DE102012020900A1 - Method for authentication of mobile device in vehicle-side wireless local area network (WLAN) access point of motor vehicle, involves authenticating access point of vehicle by optically readable code, sound sequence and/or access data - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves accessing data of vehicle-side WLAN access point on vehicle-side display device. The radio signals are transmitted using near field communication (NFC) device. The sound sequence is output (S1) by vehicle-side speaker device. The mobile device is detected by camera device with optically readable code, the NFC radio signals are received using receiver, and the sound sequence is detected (S2) by microphone device. The WLAN access point of motor vehicle is authenticated (S4) by generating (S3) the optically readable code and/or sound sequence and/or access data.

Description

The invention relates to a method for authenticating mobile devices at a vehicle-side WLAN access point of a motor vehicle, a WLAN access device for a motor vehicle and a system comprising a WLAN access device for a motor vehicle and a mobile, WLAN-enabled device.

Even today - but increasingly in the future - motor vehicles (ie motor vehicles of all kinds) will have a WLAN access point (emergency spot) to which vehicle occupants their mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, notebooks, mobile game consoles etc. can register.

In order to limit the use of the WLAN to authorized users and to protect the transmitted data from being eavesdropped, in stationary WLAN access points (eg commercially available WLAN routers for use in the professional and private environment), an encryption of the connection between WLAN Access point and device (terminal) used. The configuration of the so-called network key in the WLAN access point can either be done by the operator or it is determined by the WLAN access point according to known methods which ensure that the key can not simply be guessed or derived from other information.

A WLAN access point operates a WLAN network under a name, the so-called SSID (Service Set Identifier), consisting of up to 32 characters. The operator of a WLAN access point can make this network name visible or invisible.

The registration of a mobile device at a WLAN access point (hotspot) is usually done by searching on the device for available WLAN networks. From the list of displayed networks, the user selects the desired network and connects to it. If the network is encrypted, it must enter a network key (also called passphrase or pre-shared key) whose length and complexity have a significant impact on the security of the network against unwanted eavesdropping. And if the SSID of the WLAN access point is hidden, the user must also specify the network name when connecting. The network key and, if appropriate, the network name must therefore be known to the user.

Usually the devices save the access data after a first input, so that when logging in again at the same WLAN access point (emergency spot) the entry of this information is no longer required.

Registration of a mobile device at a WLAN access point (emergency spot) of a motor vehicle does not fundamentally differ from registering a device with a stationary WLAN access point, for example a WLAN router operating in an office or in a private environment becomes.

As Wi-Fi access points in a car are increasingly being considered, or it is already being implemented, to use encrypted communication between a WLAN access device in a car and mobile (end) devices, it is therefore also applicable to the logon / authentication of WLAN-enabled mobile devices at the WLAN access point of a motor vehicle increasingly cumbersome typing / entering access data (which are displayed for example on a vehicle-mounted display device), in particular the passphrase encrypted networks, required or expected.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for the vehicle occupants in the authentication of their WLAN-enabled devices at the WLAN access point of the motor vehicle.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1, the WLAN access device for a motor vehicle according to claim 5 and the system of a WLAN access device for a motor vehicle and a mobile, WLAN-enabled device according to claim 6.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a method for authentication of mobile devices at a vehicle-side WLAN access point of a motor vehicle is proposed, which is characterized in that (a) access data of the vehicle-side WLAN access point (a1) is displayed on a vehicle-side display device in the form of an optically readable code, a2) are emitted by means of a vehicle-side NFC transmitter in the form of radio signals, and / or (a3) are output in the form of a sound sequence by means of a vehicle-side loudspeaker device, (b) the mobile device (b1) detects the optically readable code by means of a camera device, ( b2) receives the NFC radio signals by means of a receiver, and / or (b3) detects the tone sequence by means of a microphone device, and (c) generates with the aid of the optically readable code and / or the tone sequence and / or the Authenticated by NFC received access data at the WLAN access point of the motor vehicle.

The inventive method has the advantage of great ease and increased comfort for the vehicle occupants in the authentication of their WLAN-enabled mobile devices at the WLAN access point of the motor vehicle.

According to a first advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the access data include the name of the WLAN access point and / or the network key. Likewise, it is advantageous if, after authentication at the vehicle-side WLAN access point, the mobile device is or will be connected to the WLAN access point.

A device connected to the WLAN access point may advantageously have (a) Internet access and associated services, (b) an opportunity to interact with other devices connected to the WLAN access point, and / or (c) access to a vehicle-based data source Will be provided.

The present invention also includes a WLAN access device for a motor vehicle, which is characterized in that it is adapted to display access data of the vehicle-side WLAN access device (a) on a vehicle-side display device in the form of an optically readable code, (b) by means of a vehicle-side transmit NFC transmitter in the form of radio signals, and / or (c) output by means of a vehicle-side speaker device in the form of a tone sequence.

