METHOD FOR MANAGING THE OPERATION OF A BURGLARY DETECTION DEVICE OF AN ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM, DEVICE, APPLIANCE AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2101186 filed on February 8, 2021. The present invention relates to the field of anti-theft devices for motor vehicles, i.e., in particular, electronic and computer equipment installed in motor vehicles to prevent vehicle theft. The invention relates specifically to a method for managing, by means of a computer system, the operation of an intrusion detection device for an anti-theft device in a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a computer system implementing such a method, an intrusion detection device comprising such a system, an anti-theft device incorporating such an intrusion detection device, and a motor vehicle equipped with such an anti-theft device. The invention is particularly applicable to passenger cars, trucks, buses, commercial vehicles, etc. Prior art

[0002] It is known that most anti-theft devices for current motor vehicles include at least a siren and an intrusion detection device, which generally incorporates one or more ultrasonic sensors to enable intrusion detection or, in other words, to monitor the interior and / or other compartments of the vehicle. It is also known that the components of current anti-theft devices are generally capable of communicating with each other and with the electronic control units of motor vehicles using the data transmission networks that equip most vehicles today (e.g., LIN, CAN, Ethernet, etc.). Most often, these means of communication are used, among other things, to allow a master computer in a motor vehicle to regularly transmit a wake-up signal, i.e.data characterizing a wake-up signal, to the siren of an anti-theft device, in order to protect the anti-theft device from a malicious act by a thief who would seek to prevent the siren from triggering by cutting cables that connect the master computer and the siren.

[0003] However, given the architecture and configuration of current automotive data transmission networks, particularly the data transmission networks that are usually used in a motor vehicle to connect together an anti-theft device and a vehicle master computer, it is observed that solving the problem mentioned above through regular transmissions of wake-up signals between the master computer and the siren of the anti-theft device involves a major drawback in terms of wasted energy at the level of the intrusion detection devices of the anti-theft devices.Indeed, this data, which is regularly transmitted by the vehicle's master computer, is also received at the level of a communication interface of the intrusion detection device of the anti-theft equipment and, on each reception of this data, the intrusion detection device is forced to operate immediately in a first operating mode, called wake-up, in which it can perform an intrusion detection but in which, also, its electrical consumption is at its maximum, even though the data received is not by nature intended for the intrusion detection device and, therefore, while the latter does not necessarily have to perform an intrusion detection at that precise moment (known intrusion detection devices generally perform several intrusion detections every second, which implies that they operate several times per second in wake-up mode).And it is well known that, for most known intrusion detection devices, it generally takes a certain amount of time (e.g., 20ms) before, when no data is received, the intrusion detection device operating in wake mode can switch over and operate again in a second operating mode, called standby, in which its power consumption is reduced.

[0004] Thus, the known solution to mitigate the risk of malicious cutting of the cables connecting the master computer and the siren of an anti-theft device does indeed involve a waste of energy at the level of the intrusion detection devices of known anti-theft systems. This is because, sometimes, or even often, these devices are forced to operate in wake-up mode when it is not necessary. And since a vehicle's anti-theft system is generally only used when the vehicle is stationary and locked, a situation in which the vehicle's energy production capacity is therefore zero and the vehicle's battery (or batteries) is / are the only available source(s) of electrical energy, the detrimental consequences that this unnecessary energy waste has on battery life and, therefore, on the ability to provide long-term protection against vehicle theft, are obvious.

[0005] FR 2 662 263 A1 discloses a volumetric ultrasonic detector. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, the invention aims to minimize the energy wasted by an intrusion detection device in a motor vehicle's anti-theft system. Through this means, the invention aims to increase the battery life of motor vehicles and thus provide more durable protection against vehicle theft.

[0007] These objectives are achieved, according to a first object of the invention, by means of a method for managing, by a computer system, an intrusion detection device for an anti-theft device of a motor vehicle, said intrusion detection device comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor, the method comprising the steps of: determine whether data characterizing a wake-up signal intended for a siren of the anti-theft device and transmitted by an electronic control unit of the vehicle are received; and, when it is established that this is the case, determine the duration of a time interval between the current moment and the moment at which the next intrusion detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor will occur; and, when it is established that the duration is less than or equal to a pre-established threshold value, trigger the intrusion detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor; and determine, based on the current time, a later time for the next intrusion detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor; or, when it is established that the duration is greater than the threshold value, manage the operation of the intrusion detection device in an operating mode in which its electrical consumption is reduced.

[0008] According to an advantageous variant, the step of managing the operation of the intrusion detection device in an operating mode in which its power consumption is reduced may include a step of causing the momentary deactivation of a module of the intrusion detection device configured to process electrical signals generated by the sensor.

