Method to determine the current distance between a vehicle and a mobile electronic identification transmitter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for determining the location of an identification transmitter (2) for a vehicle (1) that can be unlocked using a mobile electronic identification transmitter (2), wherein the identification transmitter (2) can communicate with the vehicle (1) by transmitting data through both a first wireless communication connection (3a) operating according to a UWB standard and a second wireless communication connection (3b) operating according to a BLE standard, and the maximum reach of the first communication connection is shorter than the maximum reach of the second communication connection. The above method comprises the following measures: a) a measure in which at least one signal (S), preferably a plurality of signals (S), including a transmission time of at least one signal (S), is continuously transmitted from the vehicle (1) to the identification transmitter (2) via the first communication connection (3a); b) a measure in which the transmission and reception times of at least one signal (S) received by the identification transmitter (2) are stored in the identification transmitter (2); and c) a measure in which a data packet (D) including the stored transmission and reception times of the signal (S) transmitted in measure a) is transmitted from the identification transmitter (2) to the vehicle (1) using the second communication connection (3b).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining the current distance between a vehicle and a mobile electronic identification transmitter, and a device comprising a vehicle and an identification transmitter configured / programmed to perform this method. Background Technology

[0002] Mobile electronic identification transmitters are used to enable the granting of access rights to vehicles as an alternative to mechanical keys. Generally, low-frequency wireless systems are used for communication between the identification transmitter and the vehicle. This allows authentication data to be transmitted wirelessly, and specifically, access rights can be verified. Against this backdrop, the use of wireless connections based on the so-called UWB (ultra-wide-band) standard is known. Using these communication connections based on the UWB standard, it is not only possible to transmit authentication data between the identification transmitter and the vehicle. Such UWB connections allow for the determination of the current distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle with relatively high accuracy.

[0003] To this end, a general method, for example, so-called "polling," can be used. This method is based on determining the signal transit time required for signal transmission from the signal transmitted from the identification transmitter to the vehicle or vice versa, and calculating the distance between the vehicle and the identification transmitter from this signal transit time.

[0004] German Patent Publication DE 10 2017 103 187 A1 describes such an approval method including distance determination.

[0005] In the method of the above literature, a disadvantage was that data related to the signal transition time of UWB signals—generally in the form of so-called timestamps characterizing the transmission and reception times of each UWB signal—must be transmitted from the identification transmitter to the vehicle for distance determination.

[0006] However, because the transmission output from the identification transmitter to the vehicle for data transmission must be reduced due to limited "link budgets" for regulatory reasons, transmitting all these timestamps over a UWB connection has proven to be problematic due to the size of the resulting data packets. As a result, the data may be transmitted to the vehicle incompletely.

[0007] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide an improved method that takes into account the problem described above.

[0008] These objectives are addressed by the subject of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. means of solving the problem

[0009] Accordingly, the basic concept of the present invention is to measure the signal transition time to make the aforementioned acknowledgment and distance determination through a UWB connection between a vehicle and an identification transmitter—as is known in conventional methods—and to store the time required for this—known to those skilled in the art as a "time stamp"—in the identification transmitter.

[0010] However, what is essential to the present invention in the method presented herein is that the data packet containing the time stamp is transmitted to the vehicle via an additional BLE connection immediately after the signal for determining the transition time is transmitted via the UWB connection, rather than via the UWB connection. Since this BLE connection is not subject to the limitations of the aforementioned UWB connection regarding link budget and transmission output, the time stamp can be safely and completely transmitted from the identification transmitter to the vehicle, even in the form of a relatively large data packet, and evaluated there for distance determination. In this way, it is possible to determine the distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle reliably and very accurately.

[0011] The method according to the present invention is used to determine the distance between a vehicle that can be unlocked and a mobile electronic identification transmitter using an identification transmitter. The identification transmitter communicates with the vehicle by transmitting data through both a first wireless communication connection operating under the UWB standard and a second wireless communication connection operating under the BLE standard. Preferably, the maximum reach of the first communication connection is smaller than the maximum reach of the second communication connection.

