Authentication system for authenticating vehicle key and related method

Abstract

The invention relates to an authentication system (1) for a vehicle (20) for authenticating a key (10), in particular a portable key, with respect to the vehicle (20) in order to enable a vehicle function for an operator (2), in particular carrying the key (10), the key (10) having a first UWB transceiver (11) for UWB communication with the vehicle (20) and a first BLE transceiver (12) for BLE communication with the vehicle (20), the vehicle (20) has a second UWB transceiver (21) for UWB communication with the key (10) and a second BLE transceiver (22) for BLE communication with the key (10), the first BLE transceiver (12) being configured to only serve as an advertisement in the BLE communication and the second BLE transceiver (22) being configured to only serve as a scanning in the BLE communication, the first UWB transceiver (11) is configured to generate a UWB frame as a message for UWB communication, and wherein the UWB frame is configured to consume a minimum amount of energy during UWB communication by the first UWB transceiver (11) due to a minimum information length and / or due to a minimum signal amplitude.

Description

[0001] manual:

[0002] The invention relates to an authentication system for authenticating a key of a vehicle, in particular a portable key, but also a stationary key, in order to enable a person who, for example, carries the key, operates the key or is in proximity to the key to use vehicle functions. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a vehicle authentication system for authenticating a key, in particular a portable key.

[0003] A wide variety of keyless entry systems are known from the prior art, which can use low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) radio waves for this purpose. The use of a combination of LF / HF systems is also known in the prior art.

[0004] In radio-based authorization systems, security, in particular protection against the disruption of the radio communication taking place, is of crucial importance. In the case of vehicle functions using portable keys or ID transmitters, it is known from the prior art to determine the position, spacing or distance or similar variables, for example to check the plausibility of bidirectional communication. In general, the use of ultra-wideband (UWB) communication to determine the distance has become increasingly common.

[0005] For example, DE 10 2017 109 293 A1 and US 11 277 742 B2 in the same patent family teach a method and a related system in which radio communication between an ID transmitter and various UWB antennas takes place successively and the signal propagation times are analyzed in a central controller.

[0006] When applied, a standard widely used in the automotive industry stipulates that UWB communication and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication can be used to determine the distance using a mobile phone as an ID transmitter.

[0007] The problem is that UWB communication and BLE communication require relatively large amounts of energy, which means that the functionality of the ID transmitter cannot be integrated into conventional keys or smart bracelets because their internal energy storage devices would otherwise have to be frequently replaced or recharged.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide an authentication system and an associated method which can be integrated into an ID transmitter which is not designed as a mobile phone or the like, but preferably as a key.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by an authentication system having the features of patent claim 1 and a method having the features of the dependent patent claims.

[0010] Therefore, according to the present invention, a vehicle authentication system is proposed for authenticating a portable key, in particular, relative to the vehicle in order to enable vehicle functions for an operator who in particular carries the key. To this end, the key has a first UWB transceiver for UWB communication with the vehicle and a first BLE transceiver for BLE communication with the vehicle. Similarly, the vehicle also has a second UWB transceiver for UWB communication with the key and a second BLE transceiver for BLE communication with the key. Unlike the prior art, the first BLE transceiver is configured to only assume an advertising role in the BLE communication, so that it does not have to assume an energy-intensive scanning role. Therefore, the second BLE transceiver is configured to assume a scanning role in the BLE communication.

[0011] By operating the first BLE transceiver as an advertiser and taking other measures as described below as necessary, the energy consumption in or on the key can be reduced, thereby extending the service life of the battery providing energy in or on the key.

[0012] In addition to saving energy by using the key-side, i.e., first BLE transceiver as an advertising machine, the invention also provides that the first UWB transceiver is configured to generate UWB frames as messages for UWB communication, in particular polling, response, final and / or final data messages, which are optimized to consume as little energy as possible, in particular when the first UWB transceiver is sending and receiving. Therefore, during UWB communication, i.e., when the first UWB transceiver is sending and receiving UWB signals, the UWB frame is configured to consume the least energy due to the minimum information length and / or the minimum signal amplitude.

[0013] At the moment of application, it is necessary to determine the UWB frame or frame type to be sent within the framework of the information. The frame types are in particular pre-polling, polling, response final and final data. These frame types also contain partially different sections or data sections, resulting in different frame structures.

[0014] By completely eliminating UWB frame pre-polling within the framework of UWB communication, the UWB signal itself or the UWB communication firstly can be optimized or the energy consumption can be minimized.

[0015] In particular, the data segments may be segments STS (Shuffled Time Stamp Sequence) and PHY header (also referred to as PHR or physical layer header).

[0016] To minimize the loss, the UWB frame poll, response and final can contain a shorter STS. In addition, the PHY header in the final data can be omitted.

