key 602 are placed on the touchscreen surface. The representation in 6 is to be understood that the mobile phone 601 and the vehicle key 602 are real objects. The circles around the two objects as well as the rectangles filled with text are part of the display of the multi-touch screen. The outer frame 603 represents the edge of the touchscreen area.

Claims (5)

System for executing remote functions of a motor vehicle, comprising a motor vehicle, a user-portable vehicle authorization unit, a telematics center and a computing unit with a touch screen, - wherein the arithmetic unit a recognition system for detecting an approach and / or a hang-up of the vehicle authorization unit comprises on the touch screen of the arithmetic unit, - in which the first authorization data from a vehicle authorization unit, whose approach and / or their placement has been recognized on the touch screen, are transferable to the arithmetic unit, - in which on the transmission of the first authorization data out second authorization data be transferred from the arithmetic unit to the telematics center, - in which on the transmission of the second authorization data authorization of the user for the execution of remote functions of the motor vehicle from the telematics center on the basis of the second authorization data is verifiable and a result of the review of the telematics center to the arithmetic unit is transmittable, - in which in case of a positive result of the review at least one command for Execution of at least one remote function of the motor vehicle from the computing unit to the telematics center is transferable to cause the telematics center to perform the at least one remote function. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable vehicle authorization unit is designed as a vehicle key. System according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first authorization data comprise a time-varying code. System according to one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the detection system of the arithmetic unit comprises at least two arranged on different sides of the touch screen antennas. System according to one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that the arithmetic unit comprises means for detecting an approach and / or laying on of a mobile phone on the touch screen of the arithmetic unit and that the arithmetic unit is configurable to use a mobile phone, its approach and / or its Hang up on the touch screen has been recognized as the gateway of a communication link between the arithmetic unit and the telematics center.

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