Method for wireless transmission of Car2X information and motor vehicle

Abstract

The technology disclosed here relates according to the invention to a method for wirelessly transmitting Car2X information from a first Bluetooth communication module (5) to a second Bluetooth communication module (5), wherein the first Bluetooth communication module (5) transmits at least one message with the Car2X information and the second Bluetooth communication module (5) receives the transmitted message, wherein the first Bluetooth communication module (5) and the second Bluetooth communication module (5) communicate according to a Bluetooth standard.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for wirelessly transmitting Car2X information and a motor vehicle.

[0002] Car2X technology (“Car to x” technology, also “Vehicle to x” technology, V2x technology) enables communication between motor vehicles (“Car”) and their environment (“x”) or between different motor vehicles (also referred to as “Car2Car”, “Vehicle to Vehicle”, or “V2V”). The various forms of this technology, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-road (V2R), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-network (V2N), and vehicle-to-person (V2P), are collectively referred to as Car2X. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, motor vehicles are referred to as vehicles.

[0003] However, there are motor vehicles that cannot participate in Car2X communication due to a lack of Car2X infrastructure.

[0004] For example, the publication DE 10 2020 102 107 A1 discloses a system and a method for the real-time determination of hazards in road traffic. The system comprises a backend and at least one vehicle. Each vehicle comprises a sensor unit configured to record status data of the vehicle's occupants. The vehicle also comprises a computing unit configured to process the recorded status data and to determine a hazard potential based on this data. The vehicle comprises an interaction unit configured to interact with the vehicle occupants when a hazard potential is determined and to identify a hazard in road traffic based on the interaction with the vehicle occupants. The vehicle comprises a communication unit configured to transmit the identified hazard point to the backend.However, the document does not provide any information on how vehicles that do not have Car2X infrastructure can be warned.

[0005] Furthermore, EP 3 335 496 B1 discloses a communication device and a V2x communication method. However, the teaching of this document also does not involve vehicles in vehicle-to-vehicle communication that do not have a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide an improved Car2X technology that enables additional vehicles to participate in Car2X communication.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the presently disclosed technology by the method and the vehicle according to the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims and the description, as well as the figures.

[0008] According to a first embodiment of the presently disclosed technology, a method is provided for wirelessly transmitting Car2X information from a first Bluetooth communication module to a second Bluetooth communication module (Car2X communication), wherein, as a Bluetooth communication, the first Bluetooth communication module transmits at least one message with the Car2X information and the second Bluetooth communication module receives the transmitted message, characterized in that the first Bluetooth communication module and the second Bluetooth communication module communicate according to a Bluetooth standard.

[0009] This means that Car2X information can be transmitted from a first communication module to a second communication module by extending the Car2X standard. This can be done, for example, by means of a control device in a first vehicle, which causes the first Bluetooth communication module present in the first vehicle to transmit Car2X information. Car2X information can be position information, environmental information, information about obstacles or road conditions, emergency information, and the like. Application examples include situations in which, for example, an ambulance requests an emergency lane, or communication with a toll bridge. The technology disclosed here enables, for example, toll billing, even if no WLAN or mobile radio module is present.For example, information such as vehicle status, hazard warnings, vehicle location, instructions in the event of danger, and identification information can be exchanged. The transmitted information can be used to influence or control the behavior of the vehicle with the first Bluetooth communication module and / or the behavior of a road object comprising the second Bluetooth communication module.

[0010] The described direct Car2X communication thus enables numerous assistance and safety systems, such as lane departure warning systems, monitoring of blind spots, collision warning systems, intersection assistants, emergency vehicle detectors, roadwork warning systems, and traffic congestion control. However, typically only a small amount of information (primarily sensor data) is transmitted, so transmission involves a small amount of data and can be carried out quickly and efficiently. Car2X can contribute to traffic coordination, enable energy savings, and improve road traffic efficiency.

[0011] For example, if a vehicle detects a sudden onset of black ice, a lane-keeping assistance system (ESP) can warn other vehicles without requiring or hindering the driver's intervention. A damaged vehicle can not only send an eCall message to notify emergency services but also notify nearby vehicles via Car2X.

