Method and device for performing a function in a motor vehicle as well as motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device (100) for performing a function in a motor vehicle (1), comprising receiving a function request at the motor vehicle (1), providing a release request at a mobile terminal (10), receiving a release at the mobile terminal (10), providing the release to the motor vehicle (1) and performing the function at the motor vehicle (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for performing a function in a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle having such a device.

[0002] Motor vehicles and associated functions must meet increasingly higher safety requirements.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and an improved device for performing a function in a motor vehicle.

[0004] In particular, it is an object to provide a particularly safe method and a particularly safe device for carrying out a function in a motor vehicle.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a method for performing a function in a motor vehicle is provided.

[0007] The method comprises the steps of receiving a function request at the motor vehicle, providing an approval request at a mobile terminal, receiving an approval at the mobile terminal, providing the approval to the motor vehicle and performing the function at the motor vehicle.

[0008] The procedure is used in particular to enable or activate certain functions in a motor vehicle using two-factor authentication.

[0009] In a first step of the process, a function request is received at the motor vehicle.

[0010] A function request includes, in particular, a request from a user who wishes to trigger, activate, and / or enable a function on the motor vehicle, in particular the motor vehicle. Such a function can, in particular, include an operating function of the motor vehicle, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0011] The function request can be made, in particular, via an input device configured to receive and process a user's input, for example, a touch input and / or a voice input. For example, the input device is an infotainment system, in particular with a touchscreen.

[0012] In a further step, a release request is provided on a mobile device.

[0013] A mobile device is, in particular, a device that is not permanently connected to the motor vehicle and / or is assigned to a user, in particular a driver. In particular, the mobile device is separate from the motor vehicle.

[0014] The mobile terminal device can be designed in particular as a mobile radio device, for example as a mobile phone and / or smartphone, phablet, tablet and / or wearable, such as a smartwatch.

[0015] Alternatively, the mobile terminal is a proprietary device that is provided, for example, by the automobile manufacturer and can thus be retrofitted and, in particular, serves exclusively to carry out an embodiment of the method described herein.

[0016] In particular, the mobile device is connected to the motor vehicle or an infotainment system via a wireless communication connection, for example via near-field communication such as NFC and / or Bluetooth, network communication such as WiFi, mobile communication such as 3G, 4G, 5G, and / or via Car2X, in particular Car2Infrastructure, communication. In this case, the mobile device is located in particular near the motor vehicle.

[0017] The release request is provided in particular in response to the feature request and includes a request to release or approve the feature request previously initiated by the user.

[0018] The release request can be provided both visually, for example on a display device such as a touch screen, and acoustically, for example via a sound output.

[0019] In a further step, a release is received on the mobile device.

[0020] In particular, an approval is a user input to enable or permit the requested function. This function approval can also be performed via touch input and / or voice input from the user on the mobile device. In particular, approval involves pressing or touching a single button or field.

[0021] For example, a hard or soft key can be pressed or touched once, twice, or three times. Alternatively or additionally, a single spoken word, such as "Release," can be said to initiate or achieve the release of the function request.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, the release may also involve entering a password, for example consisting of alphanumeric characters.

[0023] In a further step, the release is provided to the vehicle.

[0024] The release to the motor vehicle or to the infotainment system is provided in response to the user's release and can, in particular, be provided via the same communication connection as the release request to the mobile device.

[0025] In a further step, the function is carried out on the motor vehicle.

[0026] In particular, the received authorization enables, activates, or permits the execution of the requested function. This execution can occur without any further action, in particular without any further user input.

[0027] The method according to the invention makes it possible to perform a vehicle function using two-factor authentication. This can prevent, for example, unauthorized access or the unwanted execution of a function. This method is particularly secure.

[0028] According to a further development, receiving the release includes checking a biometric security feature on the mobile device.

[0029] A biometric security feature is a physical characteristic of a user, such as a fingerprint, retina, facial or hand geometry and / or language or voice.

[0030] The biometric security feature can be implemented in particular on the mobile device via suitable sensors, such as a fingerprint sensor, a camera and / or a microphone, which are designed to capture or evaluate the biometric security feature and thus capture, authorize and / or verify the user's authorization.

