FR3139101A1 - Method and system for immobilizing a motor vehicle. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a system for immobilizing a motorized vehicle (10). For the vehicle to start, it is necessary that the vehicle is authenticated by a device (3) disembarked from the vehicle (10) and that a request to start the vehicle is accepted by an owner of the vehicle via a mobile device associated with it . Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Method and system for immobilizing a motor vehicle.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for immobilizing a motor vehicle, particularly of the automobile type.

Technological background

A motor vehicle immobilizer system is an electronic security system designed to prevent a motor vehicle from starting if there is no unlocking device such as a key, remote control or other. A motor vehicle immobilizer system therefore increases the level of security of a vehicle against theft or unauthorized use, using more advanced technology than unlocking with an ignition key.

Early motor vehicle immobilizer systems required the driver to perform a number of actions in a predetermined order in order for the vehicle to start. If the driver made a mistake during this procedure, an alarm would sound and the vehicle would not start.

Thanks to the development of digital technologies, motor vehicle immobilizer systems have been improved, in particular by introducing electronic means. Currently, immobilizer systems consist of a key or any other unlocking device, a transponder, integrated into each key to communicate with the vehicle, an immobilizer control unit on board the vehicle, which will authorize the ignition and power supply functions of a vehicle engine and a transponder coil, which is the interface or antenna between the transponder in the key and the immobilizer control unit. In practice, when the unlocking device is detected, the immobilizer control unit performs a check on the presence of the transponder in this detected unlocking device. If it detects a transponder, the immobilizer control unit emits a random code. Starting a vehicle engine is then authorized (the starting and power functions are activated) when, following receipt of the random code, the unlocking device returns an authentication code validated by the anti-theft control unit.

Other immobilizer systems are also linked to a tracking or geolocation system that allows the path traveled by a vehicle to be followed directly via a computer and allows the owner of this vehicle to control and immobilize it remotely via a secure dedicated platform. These devices and applications are sometimes grouped under the term "telematics". In other words, this new type of motor vehicle immobilizer system combines a computer device with telecommunications means.

These motor vehicle immobilizer systems increase the security of previous systems based solely on unlocking devices because these unlocking devices can be duplicated.

In addition, existing motor vehicle immobilizer systems do not allow for the authentication of an occasional driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is loaned by an owner to this occasional driver. The immobilizer systems also do not allow for the storage of authentication failures.

Furthermore, these motor vehicle immobilizer systems use dedicated equipment such as antennas, an immobilizer control box, etc., which are financially expensive.

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the drawbacks of the technological background.

An object of the present invention is to improve the control of motor vehicle starting.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the safety and ease of use of existing motor vehicle immobilizer systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle immobilizer system which is adapted to safeguard authentication failures and/or start request refusals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle immobilizer system that is financially inexpensive compared to existing systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle start control device which is suitable for the motor vehicle anti-start system according to the present invention.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method of anti-starting a motor vehicle comprising the following steps:
- initialization of a vehicle start request by a vehicle user;
- transmission, by a first device on board the vehicle and to a second device removed from the vehicle, of a first signal carrying data representing a request for authentication of the vehicle;
- authentication of the vehicle by the second device and if the vehicle is authenticated, retrieval by the second device of data to identify an owner of the vehicle as well as data to communicate with a third mobile device associated with the owner of the vehicle;
- transmission, by the second device and to the third device, of a second signal carrying data representing a request to accept the starting of the vehicle;
If the vehicle owner refuses the vehicle start request, the process ends and the vehicle does not start;
If the vehicle owner accepts the vehicle start request, the process continues with the following steps:
- transmission, by the third device and to the second device, of a third signal carrying data representing acceptance of vehicle start-up;
- transmission, by the second device and to the first device, of a fourth signal carrying data representing an authorization to start the vehicle; and
- control by the first device of a start of a vehicle engine.

The motor vehicle immobilizer method according to the present invention uses a mobile device of the vehicle owner to authorize an occasional user to start this vehicle.

The implementation of the process is inexpensive financially speaking because it does not use means dedicated to the vehicle's immobilizer such as antennas. It is implemented by means used elsewhere for the operation of the vehicle such as a calculator, telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit") and also called BTA box ("Autonomous Telematic Box") or BSRF box ("Radio Frequency Servitude Box").

According to one variant, the method further comprises a step of storing data indicating a refusal by the owner of a request to start the vehicle.

According to one variant, the method further comprises a step of storing data indicating a failure of the authentication of the vehicle.

