Apparatus and method for authenticating authorization of a person using a vehicle
By monitoring the connection quality between the vehicle and the handheld device via Bluetooth and UWB radio links, and proactively switching to high-quality links, the problem of easy Bluetooth connection interruption is solved, achieving continuity of vehicle use and rapid response.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MERCEDES BENZ GRP
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the Bluetooth connection between the vehicle key and the controller is susceptible to shielding effects, leading to connection interruptions and monitoring timeouts, resulting in excessively long waiting times when using the vehicle.
The system employs Bluetooth and UWB short-range radio links between the vehicle-side control unit and the portable handheld device. By monitoring connection quality, it proactively disables low-quality links and enables high-quality links to ensure seamless communication.
It effectively reduces Bluetooth connection interruption time, ensures the continuity of vehicle use, and avoids long waiting times.
Smart Images
Figure CN117203101B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a device for authenticating the authorization of a person using a vehicle.
[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for authenticating the authorization of a person using a vehicle. Background Technology
[0003] A vehicle door lock system with a vehicle lock is known from EP 1 467 322 A2, wherein the vehicle lock can be electrically unlocked and locked, and can also be electrically opened. A vehicle-side controller and an operator-side handheld device are provided, each equipped with communication electronics to establish a two-way radio link between them. A system function of the vehicle door lock system can be triggered by the handheld device via the radio link. The radio link between the controller and the handheld device is a Bluetooth industry standard-based radio link. The system functions triggerable by the handheld device are unlocking the vehicle lock and electrically opening the vehicle lock.
[0004] Furthermore, a positioning device for locating an object is known from DE 10 2015 208 621 A1, wherein the positioning device is configured to select one of several positioning technologies based on the distance of the object to be located to a motor vehicle. The positioning technology includes UWB broadband transmission. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The object of this invention is to provide an improved device and method for authenticating the authorization of a person using a vehicle compared to the prior art.
[0006] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by an apparatus having the features specified in claim 1 and a method having the features specified in claim 4.
[0007] Advantageous designs of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0008] According to the present invention, an apparatus for authenticating the authorization of a person using a vehicle includes a vehicle-side control unit connected to a plurality of nodes, each node being configured as a Bluetooth interface and spaced apart from each other on and / or within the vehicle. The apparatus also includes a portable handheld device with a Bluetooth interface, configured to establish a particularly bidirectional Bluetooth radio link with exactly one of the nodes at any given time, formed according to the Bluetooth industry standard. The handheld device and the control unit further include ultra-wideband interfaces for establishing the particularly bidirectional ultra-wideband short-range radio links. The control unit is configured to authenticate the handheld device as authorized upon detecting authorization transmitted from the handheld device via the Bluetooth radio link, and to determine the location of the handheld device based on communication with the handheld device via the ultra-wideband short-range radio link. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to determine the connection quality of possible Bluetooth radio links between the handheld device and the nodes based on the location of the handheld device, and then, if a Bluetooth radio link to one of the nodes has a higher connection quality than a currently established Bluetooth radio link to an enabled node, deactivate the node currently enabled for the Bluetooth radio link and enable the node for establishing the Bluetooth radio link with the higher connection quality.
[0009] The handheld device specifically forms a digital vehicle key. Nodes located inside and / or on the vehicle, such as on the bumper of the control unit, allow for seamless Bluetooth radio coverage inside and around the vehicle. When a vehicle user approaches the handheld device, the handheld device connects to any node. Movement of the handheld device relative to and / or within the vehicle, and therefore relative to the node, can cause a masking effect on the vehicle, which can affect the Bluetooth radio link between the handheld device and the control unit. With this device, due to monitoring of connection quality, it is particularly advantageous to immediately deactivate the current node and enable another node to establish a Bluetooth radio link with higher connection quality before such interference occurs. This active deactivation and activation prevents connection interruptions between the handheld device and the control unit due to masking and the resulting so-called monitoring timeout, which could lead to up to 20 seconds before a new radio connection is established between the handheld device and the node. Through active deactivation and activation, the device allows for minimizing the interruption time of the Bluetooth radio link between the handheld device and the control unit, ensuring, at least nearly continuous, vehicle use for the vehicle user, particularly access to the vehicle interior and engine start. Therefore, longer waiting times can be avoided.
[0010] In possible device designs, according to the Bluetooth Low Energy industry standard, the handheld device's Bluetooth interface and node are configured to establish a Bluetooth radio link. Bluetooth Low Energy, or Bluetooth LE or BLE for short, is a wireless technology used to connect devices in an environment of approximately 10 meters. Compared to the radio link or radio connection under the "classic" Bluetooth industry standard, BLE is characterized by significantly lower power consumption and significantly lower cost within a similar communication range.
