Control device for a user-free radio key system of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle with such a control device and method for operating such a control device

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control device for an operator-free radio key system of a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle with such a control device and a method for operating a control device of an operator-free radio key system of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Control devices are known that control operator-free radio key systems for motor vehicles and can trigger or release an enabling function, such as releasing a locking or locking system or an engine lock. A operator-free radio key system, which can also be referred to as a keyless radio key system or passive radio key system, is a radio key system that does not need to be operated to trigger or release the respective enabling function. With such an operator-free radio key system, a user only needs to carry a radio key unit or mobile component of the radio key system with them, for example in a pocket, but does not need to actively operate this radio key unit or mobile component of the radio key system to trigger the respective enabling function. An enabling function can, for example, be releasing an engine lock or a vehicle lock.In such a hands-free radio key system, when a user attempts to open a vehicle door, a radio connection is used to check whether the radio key unit or mobile component of the radio key system is positioned within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. Only if this is the case is the respective release function triggered. There are known ways to provide additional security features for controlling a hands-free radio key system.

[0003] DE 10 2016 100 986 A1 discloses a system and method for authenticating a vehicle equipped with a passive keyless system. In addition to an initial request signal to address a portable key fob via a radio connection, a secondary request signal is sent. After a successful passive keyless start of the vehicle, the secondary request signal checks whether a valid response is received from the portable key fob. If this is not the case, a corrective action is carried out. The disadvantage of this system is that the vehicle can start and drive off without a key even if a key or the portable key fob is not present in the vehicle. In such a case, corrective action is delayed until the vehicle is already in operation or has driven away.

[0004] US 2016 / 0294562 A1 discloses a method for distributed authentication of a user attempting to access a service provider. For authentication, a first digital partial signature is generated for a first authentication response using a first user authentication variable, and a second digital partial signature is generated for a second authentication response using a second user authentication variable. The two partial signatures are combined to form a digital signature, which is verified for authentication. A disadvantage of this approach is that it is complex to first combine two partial signatures into one signature and then verify this for authentication.

[0005] From US 2017 / 0106834 A1 a communication system and method is known that performs a vehicle function based on a proximity of two wireless devices to the vehicle.

[0006] From DE 10 2014 018 057 A1 a method for operating a motor vehicle is known, comprising a locking device for automatically unlocking at least one vehicle door after detection of an associated key located outside the vehicle via a radio interface associated with the locking device, as well as a communication device with a radio interface for radio-supported communication with an associated mobile telephone located inside the vehicle, which mobile telephone can be identified via the radio interface.

[0007] From DE 10 2016 203 047 A1 a method and a device of a motor vehicle access and start system is known, which checks the identification received from two identification transmitters and only opens or starts the motor vehicle if both identifications are correct.

[0008] From DE 199 39 064 A1 a method for keyless operation of the door locking device in motor vehicles is known, in which the door locking device can be remotely operated via at least one portable transponder.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a control device for a user-free radio key system, which only enables an enabling function when, in addition to an authentication of a mobile component of the radio key system, another security feature is fulfilled as a condition.

[0010] The problem is solved according to the independent patent claims. Further advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0011] The invention provides a motor vehicle with a hands-free radio key system, wherein the hands-free radio key system comprises a vehicle-mounted component and a hands-free mobile component, wherein an acceleration and / or a speed are available to the hands-free mobile component of the hands-free radio key system by means of respective sensors in the mobile component. Furthermore, the motor vehicle comprises a control device for the hands-free radio key system, which is configured to enable a release function of the motor vehicle only when a predetermined condition according to the invention is met.

[0012] The control device is designed to enable an enabling function of the radio key system, for example, enabling an engine lock of the motor vehicle or enabling a door lock, only when a first radio connection exists between a mobile component and a vehicle-side component of the operator-free radio key system, and when a further predetermined condition is met, during authentication that has occurred in a predetermined operating mode. In other words, the control device triggers an enabling function of the radio key system, for example, enabling an engine lock of the motor vehicle or enabling a door lock, only when, on the one hand, a first radio connection exists between a mobile component and a vehicle-side component of the operator-free radio key system, and, on the other hand, a further predetermined condition is met.