According to a variant, the method further comprises a step of further comprising a step of displaying a message informing the user of a result of the request to start the vehicle.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling the starting of an engine of a motorized vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of certain steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a motorized vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to an anti-theft system for a motor vehicle comprising a first device according to the second aspect of the present invention which is on board the vehicle, a second device unboarded from the vehicle and a third mobile device associated with an owner of the vehicle, the first, second and third devices being configured to implement a method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, the first, second and third devices exchange the first, second, third and fourth signals via an infrastructure of a communications network.

According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3, in which:

schematically illustrates an architecture of an anti-theft system for a motorized vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a device for controlling the starting of an engine of a motorized vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; and

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method of immobilizing a motor vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

A method and system for immobilizing a motor vehicle and a device for controlling the starting of an engine of this vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, following an initialization of a request to start the vehicle by a user of the vehicle, a first device on board the vehicle emits a first signal to a second device dismounted from the vehicle. The first signal carries data representing a request to authenticate the vehicle. The vehicle is then authenticated by the second device and if the vehicle is authenticated, data is retrieved by the second device. This data makes it possible to identify an owner of the vehicle as well as data for communicating with a third mobile device associated with the owner of the vehicle. The second device emits a second signal to the third device. The second signal carries data representing a request to accept the starting of the vehicle. If the owner of the vehicle refuses the request to start the vehicle, the method ends and the vehicle does not start. If the owner of the vehicle accepts the request to start the vehicle, the method continues with the following steps: transmission, by the third device and to the second device, of a third signal carrying data representing acceptance of starting the vehicle; transmission, by the second device and to the first device, of a fourth signal carrying data representing authorization to start the vehicle; and command by the first device to start an engine of the vehicle.

schematically illustrates an architecture of an anti-theft system 1 of a motorized vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with an electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example an automobile, a truck, a coach, a motorcycle. Finally, the vehicle 10 corresponds to an autonomous vehicle or not, that is to say a vehicle traveling according to a determined level of autonomy or under the total supervision of the driver.

There also illustrates a system for exchanging data between a first device 2 on board the vehicle 10, a second device 3 removed from the vehicle 10 and a third mobile device 4 belonging to an owner of the vehicle 10. The third mobile device 4 is not on board the vehicle 10.

The first, second and third devices are remote from each other and exchange data via a communications network infrastructure.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the infrastructure of the communication network comprises at least one communication device 5 of the relay antenna type of a cellular network or roadside unit, known as UBR.

According to one variant, the communication equipment 5 is for example connected to a cloud 6 of the communication network infrastructure via a wired connection. Signals can then be exchanged between the devices 2 and 4 and the communication equipment 5 via wireless connections and between the communication equipment 5 and the device 3 via a wired connection.

According to another variant, the communication equipment 5 is for example connected to the cloud 6 of the communication network infrastructure via a wireless connection. Signals can then be exchanged between the devices 2 and 4 and the communication equipment 5 via a wireless connection and between the communication equipment 5 and the device 3 via a wireless connection.

The vehicle 10 comprises for example one or more communication antennas 7 connected to a TCU, BTA or BSRF unit. This unit is also coupled in communication with the device 2. The antenna(s) 7, the TCU, BTA or BSRF unit and the device 2 form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for carrying out various services useful for the proper operation of the vehicle 10 and for assisting the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle in controlling the vehicle 10. The device 2 and the TCU, BTA or BSRF unit communicate and exchange signals with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

The exchange of signals between devices 2, 3 and 4 uses, for example, one of the following communication systems:

- a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.11p ITS G5 standards.

- a cellular network type communication system, for example an LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (or LTE-advanced) LTE 4G or 5G type network; or

- a Wifi type communication system according to IEEE 802.11, for example according to IEEE 802.11n or IEEE 802.11ac.

The exchange of signals between devices 2, 3 and 4 means the transmission of a signal by one of these devices to another of these devices. Subsequently, it will be considered that as soon as a signal is transmitted to a device, it is received without error by this device which then has the data carried by the received signal.

The device 3 advantageously corresponds to a data processing device configured to process data, for example data stored in one of its memories and/or data received from the device 2 and/or 4. The device 3 corresponds for example to a server of the “cloud” 6, the device 3 hosting for example in memory a database comprising data making it possible to authenticate a vehicle, to associate this vehicle with an owner and to exchange with a device 4 associated with the owner of the vehicle 10.

The device 4 corresponds for example to a smartphone, a tablet or a connected object such as a connected watch for example. One or more mobile applications are advantageously installed on the device 4 to exchange signals with the devices 2 and 3.