[0012] The method according to the present invention comprises three measures a), b), and c). In measure a),

[0013] At least one signal is transmitted from the vehicle to the identification transmitter via a first communication connection, and this includes the time of transmission of this signal. Preferably, a number of such signals may be transmitted continuously. In measure b), the respective times of transmission and reception of the signal(s) received from the identification transmitter, or the signal received by the identification transmitter, are stored in the identification transmitter. In additional measure c), the identification transmitter transmits a data packet containing the signal transmitted in measure a) or the stored times of transmission and reception of the signals transmitted in measure a) to the vehicle using a second communication connection. This information can subsequently be used to calculate the distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle at the time of signal transmission. This is achieved, in principle, by creating a difference between the time of reception and the time of transmission. This difference corresponds to the time required to transmit the signal. From this time, the distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle at the time of signal transmission can be calculated in a simple manner.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the method according to the present invention includes an additional measure d) following measure c), wherein the current distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle is determined from the data packet transmitted to the vehicle in measure c). Accordingly, the distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle can be determined with very high accuracy by the method according to the present invention.

[0015] To suit the purpose, a "polling" process may be used to perform measures a) and b). By using the polling process, the signal transition time of a signal transmitted between the identification transmitter and the vehicle via a first communication connection can be determined in a simple manner. This signal transition time can subsequently be used to determine the distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle.

[0016] In particular, to perform a polling process suitable for the purpose, a polling signal may be transmitted from the identification transmitter to the vehicle via a first communication connection in measure b). In response to this polling signal, at least one response signal is transmitted from the vehicle to the identification transmitter via the first communication connection, along with the time of transmission of the response signal. The time of reception at which the response signal is received by the identification transmitter may be stored. Thus, two times, namely the time of transmission and the time of reception, may be added to a data packet transmitted to the vehicle. Accordingly, a data packet transmitted from the identification transmitter to the vehicle using a second communication connection includes the time of transmission and the time of reception of the response signal.

[0017] When exactly one response signal is transmitted in response to a polling signal, this procedure is also called the "ping-pong" process.

[0018] Particularly preferably, in response to the polling signal in measure b), two or more response signals are transmitted sequentially to the identification transmitter via the first communication connection. In this variation, the respective transmission time and respective reception time of the response signal are added to the data packet for each response signal, which is transmitted from the identification transmitter to the vehicle via the second communication connection. By transmitting two or more of these response signals, each containing a stamp, the transmission time required for subsequent signal transmission from the identification transmitter to the vehicle can be determined particularly accurately. Accordingly, the distance between the vehicle and the identification transmitter can also be calculated particularly accurately.

[0019] In a preferred additional embodiment according to the present invention, the transmission and reception times of the polling signal may also be added to the data packet. In this way, the signal transition time of the polling signal may also be used for subsequent distance calculations. In this manner, the accuracy of determining the distance between the identification transmitter and the vehicle is further increased.

[0020] The transmission of data packets through the second communication connection performed in measure c) may preferably be encrypted. Accordingly, security-sensitive approval data used for vehicle access approval may also be added to this data packet.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device comprising a vehicle and a mobile electronic identification transmitter capable of communicating with or communicating with a vehicle using a first wireless communication connection according to the UWB standard and a second wireless communication connection according to the BLE standard. To this end, the vehicle includes a transceiver system for transmitting wireless data to the identification transmitter through the two communication connections, and the transceiver system is configured / programmed to perform the method according to the present invention. Accordingly, the aforementioned advantages of the method according to the present invention also apply to the device according to the present invention.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the transmitting and receiving system includes a first transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives data through a first communication connection, and a second transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives data through a second communication connection. The first transmitting and receiving unit and the second transmitting and receiving unit are connected to each other so as to enable data transmission through a suitable, preferably wired, communication connection, so that a signal transition time received by the second transmitting and receiving unit can be transmitted to the first transmitting and receiving unit for further processing.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the electronic identification transmitter is part of or formed as a smartphone. Such smartphones often already have a transceiver unit based on both UWB and BLE standards installed by default.

[0024] Further important features and advantages of the present invention are revealed from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the description of the related drawings with reference to the drawings.

