Methods for theft detection in a vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

A method for theft detection in a vehicle (10), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least the following steps: integration of at least one electronic locking device (12) into a security system (14) of the vehicle (10), wherein the electronic locking device (12) locks or unlocks at least one device (16) arranged on the vehicle (10); signaling of a possible theft when the security system (14) of the vehicle (10) registers that the electronic locking device (12) is being unlocked without authorization; characterized in that the electronic locking device (12) is unlocked and / or locked by means of an electronic key (30).wherein the authorization data required for the electronic key (30) are transmitted from a central computing unit (38) located away from the vehicle (10) to the electronic key (30) or a mobile terminal (26) containing it by means of mobile communication technology.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for theft detection in a vehicle.

[0002] In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle with a security system, with at least one display device and with at least one electronic locking device.

[0003] Anti-theft devices and methods for detecting theft are known in numerous designs from the state of the art. Firstly, alarm systems are known that are designed to prevent theft of a motor vehicle and / or alert you to such a theft.

[0004] DE 60 2005 003 881 T2, for example, shows an anti-theft device for a vehicle in which all wheels, or one or more wheels, are locked when a theft is detected. Furthermore, systems are disclosed in which the vehicle's steering column is locked to prevent theft.

[0005] In addition, systems for monitoring the interior of vehicles are known. These systems use sensors and / or cameras to scan the interior for traffic safety reasons, but this functionality can also be used as an anti-theft device. DE 2019 204 157 A1 describes a method for monitoring the interior of a vehicle. This involves emitting (ultrasonic) waves that can be used to detect objects on the vehicle seat.

[0006] A disadvantage of the aforementioned theft detection methods is that they cannot be used to indicate theft of objects and / or items located outside the vehicle, on accessories such as rear carriers and / or roof boxes.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of specifying a method for theft detection in a vehicle and a vehicle in which it is possible to protect objects both inside and outside the vehicle from theft or to indicate the theft of these objects.

[0008] This object is achieved in the present invention by the features of patent claim 1 in that the method comprises the following steps: integration of at least one electronic locking device into a security system of the vehicle, wherein the electronic locking device locks or unlocks at least one device arranged on the vehicle; signaling of a possible theft if the vehicle's security system registers that the electronic locking device is being unlocked without authorization.

[0009] It can be provided that the locking device monitors the locking status.

[0010] Theft in a vehicle refers to both the actual interior of the vehicle and an area around the vehicle, in particular additional storage spaces such as roof boxes and / or bicycle racks or similar vehicle features.

[0011] An electronic locking unit is a lock that, for example, has a partially mechanical function. The lock's operation is accordingly electronic. The mechanism can be activated by electronic components. Buttons and switches can be provided; it is also conceivable that the lock can be unlocked via a wireless (radio) connection, secured against external access.

[0012] The vehicle's security system is preferably designed as an alarm system and connected to a computing unit of the vehicle. The alarm system can, for example, be part of an infotainment system or be designed as a standalone unit, with the alarm system being part of the vehicle ecosystem.

[0013] Further preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

[0014] In a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, a status of the at least electronic locking device is displayed in a status display in a display area of ​​a display device of the vehicle. The display area of ​​the display device can be a display in the central area or in the cockpit area, for example in the vehicle's instrument cluster. Alternatively or additionally, the display area of ​​the display device can be designed as a head-up display. A head-up display is a display area in which the driver can maintain his head position or line of sight because the information is projected into his field of vision, for example onto the vehicle's windshield. In addition to the displays mentioned above, a status display can also be provided via a status LED in the vehicle or directly on the lock.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a signal is sent via a user's mobile device. A signal about a potential theft can primarily be transmitted to the mobile device. However, it is also conceivable that a camera image is transmitted to the mobile device in order to identify a potential thief in real time. In addition, the status of the at least one electronic locking device can also be displayed by the user's mobile device.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, a further embodiment of the invention can provide for the vehicle to provide visual and / or acoustic signaling. The signaling can occur in a variety of ways. Visual signaling would be conceivable. For example, the vehicle's headlights can be switched on or switched on and off in a predetermined sequence. Furthermore, additional visual elements can be provided as dedicated devices for visually indicating a theft. These can be arranged outside the vehicle so that a user can recognize from outside whether a theft has occurred. It is also conceivable for such a device to be arranged inside the vehicle, whereby it is also visible through one of the vehicle windows.

