Method and system for authenticating a portable remote control device for starting a motor vehicle

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2105804 filed on 02.06.2021. Technical field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle access and starting management systems. The invention relates in particular to a method for authenticating a portable remote control device usable for starting a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a computer system implementing such a method. The invention applies in particular to passenger cars, utility vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, etc. State of the prior art

[0003] It is known that access and starting of current motor vehicles is generally carried out by means of portable remote control devices (i.e. remote controls, smartphones, etc.), which nowadays generally include a radio frequency signal transmitter and, most of the time, a retractable key allowing the vehicle locks to be operated and the vehicle to be started in the event of a possible failure of the radio frequency signal transmitter. It is also known that it may happen that the user of a motor vehicle misplaces a portable remote control device allowing the starting of a motor vehicle. To address this problem, car manufacturers have provided procedures to allow a new portable remote control device to be authenticated in after-sales service so that it can then be used to unlock and start the vehicle.More specifically, such processes provide means to enable a motor vehicle access and start management system to authenticate the identifier of a new portable remote control device so that it can then be used to unlock and start the vehicle. However, malicious individuals have misused the use of these methods to commit vehicle thefts. And, to prevent this, car manufacturers have had no choice but to improve these methods. For example, patent FR 3 018 056 proposes a method for authenticating a portable remote control device in which an elongated registration step is performed when the identifier of an unknown control device is presented for the first time to the motor vehicle access and start management system.This means that an operator must remain near the vehicle for a relatively long time in order to authenticate a new portable remote control device. However, in many cases, this extended registration step is not sufficient to prevent vehicle theft, as thieves can remain discreetly near a vehicle for a relatively long time without necessarily attracting the attention of local residents or law enforcement, particularly at night. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to overcome this drawback. The invention aims in particular to provide a method and a system which make it possible to authenticate a portable remote control device which can be used to unlock and start a motor vehicle, while minimizing the risk that such means could be used by malicious persons for the criminal purposes of vehicle theft.

[0005] This aim is achieved, according to a first object of the invention, by means of a method of authentication, by a computer system on board a motor vehicle, of a portable remote control device usable for starting the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a set of steps has been performed three times during a time interval of a first pre-established duration, while, on each occasion, the set of steps was performed during a time interval of a second pre-established duration and the second performance of the set of steps was separated from the first performance of the set of steps and the third performance of the set of steps by a time interval of a third pre-established duration; and, when it is established that this is the case, acquiring data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device; and recording the data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device on a data storage medium.

[0006] According to a variant, the set of steps may include a first step of operating, while all the openings of the vehicle are closed, a locking control interface arranged inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle and, simultaneously, a locking means of an opening of the vehicle accessible only from the outside of the vehicle.

[0007] According to another variant, the set of steps may include a second step of operating a lock of an opening of the vehicle by means of the portable remote control device.

[0008] According to another variant, the set of steps may include a third step of opening all the openings of the vehicle.

[0009] According to another variant, the first predefined duration may be between 20 minutes and 40 minutes.

[0010] According to another variant, the second predefined duration may be between 4 minutes and 7 minutes.

[0011] According to another variant, the third pre-established duration can be between 4 minutes and 7 minutes.

[0012] The invention further relates to a system for authenticating a portable remote control device usable for starting a motor vehicle, the system comprising at least one information processing unit, comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium configured to implement a method as described above.

[0013] The invention further relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method as described above when said program is executed on a computer.

[0014] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising a system as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a functional diagram of a system according to the invention and [ Fig. 2 ] is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] According to the invention, a system 100 for authenticating a portable remote control device usable for starting a motor vehicle is a computer system, shown in Figure 1, which comprises an information processing unit 101, comprising one or more processors, a data storage medium 102 and an input and output interface 103 allowing the reception and transmission of data. According to certain embodiments, the system 100 according to the invention is embedded in a motor vehicle (e.g. car, bus, heavy goods vehicle, etc.) and it is hosted on one or more of the computers, electronic control units or other telematics boxes of the vehicle. According to other embodiments, the system 100 according to the invention is hosted on a computer of a motor vehicle and it interacts via its input and output interface 103 with a computer of an access and starting management apparatus of a motor vehicle. According to the preferred embodiment, the system 100 according to the invention is an integral part of a computer of an access and starting management apparatus of a motor vehicle.

[0017] Consequently, whatever the embodiment of the invention, the system 100 according to the invention is able to interact, by means of its input and output interface 103, with the components which, conventionally, form an access and starting management apparatus of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, these components include, at least, a radiofrequency signal communication module for communicating with a portable remote control device, a locking control interface (e.g. push button, touch keypad) and means for interacting with the locks and or any other means of locking an opening of a vehicle (e.g. handle, lock, push button arranged on a trunk opening, etc.).Thus, by interacting with or forming an integral part of such an apparatus, the system 100 according to the invention is advantageously able to acquire data characterizing an identifier of a portable remote control device and to record the data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device on a data storage medium. Furthermore, by these means, the system 100 according to the invention is also able to determine whether a step consisting of operating, while all the openings of the vehicle are closed, a locking control interface arranged inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle and, simultaneously, a means of locking an opening of the vehicle accessible only from outside the vehicle has been carried out.It can also determine whether a step of operating a lock of an opening of a vehicle by means of a portable remote control device and / or whether a step of opening all the openings of a vehicle has been carried out.