[0025] It is evident that the features mentioned above and described below can be used not only in the combinations mentioned, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in more detail in the following description, and the same reference numerals apply to the same, similar, or functionally identical structural members. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0027] FIG. 1, a single drawing, illustrates an example of a device (20) according to the present invention in a plan view. The device (20) includes a vehicle (1) having a vehicle door (4) that allows access to the interior of the vehicle (1). The vehicle (1) includes a transceiver system (10) for wireless data transmission configured / programmed to perform the method according to the present invention. The transceiver system (10) for wireless data transmission may be a control unit connected to a field bus in the vehicle (1), for example, a LIN bus or a CAN bus. Additionally, the device (20) includes a mobile electronic identification transmitter (2). The electronic identification transmitter (2) may be part of a smartphone (11) or may be formed by the smartphone (11). The identification transmitter (2) enables the identification transmitter (2) to automatically authorize access to the vehicle (1) while approaching the vehicle (1). In particular, the vehicle doors (4) may be unlocked after authorization is made.

[0028] The mobile identification transmitter (2) can communicate with the transmission and reception system (10) of the vehicle (1) using a first wireless communication connection (3a) according to the UWB standard and a second wireless communication connection (3b) according to the BLE standard. To this end, a first transmission and reception unit (6a) may be provided to the vehicle (1) as part of the transmission and reception system (10), and this can communicate by transmitting data to a corresponding first transmission and reception unit (7a) in the identification transmitter (2) through the first communication connection (3a). Correspondingly, a second transmission and reception unit (6b) may be provided to the vehicle (1), and this can communicate by transmitting data to a corresponding second transmission and reception unit (7b) in the identification transmitter (2) through the second communication connection (3b).

[0029] In the example, the first maximum reach of the first communication connection (3a) from the vehicle (1) to the identification transmitter (2), measured at the vehicle (1), is shorter than the second maximum reach of the second communication connection (3b), also measured at the vehicle (1). The first transmitting and receiving unit (6a) and the second transmitting and receiving unit (6b) of the vehicle (1) can be connected to each other in a manner that allows data to be transmitted through a wired communication connection (8).

[0030] A method according to the present invention is described exemplarily below using FIG. 1.

[0031] The method of the present invention comprises three measures a), b), and c). In measure a), a plurality of signals (S) are continuously transmitted from a vehicle (1) to an identification transmitter (2) via a first communication connection (3a), and the transmission time of each signal (S) is included.

[0032] According to measure b), the respective transmission time of the signals (S) received by the identification transmitter (2) and the reception time of these signals (S) determined by the identification transmitter (2) are stored in the identification transmitter (2).

[0033] In measure c), a data packet (D) is transmitted from the identification transmitter (2) to the vehicle (1) using the second communication connection (3b), and includes the transmission time and reception time of the signals (S) transmitted in measure a) and stored in measure b).

[0034] A so-called "polling" process may be applied to perform measures a) and b). For this purpose, in measure b), a polling signal (PS) is transmitted from the first transmitting / receiving unit (7a) of the identification transmitter (2) to the first transmitting / receiving unit (6a) of the vehicle (1) via the first communication connection (3a). In response to this polling signal (PS), a plurality of response signals (AS) are transmitted sequentially from the first transmitting / receiving unit (6a) of the vehicle (2)—also via the first communication connection (3a)—to the first transmitting / receiving unit (7a) of the identification transmitter (2), each containing a transmission stamp of the respective response signal (AS).

[0035] At this time, the respective transmission time and respective reception time of each response signal (AS) are added to the data packet (D) for all response signals (AS) transmitted from the second transmission / reception unit (7b) of the identification transmitter (2) to the second transmission / reception unit (6b) of the vehicle (1) via the second communication connection (3b). Accordingly, the relevant transmission time and relevant reception time are included in the data packet (D) for all generated response signals (AS) and the polling signal (PS) that triggered the response signals (AS), which are transmitted from the identification transmitter (2) to the vehicle (1) via the second communication connection (3b).

[0036] In an additional measure d) following measure c), the current distance between the identification transmitter (2) and the vehicle (1) is calculated by the vehicle (1) from a data packet (D) that is transmitted to the vehicle (1) in measure c) and includes the transmission time and the reception time. This calculation may be performed in the first transmission / reception unit (6a). To this end, the data packet (D) received by the second transmission / reception unit (6b) of the transmission / reception system (10) of the vehicle (1) may be transmitted to the transmission / reception unit (6a) of the transmission / reception system (10) via a wired communication connection (8), where it may be further processed to calculate the distance being searched between the identification transmitter (2) and the vehicle (1).