[0031] In particular, only a biometric security feature is used to authorize the user.

[0032] This advanced development makes it possible to perform the function particularly easily and quickly, yet still securely. In particular, it prevents the user from having to laboriously enter a long password, which could distract them from the traffic.

[0033] According to a further development, the mobile device is not located near the motor vehicle.

[0034] In particular, the mobile terminal is not located in the vicinity of the motor vehicle during the execution of the method or in particular during the steps of providing the release request, receiving the release and / or providing the release.

[0035] In particular, the mobile device is not located at the same location and / or is at a distance from the motor vehicle. For example, it is at least 10 m, 100 m, or 1000 m away from the motor vehicle.

[0036] The fact that the mobile device is not in the vicinity of the motor vehicle can be determined in particular by the fact that the mobile device is not connected to the motor vehicle or the infotainment system via near-field communication, such as NFC and / or Bluetooth, but exclusively via another communication connection, as described above.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, one or more location or position sensors, both on the motor vehicle and on the mobile device, can be used to determine whether the mobile device is not in the vicinity of the motor vehicle.

[0038] This training makes it possible to grant remote approval, particularly if the owner has lent the vehicle to a user other than himself.

[0039] According to further training, the function is an operational function of the motor vehicle.

[0040] An operating function is in particular a function that relates to the operation of the motor vehicle, in particular a driving function.

[0041] For example, the operating function relates to a maximum achievable speed, a maximum achievable acceleration, an engine or ignition start, an immobilizer or its release and / or an unlocking or locking of the motor vehicle.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, the operating function includes a comfort function, such as air conditioning, cooling and / or heating, a massage function,

[0043] This training makes it possible to enable or activate individual vehicle functions using two-factor authentication.

[0044] According to further training, the function is a personalization function of the motor vehicle.

[0045] A personalization function is, for example, a function that takes into account or implements the needs, wishes and / or preferences of the user.

[0046] For example, a personalization function could be a seat setting, a steering wheel setting, and / or a mirror setting. Likewise, a personalization function could be an interior temperature, an audio channel, and / or an interior color theme.

[0047] This advanced training makes it possible to enable or activate highly personalized features using two-factor authentication. This advanced training is particularly convenient.

[0048] According to a further development, the function is a payment function on the motor vehicle.

[0049] A payment function is in particular a function that releases, authorises, verifies and / or approves a payment transaction, in particular with a payment service provider.

[0050] For example, the payment function is the issuance of a direct debit mandate, a credit card payment and / or an authorization of a payment service such as PayPal, ApplePay and / or GooglePay.

[0051] In particular, the payment function can be used to pay for, activate or enable a previously described operating function and / or personalization function.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, software such as an update and / or an application for the vehicle or the infotainment system can be paid for and downloaded using the payment function.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, a copyrighted work, such as a music track and / or a film title, can be paid for and downloaded using the payment function.

[0054] This training makes it possible to enable or unlock features that are particularly harmful in the event of misuse, such as payment transactions using two-factor authentication. This training is particularly secure.

[0055] According to further training, the function involves the use of health data.

[0056] Health data includes, in particular, data relating to the user and their body, such as age, height, weight, gender, and / or ethnicity. These can be entered via an input mask on the mobile device and / or the vehicle, as described above.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, the health data relates to the user's current vital signs, such as heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and / or body temperature. These can be recorded or evaluated on a wearable device and transmitted to the vehicle.

[0058] This advanced training enables the vehicle to access particularly sensitive and personal data using two-factor authentication. This training is particularly secure.

[0059] According to a further development, the method further comprises the steps of receiving a refusal on the mobile terminal, providing the refusal to the motor vehicle and restricting a function on the motor vehicle

[0060] In particular, instead of the release, a refusal input is recorded on the mobile device by the user of the mobile device in response to the release request and this refusal is then provided to the motor vehicle, as previously explained in connection with the release.

[0061] In response to this refusal, a previously mentioned function on the motor vehicle is then restricted.

[0062] Restriction can be achieved by reducing the scope of functions without completely disabling the function, or by completely disabling or not enabling the requested function.