[0013] According to the invention, the predetermined condition comprises that a coupling of the control device to a predetermined mobile device, different from the mobile component of the radio key system, is established via a second radio connection. The second radio connection is limited to a predetermined access area around the motor vehicle with the operator-free radio key system. It is further provided that data received by the control device via the second radio connection additionally contain respective information regarding an acceleration and / or speed of the mobile device. In addition to the coupling via the second radio connection, the predetermined condition comprises that the respective information fulfills a predetermined similarity criterion compared to corresponding information of the mobile component.The second radio connection is not only used to query whether the mobile device is a registered mobile device, which must be positioned within a predetermined access area around the motor vehicle to enable an enabling function, but also to transmit additional data. This additional data or additional information includes an acceleration and / or speed of the mobile device. The acceleration of the mobile device can be known by at least one acceleration sensor. Instead of the acceleration, the speed of the mobile device can also be used as additional information. The speed of the mobile device can be determined using an acceleration sensor and a corresponding mathematical calculation.For example, it can be known whether the mobile device is currently moving, for example at a speed of 5 km / h, or is stationary. The additional information is compared with corresponding information from the mobile component. This means that the acceleration and / or speed can also be available for the mobile component of the unmanned radio key system using respective sensors in the mobile component. The predetermined condition that must be met to enable an enabling function is met when the two respective pieces of information satisfy a predetermined similarity criterion. The predetermined similarity criterion with regard to speed can be, for example, 0.5 km / h or 1 km / h in order to compensate for possible measurement errors.The advantage is that this refinement allows an additional security criterion to be added to the hands-free radio key system. In particular, both a spatial position and a comparison of accelerations and / or speeds are particularly tamper-proof, thus making the predetermined condition particularly secure.

[0014] The mobile device is therefore another radio-capable device that must be positioned alongside the authenticated mobile component of the radio key system within the predetermined access area in order to fulfill the predetermined condition, i.e., to enable an enabling function. The mobile device can, for example, be another radio key unit or another, additional mobile component. The mobile device can also be a mobile phone or smartphone, a portable computer, or generally an electronic device that, as a radio-capable device, is designed to establish or operate a radio connection (said second radio connection) with the control device. The mobile device can only establish a connection with the control device via the second radio connection if it is located or positioned within the predetermined access area around the motor vehicle.This access area can, for example, be defined or limited by a distance of 1 m, 5 m or 10 m from the motor vehicle. The access area can be formed radially around the motor vehicle or formed by a semicircle on only one side of the motor vehicle. This has the advantage that access is only possible from one side, for example a driver's door, and thus access security is increased. If the mobile device is therefore located within the access area, it can establish a connection with the control device via the second radio connection, which differs from the first radio connection, in particular in terms of frequency or coding or transmission power, such that the predetermined condition is met.

[0015] The advantage of this is that in order to enable an enabling function of the radio key system or the motor vehicle, another mobile device must be present in addition to the standard mobile component of the radio key system. This increases the security for enabling the enabling function because the mobile device adds another security feature to the radio key system. In particular, access to the motor vehicle or starting the motor vehicle is not possible if only the mobile component of the operator-free radio key system has been authenticated. This means that even if an unauthorized third party gains possession of the mobile component, this unauthorized third party cannot enable an enabling function, i.e. cannot use the motor vehicle, because they do not have possession of the mobile device.In particular, if the mobile device is designed as a smartphone, there is no disadvantage for an authorized user of the radio key system due to reduced convenience, since such a smartphone is normally always positioned near the user, for example in a pocket of the user, and at the same time existing radio interfaces of the smartphone can be reused for the second radio connection.

[0016] Further advantages of the invention result from further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0017] In a further development of the motor vehicle, the second radio connection to the control device is a Bluetooth connection and / or a WLAN connection. The mobile device is therefore designed to be able to establish or create a Bluetooth connection and / or a WLAN connection. The respective transmission range of the respective connection defines the predetermined access area. If a mobile device is equipped with a Bluetooth transmitter unit, the transmission range of this Bluetooth transmitter unit can usually be 5 m or 10 m. According to the further development, the predetermined access area in this case is defined by the fact that it is formed around the motor vehicle up to a distance of 5 m or 10 m. The access area can be spatially restricted by a directional antenna on the motor vehicle, so that access is not possible from all sides of the motor vehicle.It is also possible to reduce the transmission power of a second radio connection from the mobile device in order to reduce the transmission range accordingly and thereby reduce the predetermined access area. The advantage is that, depending on the radio method used, the access area is limited to a distance of 1 m, 5 m or 10 m around the motor vehicle without any further measures being necessary due to the limited transmission range. In particular, by reducing the respective transmission power, this distance can be reduced even further, so that the predetermined access area is further reduced. The advantage of this is that security is increased because the mobile device has to be positioned even closer to the motor vehicle to enable the release function, thus ensuring that only an authorized user who is actually in possession of the mobile device can enable the release function.