[0018] According to the invention, all the elements described above therefore contribute to enabling the system 100 according to the invention to implement a method for authenticating a portable remote control device that can be used to start a motor vehicle, as described below in connection with the Figure 2 .

[0019] According to a first step 201 of the method according to the invention, which occurs when the vehicle access and start management apparatus is presented with a new identifier of a portable remote control device, the system 100 according to the invention determines whether a set of steps has been carried out three times during a time interval of a first pre-established duration, while, each time, the set of steps was carried out during a time interval of a second pre-established duration and the second carrying out of the set of steps was separated from the first carrying out of the set of steps and the third carrying out of the set of steps by a time interval of a third pre-established duration. Preferably, the first pre-established duration is between 20 minutes and 40 minutes (eg 30 minutes), the second pre-established duration is between 4 minutes and 7 minutes (eg 5 minutes) and the third pre-established duration is between 4 minutes and 7 minutes (eg 5 minutes).In other words, during this first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention, when the access and start-up management apparatus is brought into contact for the first time with a new identifier of a portable remote control device, verifies whether a cycle of three realizations of a set of steps took place during a time window of fixed duration, while each of the realizations was carried out during a given time and separated from the next by a time interval of fixed duration.

[0020] More specifically, the set of steps that must be carried out advantageously comprises a first step consisting of operating, while all the openings of the vehicle are closed, a locking control interface arranged inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle and, simultaneously, a means of locking an opening of the vehicle accessible only from outside the vehicle. Carrying out this step therefore involves the presence of at least two operators, one inside the vehicle and the other outside. In addition, according to the invention, the set of steps comprises a second step consisting of operating a lock of an opening of the vehicle by means of the portable remote control device. This step implies that the authentication of the new portable remote control device can only take place when the latter is able to operate a lock of the vehicle.Finally, according to the invention, the set of steps comprises a third step consisting of opening all the openings of the vehicle.

[0021] Thus, during this first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the system according to the invention determines whether three successive realizations of each of the steps described above have taken place, and this according to the time limits mentioned above. In reality, this first step 201 of the method according to the invention allows the system 100 according to the invention to determine whether two operators are present and alert for a relatively long period, whether the mobile control device is able to operate the locks of the vehicle and whether the context in which the vehicle is located allows all its openings to be opened. This first step 201 of the method therefore involves a relatively long and restrictive authentication in terms of the movements of the operators around and in the vehicle, which reduces the possibility of misuse of this method to commit vehicle thefts.

[0022] Then, when it establishes that the set of steps has been carried out three times during a time interval of a first pre-established duration, while, each time, the set of steps was carried out during a time interval of a second pre-established duration and that the second carrying out of the set of steps was separated from the first carrying out of the set of steps and the third carrying out of the set of steps by a time interval of a third pre-established duration, the system 100 according to the invention carries out the following steps of the method according to the invention described below.

[0023] According to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention acquires data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device and, according to a third step 203, the system 100 according to the invention records the data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device on its data storage medium 103 and / or that of the access and start management apparatus provided for storing data characterizing identifiers of portable remote control devices of the vehicle which are authenticated. At this stage, the portable remote control device can therefore be used to unlock and start the vehicle.

[0024] Therefore, under the terms of the method and system according to the invention described above, a solution is provided to enable the authentication of a portable remote control device usable for unlocking and starting a motor vehicle, while minimizing the risk that such means could be used by malicious persons for the criminal purposes of vehicle theft.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating, by a computer system (100) on board a motor vehicle, a portable remote control device usable for starting the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: • determining whether a set of steps has been performed three times during a time interval of a first pre-established duration, while each time the set of steps was performed during a time interval of a second pre-established duration and the second performance of the set of steps was separated from the first performance of the set of steps and the third performance of the set of steps by a time interval of a third pre-established duration; and, where it is established that this is the case, • acquiring data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device; and • recording the data characterizing an identifier of the portable remote control device on a data storage medium.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the set of steps comprises a first step consisting in operating, while all the opening doors of the vehicle are closed, a locking control interface arranged inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle and, simultaneously, a means of locking a door of the vehicle accessible only from the outside of the vehicle.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set of steps comprises a second step consisting in operating a lock of a door of the vehicle by means of the portable remote control device.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step assembly comprises a third step consisting in opening all the opening doors of the vehicle.

5. Process according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first predetermined duration is between 20 min and 40 min.

6. Process according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second predetermined duration is between 4 min and 7 min.

7. Process according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third predetermined duration is between 4 min and 7 min.

8. System (100) for authenticating a portable remote control device usable for starting a motor vehicle, characterized in that the system comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102) configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when said program is executed on a computer.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a system according to claim 8.