[0063] Alternatively or additionally, the restriction can also occur if a release does not occur within a specified period of time, for example after 120s, 60s or 30s.

[0064] This advanced training also makes it possible to reject or block certain functions. In particular, it can prevent an accidental purchase. Alternatively or additionally, the functionality of the vehicle can be reduced or restricted in the event of a loan.

[0065] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the method and which are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, in accordance with the method, an error message and / or a request to enter user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0066] According to a further aspect, a device is provided. The device may comprise a data processing device or a processor device configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0067] In particular, the device is configured to communicate and / or cooperate with the mobile terminal, as described above, in order to carry out or at least effect the above-described embodiments of the method. In particular, the device can also comprise the mobile terminal or, together with such a mobile terminal, form a system for carrying out embodiments of the method according to the invention.

[0068] For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor device can have program code which, when executed by the processor device, is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can, for example, be based on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0069] According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle is provided which comprises such a device.

[0070] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0071] As a further solution, the invention also encompasses a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or computer network, causes the computer to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be arranged in the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated on the Internet, for example, as a so-called app store server and / or cloud server. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code may be provided as binary code and / or as assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g. C) and / or as a program script (e.g. Python).

[0072] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0073] With regard to the embodiments of the device, the motor vehicle and the storage medium as well as the associated advantages, reference is made to the previously described embodiments of the method and the associated advantages.

[0074] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of an embodiment of a method and a device for performing a function in a motor vehicle.

[0075] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0076] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0077] Fig.1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a method and a device 100 for performing a function in a motor vehicle 1.

[0078] The device 100 is comprised by the motor vehicle 1 and is designed to carry out or at least effect the steps of the method described below, in particular in cooperation with a mobile terminal 10. The device 100 can in particular be an infotainment system or can be used to carry out individual method steps.

[0079] First, a function request is received by the motor vehicle 1. This can be made, in particular, by a user 5 of the motor vehicle 1 who is different from the owner 2, for example, because he or she has borrowed the motor vehicle 1 from the owner 2.

[0080] The function request may, for example, be a request to perform an operating function of motor vehicle 1, such as starting the engine. Alternatively or additionally, the function request may also be a payment function on the motor vehicle, a personalization function of the motor vehicle, and / or the use of health data.

[0081] In response to the function request on the motor vehicle 1, a release request is provided to a mobile terminal 10 of the actual owner 2 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0082] The mobile terminal 10 is not located near the motor vehicle 1 but away from it, namely at a place of residence 3 of the owner 2 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0083] If the holder 2 agrees to perform the function, he can enter an authorization on the mobile terminal 10, which is received there, for example by checking a biometric security feature.

[0084] This release is then provided back to motor vehicle 1 and, in response to receipt of this release, the requested function is performed on motor vehicle 1.

[0085] If the owner does not agree with the execution of the function, he can also not grant the release but provide a refusal, which is then provided to motor vehicle 1, whereupon the function is not carried out or is carried out only to a limited extent.

[0086] The provision of the release request as well as the provision of the release or refusal can be carried out via a wireless communication connection 4, such as a mobile radio communication.

[0087] Overall, the examples show how a function in a motor vehicle can be provided using two-factor authentication with a mobile device.

Claims

[1] Method for performing a function in a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - receiving a function request on the motor vehicle (1); - Providing a release request on a mobile terminal (10); - receiving a release on the mobile terminal (10); - Providing the release to the motor vehicle (1); and - Performing the function on the motor vehicle (1). [2] The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the authorization comprises checking a biometric security feature on the mobile terminal. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile terminal is not arranged in the vicinity of the motor vehicle (1). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the function is an operating function of the motor vehicle (1). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the function is a payment function on the motor vehicle (1). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the function is a personalization function of the motor vehicle (1). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the function is a use of health data. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - receiving a refusal on the mobile terminal (10); - Providing the refusal to the motor vehicle (1); and - Restricting a function on the motor vehicle (1). [9] Device (100) for performing a function in a motor vehicle (1), wherein the device (100) is designed to perform a method according to one of the preceding claims. [10] Motor vehicle (1) comprising a device (100) according to claim 9.

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