[0018] In a further development of the motor vehicle, the second radio connection to the control device is provided via a radio interface of the motor vehicle. This means that the motor vehicle has, for example, a Bluetooth and / or a WLAN radio interface. This existing radio interface of the motor vehicle is thus reused or used twice, resulting in an overall reduction or elimination of radio interfaces. In particular, the control device in this case does not need to have its own radio interface. It is sufficient if the control device is connected to the motor vehicle in such a way that it can use the respective radio interface of the motor vehicle. The advantage of this is that avoiding duplicate radio modules or radio interfaces results in cost savings and a saving in the required installation space in the motor vehicle.A further development of the motor vehicle provides that the mobile device is a smartphone and / or a registered smartwatch and / or a registered radio-enabled wristband and / or a registered radio-enabled device registered with the control device. The mobile device is therefore a mobile electronic device that has a respective radio interface, for example, a Bluetooth connection and / or a Wi-Fi connection. The advantage of using such a device as a mobile device is that many users already own such a mobile device and can also use it to link to their motor vehicle's hands-free radio key system, thus eliminating the need to purchase a new mobile device or carry another one.This creates cost advantages, and a user still needs to carry the same mobile devices or components with them to be able to enable a release function, with the additional advantage that the security of the release function is increased. The respective mobile device is registered with the control device. This ensures that a user carrying the respective mobile device is an authenticated user. Registration can, for example, take place in a database of the control device or be provided on a cloud-based server device, making registration particularly easy. Registration can, for example, be carried out by the manufacturer or when an enabled release function ensures that a user who wants to register a respective mobile device with the control device is actually an authorized user.

[0019] In a further development of the motor vehicle, it is provided that data received by the control device via the second radio connection additionally contain respective information regarding a spatial position of the mobile device. In addition to the coupling via the second radio connection, the predetermined condition includes that the respective information meets a predetermined similarity criterion compared to corresponding information from the mobile component. Thus, the second radio connection is not only used to query whether the mobile device is a registered mobile device that must be positioned within a predetermined access area around the motor vehicle to enable an enabling function, but additional data is also transmitted via the second radio connection.This additional data or additional information includes both a spatial position and an acceleration and / or a speed of the mobile device. The position is a spatial position or geoposition of the mobile device, which is known, for example, via a GPS signal of the mobile device. The spatial position can also be known using initial sensors or a radio-based distance measurement. The predetermined similarity criterion with regard to the spatial position can, for example, be that the positions of the mobile component and the mobile device differ from each other by a maximum of 1 m, 2 m, or 5 m, either absolutely or relative to each other. This ensures that the mobile device and the mobile component are actually both, for example, in the immediate vicinity of a user.If this user moves toward the motor vehicle, for example, both the mobile component and the mobile device exhibit a speed of 5 km / h at which the user is moving toward the motor vehicle. The advantage is that this refinement allows an additional security criterion to be added to the hands-free radio key system. In particular, both a spatial position measured via GPS and a comparison of accelerations and / or speeds are particularly tamper-proof, thus ensuring that the predetermined condition is also particularly secure.

[0020] A further development of the motor vehicle provides that the control device is designed such that, in the event that the predetermined condition is violated and a manual or active release of a vehicle control has occurred, it allows an engine start at least for a predetermined period of time after the manual or active release of a vehicle lock via a hands-free radio key system. This means that, for example, if an authorized user in possession of the mobile component for opening the motor vehicle cannot use the hands-free function of the hands-free radio key system, for example because they have forgotten the mobile device, and therefore opens the motor vehicle via the radio remote control function of the mobile component, the motor vehicle can still be started at least for a predetermined period of time, even without the mobile device being positioned within the predetermined access area.The predetermined time period can be set so that a user can get into the motor vehicle and start it. For example, the predetermined time period can range from 15 seconds to 3 minutes. The advantage of this is that if the operation of the radio remote control function ensures that an authorized user in possession of the mobile component intends to operate the motor vehicle, the user can be enabled to start the motor vehicle more conveniently by means of operator-free starting without compromising the security or access security of the operator-free radio key system. Of course, the predetermined time period can also be longer than the specified values ​​or even be unlimited, i.e., it can last indefinitely.

[0021] A further development of the motor vehicle provides that the control device is designed to send a predetermined message to the mobile device if the predetermined condition is not met and authentication has taken place via the first radio connection. If authentication of the mobile component has taken place, but the mobile device is not positioned within the specific access area and therefore no coupling exists or can be established, the control device can send a message to the mobile device. For this purpose, the control device can use an existing WLAN interface, for example, to send a message to the mobile device via the Internet. The control device can also have a mobile radio module and send the predetermined message to the mobile device as a short message / SMS.The control device can also be connected to the motor vehicle in such a way that the motor vehicle's internet connection and / or radio connection can be used to send the message. The advantage of this is that, particularly if the mobile device has a display, as is the case with smartphones and / or smartwatches, an authorized user in possession of the mobile device can be informed that access to the motor vehicle has been requested without the mobile device being within the predetermined access range. In this case, the user can check whether an unauthorized third party is attempting to open the motor vehicle, for example if they have not attempted to open the motor vehicle themselves.