Likewise, the present invention comprises a system of a WLAN access device for a motor vehicle and a mobile, WLAN-enabled device, which is characterized in that the WLAN access device for the motor vehicle and the mobile device are adapted to one of the methods according to of claims 1 to 4 perform.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Showing:

1 a schematic flow diagram of the method according to the invention; and

2 a schematic representation of an optically readable code on a vehicle-mounted display device.

The illustrations in the figures are purely schematic and not to scale.

The embodiments explained below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

1 shows a flowchart of the method according to the invention. Here, in a first step S1 (a), access data of the vehicle-side WLAN access point (a1) is displayed on a vehicle-side display device 1 in the form of an optically readable code 2 displayed, (a2) by means of a vehicle-side NFC transmitter in the form of radio signals emitted, and / or (a3) output by means of a vehicle-side speaker device in the form of a tone sequence.

The generation of the respective data (optically readable code, radio signals, tone sequence) can be effected by a suitable vehicle-side device (eg head-unit) or by the WLAN device itself. These data are then displayed, transmitted or output by means of a suitable on-board device.

A vehicle-side display device 1 as they are in 2 is shown, for example, the central screen of the command system or a local screen for the passengers in the rear area.

Any suitable type of optically readable code may be used for the present invention. A particularly suitable code form are barcodes 2 of which 1D, 2D, 3D and 4D barcodes are known. From the group of barcodes, the two-dimensional QR code is currently becoming more widespread in public space and is therefore advantageously suitable for use in the present invention due to the large number of existing computer programs for creating, recording and evaluating such QR codes. The barcode can be displayed, for example, on the above-mentioned central screen of the command system and / or a local screen for the passengers in the rear area.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is an internationally standardized transmission standard for the contactless exchange of data over short distances of up to a maximum of 10 cm. The NFC signals transmitted by an NFC transmitter can be received by an NFC-enabled device, that is, having an NFC-enabled receiving device, if this one within a predeterminable distance in the range of a few centimeters (eg 4 to 10 cm).

As a vehicle-side speaker device, each existing in a motor vehicle speaker can be used, for example, one that is used for the car radio or the vehicle-mounted multi-media system.

In a second step S2, a mobile device detects / receives by means of a camera device the optically readable code, by means of a receiver the NFC radio signals, and / or by means of a microphone device the tone sequence.

In principle, the mobile device can be any WLAN-capable device, for example a smartphone, a mobile computer (tablet PC, notebook), a mobile game console, a mobile multi-media device (eg with display device) provided music, image and video player), a mobile navigation device.

Many mobile devices, such as As smart phones, tablet PCs and notebooks, these days already have at least one camera. When the network access data by means of a vehicle-mounted display device 1 displayed in a suitable manner, for example in the form of an optically readable barcode, this code can be detected by means of the camera device of the mobile device.

Likewise, already today a number of mobile devices are known which are NFC-capable (in particular mobile phones, smartphones). When such an NFC-enabled device is kept in the immediate vicinity of an NFC transmitter, which may be installed in the head unit, for example, the access data for the in-vehicle wireless LAN access point may be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless NFC-enabled device. Due to the short range of the NFC technology, undesired reading of the NFC data outside the motor vehicle is advantageously excluded.

When using devices with a built-in microphone (eg mobile phones, smartphones, portable computers, etc.), it is possible that via a vehicle-side device (eg head unit) the wireless access data encoded in a sequence and be issued via a speaker in the interior of the motor vehicle.

In a third step S3, the access data are then generated in the mobile device by a suitable method from the optically readable code and / or the tone sequence. This can be done, for example, by a computer program which can be run on the mobile device (also called "app" in the case of smartphones). In a fourth step S4, the mobile device uses the generated or the NFC-received access data to authenticate itself at the WLAN access point of the motor vehicle, thereby gaining access to the WLAN access point.

This authentication / logging can basically be done in all possible wireless communication ways (by sending and receiving optical, acoustic or radio signals), but usually this process will take place via a communication between the WLAN access device of the motor vehicle and the mobile device via radio.

After authentication / login, mobile devices are connected to the car's Wi-Fi hotspot and can use various services, such as: Internet access and related services, interaction with other devices connected to the WLAN hotspot, access to data sources of the motor vehicle, for example music stored in a storage device, pictures, films, navigation data. However, vehicle-specific devices can also serve as data sources, such as a vehicle-side camera or navigation device, etc.

According to the invention, the different ways of displaying, transmitting, and transmitting the access data in step S1 can be done alternatively or cumulatively. Often it will not be known if a mobile device has a camera or microphone, or if it is NFC-enabled. In such a case, it may be advantageous, in particular from a comfort point of view, for authentication of a mobile device at a WLAN access point of a motor vehicle to be made available to the mobile device simultaneously with the access data in a plurality of ways.

Also, for example, due to unfavorable lighting conditions a displayed on a display device code from the camera of a mobile device can not be detected in sufficient quality. If, at the same time, the access data are also made available in the form of an output tone sequence, the correspondingly equipped device can record this tone sequence with the aid of its microphone and generate the access data therefrom. This can avoid an otherwise repeatedly required authentication attempt.