[0012] There are basically two transmission types for Car2X technology. The first transmission type is the transmission of information according to a Wi-Fi standard for motor vehicles, such as WLANp. This has low latency (i.e., communication with essentially no time delay relevant to the warning function), but the range is only a few hundred meters. A typical scenario involves a motor vehicle approaching an intersection and using Car2X technology to signal this to the traffic light with appropriate information. The traffic light can then turn green more quickly if the traffic situation allows. Therefore, in this case, Car2X can improve traffic flow and avoid unnecessary braking.

[0013] A second transmission method uses mobile communication via a mobile network technology such as LTE, 5G (also GSM, UMTS), or similar. For this to happen, a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module Card) or an eSIM must be installed in the respective motor vehicle. If the mobile network fails (for example, in a so-called dead zone), the vehicle's on-board electronics can store the data to be sent and send it with a delay. The signal propagation time is usually only a few seconds. A typical scenario involves a mobile construction site that can communicate its position to motor vehicles within a certain radius of several kilometers, allowing them to react or signal corresponding information to the respective drivers.

[0014] Both or at least one of these transmission types can now be replaced by the Bluetooth communication described here in order to realize the driving assistance function described.

[0015] It should be noted that, for example, in the Bluetooth V3.0 standard and with the Bluetooth V4.0 Low Energy (BLE) protocol, connectionless operation in the transmit and receive direction is possible, since BLE provides a GATT profile (Generic Attribute Profile) with which information can be offered in a broadcast message.

[0016] However, there are vehicles that do not have outward-facing Wi-Fi antennas and do not have mobile phone access because, for example, there is no SIM card installed in the vehicle.

[0017] An advantage of the method according to the technology disclosed here is that, when transmitting via a Bluetooth channel or by means of Bluetooth communication, vehicles that do not have a mobile radio communication module or a WLAN communication module can be integrated into the Car2X communication. Furthermore, it is possible, for example, to transmit information from a vehicle that does not have Bluetooth communication capability to a third vehicle that only has Bluetooth communication infrastructure via a second vehicle that has both a Car2X communication infrastructure and a Bluetooth communication infrastructure.

[0018] The Car2X standard can thus be extended to include the Bluetooth communication channel. A vehicle that has an infrastructure for communication with a digital key, for example, has transmitter and receiver modules facing the exterior of the vehicle to enable wireless communication with a digital key, such as one stored on a smartphone. Such a motor vehicle has, for example, 6-7 radio devices for UWB communication to locate the digital key. However, further data communication between the vehicle and the digital key, which may be stored on a smartphone, for example, is usually transmitted via Bluetooth.

[0019] Such a vehicle, which has an infrastructure for communicating with a digital key but does not have a Car2X communication infrastructure, can be integrated into a Car2X communication architecture using the technology disclosed herein.