[0022] The invention also includes a method for operating a control device of the motor vehicle according to the invention. Before activating or enabling an enabling function of a motor vehicle with the control device, it is checked whether a predetermined condition is met. The predetermined condition comprises establishing a coupling of the control device (10) to a predetermined mobile terminal (16) different from the mobile component (13) of the radio key system via a second radio connection (15). The second radio connection (15) is limited to a predetermined access area (18) around the motor vehicle (11). Data received by the control device (10) via the second radio connection (15) additionally includes information regarding an acceleration and / or speed of the mobile device (16). The predetermined condition further comprises:that the respective information meets a predetermined similarity criterion compared with corresponding information of the mobile component (13), and to enable the release function of the radio key system only when the predetermined condition is met, wherein the acceleration and / or the speed are available to the operator-free mobile component of the operator-free radio key system by means of respective sensors in the mobile component.

[0023] The invention also includes further developments of the method according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0024] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. The single figure (Fig.) shows a control device according to the invention in a motor vehicle with a predetermined access area.

[0025] The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual, independently considered features of the invention, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are thus also to be considered as components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0026] The single figure shows a control device 10 in a motor vehicle 11. Via a first radio connection 12, authentication of a mobile component 13 with a vehicle-side component 14 of an operator-free radio key system of the motor vehicle 11 can take place. Via a second radio connection 15, coupling of the control device 10 with a mobile device 16 can be established. The mobile device 16 is located in a predetermined access area 18. The predetermined access area 18 is delimited around the motor vehicle 11 by a boundary 17, which can be radially symmetrical or can also be formed on only one side of the motor vehicle 11. A mobile device 16' can be located in an outer area 19 that is not located in the predetermined access area 18, i.e., is complementary to it.

[0027] In a first exemplary embodiment, the mobile device is a smartphone or a smartwatch. The mobile device therefore has a WLAN interface and a Bluetooth interface. A user of the motor vehicle 11 (not shown) carries the mobile component 13 in order to enable a locking function of the motor vehicle 11 and to be able to open it. This component is authenticated by the vehicle-side component 14 via the first radio connection 12. The user also carries the mobile device 16. In the exemplary embodiment not claimed, the user is located with the mobile device 16 within the predetermined access area 18. In this case, the predetermined condition is met in that the control device 10 and the mobile device 16 are coupled to one another via the second radio connection 15.Thus, the user can open a door of the motor vehicle 11 using a hands-free access function without having to operate the mobile component 13 or the mobile device 16 to unlock a door locking system of the motor vehicle 11.

[0028] In a further unclaimed embodiment, a first radio connection 12 exists between the mobile component 13 and the vehicle-mounted component 14. However, the mobile device 16' is located in the outdoor area 19, so that the predetermined condition is not met. In this case, the control device 10 does not enable unlocking of a vehicle door using the hands-free access function. In this case, a user must either position the mobile device 16' within the predetermined access area 18 to use the hands-free access function or use a radio remote control function of the mobile component 13 to be able to open the motor vehicle 11.If the user unlocks or opens a vehicle door using the radio remote control function, he or she can activate an engine start using the hands-free access function for a certain time thereafter, for example 30 seconds or 2 minutes, even if the mobile device 16' is still positioned in the outdoor area 19.

[0029] In a further unclaimed embodiment, the mobile device 16' is located in the outdoor area 19. In this case, if the mobile component 13 is authenticated by the vehicle-side component 14 via the first radio connection 12, the control device 10 sends a message to the mobile device 16'. Such a message can be, for example, "mobile device outside the predetermined access area." The message can, for example, be sent directly from the control device 10 to the mobile device 16' via a mobile radio interface of the control device 10 or to the mobile device 16' via a mobile radio interface of the motor vehicle 11, which is connected to the control device 10.A user in possession of the mobile device 16' is thus informed, for example, by text message, that a first radio connection exists between the mobile component 13 and the vehicle-side component 14 without the mobile device 16' being within the predetermined access area.