If an encrypted transmission takes place during the transmission of the access data by means of NFC, it is of course also in this embodiment of the invention that the access data is generated from the transmitted data.

In 2 schematically is an on-vehicle display device 1 represented on which a visually readable code 2 , shown here in the form of a QR code. This QR code can be captured with a camera of a mobile device. By means of a computing device of the mobile device and a computer program product running on it, the access data for the WLAN access point of the motor vehicle can be generated from the QR code.

• 1. Auf einer Anzeigeeinheit (z. B. einer zentralen Verarbeitungseinheit) des Fahrzeugs werden die Zugangsdaten (z. B. der Netzwerkschlüssel und/oder der Netzwerkname) in Form eines optisch lesbaren Codes (z. B. QR-Code) dargestellt. Der optisch lesbare Code wird mittels einer Kamera des mobilen Geräts aufgenommen und die Zugangsdaten werden aus dem aufgenommenen Code generiert bzw. erzielt. Die Zugangsdaten werden dann zu dem WLAN-Hotspot des Fahrzeugs übertragen.
• 2. Mittels NFC werden die Zugangsdaten zu einem sich in unmittelbarer Nähe zu einem NFC-Sender befindenden mobilen Gerät übertragen. Die übertragenen Zugangsdaten werden dann zu dem WLAN-Hotspot in dem Fahrzeug übertragen.
• 3. Mittels einer fahrzeugseitigen Einrichtung (z. B. der zentralen Verarbeitungseinheit des Fahrzeugs) werden die Zugangsdaten in Form einer Tonfolge ausgegeben. Die Tonfolge wird mittels eines Mikrofons des mobilen Geräts aufgenommen und die Zugangsdaten werden aus der aufgenommenen Tonfolge generiert bzw. erzielt. Die Zugangsdaten werden dann zu dem WLAN-Hotspot in dem Fahrzeug übertragen.

According to the invention, in a vehicle, the registration of a mobile device to a WLAN access point (WLAN hotspot) in the vehicle is performed by at least one of the following three options:

• 1. The access data (eg the network key and / or the network name) is displayed on a display unit (eg a central processing unit) of the vehicle in the form of an optically readable code (eg QR code). The optically readable code is recorded by means of a camera of the mobile device and the access data are generated or obtained from the recorded code. The access data is then transmitted to the WLAN hotspot of the vehicle.
• 2. NFC transmits access data to a mobile device in close proximity to an NFC transmitter. The transmitted access data is then transmitted to the WLAN hotspot in the vehicle.
• 3. By means of a vehicle-side device (eg the central processing unit of the vehicle) the access data are output in the form of a tone sequence. The tone sequence is recorded by means of a microphone of the mobile device and the access data are generated or obtained from the recorded tone sequence. The credentials are then transmitted to the WLAN hotspot in the vehicle.

For a secured Wi-Fi access point, it may be sufficient if in all three cases only the network key is transmitted to the WLAN access point.

The present invention provides relief and convenience for vehicle occupants in authenticating their WLAN-enabled (end) devices at the vehicle's WLAN access point.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

In-vehicle display

2

optically readable code (QR barcode)

Claims (6)

Method for authenticating mobile devices at a vehicle-side WLAN access point of a motor vehicle, characterized in that (a) access data of the vehicle-side WLAN access point (a1) on a vehicle-side display device ( 1 ) in the form of an optically readable code ( 2 ), (a2) emitted by means of a vehicle-side NFC transmitter in the form of radio signals, and / or (a3) are output by means of a vehicle-side speaker device in the form of a tone sequence (S1), and (b) the mobile device (b1) by means of a Camera device detects the optically readable code, (b2) receives the NFC radio signals by means of a receiver, and / or (b3) detects the sound sequence by means of a microphone device (S2) and (c) with the aid of the optically readable code and / or or the tone sequence generated (S3) and / or the access data received by means of NFC authenticated at the WLAN access point of the motor vehicle (S4). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the access data include the name of the WLAN access point and / or the network key. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after authentication at the vehicle-side WLAN access point, the mobile device is connected to the WLAN access point or is. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that a device connected to the wireless LAN access point (a) Internet access and related services; (b) an opportunity to interact with other devices connected to the WLAN access point, and / or (c) an accessibility to a vehicle-side data source is provided. WLAN access device for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it is set up to display access data of the vehicle-side WLAN access device (a) on a vehicle-side display device in the form of an optically readable code, (B) by means of a vehicle-side NFC transmitter in the form of radio signals to send, and / or (c) output by means of a vehicle-side speaker device in the form of a tone sequence. A system of a WLAN access device for a motor vehicle according to claim 5 and a WLAN-enabled mobile device, characterized in that the WLAN access device for the motor vehicle and the mobile, WLAN-enabled device are adapted to one of the methods according to one of Perform claims 1 to 4.

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