[0020] However, the technology disclosed herein also includes further embodiments that provide additional advantages.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the first Bluetooth communication module establishes a wireless encrypted Bluetooth connection to the second Bluetooth communication module by mutually exchanging encryption parameters before sending the message, and wherein the wireless Bluetooth connection uses the Bluetooth standard. In other words, in addition to the approach described above, a Bluetooth connection can initially be established via an exchange of Bluetooth encryption information, which is subsequently used by the first Bluetooth communication module and the second Bluetooth communication module to exchange messages. Encryption parameters can include, for example, information about a frequency selection method, coding information, channel selection method, and / or frequency hopping information.This design has the advantage that an encrypted Bluetooth connection can be established and more secure communication is possible.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the transmitted message is a first message, and the second Bluetooth communication module sends a second message to the first Bluetooth communication module in response to the received first message, and the first Bluetooth communication module receives the second message. In other words, a second message can be sent from the second Bluetooth communication module to the first Bluetooth communication module in response to the first message. This enables an exchange of messages between the first Bluetooth communication module and the second Bluetooth communication module.This means, for example, that communication can be established if the second Bluetooth communication module receives the first message, and the second Bluetooth communication module can subsequently transmit information to the first Bluetooth communication module. The time required to establish a connection is in the range of 100 ms to 200 ms. This makes communication with an oncoming vehicle, for example, easily possible. This configuration makes it possible to easily implement the Car2X standard and enable the exchange of messages in both directions.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the transmitted message is a broadcast message that is sent by the first Bluetooth communication module using a Bluetooth standard without specifying a specific recipient. In other words, a first transmitted message, for example, before a connection is established, can already be a broadcast message, i.e., a message from the first Bluetooth communication module without specifying a recipient, and this broadcast message can already contain the information to be sent according to the Car2X standard. This embodiment has the advantage of providing a simple way of notifying other vehicles without having to establish explicit 1:1 connections.For this purpose, a registration message or advertising message on a registration channel or advertising channel (which can be described, for example, in a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard) can itself be used to transport Car2X information. Using the registration message as the carrier of the Car2X information makes it easy to inform multiple vehicles in parallel or simultaneously about a specific situation or to send a specific message, such as a lane request from an emergency vehicle.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one of the first and second Bluetooth communication modules is located on board a motor vehicle. In other words, Car2X communication can take place between two motor vehicles or between a motor vehicle and a stationary road object. In this case, either the first or the second Bluetooth communication module can be located in the motor vehicle. An example of this embodiment is, for example, a situation in which a first motor vehicle detects a traffic obstruction and forwards this information as Car2X information, for example via mobile radio communication, to vehicles that have a Car2X infrastructure such as a mobile radio communication module.In addition, the first vehicle can forward this Car2X information to a second Bluetooth communication module, which may be on board a second vehicle, via Bluetooth communication. Based on the received Car2X information, the second vehicle can then, for example, reduce its speed, initiate an emergency braking maneuver, or display related information to the driver. Another example of this configuration is a situation in which a first Bluetooth communication module installed in a toll gantry sends an authorization request to a second Bluetooth communication module located on board a vehicle approaching the toll gantry.The second vehicle can transmit authorization, for example in the form of proof of authorization to use the relevant toll route, to the toll bridge via Bluetooth communication, which can then, for example, open a barrier or activate a traffic light system. This configuration thus allows for a particularly simple implementation of the technology disclosed here.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the Bluetooth communication uses a Bluetooth channel that is also used for authenticating a digital key. In other words, the Bluetooth communication can use one or more Bluetooth channels that are used for authenticating a digital key. Since the Bluetooth infrastructure, which is also used for authenticating a digital key, is already present in the vehicle, it is easily possible to send the Car2X information via a Bluetooth channel.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the first Bluetooth communication module and / or the second Bluetooth communication module are part of an infrastructure for authenticating a digital key that is present or already present in a motor vehicle. This means that, firstly, at least one of the two Bluetooth communication modules is located on board a vehicle, and secondly, the Bluetooth communication module is a Bluetooth communication module that is used to authenticate a digital key. This embodiment allows for a particularly simple implementation of the technology disclosed herein.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that universal Bluetooth secrets are distributed to the vehicle via communication with a server device, which make it possible to establish an encrypted Bluetooth channel. This means that universal key information or secrets can be distributed to the vehicle(s) in advance via a so-called backend, which make it possible to establish encrypted Bluetooth channels. This enables a particularly simple and rapid establishment of an encrypted Bluetooth channel between two vehicles or between a vehicle and a stationary communication device, since the Bluetooth secrets do not have to be exchanged during a connection establishment process, but are present in advance in the vehicle(s) or traffic objects.

[0028] According to the technology disclosed here, a motor vehicle is also provided with a communication module for wireless message transmission according to a Bluetooth standard and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to perform one of the methods described above. This makes it easy to provide a motor vehicle that can use the Bluetooth channel for exchanging Car2X information.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the technology disclosed here, a system is provided comprising a motor vehicle and a traffic object different from the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has an assistance system that provides a driving assistance function in the motor vehicle in order to coordinate a driving behavior of the motor vehicle with the traffic object, wherein the assistance system is configured to exchange Car2X information with the traffic object and to effect coordination in the driving assistance function by transmitting or receiving the same, wherein the motor vehicle and the traffic object each have a Bluetooth communication module and the system is configured to exchange the Car2X information according to a method according to one of the preceding method claims.In other words, the motor vehicle can use the assistance system to respond to Car2X information transmitted by the road object via Bluetooth communication. Furthermore, the road object can respond to Car2X information sent by the motor vehicle. The road object can be, for example, another motor vehicle, or a toll bridge, a beacon, a traffic light system, or the like.