[0017] In addition to visual signaling, acoustic signaling is also conceivable. One possible acoustic signaling option would be an alarm signal, similar to a conventional alarm system.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, it can be provided that the electronic locking device communicates with the vehicle's security system via BTLE and / or UWB. By implementing a wireless connection using a known standard such as BTLE or UWB, the compatibility of the electronic locking device with other devices can be increased. Furthermore, it can be provided that both BTLE and UWB are used. The redundant use of different wireless communication standards increases reliability. It should be noted that BTLE and UWB currently represent the state of the art. Other radio transmission methods could also be used in the future. Security requirements are taken into account for all transmission methods.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the electronic locking device can be unlocked and / or locked using an electronic key. An electronic key can, for example, be a device comprising a computer chip with a housing, which has a unique serial number that is compared with the electronic locking device via a wireless connection. With a serial number assigned to the electronic locking device, the electronic locking device is unlocked or locked when the electronic key (access secrets) is brought into correspondingly provided contact with the electronic locking device.

[0020] It is also conceivable that the electronic key could be transmitted to a terminal device via wireless communication. This could be the aforementioned device or another device capable of transmitting the electronic key. Before the electronic key (access secrets) can be used, authentication must be performed. Suitable authentication procedures must be provided for this purpose.

[0021] Advantageously, a further embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the electronic locking device can be unlocked by means of NFC communication. The use of NFC allows for automated unlocking or locking of the device locked by the electronic locking device, for example, when the electronic key is in the near field of the electronic locking device. This ensures that the electronic locking device is not inadvertently unlocked when the user is merely in the vicinity of the electronic locking device.

[0022] To facilitate handling for a user, a further embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the electronic locking device can be locked and / or unlocked by the user's mobile device. Accordingly, the mobile device can be the electronic key or contain the electronic key. Modern smartphones are often equipped with an NFC interface. Through near-field communication, the electronic locking device can be actuated accordingly by the mobile device if a corresponding interface exists on the electronic locking device.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that a plurality of electronic locking devices are used, wherein the plurality of electronic locking devices can be locked and unlocked by the mobile terminal. In this way, it is possible for only one key or one electronic key to be required to operate multiple electronic locking devices.

[0024] The aforementioned object is also achieved by a vehicle with a security system, with at least one display device, and with at least one electronic locking device. It is provided that a method according to the invention can be carried out by the vehicle. The above statements regarding the method according to the invention also apply accordingly to the vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] Electronic or electrical devices and / or other relevant devices or components according to the embodiments of the present invention described herein may be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of these devices may be packaged on an integrated circuit (IC) or on separate IC chips. Furthermore, the various components of these devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit board, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or on a single substrate.Furthermore, the various components of these devices may be a process or thread running on one or more processors in one or more computing devices, executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components to perform the various functions described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in memory, which may be implemented in a computing device using standard memory, such as random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions may also be stored in other non-transferable, computer-readable media, such as a CD-ROM, flash drive, or the like.A person of ordinary skill in the art should also recognize that the functionality of various computing devices may be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or that the functionality of a particular computing device may be distributed among one or more other computing devices without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in the individual case.

[0027] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a signaling of a possible theft according to a method according to the invention and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an electronic key for locking and unlocking an electronic locking device.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method for theft detection in a vehicle 10. Several electronic locking devices 12 are provided, which can be integrated into a security system 14 of the vehicle 10 via a wireless connection. The electronic locking devices 12 are designed to lock or unlock devices 16 of the vehicle 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the devices 16 are a roof rack 18 and fastening elements 20 for bicycles 22 on a rear luggage rack 24.

[0029] The method provides for the used electronic locking devices 12 to be wirelessly connected to the security system 14 of the vehicle 10. The wireless connection can preferably be established using either UWB or BTLE. The connected electronic locking devices 12 are each assigned by the security system 14 to a device 16 that can lock or unlock the electronic locking device 12.