[0017] Furthermore, when the final data is transmitted, only the time difference or timestamp difference (delta timestamp) is transmitted instead of the usual absolute timestamp.

[0018] Since it is energy-intensive to simultaneously process, receive or transmit UWB signals in UWB communication and BLE signals in BLE communication, another variant provides that the first UWB transceiver and the first BLE transceiver and / or the second UWB transceiver and the second BLE transceiver are configured for synchronous and delayed or time-parallel communication, so that the BLE communication and the UWB communication are or can be performed in a manner that is staggered in time and does not overlap or parallel to each other in time. This design can be implemented, for example, by a corresponding method, or can be implemented using software and / or hardware locking.

[0019] As explained at the beginning of this article, the ID transmitter configured as a key is preferably not a mobile phone or the like, but a device configured for specific application purposes. The key can thus be a "smart key" or a "smart bracelet". Alternatively, the key can also be integrated into a charging station or other fixed structure, such as a garage, for example.

[0020] In particular, if the key is integrated into the charging station, the key can be used to enable the charging function.

[0021] Another characteristic of the key is that it has an internal energy source, such as a battery or accumulator, but does not have a plug-in charging interface for charging the energy source through at least a physical connection.

[0022] Preferably, it is provided that the second UWB transceiver and the second BLE transceiver are integrated into a module of the vehicle or connected thereto for determining the distance between the key and the vehicle. The module is configured to determine the distance between the key and the vehicle from the UWB signal transmitted during the UWB communication. In addition, the information transmitted via the BLE communication can also be used to determine the distance. In addition to simply determining the distance, the module or the controller integrated therein is also configured to control the second UWB transceiver and / or the second BLE transceiver.

[0023] The module or the arrangement consisting of the module, the second UWB transceiver and the second BLE transceiver may also be referred to herein as an authentication arrangement.

[0024] The distance is determined in particular by calculating the signal propagation time of the UWB signal transmitted between the first and second UWB transceivers within the framework of the UWB communication. The method of determining the distance using the signal propagation time is also called the "time of flight" method, for which the module is designed.

[0025] For a more precise, error-proof and compromise-proof determination of the distance, the vehicle can also have a plurality of second UWB transceivers which can successively communicate with the first UWB transceiver. In this case, these second UWB transceivers can be arranged at different locations on the vehicle, wherein they can communicate with the second BLE transceiver, for example, via a control unit of the vehicle, so that the information exchanged or requested via the BLE communication can be provided to each UWB transceiver and, for example, indirectly via the control unit.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a verification system according to the present invention is provided. The method comprises at least the following steps, in particular in the above order:

[0027] A) establishing BLE communication between the first BLE transceiver and the second BLE transceiver;

[0028] B) transmitting information for distance determination from the first BLE transceiver to the second BLE transceiver by means of BLE communication;

[0029] C) initiating a distance determination from the second BLE transceiver to the first BLE transceiver via a BLE communication request;

[0030] D) confirming, by BLE communication, a request of the first BLE transceiver to the second BLE transceiver;

[0031] E) operating the first UWB transceiver to initiate a UWB communication between the first UWB transceiver and a second UWB transceiver for distance determination, wherein information, preferably transmitted via BLE communication, is provided to the second UWB transceiver for establishing the UWB communication.

[0032] Although the order of steps A to E described above may be consistent with the actual order of steps of the method, each step in steps B) to D) may be skipped or performed in a different order. For example, in the method, step E may be performed directly after step A. Alternatively, these steps may also be performed in the order of A), C), and E).

[0033] If the vehicle has a plurality or a large number of second UWB transceivers, it can further be provided that step E) is repeated multiple times. Each time step E) is performed, a different second UWB transceiver and / or a combination of mutually different second UWB transceivers can be actuated to establish or start UWB communication.

[0034] It is preferably provided that the first UWB transceiver, the first BLE transceiver, the second UWB transceiver and the second BLE transceiver communicate with each other in a time-delayed manner, and that the UWB communication and the BLE communication are carried out in a time-delayed manner and without overlapping in time with each other, which can save energy because in particular the key-side transceiver, i.e. the first transceiver, does not have to receive signals at the same time, nor does it have to receive and process signals at the same time.

[0035] It is further preferred that the information used for distance determination is the processing time of the UWB signal in the key and / or the settings of the first UWB transceiver and / or information to the first UWB transceiver relevant for distance determination.

[0036] The BLE time slot (connection interval), i.e. the time slot for sending BLE data, can be optimized by selecting a BLE time slot that matches the ranging cycle, i.e. the cycle for determining the distance. Although 42 milliseconds are usually defined as a BLE time slot for this purpose, it is preferred to use a BLE time slot between 300 and 400 milliseconds, and preferably about 360 milliseconds.

[0037] As long as it is technically feasible and not contradictory, the features disclosed above can be combined as needed.