[0030] Further features of the technology disclosed herein are evident from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0031] The technology disclosed herein will now be explained in more detail using a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a communication situation between three different motor vehicles; and Fig. 2 a schematic flow diagram of a process.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a communication situation between three different vehicles 1, 2 and 3. In Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1 having a mobile radio communication module 4. This vehicle 1 can communicate with a second vehicle 2, for example, using Car2X mobile radio communication 6, in order to exchange Car2X information, for example. The vehicle 1 can additionally have a WLAN module (not shown). The vehicle 2 can have a mobile radio communication module 4 and a Bluetooth communication module 5. The Bluetooth communication module 5 can be present in the vehicle 2, since the vehicle 2 has an infrastructure for authenticating a digital key. The vehicle 3, on the other hand, only has a Bluetooth communication module 5, since it has an infrastructure for authenticating a digital key, but the vehicle 3 does not have a mobile radio module or a WLAN module for communication using the Car2X standard.

[0033] This allows messages to be exchanged between vehicle 1 and vehicle 2 via mobile communications (LTE, 5G, etc.) or Wi-Fi and / or Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC). However, in the current state of the art, vehicle 3 cannot participate in Car2X communication.

[0034] According to the technology disclosed herein, an exchange of Car2X information can take place between the vehicle 2 and the vehicle 3 by means of Bluetooth, that is, by means of the Fig. 1. It is thus possible for Car2X information to be sent, for example, from vehicle 1 to vehicle 2, which information can also be forwarded to vehicle 3, since vehicle 2 has a first Bluetooth communication module 5 and vehicle 3 has a second Bluetooth communication module 5, and thus Car2X Bluetooth communication 7 between vehicle 2 and vehicle 3 is possible.

[0035] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the presently disclosed technology. In an optional step S1, a connection can be established between a first Bluetooth communication module 5 and a second Bluetooth communication module 5. The wireless connection between the first Bluetooth communication module 5 and the second Bluetooth communication module 5 is a Bluetooth connection.

[0036] In a step S2, the first Bluetooth communication module 5 can send at least one message containing Car2X information to the second Bluetooth communication module 5. The second Bluetooth communication module 5 can receive the message containing the Car2X information from the first Bluetooth communication module 5. The first Bluetooth communication module 5 and the second Bluetooth communication module 5 communicate according to a Bluetooth standard.

[0037] In an optional step S3, the second Bluetooth communication module 5 can send a second message to the first Bluetooth communication module 5 in response to the received first message, and the first Bluetooth communication module 5 can receive the second message. After completing step S3, the method can return to step S2 to send further messages or responses between the first Bluetooth communication module 5 and the second Bluetooth communication module 5.

[0038] The Bluetooth communication modules 5 may be Bluetooth communication modules 5 that are part of an infrastructure existing in the vehicle for authenticating a digital key.

[0039] A further preferred embodiment of the presently disclosed technology is described below.

[0040] The C2C Communication Consortium's standards already use various telecommunication channels (Wi-Fi, DSRC, LTE, and 5G) to provide drivers with early notification of critical information. This information is collected and evaluated during the exchange between vehicles.

[0041] In contrast, the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standards standardize the digital key, which exchanges information between the vehicle and smart devices via NFC, BLE, and UWB wireless technologies to enable vehicle access, engine start, and other vehicle-specific functions. However, to integrate additional vehicles into Car2X communication, additional communication channels can be used to exchange Car2X-relevant information between vehicles according to the technology disclosed here.

