Method, apparatus, computer program, computer-readable storage medium for operating a vehicle

Abstract

In a method for operating a vehicle, it is determined whether a vehicle key is outside the vehicle after establishing a driving readiness. If the vehicle key is outside the vehicle, it is determined whether a movable device coupled to the vehicle is in the vehicle. If a movable device coupled to the vehicle is in the vehicle, it is determined whether the movable device coupled to the vehicle is assignable to a person sitting on a driver's seat of the vehicle. If the movable device coupled to the vehicle is assignable to the person sitting on the driver's seat of the vehicle, a digital key is generated to continue with the vehicle. The vehicle is operated in accordance with the digital key.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle. It further relates to an apparatus for operating a vehicle. It further relates to a vehicle having the aforementioned apparatus for operating a vehicle. It further relates to a computer program for operating a vehicle. It further relates to a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Modern vehicles are often started using purely electronic car keys that are no longer mechanically coupled to the vehicle's ignition key. Such ignition keys only need to be carried and can, for example, be placed in a trouser pocket. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The objective of this invention is to enable reliable operation of vehicles.

[0004] This task is accomplished through the features of the independent claims. Advantageous design solutions are expressed in the dependent claims.

[0005] The present invention is characterized by a method for operating a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention is characterized by an apparatus for operating a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is configured to implement the method for operating the vehicle.

[0006] In the method, a first authorization signal for operating the vehicle is received, wherein the first authorization signal is emitted by the vehicle key. It is determined whether the vehicle key is outside the vehicle after establishing driving readiness. If the vehicle key is outside the vehicle, it is determined whether there is a movable device coupled to the vehicle inside the vehicle. If there is a movable device coupled to the vehicle inside the vehicle, it is determined whether the movable device coupled to the vehicle is compatible with an individual sitting in the driver's seat. If the movable device coupled to the vehicle is compatible with an individual sitting in the driver's seat, a digital key is generated to continue using the vehicle. The vehicle is operated according to the digital key.

[0007] The method described above allows the vehicle to continue operating in principle even after the initially used car key has left the vehicle. This is particularly true with purely electronic car keys, where the key might be, for example, in the passenger's pocket. If the passenger temporarily leaves the vehicle, for example, to open a garage or to temporarily get out at a rest stop, continuing to drive is often impossible in many vehicles. However, with the method described above, the vehicle can, in principle, continue operating in such situations, for example, to drive into a garage or to maneuver a parking space.

[0008] The first authorization signal is, for example, a signal used to unlock the vehicle.

[0009] Car keys, especially purely electronic car keys, do not need to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle's keyhole.

[0010] The establishment of driving preparation specifically indicates that the vehicle's engine has been started, or that the vehicle is in a state that would allow it to start when the accelerator pedal is activated.

[0011] The mobile device coupled to the vehicle is, for example, a smartphone and / or a smartwatch or the like, and is connected to the vehicle via, for example, Bluetooth or other wireless radio connections.

[0012] For example, determining whether a car key is outside the vehicle can be done by measuring signal strength and / or signal duration, or by using triangulation or other suitable location determination methods. Similarly, determining whether the device is inside the vehicle can be done by measuring signal strength and / or signal duration, or by using triangulation or other suitable location determination methods.

[0013] According to one optional design, the digital key is stored on the vehicle-coupled movable device.

[0014] Therefore, the movable device can be used, in principle, at least for a predetermined period of time, like a normal electronic car key.

[0015] According to another alternative design, the digital key is encrypted using cryptography.

[0016] This protects the vehicle's operation. The digital key can be encrypted, for example, using so-called blockchain technology.

[0017] According to another alternative design, the digital key has a predetermined time limit.

[0018] As described above, the method is particularly effective for short journeys, such as to a garage, without a car key. Therefore, it is advantageous from a security perspective to limit the validity of the digital key over time, for example, to two, three, or four minutes or other suitable duration. This duration can be predetermined by the driver, for example, through adjustments made within the vehicle. If the duration has elapsed, the vehicle, for example, stops and cannot continue to operate without the car key.

[0019] In another alternative design, the digital key is restricted to a predetermined location.

[0020] As described above, the method is particularly effective for short journeys, such as to a garage, without a car key. Therefore, it is advantageous from a security perspective to restrict the validity of the digital key at a specific location. This location can be predetermined by the driver, for example, through adjustments made within the vehicle. This allows the method to be limited to a predetermined location, such as a home address and / or workplace, and / or additionally to a predetermined radius, such as a predetermined number of kilometers around the predetermined location.

[0021] According to another alternative design, whether the mobile device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is determined by the following method: receiving information from the mobile device, receiving sensor data from the internal space sensor, and determining whether the mobile device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle based on the information and the sensor data.

[0022] The information includes, for example, the device's identifier. In this case, sensor data includes, for example, camera image data recording the driver's face and / or data on the seat pressure distribution of the driver's seat and / or data from eye-tracking sensors. Once the device has been coupled, the vehicle, for example, can learn from past driving experiences which sensor data the device matches. This data can now be used to verify whether the driver matches the device's identifier. For example, the driver of device "X" has blue eyes and / or gray hair and / or a first seat pressure distribution. The vehicle learns this because the person was in the vehicle at the same time as the coupled device "X," and the vehicle stores this data. This data can now be compared with current sensor data to verify whether the same person is involved.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the information may include, for example, so-called health data such as height and weight. In this case, matching feature parameters can be calculated from the sensor data and used for verification. Thus, for example, the driver's height can be estimated from the camera image data described above and / or weight can be estimated from the seat pressure distribution.