[0011] In another possible design of the device, the handheld unit is a mobile terminal device, such as a smartphone, a so-called smartwatch, or a so-called wearable computer, also simply referred to as a wearable device. This handheld unit makes it possible to perform the functions of a vehicle key on a terminal device that the vehicle user typically or always carries, rather than requiring a separate vehicle key.
[0012] In the method for authenticating authorization of a person using a vehicle according to the present invention, a particularly bidirectional Bluetooth radio link, formed according to the Bluetooth industry standard, is established between a portable handheld device and exactly one of a plurality of nodes on and / or within the vehicle. Each node is connected to a control unit, each node is configured as a Bluetooth interface, and they are spaced apart from each other. Additionally, a particularly bidirectional ultra-wideband short-range radio link is established between the handheld device and the control unit. By means of the control unit, upon detecting authorization transmitted from the handheld device via the Bluetooth radio link, the handheld device is authenticated as authorized, and its location is determined based on communication with the handheld device via the ultra-wideband short-range radio link. Based on the location of the handheld device, the connection quality of possible Bluetooth radio links between the handheld device and the nodes is determined by means of the control unit. If a Bluetooth radio link to one of the nodes has a higher connection quality than a currently established Bluetooth radio link to an enabled node, the node currently enabled for the Bluetooth radio link is deactivated by the control unit, and the node used to establish the Bluetooth radio link with the higher connection quality is activated.
[0013] This method, through monitoring of connection quality, allows for the immediate and advantageous deactivation of the current node and activation of another node to which a Bluetooth radio link with higher connection quality can be established before interference occurs in the Bluetooth radio link. This proactive deactivation and activation prevents connection interruptions between the handheld device and control unit due to obstruction, and the resulting so-called monitoring timeout, which could lead to up to 20 seconds before a new radio connection is established between the handheld device and the node. By proactively deactivating and activating, this method minimizes the interruption time of the Bluetooth radio link between the handheld device and control unit, ensuring, at least nearly continuous, vehicle use, particularly access to the vehicle interior and engine start, for the vehicle user. Therefore, longer waiting times are avoided. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015] In the attached image:
[0016] Figure 1 The diagram schematically shows a top view of the vehicle and a device for authenticating the authorization of the person using the vehicle. Detailed Implementation
[0017] In the only Figure 1 The image shows a top view of vehicle 1 and a device 2 for authenticating the authorization of a person using vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 may be part of device 2.
[0018] Device 2 is configured to implement a keyless access and authorization system and includes vehicle-side control units 3 connected to multiple nodes 4.1 to 4.n. The nodes are all configured with Bluetooth interfaces, specifically according to the Bluetooth Low Energy industry standard, and are spaced apart from each other on vehicle 1, for example on the bumper and within vehicle 1.
[0019] Device 2 also includes a portable handheld device 5 with a Bluetooth interface 6. Therefore, the handheld device 5 is configured to establish a Bluetooth radio link (BF) with exactly one of nodes 4.1 to 4.n at any given time. For example, the handheld device 5 is a mobile terminal device, such as a smartphone, a so-called smartwatch, or a so-called wearable computer. Furthermore, as a conventional electronic vehicle key, the handheld device 5 can be configured as a separate component.
[0020] In addition, the handheld device 5 and the control unit 3 also include ultra-wideband interfaces 7 and 8 for establishing ultra-wideband short-range radio links (UF), respectively.
[0021] When a vehicle user approaches vehicle 1 using handheld device 5, handheld device 5 connects to one of nodes 4.1 to 4.n via Bluetooth radio link BF, for example, to node 4.1 in the illustrated embodiment. In this case, authorization is transmitted to control unit 3 via Bluetooth radio link BF, and when the authorization is correctly received, handheld device 5 is authenticated as authorized. As long as Bluetooth radio link BF and subsequent authentication are active, the vehicle user can unlock vehicle 1, for example, by touching a touch-sensitive surface, thereby gaining access to the vehicle interior. Furthermore, after gaining access to the vehicle interior using active Bluetooth radio link BF and subsequent active authentication, the vehicle user can start vehicle 1.
[0022] To avoid interruption of the Bluetooth radio link BF due to obstruction when the vehicle user moves relative to the vehicle 1 via the handheld device 5, and subsequently, for example, due to a so-called monitoring timeout, it takes a long time to connect the handheld device 5 to one of nodes 4.1 to 4.n, the control unit 3 uses the communication with the handheld device 5 via the ultra-wideband short-range radio link UF to determine the location of the handheld device 5.