[0030] It is intended that a signal of a possible theft is generated if the security system 14 of the vehicle 10 registers that the electronic locking device 12 has been unlocked without authorization. The signal is generated via a user's mobile device 26. A signal of a potential theft can primarily be transmitted to the mobile device 26. However, it is also conceivable that a camera image is transmitted to the mobile device 26 in order to identify a potential thief in real time. In addition, a status of the at least one electronic locking device 12 can also be displayed in parallel by the user's mobile device 26.

[0031] In addition, it is provided that the vehicle 10 provides visual and acoustic signaling. The signaling can be implemented in various ways. In this exemplary embodiment, headlights 28 of the vehicle 10 are switched on or switched on and off in a predetermined sequence. In addition to visual signaling, acoustic signaling is also provided. One possible acoustic signaling would be an alarm signal, similar to an alarm system known from the prior art.

[0032] Fig.2 shows a schematic representation of an electronic key 30 for locking and unlocking the electronic locking device 12. An electronic key 30 can, for example, be a computer chip 32 arranged in a housing 34. The computer chip 32 is assigned a unique serial number, which is compared with the electronic locking device 12 via a wireless connection. Provision is made for the electronic locking device 12 to be unlocked via NFC communication 36. By using NFC, an automated unlocking or locking of the device 16, which is locked by the electronic locking device 12, can be achieved if, for example, the electronic key 30 is in the near field of the electronic locking device 12.In this way, it can be ensured that the electronic locking device 12 is not unintentionally unlocked if the user is merely in the vicinity of the electronic locking device 12.

[0033] A mobile device 26 can also be used as the electronic key 30. The electronic locking device 12 can be locked and / or unlocked accordingly by the user's mobile device 26. Modern smartphones are often equipped with an NFC interface. Through NFC communication 36, the electronic locking device 12 can be actuated accordingly by the mobile device 26 if a corresponding interface exists on the electronic locking device 12.

[0034] For this purpose, it is further provided that the electronic key 30, or more precisely the unique serial number, can be transmitted to the computer chip 32 or to the mobile terminal 26. For this purpose, a central processing unit 38 is provided in this exemplary embodiment, which can transmit the required data to the computer chip 32 or to the mobile terminal 26 using mobile radio technology. Since the electronic key 30 can be transmitted easily via the wireless connection, it is also easy to configure just one electronic key 30 for multiple electronic locking devices 12. In this way, it is possible that just one key or one electronic key 30 is required to operate multiple electronic locking devices 12. List of reference symbols 10 vehicles 12 electronic locking device 14 Security system 16 Facility 18 roof racks 20 Fastening element 22 bicycles 24 rear luggage racks 26 mobile devices 28 headlights 30 electronic keys 32 computer chips 34 housings 36 NFC communication 38 central processing unit QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 60 2005 003 881 T2

[0004] DE 2019 204 157 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method for theft detection in a vehicle (10), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least the steps: Integration of at least one electronic locking device (12) into a security system (14) of the vehicle (10), wherein the electronic locking device (12) locks or unlocks at least one device (16) arranged on the vehicle (10), Signaling a possible theft when the security system (14) of the vehicle (10) registers that the electronic locking device (12) is unlocked without authorization. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that a status of the at least electronic locking device (12) is displayed in a status display in a display area of ​​a display device of the vehicle (10). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat a signal is sent by a user's mobile terminal (26). [4] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the vehicle (10) signals visually and / or acoustically. [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the electronic locking device (12) communicates with the security system (14) of the vehicle (10) by means of BTLE and / or UWB. [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the electronic locking device (12) can be unlocked and / or locked by means of an electronic key (30). [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the electronic locking device (12) can be unlocked by means of NFC communication (36). [8] Method according to claim 6, characterized bythat the electronic locking device (12) can be locked and / or unlocked by the user's mobile terminal (26). [9] Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that a plurality of electronic locking devices (12) are used, wherein the plurality of electronic locking devices (12) can be locked and / or unlocked by the mobile terminal (26). [10] Vehicle (10) with a security system (14), with at least one display device and with at least one electronic locking device (12), characterized by that a method according to one of claims 1 to 9 can be carried out by the vehicle (10).

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