[0009] According to another advantageous variant, the step of managing the operation of the intrusion detection device in an operating mode in which its power consumption is reduced may include a step of causing the momentary deactivation of a communication interface of the intrusion detection device.

[0010] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a system for managing the operation of an intrusion detection device of an anti-theft device of a motor vehicle, said intrusion detection device comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor, said system comprising at least one information processing unit, including at least one processor, and a data storage medium configured to implement a method as described above.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a process as described above when said program is executed on a computer.

[0012] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a support usable in a computer which includes a program as described above.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention also relates to an intrusion detection device for motor vehicles comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor and a system as described above.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention also relates to an anti-theft device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one siren and an intrusion detection device as described above.

[0015] Finally, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an anti-theft device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a functional diagram of a system according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a process according to the invention; and [ Fig. 3 ] is a diagram showing graphs that illustrate the advantages of the process according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] According to the invention, a system 100 for managing the operation of an intrusion detection device of an anti-theft device of a motor vehicle is a computer system, represented in the figure 1 , which includes an information processing unit 101, comprising one or more processors, a data storage medium 102 and at least one input and output interface 103 enabling the transmission and reception of data.

[0018] In some embodiments, the system 100 of the invention is installed in a motor vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, buses, commercial vehicles, etc.) and is hosted on one or more of the vehicle's electronic control units (ECUs) or other electronic control units. In other embodiments, the system 100 is hosted on an ECU of a motor vehicle and interacts, via its input / output interface 103, with an anti-theft device of the motor vehicle, which includes an intrusion detection device comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor and a siren.According to the preferred embodiment, the system 100 according to the invention is an integral part of an intrusion detection device for an anti-theft device for a motor vehicle which includes at least one ultrasonic sensor, a module configured to process electrical signals generated by the ultrasonic sensor and a communication interface configured to allow the connection of the intrusion detection device to a communication network of a motor vehicle (e.g. LIN, CAN, Ethernet).By these means, the system 100 according to the invention is in particular able to determine whether data characterizing a wake-up signal intended for a siren of an anti-theft device and transmitted by an electronic control unit of a vehicle are received, to determine the duration of a time interval between the current moment and that at which the next realization of an intrusion detection will occur, to cause the realization of an intrusion detection in a vehicle, i.e. to manage the triggering of an intrusion detection process allowing to monitor the volume of the passenger compartment or of another compartment of a vehicle, and to determine, as a function of the current moment, a later moment for the next realization of an intrusion detection in a vehicle.Furthermore, advantageously, these means also allow the system 100 according to the invention to manage the operation of an intrusion detection device of an anti-theft device of a motor vehicle in an operating mode in which its electrical consumption is reduced.

[0019] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling system 100 according to the invention to implement a method for managing the operation of an intrusion detection device with ultrasonic sensor(s) of an anti-theft device of a motor vehicle, as described below in connection with the figures 2-3 .

[0020] According to a first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention determines whether data characterizing a wake-up signal intended for a siren of the anti-theft device and transmitted by an electronic control unit of the vehicle are received. Indeed, as already mentioned in the preamble, the vehicle's master computer periodically transmits (i.e., several times per second) data characterizing a wake-up signal intended for the siren of the anti-theft device, and this data is received, via the communication interface of the intrusion detection device, by the input and output interface 103 of the system according to the invention.Thus, by this first step 201 of the process according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention carries out a monitoring of these recurring data transmissions characterizing a wake-up signal between an electronic control unit of the vehicle and the siren of the anti-theft device in order to determine the times at which this data is received.

[0021] Then, when it has established during the previous step 201 that data characterizing a wake-up signal intended for a siren of the anti-theft device and transmitted by an electronic control unit of the vehicle are received, the system 100 according to the invention advantageously carries out the following steps of the method according to the invention described below.

[0022] According to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention determines the duration of a time interval between the current instant and the instant at which the next intrusion detection event in the vehicle by means of the sensor will occur. Indeed, it is known that an intrusion detection device performs several intrusion detections every second, and this implies the existence of means that allow it to determine these instants at which intrusion detection events must occur. Such means rely, for example, on the storage of data characterizing a value of a periodicity parameter, i.e., the duration of a time interval between two intrusion detection events, and / or on other timing mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art.Thus, during this second step 202 of the process according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention relies on these means, preferably using its data storage medium 102 on which, as will be seen below, data characterizing the time at which the next intrusion detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor will occur have been previously recorded. Therefore, each time data characterizing a wake-up signal is received at the input and output interface 103, the system 100 according to the invention estimates the duration of the time interval between the current moment, i.e., the moment at which the data is received, and the moment at which the next intrusion detection will occur.