[0023] Based on the location of the handheld device 5, the control unit 3 determines the connection quality of possible Bluetooth radio link BFs between the handheld device 5 and nodes 4.1 to 4.n. If the control unit 3 determines that a Bluetooth radio link BF to one of nodes 4.1 to 4.n has a higher connection quality than a currently established Bluetooth radio link BF to an already enabled node 4.1 to 4.n, then the currently enabled node 4.1 to 4.n for that Bluetooth radio link BF is deactivated, and the node 4.1 to 4.n for establishing the Bluetooth radio link BF with the higher connection quality is enabled. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, if the control unit 3 determines that the connection quality with the active node 4.1 is lower than the possible connection quality with node 4.2, then node 4.1 is deactivated and node 4.2 is enabled, thereby establishing a new Bluetooth radio link BF between the handheld device 5 and node 4.2.
[0024] In other words, using the positioning results determined based on the UWB (Ultra-Wideband Short-Range Radio Link), if another node 4.1 to 4.n allows for better connection quality, the control unit 3 can proactively terminate the current Bluetooth Radio Link (BF). Therefore, the control unit 3 can control which new node 4.1 to 4.n should establish a new Bluetooth Radio Link (BF) to the handheld device 5 by proactively driving nodes 4.1 to 4.n based on the positioning results. In this case of proactively terminating the Bluetooth Radio Link (BF), a new Bluetooth Radio Link (BF) to another node 4.1 to 4.n can be established very quickly.
Claims
1. A device (2) for authenticating the authorization of a person using a vehicle (1), said device (2) - It has a vehicle-side control unit (3) connected to multiple nodes (4.1 to 4.n), each node being configured as a Bluetooth interface, and arranged or capable of being arranged spaced apart from each other on and / or in the vehicle (1). - A portable handheld device (5) with a Bluetooth interface (6), configured to establish a Bluetooth radio link (BF) with exactly one of the nodes (4.1 to 4.n) at any given time. - The handheld device (5) and the control unit (3) further include ultra-wideband interfaces (7, 8) for establishing ultra-wideband short-range radio links (UF), and -The control unit (3) is configured to, - Upon detecting authorization transmitted from the handheld device (5) via the Bluetooth radio link (BF), the handheld device (5) is authenticated as authorized. - The location of the handheld device (5) is determined based on the communication between the handheld device (5) and the ultra-wideband short-range radio link (UF). - Determine the connection quality of the possible Bluetooth radio link (BF) between the handheld device (5) and the node (4.1 to 4.n) based on the location of the handheld device (5), and If a Bluetooth radio link (BF) to one of the nodes (4.1 to 4.n) has a higher connection quality than a currently established Bluetooth radio link (BF) to an enabled node (4.1 to 4.n), then the node (4.1 to 4.n) currently enabled for the Bluetooth radio link (BF) is disabled, and the node (4.1 to 4.n) used to establish the Bluetooth radio link (BF) with the higher connection quality is enabled.
2. The apparatus (2) according to claim 1, Its features are, According to the Bluetooth Low Energy industry standard, the Bluetooth interface (6) of the handheld device (5) and the node (4.1 to 4.n) are configured to establish a Bluetooth radio link (BF).
3. The apparatus (2) according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The handheld device (5) is a mobile terminal device.
4. A method for authenticating the authorization of a person using a vehicle (1), wherein, - A Bluetooth radio link (BF) is established between the portable handheld device (5) and exactly one of a plurality of nodes (4.1 to 4.n) on and / or in the vehicle, the plurality of nodes being connected to the control unit (3), each node being configured as a Bluetooth interface and spaced apart from each other. - Additionally, an ultra-wideband short-range radio link (UF) is established between the handheld device (5) and the control unit (3). -With the aid of the control unit (3), - Upon detecting authorization transmitted from the handheld device (5) via the Bluetooth radio link (BF), the handheld device (5) is authenticated as authorized. - The location of the handheld device (5) is determined based on the communication between the handheld device (5) and the ultra-wideband short-range radio link (UF). - Determine the connection quality of the possible Bluetooth radio link (BF) between the handheld device (5) and the node (4.1 to 4.n) based on the location of the handheld device (5), and If a Bluetooth radio link (BF) to one of the nodes (4.1 to 4.n) has a higher connection quality than a currently established Bluetooth radio link (BF) to an enabled node (4.1 to 4.n), then the node (4.1 to 4.n) currently enabled for the Bluetooth radio link (BF) is disabled, and the node (4.1 to 4.n) used to establish the Bluetooth radio link (BF) with the higher connection quality is enabled.