Method of accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle includes the steps of: detection (23) by the motor vehicle of the accessible wireless network; activation (25) of a camera on the motor vehicle; retrieval of a secret access code to the wireless network by capturing (29) an image with the camera and then decoding (31) the captured image; connection (35) of the motor vehicle to the wireless network, including the provision of the secret access code. A system for accessing an accessible wireless network and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Currently, a motor vehicle includes various transmitters for connecting to wireless networks. For example, it may have a data transmitter operating with 4G and 5G mobile phone networks (standards defined by the ITU and 3GPP) to transmit, for example, technical information to maintenance servers. It also has a Bluetooth connection (a registered trademark of Bluetooth Special Interest Group) for connecting with the mobile phones of the vehicle's occupants. Some vehicles also have the ability to connect to Wi-Fi networks (networks conforming to the IEEE 802.11 or ISO / IEC 8802-11 standard). This allows, for example, the vehicle to use the owner's home network.

[0003] Now, these networks, especially Wi-Fi networks, often use a secret access key to manage security. But, for this security to be effective, it is necessary that this access key be formed, or equivalent to, a long sequence (i.e., currently, at least equal to 12 characters) of alphanumeric characters including lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers and special characters.

[0004] When the user has to enter this access key himself via a keyboard, this operation becomes long and tedious with multiple risks of entering an incorrect code, in particular when, as in a motor vehicle, the keyboard used is a virtual keyboard displayed on a screen and the means of input is a movement button.

[0005] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for accessing a wireless network that resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0006] To overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • detection by the motor vehicle of the accessible wireless network;

[0007]

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[0010]

[0011] • activation of a camera in the motor vehicle; • collecting a secret code to access the wireless network by capturing an image with the camera and then decoding the captured image; • connection of the motor vehicle to the wireless network including the provision of the secret access code. Thus, the user can easily transmit the access code without having to enter it manually. Specific characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the wireless network is a network conforming to the IIEEE 802.11 standard; • the image captured by the camera includes the image of a two-dimensional barcode containing the secret access code; • the image captured by the camera includes the image of an alphanumeric sequence defining the secret access code and the decoding includes an automatic character recognition operation of the image of the alphanumeric sequence; • as several wireless networks are accessible, the captured image includes a wireless network identifier associated with the access secret code allowing selection of a network from among the accessible wireless networks; • The wireless network identifier is encoded in the two-dimensional barcode; and / or • Since several wireless networks are accessible, a preliminary step to collecting the secret code includes collecting the selection of one of the accessible wireless networks. In a second embodiment, a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor includes program code instructions for implementing the above process. In a third embodiment, a system for a motor vehicle to access an accessible wireless network includes: • a suitable transmitter to detect and connect to the available wireless network; connected to • a camera adapted to capture a secret access code to the wireless network by capturing an image and then decoding the captured image; and • the transmitter is also adapted to receive the secret access code and connect to the wireless network using the secret access code. In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0012] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig. 1] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising a wireless network access system accessible according to one embodiment; and • [Fig. 2] represents a flowchart of a method for accessing a wireless network accessible according to a mode of implementation. Methods of implementation

[0013] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles such as vans, trucks, etc.

[0014] The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "transverse" are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0015] With reference to [Fig. 1], a motor vehicle 1 includes a wireless network access system 3 comprising at least one transmitter 5 adapted to detect and connect to an available wireless network. In the described embodiment, the wireless network is a Wi-Fi network, for example, the Wi-Fi network of its owner's home.

[0016] The transmitter 5 is connected to a camera 7. This camera is located in the vehicle so that it can take pictures of objects presented by the driver. For example, it is a camera installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 and which preferably has various other functions such as detecting the presence of passengers, checking the driver's alertness, etc.

[0017] System 3 can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 1, as an advanced driver-assistance system, commonly called ADAS (for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems"), which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then described as an autonomous vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system that includes, or does not include, driver assistance systems.

[0018] Data transfer between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for "Controller Area Network") or LIN (for "Local Interconnect Network") type data bus.

[0019] The operation of system 3 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0020] In a preliminary step 21, the user starts the system 3 to connect to a wireless network.

[0021] System 3 scans the frequencies until, in step 23, a wireless ac- network is detected transferable.

[0022] System 3 then activates, step 25, camera 7.

[0023] In step 27, the user presents the access code to the camera. More specifically, in this embodiment, the user presents a QR code (ISO / IEC 18004 standard) containing the access code. For example, the user presents a label on which the QR code has been printed. This could be, for example, a label provided by their internet service provider with the modem / router connecting the user's local network to the internet. The user could also present a photo of this label taken with their mobile phone, for example. Alternatively, they could have generated the QR code using suitable software.

[0024] The camera takes, step 29, an image of the QR code and decodes, step 31, it, then transmits, step 33, the secret access code to the transmitter 5.

[0025] Transmitter 5 then connects, step 35, to the wireless network using the secret access code received from the camera.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or a control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0027] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0028] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0029] For the software, the implementation may comprise modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0031] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0032] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0033] In a first embodiment, the user can present different forms of display for the access code, other than a QR code, for example, two-dimensional barcodes using other encodings such as Flashcode or 2D-Doc. The user can also present the access code as an alphanumeric string. The camera 7 then has an automatic character recognition module to convert the image of the alphanumeric string into a usable alphanumeric string that can be entered by the transmitter 5.

[0034] In a second variant, the QR code also contains the network identifier. Thus, when several wireless networks are available, the transmitter can select the network desired by the user. This second variant can be combined with the first variant to include the network identifier in the camera's input and decoding process.

[0035] In a third variant, in the presence of several accessible networks, the system 3 offers the user the option to select the network to which he wants the system to connect in a step prior to the presentation of the secret access code.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for accessing a wireless network accessible by a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • detection (23) by the motor vehicle of the accessible wireless network; • activation (25) of a camera of the motor vehicle; • collection of a secret code for accessing the wireless network by capturing (29) an image by the camera then decoding (31) the captured image; • connection (35) of the motor vehicle to the wireless network comprising the provision of the secret access code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is an IIEEE 802.11 standard network.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image captured by the camera comprises the image of a two-dimensional barcode containing the secret access code.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the image captured by the camera comprises the image of an alphanumeric sequence defining the secret access code and the decoding comprises an operation of automatic character recognition of the image of the alphanumeric sequence.

5. Method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein, several wireless networks being accessible, the captured image comprises an identifier of the wireless network associated with the secret access code allowing selection of a network from among the accessible wireless networks.

6. The method of claims 3 and 5, wherein the wireless network identifier is encoded in the two-dimensional barcode.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which, several wireless networks being accessible, a step prior to collecting the secret code comprises collecting the selection of one of the accessible wireless networks.

8. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 when said program is executed by a computer.

9. System (3) of a motor vehicle (1) for accessing an accessible wireless network comprising: • a transmitter (5) adapted to detect and connect to the accessible wireless network; connected to • a camera (7) adapted to collect a secret access code to the wireless network by capturing an image and then decoding the captured image; and • the transmitter (5) being further adapted to receive the secret access code and connect to the wireless network using the secret access code.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 9.

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