[0023] Next, according to a third step 203 of the process according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention determines whether the duration determined during the preceding step 202 is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (e.g., 15 ms). To do this, the system 100 according to the invention preferentially uses its data storage medium 102 on which data characterizing the predetermined threshold value was recorded at the factory during the manufacture of the intrusion detection device. And when it determines that the duration determined during the preceding step 202 is less than or equal to the threshold value, the system 100 according to the invention carries out the following two steps of the process according to the invention described below.

[0024] According to a fourth step 204a of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention triggers the immediate detection of an intrusion into the vehicle by means of the sensor. In other words, by this fourth step 204a of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention anticipates the detection of an intrusion into the vehicle when it has established during the preceding step that the next intrusion detection will occur in a relatively short time after the current time. Then, according to a fifth step 205 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention determines, based on the current time, a later time for the next intrusion detection into the vehicle by means of the sensor.To do this, the system 100 according to the invention uses, for example, the data characterizing a value of a periodicity parameter mentioned above, which are recorded on its data storage medium 102, to determine, as a function of the current time and the value of the periodicity parameter, a later time, i.e. in the future, at which the next intrusion detection in the vehicle should take place.

[0025] Conversely, when it has established during the third step 203 of the process according to the invention that the duration determined during the second step 202 of the process according to the invention is greater than the threshold value, the system 100 according to the invention performs a single and final fourth step 204b of the process according to the invention during which it manages the operation of the intrusion detection device in an operating mode in which its power consumption is reduced, i.e., in an operating mode that corresponds to the standby mode described in the preamble. To do this, the system 100 according to the invention can, for example, perform a subsidiary step during which it causes the momentary deactivation of the module of the intrusion detection device configured to process electrical signals generated by the sensor.Alternatively, or cumulatively, the system 100 according to the invention can perform another subsidiary step during which it causes the momentary deactivation of the communication interface of the intrusion detection device.

[0026] Therefore, according to the method and system of the invention described above, a solution is provided to minimize the energy wasted by an intrusion detection device in a motor vehicle's anti-theft system and, consequently, to increase the battery life of motor vehicles, thus enabling more durable protection against vehicle theft. Indeed, as appears from reading the figure 3, which shows, in its upper part, the switching between wake-up and standby modes of a known intrusion detection device as a function of transmitted wake-up signals and, in its lower part, the same switching for an intrusion detection device equipped with the system according to the invention implementing the method according to the invention, the method and the system according to the invention contribute to making it possible to significantly minimize the time spent by an intrusion detection device of an anti-theft device of a motor vehicle in wake-up mode, and this in the usual context of operation of anti-theft devices for motor vehicles where data characterizing a wake-up signal are regularly emitted by an electronic control unit to the siren of the anti-theft device.In this way, the system and method according to the invention described above contribute to increasing the autonomy of motor vehicle batteries, thus allowing more durable protection against vehicle theft.

Claims

1. A method for managing, by a computer system (100), the operation of an intrusion detection device of an anti-theft apparatus of a motor vehicle, said intrusion detection device comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: • determine whether data characterising a wake-up signal intended for a siren of the anti-theft equipment and transmitted by an electronic control unit of the vehicle are received; and, where it is established that this is the case, • determine the duration of a time interval between the current moment and the time at which the next time an intrusion detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor will take place; and, where it is established that the duration is less than or equal to a pre-established threshold value, • cause an intrusion detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor; and • determine, depending on the current time, a later time for the next ingress detection in the vehicle by means of the sensor; or, where it is established that the duration is greater than the threshold value, • manage the operation of the intrusion detection device in a mode of operation in which its power consumption is reduced.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of managing the operation of the intrusion detection device in a mode of operation in which its power consumption is reduced comprises a step of causing the momentary deactivation of a module of the intrusion detection device configured to process electrical signals generated by the sensor.

3. A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of managing the operation of the intrusion detection device according to an operating mode in which its power consumption is reduced comprises a step of causing the momentary deactivation of a communication interface of the intrusion detection device.

4. A system (100) for managing the operation of an intrusion detection device of an anti-theft apparatus of a motor vehicle, said intrusion detection device comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor, characterized in that the system comprises at least one data processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102) configured to implement a method according to any of the preceding claims.

5. A computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out steps of a method according to any one of claims 1-3 when said program is executed on the information processing unit of the system of claim 4.

6. A medium that can be used in a computer, characterised in that a program according to claim 5 is stored therein.

7. Intrusion detection device for motor vehicles, said intrusion detection device comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor, characterized in that it comprises a system according to claim 4.

8. Anti-theft apparatus for motor vehicles having at least one siren, characterized in that it comprises an intrusion detection device according to claim 7.

9. Motor vehicle, characterised in that it comprises an anti-theft apparatus according to Claim 8.