Procedure for identifying a person authorized to provide a vehicle service

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for identifying a person authorized to perform a vehicle service on or in a vehicle. According to the invention, during a verification of the person's authorization, an optical code is emitted into the vehicle's surroundings using at least one external light source of the vehicle. The code is captured by a camera on the person's mobile device, and the device transmits information about the capture of the code and / or the captured code itself to a central processing unit located outside the vehicle. If the captured code matches, the processing unit identifies the person as an authorized individual located in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. The invention further relates to a method for operating a vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for identifying a person authorized to perform a vehicle service on or in a vehicle.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for operating a vehicle.

[0003] From DE 10 2016 200 794 A1 a method for locating a motor vehicle is known with the following steps: - sending a request via a wireless communication network established within a parking space for a predetermined motor vehicle that the predetermined motor vehicle should perform a predetermined action in the form of activating a direction indicator; - Checking, after sending the request, whether a motor vehicle located within the parking space is performing or has performed the predetermined action; and - if the check reveals that a motor vehicle located within the parking space is performing or has performed the predetermined action, authenticating the motor vehicle as the predetermined motor vehicle and locating the predetermined motor vehicle at a current position of the motor vehicle.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a novel method for identifying a person authorized to perform a vehicle service on or in a vehicle and a novel method for operating a vehicle.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method for identifying a person authorized to perform a vehicle service on or in a vehicle, which has the features specified in claim 1, and by a method for operating a vehicle, which has the features specified in claim 4.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0007] In a method for identifying a person authorized to perform a vehicle service on or in a vehicle, according to the invention, an optical code is emitted into the vehicle's surroundings by means of at least one external light source as part of a verification of the person's authorization. The code is captured by a camera of a mobile device belonging to the person, and the device transmits information about the capture of the code and / or the captured code to a central processing unit external to the vehicle, for example a backend server. If the captured code matches, the processing unit recognizes the person as an authorized person in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle.

[0008] Vehicle services performed in or on a vehicle often require access to the vehicle without the service provider having a vehicle key. Examples of such services include in-car delivery systems, where the vehicle is used as a parcel station, or vehicle interior cleaning. To ensure access to the vehicle is only granted when an authorized person is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, the location of that person is required.

[0009] Using this method, such localization of an authorized person can be achieved in a particularly simple and reliable manner by using the vehicle's exterior light source, for example, a turn signal, without the need for an additional display unit. The person can also use a mobile device, for example, a cell phone with a corresponding application installed, so that the person also requires no additional equipment to carry out the method.

[0010] This in turn makes it possible in a method for operating a vehicle that access to the vehicle is only granted to the person using the person's computer unit when an authorized person is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle.

[0011] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0012] It shows: Fig. 1 schematically shows a sequence of a method for operating a vehicle.

[0013] In the only Fig. 1 shows a sequence of a possible embodiment of a method for operating a vehicle.

[0014] In a first method step S1, a vehicle user authorizes a vehicle service that requires access to the vehicle by a person performing the vehicle service. This authorization can be performed, for example, by explicitly selecting a corresponding service or by indirectly selecting a corresponding option for another service, such as automated valet parking.

[0015] Following such authorization, a request is sent to a central processing unit external to the vehicle, for example, a backend server, to execute the vehicle service with designated actions to grant access to the vehicle for the person performing the vehicle service. These actions can include, for example, remotely opening a vehicle lock and / or at least one vehicle flap and / or vehicle door using the processing unit.

[0016] In a second method step S2, a code is generated by the computing unit and transmitted to the vehicle.

[0017] In a third method step S3, the code is emitted as an optical code into the vehicle's surroundings by means of at least one external light source. For example, the code is output as a flashing code by means of a turn signal of the vehicle.

[0018] Furthermore, the person in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle who is to perform the vehicle service captures the code using a camera on a mobile device, such as a cell phone. The capture takes place, in particular, in an activated application installed on the device, also known as an app.