[0037] The transmission of the data packet (D) through the second communication connection (3b) performed in measure c) can preferably be encrypted. Accordingly, security-sensitive approval data, which is used for vehicle (1) access approval via the identification transmitter (2), can also be added to the data packet (D).

Claims

Claim 1 a) transmitting at least one signal from a first transmitting and receiving device of a vehicle’s transmitting and receiving system to an identification device via a first wireless communication connection, wherein the at least one signal includes the transmission time of the at least one signal; b) storing the transmission time and reception time of the at least one signal received by the identification device in the identification device; c1) transmitting a data packet including the transmission and reception times of the at least one signal transmitted in step a) to the vehicle from the identification device via a second wireless communication connection; c2) receiving the data packet transmitted from the identification device by the second transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle’s transmitting and receiving system; c3) transmitting the received data packet transmitted from the identification device to the first transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle’s transmitting and receiving system via a wired communication connection by the second transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle’s transmitting and receiving system; d) determining the current distance between the identification device and the vehicle based on the transmission and reception times of the received data packet transmitted from the identification device by the first transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle’s transmitting and receiving system, wherein A method in which a vehicle can be unlocked by the identification device, the first wireless communication connection operates according to the UWB standard, the second wireless communication connection operates according to the BLE standard, and the maximum range of the first wireless communication connection is shorter than the range of the second wireless communication connection. Claim 2 A method according to claim 1, wherein the data packet is encrypted prior to transmission in step c). Claim 3 A method according to claim 1, wherein a polling procedure is used to perform steps a) and b). Claim 4 A method according to paragraph 3, wherein a polling signal is transmitted from the identification device to the Singapore vehicle via the first wireless communication connection, and in response to the polling signal, at least one response signal (AS) is transmitted from the vehicle to the identification device via the first wireless communication connection along with the transmission time of the response signal (AS), and the transmission time of the response signal of the identification device and the reception time of the response signal are added to the data packet so as to be transmitted from the identification device to the vehicle via the second wireless communication connection. Claim 5 A method according to claim 4, wherein, in response to the polling signal, two or more response signals are transmitted sequentially to an identification device via a first wireless communication connection, and for each received response signal, the corresponding transmission time and corresponding reception time of the response signal are added to a data packet to be transmitted from the identification device to the vehicle via the second wireless communication connection. Claim 6 A method according to claim 5, wherein the transmission time and reception time of the polling signal are also added to the data packet. Claim 7 A system comprising a vehicle including a transmitting and receiving system configured for wireless data transmission, and a mobile electronic identification device configured to communicate with the transmitting and receiving system of the vehicle, wherein the mobile electronic identification device receives at least one signal from the vehicle via a first wireless communication connection, wherein the at least one signal includes a transmission time of the at least one signal; and stores the transmission time and reception time of the at least one signal received by the mobile electronic identification device; A system configured to transmit a data packet, including a transmission time and a reception time of at least one signal being transmitted, to a vehicle via a second wireless communication connection, wherein the vehicle is unlockable by the mobile electronic identification device, wherein the first wireless communication connection operates according to the UWB standard and the second wireless communication connection operates according to the BLE standard, wherein the maximum range of the first wireless communication connection is shorter than the range of the second wireless communication connection, and wherein the transmitting and receiving system comprises a first transmitting and receiving device configured to transmit and receive data via the first wireless communication connection and a second transmitting and receiving device configured to transmit and receive data via the second wireless communication connection, wherein the first transmitting and receiving device and the second transmitting and receiving device are connected to each other to transmit data via a wired communication connection, and the data packet received by the second transmitting and receiving device of the transmitting and receiving system can be transmitted to the first transmitting and receiving device for processing. Claim 8 In paragraph 7, the mobile electronic identification device is a system that is a smartphone or part of a smartphone. Claim 9 A system according to claim 7, wherein the first transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle is configured to determine the current distance between the mobile electronic identification device and the vehicle based on data packets received by the second transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle. Claim 10 delete

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