In a first operation, a user of the vehicle 10 initiates a request to start the vehicle 10.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the request to start the vehicle 10 is initiated by an action by the user on at least one component of the vehicle 10 such as inserting an ignition key, passing a card or badge in front of a reader or even pressing a button or a pedal or a combination of actions.

In a second operation, the device 2 is informed of this start request, for example by a computer of the vehicle 10 managing the vehicle start procedures, and emits a signal S1 to the device 3. The signal S1 carries data representing an authentication request from the vehicle 10.

In a third operation, upon receipt of the signal S2, the device 3 authenticates the vehicle 10 and if the vehicle 10 is authenticated then the device 3 retrieves data to identify the owner of the vehicle 10 as well as data to communicate with the device 4 associated with this owner.

For example, the authentication of the vehicle 10 consists of determining whether data for identifying the owner of the vehicle 10 as well as data for communicating with the device 4 associated with this owner are stored by the device 3. The authentication of the vehicle 10 can also be done by verifying data carried by the signal S2 such as a possibly encrypted identifier.

In a fourth operation, the device 3 emits a signal S2 to the device 4. The signal S2 carries data representing a request to accept the starting of the vehicle 10.

Upon receipt of the signal S2, the device 4 presents the request to start the vehicle 10 to the owner via, for example, a window displayed on a screen of the device 4.

If the owner of the vehicle 10 refuses the request to start the vehicle 10, for example by pressing an area of the then touch screen of the device 4, the process ends and the vehicle does not start.

If the owner of the vehicle 10 accepts the request to start the engine 101, for example by pressing an area of the touch screen of the device 4, the process continues with a fifth, sixth and seventh operations and possibly not an eighth, ninth and tenth operations.

In the fifth operation, the device 4 emits a signal S3 to the device 3. The signal S3 carries data representing acceptance of starting of the vehicle 10.

In a sixth operation, upon receipt of signal S3, the device 3 transmits a fourth signal S4 to the device 2. The signal S4 carries data representing an authorization to start the vehicle 10.

In a seventh operation, upon receipt of the signal S4, the device 2 controls the starting of an engine 101 of the vehicle 10, for example by sending a control signal to a computer of the vehicle 10.

According to a variant, in an eighth operation, data indicating a refusal by the owner of a request to start the vehicle 10 is stored.

According to a variant, in a ninth operation, data indicating a failure of the authentication of the vehicle 10 is stored.

Alternatively, data indicating a refusal or failure are stored in one of devices 2, 3 or 4.

According to a variant, in a tenth operation, a message is displayed on a screen of the device 2 informing the user of the vehicle of the result of his request to start the vehicle 10.

schematically illustrates a device 2 for controlling the starting of the engine 101 of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of the vehicle, one or more on-board computers of the vehicle 10, for example a VSM (Vehicle Supervisor Module) type computer responsible for coordinating the electronic vehicle functions of the passenger compartment and responsible for providing the network infrastructure for interconnecting all of the other computers of the vehicle 10. The VSM computer is for example connected to a computer responsible for controlling an engine 101 of the vehicle 10, or the VSM computer itself ensures control of the engine 101. The elements of the device 2, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and/or into discrete components. The device 2 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the second, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth operations described with respect to the and/or steps 82 and 87-90 of the method described with respect to the . The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

Data indicating a refusal of a vehicle start request 10 or an authentication failure are examples of data that can be stored by the memory 21.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 21.

According to various particular embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other devices such as a TCU or similar systems and/or with the devices 3 and 4, for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with devices such as the devices 3 and 4. The interface elements of the block 22 comprise one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi®, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced;

- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”);

- LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

Signals are for example transmitted to and/or received by the device 2 via the interface of the block 22 or conversely received by the device 2 using a Wi-Fi® network such as according to IEEE 802.11, an ITS G5 network based on IEEE 802.11p or a mobile network such as a 4G network (or LTE Advanced according to 3GPP release 10 – version 10) or 5G, in particular an LTE-V2I network.

Examples of signals emitted by device 2 are of signal type S1 and signals received by device 2 are of signal type S2.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 comprises a communication interface 23 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as the TCU unit) via a communication channel 231. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 231. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

Examples of signals emitted by device 2 are of signal type S1 and signals received by device 2 are of signal type S2.

According to a further particular embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 24, one or more speakers 25 and/or other peripherals 26 via output interfaces 27, 28 and 29 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

The display screen 24 corresponds for example to a screen, touch-sensitive or not. It can be used to inform the user of the result of his request to start the vehicle 10.

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method 8 for immobilizing a motorized vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The method is for example implemented by a system 1 of the . System 1 includes devices 2, 3 and 4 described above.