[0019] In a fourth method step S4, information about the detection of the code and / or the detected code is / are transmitted from the terminal device to a central processing unit external to the vehicle. For example, the detected code is processed by the mobile terminal device, and a result of the processing is transmitted to the processing unit as information about the detection of the code.

[0020] If the optical code cannot be captured using the mobile device, for example, due to insufficient camera focus, camera shake, or filming the wrong vehicle, the second to fourth process steps S2 to S4 are repeated. Even if the transmitted code does not match the captured code, process steps S2 to S4 can be repeated. The repetition of process steps S2 to S4 can be limited to a specified number of times.

[0021] If the fourth method step S4 is successfully completed, the code and / or the information transmitted to the computing unit is / are compared with the code transmitted to the vehicle in a fifth method step S5.

[0022] If a match is detected in this comparison, in a sixth method step S6 the person is recognized as an authorized person in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle and the computing unit grants the person access to the vehicle.

[0023] Subsequently, after access is granted, in a seventh process step S7, the vehicle lock is opened and / or at least one vehicle flap and / or vehicle door is opened. This allows the authorized person to perform the vehicle service.

[0024] For example, a trunk lid or trunk door can be opened to store shopping in the vehicle, a fuel filler flap or fuel cap can be opened to fill up with fuel, and a charging lid can be opened to charge a vehicle's electrical energy storage device. A plausibility check can be carried out here. Such a plausibility check can, for example, include a check to determine whether refueling or charging the vehicle is possible or advisable in view of the fuel and / or energy reserves. The check can also aim to determine whether opening the vehicle lid and / or vehicle door, which the person authorized to perform the booked service wants to open, is necessary to perform the service. If, for example, a parcel is to be placed in the trunk of the vehicle, the person can be refused permission to open vehicle lids and / or doors other than the trunk lid or door.It is also possible to use image recognition to identify the person and / or the items they are carrying, and to perform a plausibility check to determine whether the person's appearance and / or the items they are carrying correlate with the booked service. If the plausibility check fails, the person may be denied access to the vehicle or parts of it.

[0025] If the vehicle lid and / or the vehicle door are not opened by the authorized person within a specified period of time when the vehicle lock is opened, the vehicle is locked again in an eighth process step S8.

[0026] If, in a ninth method step S9, the computing unit detects that the vehicle lock and / or the vehicle lid and / or the vehicle door remain open for an implausibly long period of time, in a tenth method step S10, the person is sent a request via the application on the terminal to close the vehicle lock and / or the vehicle lid and / or the vehicle door. The period of time is specified manually by the vehicle user or automatically by the computing unit, for example, based on empirical values, depending on the vehicle service to be performed and the time generally required for this.

[0027] If the vehicle flap and / or the vehicle door are closed in an eleventh method step S11, the vehicle is locked again remotely by means of the computing unit.

[0028] If the vehicle lock and / or the vehicle flap and / or the vehicle door are not closed, the vehicle user is informed of this by the computing unit in a twelfth process step S12. 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 10 2016 200 794 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Procedure for identifying a person authorized to perform a vehicle service on or in a vehicle, characterized by that in the context of a verification of the person's authorization - an optical code is emitted into the surroundings of the vehicle by means of at least one external light source of the vehicle, - the code is captured using a camera on the person’s mobile device, - information about the detection of the code and / or the detected code is / is transmitted from the terminal device to a central processing unit external to the vehicle and - if the recorded code matches, the computing unit recognises the person as an authorised person in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the emission of the optical code is carried out by means of at least one direction indicator of the vehicle. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the captured code is processed by means of the mobile device and a result of the processing is transmitted to the computing unit as information about the capture of the code. [4] Method for operating a vehicle, wherein - by means of the method according to one of the preceding claims it is detected whether an authorized person is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, and - when an authorized person is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, access to the vehicle is granted to the person using the computing unit. [5] Method according to claim 4, characterized by that the access is released by remote-controlled opening carried out by the computing unit - a vehicle lock and / or - at least one vehicle flap and / or vehicle door.

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