[0038] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims or are described in more detail below together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings and the accompanying drawings.

[0039] in:

[0040] Figure 1 A verification system is shown;

[0041] Figure 2 The method flow of verifying the system runtime is shown.

[0042] The accompanying drawings are schematic examples. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings represent the same functions and / or structural features.

[0043] Figure 1An authentication system 1 of a vehicle 20 is shown for authenticating a portable key 10 relative to the vehicle 20 in order to enable vehicle functions for an operator 2 carrying the portable key 10. The key 10 has a first UWB transceiver 11 for UWB communication with the vehicle 20 and a first BLE transceiver 12 for BLE communication with the vehicle 20. Accordingly, the vehicle 20 has a second UWB transceiver 21 for UWB communication with the key 10, more precisely a second UWB transceiver 21 for UWB communication with the first UWB transceiver 11 of the key 10, and a second BLE transceiver 22 for BLE communication with the key 10, more precisely a second BLE transceiver 22 for BLE communication with the first BLE transceiver 12 of the key 10.

[0044] Since the high energy consumption caused by UWB and BLE communications can be offset by regularly charging the mobile phone, systems using a mobile phone or smartphone to replace the key 10 are already well known in the prior art.

[0045] In order to adapt the authentication system 1 and the associated method so that they can also be used in or with the key 10 and thus significantly reduce the energy consumption, at least one but preferably several supplementary measures are provided.

[0046] Therefore, the first BLE transceiver 12 is configured to only play an advertising role in BLE communication, but not a scanning role, because the energy consumption of the advertising role, i.e., sending advertising messages, is lower than the energy consumption of continuously or frequently scanning advertising messages in the scanning role. Therefore, the second BLE transceiver 22 must be configured to play a scanning role in BLE communication.

[0047] Such a verification system 1 can also determine the distance between the key 10 and the vehicle 20, so as to exclude relay station attacks. For this purpose, the time-of-flight method is used, in which the signal propagation time of the UWB signal is determined, which is sent within the framework of the UWB communication. Therefore, the second UWB transceiver 21 and the second BLE transceiver 22 are integrated into the module 24 of the vehicle 20 for determining the distance. For this purpose, the distance determination module 24 can have other control mechanisms or control units, which can operate the second UWB transceiver 21 and the second BLE transceiver 22 to perform the method, and can determine the distance between the key 10 and the vehicle 20 based on the UWB communication and the BLE communication. In addition, such a control unit can also be arranged outside the module 24, such as the control unit 23 shown in the figure. In general, the second UWB transceiver 21, the second BLE transceiver 22 and the control unit 23 do not have to be arranged in the module 24, but can also be integrated into different systems of the vehicle 20, and only need to be coupled to each other through signal technology.

[0048] Figure 2The communication process between the different components of the verification system 1 according to the time distribution t is shown, wherein the first UWB transceiver 11 and the first BLE transceiver 12 of the key 10 are shown together, while the UWB transceiver 21, the BLE transceiver 22 and the control unit 23 of the vehicle 20 that controls the method on the vehicle side are shown separately.

[0049] The process can basically be divided into at least four stages I to IV, which can also be considered independently of each other, so that each stage may be preceded or followed by other or different stages.

[0050] The stages are basically:

[0051] I control unit 23 and time synchronization of second UWB transceiver 21 and second BLE transceiver 22, or time synchronization between them.

[0052] II Definition or determination of the information required for distance determination;

[0053] III. Request for distance determination;

[0054] IV transmits a signal to determine distance or measure distance.

[0055] In these phases, signals or instructions are transmitted, which can also be called messages, wherein the signal between the key 10 and the second UWB transceiver 21 is always a UWB signal, and the signal between the key 10 and the second BLE transceiver 22 is always a BLE signal. The signals or instructions between the components of the vehicle 20 are preferably transmitted between these components via a cable, in particular via a CAN bus. In order to illustrate the BLE connection interval s (BLE Connection Interval), an example is given.

[0056] Instead of a single UWB transceiver 21 , a plurality of UWB transceivers 21 may be provided on or in the vehicle 20 , and these transceivers may also be interconnected to form a UWB module.