[0024] According to another aspect, the present invention is characterized by a vehicle comprising the means described above.

[0025] According to another aspect, the present invention is characterized by a computer program for operating a vehicle, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described above.

[0026] According to another aspect, the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention will then be further explained with reference to the schematic drawings. Wherein:

[0028] Figure 1 A flowchart for operating a vehicle is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Figure 1 A flowchart for operating a vehicle is shown.

[0030] The control device 50 is configured for operating the vehicle. The control device 50 specifically includes a computing unit, program and data memory, and, for example, one or more communication interfaces. The program and data memory and / or computing unit and / or communication interfaces may be configured in a single structural unit and / or distributed across multiple structural units.

[0031] The control device 50 can also be referred to as a device for operating the vehicle.

[0032] For this purpose, the program is stored in the program and data memory of the control device 50, in particular. Figure 1 The flowchart of the procedure is shown in the figure.

[0033] The program begins in step S1, during which variables may be initialized if necessary.

[0034] In step S3, a first authorization signal for operating the vehicle is received, wherein the first authorization signal is transmitted by the vehicle key.

[0035] The first authorization signal is, for example, a signal used to unlock the vehicle. Alternatively, the first authorization signal is a signal used to start the vehicle's engine.

[0036] In step S5, it is determined whether the car key is outside the vehicle after driving preparation is established.

[0037] Establishing driving preparation specifically indicates that the vehicle is in a state that allows it to start when the accelerator pedal is activated. This can be achieved, for example, by measuring signal strength and / or signal transmission time, or by using triangulation or other suitable location determination methods to determine whether the car key is outside the vehicle.

[0038] If the car key is inside the vehicle after driving preparation has been established, the vehicle will continue to operate normally.

[0039] If the car key is outside the vehicle after the driving preparation is established, the procedure continues in step S7.

[0040] In step S7, it is determined whether there is a movable device coupled to the vehicle inside the vehicle.

[0041] The mobile device coupled to the vehicle is, for example, a smartphone and / or a smartwatch and / or other mobile terminal device, and is connected to the vehicle via, for example, Bluetooth or other wireless radio connections (e.g., WLAN).

[0042] For example, it can be determined whether the device is in a vehicle by measuring signal strength and / or signal transit time, or by using triangulation or other suitable location determination methods.

[0043] If there is no movable device coupled to the vehicle inside the vehicle, then, for example, the vehicle is prohibited from continuing to operate. In other words, the vehicle is prevented from moving.

[0044] If there is a movable device coupled to the vehicle in the vehicle, the method continues in step S9.

[0045] In step S9, it is determined whether the movable device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

[0046] In step S9, for example, information about the movable device is received, sensor data from the internal space sensor is received, and it is determined based on the information and the sensor data whether the movable device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

[0047] The information may include, for example, identification markings of the device. Alternatively or additionally, the information may include, for example, so-called health data such as height, weight, and / or pulse and / or the like.

[0048] The sensor data includes, for example, camera image data recording the driver's face and / or data on the seat pressure distribution of the driver's seat and / or data from eye-tracking sensors.

[0049] Once a device has been coupled, for example, the vehicle can learn from past driving data which sensor data the device matches. This data can now be used to verify whether the driver's identification matches the device's identifiers. For example, the vehicle stores a pair of eyes, hair, facial features, and / or seat pressure distribution, and the corresponding devices associated with them. This data can now be compared with current sensor data to verify whether the same person is involved.

[0050] If the movable device coupled to the vehicle cannot be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat, then the vehicle may be prohibited from continuing to operate, for example.

[0051] If the movable device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle, the method continues in step S11.

[0052] In step S11, a digital key is generated to continue using the vehicle.

[0053] Digital keys are stored, for example, on a movable device coupled to the vehicle.

[0054] Digital keys are encrypted, for example, using cryptography (e.g., with the help of blockchain technology).

[0055] Digital keys, for example, have a predetermined expiration time, such as a single-digit number of minutes.

[0056] Digital keys, for example, are restricted to a predetermined location.

[0057] In step S13, the vehicle is operated using the digital key. In other words, as long as the digital key is valid, the vehicle can be operated normally. That is, the digital key can be used to continue driving, etc.

[0058] The program is terminated in step S15, and may be restarted if necessary.

[0059] This method is particularly relevant when implementing the procedure without a terminal replacement. In other words, the car key must be used again for authorization before the ignition is disconnected.

[0060] The described procedure enables the vehicle to continue operating in principle when the car key is outside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, wherein Receive the first authorization signal for operating the vehicle, wherein, The car key emits the first authorization signal. Make sure the car key is outside the vehicle after the driving preparation is established. If the car key is outside the vehicle, determine if any movable device coupled to the vehicle is inside the vehicle. If there is a movable device coupled to the vehicle inside the vehicle, determine whether the movable device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. If the movable device coupled to the vehicle is compatible with a person sitting in the driver's seat, a digital key is generated to continue using the vehicle. Operate the vehicle using the digital key.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The digital key is stored on the movable device coupled to the vehicle.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The digital key is encrypted using cryptography.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The digital key has a predetermined time limit.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The digital key is restricted to a predetermined location.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Whether the movable device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is determined by the following method: Receive information from the mobile device. Receive sensor data from internal space sensors, and Based on the information and the sensor data, it is determined whether the mobile device coupled to the vehicle can be assigned to a person sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

7. A device for operating a vehicle, wherein, The apparatus is configured to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A vehicle, wherein, The vehicle includes the device according to claim 7.

9. A computer program for operating a vehicle, comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program according to claim 9 is stored.

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