[0042] Both the Car2X standard and the CCC standard require separate sensors (communication modules or devices). Such sensors increase the cost of the vehicle, meaning not every vehicle class will support both systems. To cover the widest possible range of vehicles that support Car2X communication, Car2X communication can be expanded to include the Bluetooth communication channel of the digital key. Some vehicles already support the digital key and therefore have the sensors for Bluetooth communication installed. These vehicles can be connected to Car2X communication at no additional cost, enabling communication via Bluetooth between the vehicles.

[0043] Such vehicles are already designed to support Bluetooth communication for outdoor use. By extending the Car2X standard to include Bluetooth communication, vehicles will be able to exchange information such as vehicle status, hazard warnings, location, instructions in case of danger, and identification information.

[0044] To establish a secure communication channel between vehicles, the existing digital key infrastructure can be used. General Bluetooth secrets could be distributed to the vehicles via the backend, enabling the establishment of such a secure Bluetooth channel.

[0045] An advantage arises, for example, in a scenario where a first vehicle, A, supports Car2X over LTE, vehicle B supports Car2X over LTE + Digital Key over BLE, and vehicle C supports Digital Key over BLE. By extending Car2X communication to the Bluetooth channel, vehicle B can now communicate with both vehicle A and vehicle C.

[0046] The technology disclosed here relates according to the invention to a method for wirelessly transmitting Car2X information from a first Bluetooth communication module to a second Bluetooth communication module, wherein the first Bluetooth communication module transmits at least one message with the Car2X information and the second Bluetooth communication module receives the transmitted message, wherein the first Bluetooth communication module and the second Bluetooth communication module communicate according to a Bluetooth standard.

[0047] Overall, the examples show how a method for wirelessly transmitting Car2X information or a motor vehicle that uses the method can be implemented. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 motor vehicles 3 Motor vehicle 4 Mobile radio communication module 5 Bluetooth communication module 6 Car2X mobile communication 7 Car2X Bluetooth communication 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 2020 102 107 A1

[0004] EP 3 335 496 B1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method for wirelessly transmitting Car2X information from a first Bluetooth communication module (5) to a second Bluetooth communication module (5), wherein as a Bluetooth communication the first Bluetooth communication module (5) transmits at least one message with the Car2X information and the second Bluetooth communication module (5) receives the transmitted message, and the first Bluetooth communication module (5) and the second Bluetooth communication module (5) communicate according to a Bluetooth standard. [2] The method according to claim 1, wherein the first Bluetooth communication module (5) establishes a wireless encrypted Bluetooth connection to the second Bluetooth communication module (5) by a mutual exchange of encryption parameters before sending the message, and wherein the wireless Bluetooth connection uses the Bluetooth standard. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sent message is a first message, and the second Bluetooth communication module (5) sends a second message to the first Bluetooth communication module (5) in response to the received first message and the first Bluetooth communication module (5) receives the second message. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitted message is a broadcast message transmitted by the first Bluetooth communication module (5) using a Bluetooth standard without specifying a specific recipient. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and the second Bluetooth communication module (5) is located on board a motor vehicle (1, 2, 3). [6] A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Bluetooth communication uses a Bluetooth channel used for authentication of a digital key. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first Bluetooth communication module (5) or the second Bluetooth communication module (5) is / are part of an infrastructure present in a motor vehicle (1, 2, 3) for authenticating a digital key. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein general Bluetooth secrets are distributed to the motor vehicle (1, 2, 3) via communication with a server device, with which it is possible to establish an encrypted Bluetooth channel. [9] Motor vehicle (1, 2, 3) with a communication module for wireless message transmission according to a Bluetooth standard and a control device, wherein the control device is designed to participate in a method according to one of the preceding claims. [10] System comprising a motor vehicle (1, 2, 3) and a traffic object different from the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle (1, 2, 3) has an assistance system which provides a driving assistance function in the motor vehicle in order to coordinate a driving behavior of the motor vehicle with the traffic object, wherein the assistance system is set up to exchange Car2X information with the traffic object and to effect coordination in the driving assistance function by transmitting or receiving the same, wherein the motor vehicle (1, 2, 3) and the traffic object each have a Bluetooth communication module (5) and the system is set up to exchange the Car2X information according to a method according to one of the preceding method claims.

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