A method for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle by an access system, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage med

Abstract

Granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle 18 (e.g. a shuttle) comprises: generating an individual first token 20 for a person 22 for getting access to the vehicle by a computing device 12; transm

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle by an access system according to depending claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as to an access system. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Autonomous shuttles are useful for facilitating transport of people and goods without actually having to take the ride. The problem is that unauthorized access might happen or that for example people on the inside, for example young children or elderly people with dementia, might open and leave the shuttle. To ensure secure transport to the destination, an authorization system is needed that only grants access to specific people. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding access system, by which an improved access to the autonomous motor vehicle can be granted.

[0004] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding access system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle by an access system. An individual first token for a person is generated for getting access to the motor vehicle by an electronic computing device of the access system. The first token is transmitted to a personal device of the person by a transmitting device of the access system. Access is granted for the person to the motor vehicle depending on the generated first token by an opening device of the access device. A second token is generated depending on the first token by the electronic computing device. The second token is transmitted to a second person by a transmitting device, which is authenticated for getting access to the motor vehicle, wherein the second person is authenticated by the person, and the access is granted for a second person to the motor vehicle depending on the second token by the opening device.

[0006] Therefore, a secure solution to manage and distribute access authorization for an autonomous motor vehicle, in particular an autonomous shuttle, is provided. In particular, the solution allows to load people or goods without actually having to take the ride, and ensures that only an authorized person, in particular a second person, at the destination can unload. In particular, the solution also works in the event of emergency by having selected public authorities with general access.

[0007] In particular, the access system is proposed that realizes a token-based access to the autonomous motor vehicle. An individual private first token is generated for a ride with the shuttle. Only a person with that first token can get access to the motor vehicle, for example open the doors, in particular for a ride-hail shuttle, or the storage room, in particular for transportation / storage solution. The authorization can for example work with a smartphone via near field communication.

[0008] In particular, the first token can be shared via secure backend solution, in particular as the second token, from the first person to another person. This allows a person to load people, for example young children, or gets into the autonomous shuttle and ensures that only an authorized person at the destination, for example a teacher at the school or the receiver of goods, can open the shuttle.

[0009] Selected public authorities, for example firefighters, police, have a general token to get access to the autonomous shuttle in the event of an emergency.

[0010] According to an embodiment a general key token for getting access is provided for public authorities.

[0011] In another embodiment an emergency opening is provided in the motor vehicle.

[0012] In another embodiment the motor vehicle is configured as a shuttle.

[0013] In another embodiment the token can be read by the opening device via near field communication.

[0014] In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0015] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] A still further aspect of the invention relates to an access system for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle, comprising at least one electronic computing device, one transmitting device, and one opening device, wherein the access system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the access system.

[0017] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as the access system. The access system therefore comprises means for performing a method.

[0018] A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0019] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0020] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0021] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figure and / or shown in the figure alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0024] The drawing show in:

[0025] Fig. 1 a schematic side view according to an embodiment of an access system.

[0026] In the figure the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0028] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0030] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view according to an embodiment of an access system 10. The access system 10 comprises at least one electronic computing device 12, one transmitting device 14, and one opening device 16. The access system 10 is configured for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle 18, which is in particular shown as a shuttle. In particular, the opening device 16 is arranged at the autonomous motor vehicle 18.

[0032] According to an embodiment of a method for granting access to the motor vehicle 18 an individual first token 20 for a person 22 for getting access to the motor vehicle 18 is generated by the electronic computing device 12. The first token 20 is transmitted to a personal device 24 of the person 22 by the transmitting device 14. Access is granted for the person 22 to the motor vehicle 18 depending on the generated first token 20 by the opening device 16. A second token 26 is generated depending on the first token 20 by the electronic computing device 12. The second token 26 is transmitted to a second person 28, in particular to a second personal device 30 of the second person 28, by the transmitting device 14, wherein the second person 28 is authenticated for getting access to the motor vehicle 18, wherein the second person 28 is authenticated by the person 22. Access to the motor vehicle 18 is granted for the second person 28 depending on the second token 26 by the opening device 16.

[0033] In particular, a general key token for getting access is provided for public authorities. Furthermore, an emergency opening is provided in the motor vehicle 18. In another embodiment the motor vehicle 18 is configured as a shuttle. Furthermore, the token 20, 26 can be read by the opening device 16 via near field communication.

[0034] In particular, Fig. 1 shows the access system 10 that realizes a token-based access to the autonomous motor vehicle 18, in particular the shuttle. An individual first token 20 is generated for a ride with the motor vehicle 18. Only a person 22 with that first token 20 can get access to the motor vehicle 18, for example open the doors or the storage room. The authentication can for example work with a smartphone via near field communication.

[0035] The token 20 can be shared, in particular as the second token 26, via secure backend solution from the first person 22 to the second person 28. This allows the first person 22 to load people, for example young children, or goods into the motor vehicle 18 and ensures that only an authorized second person 28 at the destination, for example a teacher at the school or the receiver of goods, can open the motor vehicle 18.

[0036] Selected public authorities, for example firefighters or police, have the general token to get access to the motor vehicle 18 in the event of emergency. signs Access system Electronic computing device Transmitting device Opening device Motor vehicle First token Person Personal device Second token Second person Second personal device

Claims

1. A method for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle (18) by an access system (10), comprising the steps of:- generating an individual first token (20) for a person (22) for getting access to the motor vehicle (18) by an electronic computing device (12) of the access system (10);- transmitting the first token (20) to a personal device (24) of the person (22) by a transmitting device (14) of the access system (10);- granting access for the person (22) to the motor vehicle (18) depending on the generated first token (20) by an opening device (16) of the access device (10);- generating a second token (26) depending on the first token (20) by the electronic computing device (12);- transmitting the second token (26) to a second person (28) by the transmitting device (14), which is authenticated for getting access to the motor vehicle (18), wherein the second person (28) is authenticated by the person (22); and- granting access for the second person (28) to the motor vehicle (18) depending on the second token (26) by the opening device (16).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thata general key token for getting access is provided for public authorities.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatan emergency opening is provided in the motor vehicle (18).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe motor vehicle (18) is configured as a shuttle.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe token (20, 26) can be read by the opening device (16) via near field communication.

6. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 6.

8. An access system (10) for granting access to an autonomous motor vehicle (18), comprising at least one electronic computing device (12), one transmitting device (14), and one opening device (16), wherein the access system (10) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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