[0030] The invention thus shows how a hands-free access function to a motor vehicle is only permitted if an identification transmitter belonging to the motor vehicle, i.e. a mobile component, and at the same time a mobile device logged on or registered to the motor vehicle, e.g. a smartphone, have been found by the control device or identified via a respective radio connection. If the mobile device, e.g. the smartphone, is not available, access to the motor vehicle can only be achieved via a radio remote control function. If access via the radio remote control function is successful, the engine can in turn be started via the hands-free access function. According to the invention, an acceleration and / or a speed of the mobile device is compared with that of the mobile component, whereby an enabling function is only enabled if the comparison fulfills a predetermined similarity criterion.When comparing acceleration, the respective motion profiles must match according to the similarity criterion. Additionally, the position of the mobile component can be compared with the mobile device.

[0031] If a wireless connection cannot be established between the mobile device and the vehicle, a pop-up or message, possibly a smartphone, can be generated on the mobile device, enabling or preventing the vehicle from being opened through a conscious operation. Mobile devices are Bluetooth-enabled electronic devices, such as a smartphone, a smartwatch, a fitness tracker with Bluetooth functionality, or other devices with Bluetooth functionality.

[0032] Overall, the example shows how the invention can make a user-free radio key system of a motor vehicle more secure via an additional, second radio connection, for example a Bluetooth connection and / or a WLAN connection, between a mobile device such as a smartphone and the motor vehicle. List of reference symbols

[0033] 10Control device 11Motor vehicle 12First radio link 13Mobile component 14Vehicle-side component 15Second radio link 16Mobile device 17Boundary 18Predetermined access area 19Exterior area

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (11) comprising an automatic wireless key system having a vehicle-side component (14) and an automatic mobile component (13), the motor vehicle (11) having a control device (10), an acceleration and / or a speed being available to the automatic mobile component (13) of the automatic wireless key system by means of relevant sensors in the mobile component (13), the control device (10) for the automatic wireless key system being designed to release, in the event of an authentication which is carried out in a predetermined operating mode by means of a first wireless connection (12) between the automatic mobile component (13) and the vehicle-side component (14) of the automatic wireless key system, a release function of the wireless key system only if a predetermined condition is met, the predetermined condition involving the control device (10) being coupled to a predetermined mobile device (16), different from the mobile component (13) of the wireless key system, via a second wireless connection (15), the second wireless connection (15) being limited to a predetermined access region (18) around the motor vehicle (11), characterized in that data received by the control device (10) via the second wireless connection (15) additionally contain information relating to an acceleration and / or speed of the mobile device (16), and the predetermined condition further involves the relevant information meeting a predetermined similarity criterion compared with corresponding information relating to the mobile component (13).

2. Motor vehicle (11) according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless connection (15) to the control device (10) is a Bluetooth connection and / or a WLAN connection, wherein a relevant transmission range of the relevant wireless connection defines the predetermined access region (18).

3. Motor vehicle (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second wireless connection (15) to the control device (10) is provided via a wireless interface of the motor vehicle (11).

4. Motor vehicle (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile device (16) is a smartphone (16) registered with the control device (10) and / or a registered smartwatch (16) and / or a registered wireless-enabled bracelet (16) and / or a registered wireless-enabled device.

5. Motor vehicle (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein data received by the control device (10) via the second wireless connection (15) additionally contain information regarding a spatial position of the mobile device (16) and the predetermined condition further involves the relevant information meeting a predetermined similarity criterion compared with corresponding information relating to the mobile component (13).

6. Motor vehicle (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (10) is designed to allow, in the event that the predetermined condition is breached and a manual or active release of a vehicle lock is carried out, an engine start at least for a predetermined period of time after the manual or active release of a vehicle lock by means of an automatic access function.

7. Motor vehicle (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (10) is designed to send, in the event that the predetermined condition is not met and an authentication is carried out via the first wireless connection (12), a predetermined message to the mobile device (16).

8. Method for operating a control device (10) of a motor vehicle (11) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein, before activating a release function of a motor vehicle (11), by means of the control device (10), it is checked whether a predetermined condition is met, wherein the predetermined condition involves the control device (10) being coupled to a predetermined mobile terminal (16), different from the mobile component (13) of the wireless key system, via a second wireless connection (15), wherein the second wireless connection (15) is limited to a predetermined access region (18) around the motor vehicle (11), wherein data received by the control device (10) via the second wireless connection (15) additionally contain information regarding an acceleration and / or speed of the mobile device (16) and the predetermined condition further involves the relevant information meeting a predetermined similarity criterion compared with corresponding information relating to the mobile component (13), and release function of the wireless key system should be released only when the predetermined condition is met, wherein the acceleration and / or the speed are available to the automatic mobile component (13) of the automatic wireless key system by means of respective sensors in the mobile component (13).