[0057] The signals or instructions transmitted are as follows:

[0058] a “SYNC” signal for time synchronization of the control unit 23, the second BLE transceiver 22 and the second UWB transceiver 21;

[0059] b "FUP" signal for time synchronization of the control unit 23, the second BLE transceiver 22 and the second UWB transceiver 21;

[0060] c. requesting the information required by the key 10 in order to determine the distance (range definition request);

[0061] d. requesting the information required by the key 10 in order to determine the distance (range definition request);

[0062] eConfirmation that the information has been requested;

[0063] f internal provision of information (transmission ranging settings), in particular corresponding to IEEE 802.15.4z HRP, taking into account the deviations according to the invention;

[0064] g transmission information (ranging definition response);

[0065] h Transmitting time-stamped information (including time-stamped ranging definition response);

[0066] i Transmit information to establish UWB communication (ranging key);

[0067] jConfirm;

[0068] k Request or announce UWB communication (setup and start), wherein the time (timestamp) at which the button 10 will perform UWB communication is transmitted;

[0069] Confirmation

[0070] m requires UWB communication (setup and start), where the time (timestamp) at which the transmission button 10 will perform UWB communication;

[0071] n requesting UWB communication (settings and activation), wherein the time (timestamp) at which the button 10 will perform UWB communication is transmitted;

[0072] oConfirm (ranging start response);

[0073] p confirmation (ranging start response including timestamp);

[0074] q UWB communication is performed in a time sequence consisting of messages or UWB frames: polling, response, final, final data. In the case of multiple second UWB transceivers 21, UWB communication can be performed multiple times and sequentially in time, so that the first UWB transceiver 11 on the key side can communicate with different second UWB transceivers sequentially;

[0075] r transmits the signal propagation time between the first transceiver 11 and the second UWB transceiver 21 and / or transmits the distance between the key 10 and the vehicle 20 .

Claims

1. An authentication system (1) for a vehicle (20) for authenticating a key (10), in particular a portable key, relative to the vehicle (20) in order to enable a vehicle function for an operator (2), the operator in particular carrying the key (10), in, The key (10) has a first UWB transceiver (11) for UWB communication with the vehicle (20) and a first BLE transceiver (12) for BLE communication with the vehicle (20). The vehicle (20) has a second UWB transceiver (21) for UWB communication with the key (10) and a second BLE transceiver (22) for BLE communication with the key (10). The first BLE transceiver (12) is configured to only play an advertising role in the BLE communication. The second BLE transceiver (22) is configured to only perform a scanning function in the BLE communication. wherein the first UWB transceiver (11) is configured to generate a UWB frame as a message for the UWB communication, And wherein the UWB frame is configured to consume minimal energy during UWB communication of the first UWB transceiver (11) due to minimal information length and / or due to minimal signal amplitude.

2. The authentication system according to claim 1, in, The messages used for the UWB communication are poll, response, final and / or final data messages.

3. The verification system according to claim 1 or 2, in, The first UWB transceiver (11) and the first BLE transceiver (12) and / or the second UWB transceiver (21) and the second BLE transceiver (22) are configured for synchronous and delayed communication or parallel communication so as to perform the BLE communication and the UWB communication in a delayed or time-parallel manner.

4. A verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The key (20) is configured as a smart key or a smart bracelet.

5. A verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The second UWB transceiver (21) and the second BLE transceiver (22) are integrated into or connected to a module (24) of the vehicle (20) and are used to determine the distance between the key (10) and the vehicle (20). The module (24) is configured to determine the distance between the key (10) and the vehicle (20) from the UWB signal transmitted during the UWB communication.

6. An authentication system according to any one of the preceding claims, in, A plurality of second UWB transceivers (21) are provided, and the plurality of second UWB transceivers communicate with the first UWB transceiver (11) in sequence.

7. A method for operating an authentication system (1) of a vehicle (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, for authenticating a key (10), in particular a portable key, of the vehicle (20) in order to enable a vehicle function for an operator (20), the operator in particular carrying the key (10), in, The method comprises at least the following steps: A) establishing BLE communication between the first BLE transceiver (12) and the second BLE transceiver (22); E) operating the first UWB transceiver (11) to initiate UWB communication between the first UWB transceiver (11) and the second UWB transceiver (21) for distance determination.

8. The method according to the preceding claim further comprises at least one step which can be performed between steps A) and E): B) transmitting information for distance determination from the first BLE transceiver (12) to the second BLE transceiver (22) by means of the BLE communication; C) initiating a distance determination from the second BLE transceiver (22) to the first BLE transceiver (12) via a BLE communication request; D) confirming the request of the first BLE transceiver (12) to the second BLE transceiver (22) through BLE communication.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The vehicle (20) has a plurality of second UWB transceivers (21), and step E) is repeatedly performed multiple times, wherein each time a different second UWB transceiver (21) and / or a combination of second UWB transceivers that are different from each other are operated to establish the UWB communication.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 9, in, The first UWB transceiver (11), the first BLE transceiver (12), the second UWB transceiver (21) and the second BLE transceiver (22) communicate with each other in a delayed manner, and the UWB communication and the BLE communication are performed in a delayed manner and do not overlap in time.

11. The method according to the preceding claim, in, The information used for distance determination is the processing time of the UWB signal in the key (10) and / or the settings of the first UWB transceiver (11) and / or information related to the distance determination to the first UWB transceiver (11).

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