The processor(s) 20 of the device 2 are configured to execute instructions for carrying out the second, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth operations described with respect to the and/or steps 82 and 87-90 of the method described with respect to the .

The device 3 comprises one (or more) processor(s) configured to execute instructions for carrying out the third, fourth and sixth operations described with respect to the and/or steps 83, 84 and 86 of the method described with regard to the .

The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) configured to execute instructions for carrying out the fifth operation described with respect to the and/or steps 85 of the method described with regard to the .

In a first step 81, a user of the vehicle 10 initiates a request to start the vehicle 10.

In a second step 82, the device 2 is informed of this start request and sends a signal S1 to the device 3. The signal S1 carries data representing a request for authentication of the vehicle 10.

In a third step 83, upon receipt of the signal S2, the device 3 authenticates the vehicle 10 and if the vehicle 10 is authenticated then the device 3 retrieves data to identify the owner of the vehicle 10 as well as data to communicate with the device 4 associated with this owner.

In a fourth step 84, the device 3 transmits a signal S2 to the device 4. The signal S2 carries data representing a request to accept the starting of the vehicle 10.

If the owner of vehicle 10 refuses the start request of vehicle 10, the process ends and the vehicle does not start.

If the owner of the vehicle 10 accepts the request to start the engine 101, the process continues with a fifth, sixth and seventh step 85-87.

In the fifth step 85, the device 4 transmits a signal S3 to the device 3. The signal S3 carries data representing acceptance of starting of the vehicle 10.

In the sixth step 86, upon receipt of the signal S3, the device 3 transmits a fourth signal S4 to the device 2. The signal S4 carries data representing an authorization to start the vehicle 10.

In the seventh step 87, upon receipt of the signal S4, the device 2 controls the starting of an engine 101 of the vehicle 10, for example by sending a control signal to a computer of the vehicle 10.

In an optional eighth step 88, data indicating a refusal by the owner of a request to start the vehicle 10 is stored.

In a ninth optional step 89, data indicating a failure of the authentication of the vehicle 10 is stored.

In a tenth optional step 90, a message is displayed on a screen of the device 2 informing the user of the vehicle of the result of his request to start the vehicle 10.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method of immobilizing a motor vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device or system configured for the implementation of such a method.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally a vehicle 10, comprising the device 2 of the .

Claims (10)

Method for immobilizing a motorized vehicle (10), said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps:
- initialization (81) of a request to start the vehicle (10) by a user of the vehicle (10);
- transmission (82), by a first device (2) on board the vehicle and to a second device (3) removed from the vehicle (10), of a first signal (S1) carrying data representing a request for authentication of the vehicle (10);
- authentication (83) of the vehicle (10) by the second device (3) and if the vehicle (10) is authenticated, retrieval by the second device (3) of data to identify an owner of the vehicle (10) as well as data to communicate with a third mobile device (4) associated with the owner of the vehicle (10);
- transmission (84), by the second device (3) and to the third device (4), of a second signal (S2) carrying data representing a request to accept the starting of the vehicle (10);
if the owner of the vehicle (10) refuses the request to start the vehicle (10), the process ends and the vehicle does not start;
If the owner of the vehicle (10) accepts the request to start the vehicle (10), the process continues with the following steps:
- transmission (85), by the third device (4) and to the second device (3), of a third signal (S3) carrying data representing acceptance of starting of the vehicle (10);
- transmission (86), by the second device (3) and to the first device (2) of a fourth signal (S4) carrying data representing an authorization to start the vehicle (10); and
- control (87) by the first device (2) of a start of an engine (101) of the vehicle (10). Method according to claim 1, which further comprises a step of storing (88) data indicating a refusal by the owner of a request to start the vehicle (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a step of storing (89) data indicating a failure of the authentication of the vehicle (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a step of displaying a message informing the user of a result of the request to start the vehicle (10). Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor. Computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Device (2) for controlling the starting of an engine (101) of a motorized vehicle (10), said device (2) comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for the implementation of steps of the method according to one of claims 1 to 4. Motorized vehicle (10) comprising the device (2) according to claim 7. System (1) for immobilizing a motorized vehicle (10) comprising a first device (2) according to claim 7 which is embedded in the vehicle, a second device (3) removed from the vehicle (10) and a third mobile device (4) associated with an owner of the vehicle, the first, second and third devices being configured to implement a method according to one of claims 1 to 4. The system of claim 9, wherein the first, second and third devices exchange the first, second, third and fourth signals via an infrastructure of a communications network.