Identification system for vehicle fleets and related vehicle

Abstract

An identification system for vehicle fleets comprising a plurality of vehicles and a remote control apparatus (200a), wherein each vehicle (200b) comprises an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle and a visualization device integrated in the vehicle, wherein: the remote control apparatus is configured to receive (208) a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers; the integrated visualization device is configured to detect (218) and to transmit (218) credentials entered by a user comprising an identifier of such user to the integrated electronic controller; the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive (218) and to send (218) to the remote control apparatus such credentials; the remote control apparatus is configured to receive (220) such credentials and to verify (220) whether the received credentials are comprised in the set of credentials; if the received credentials are not comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send (220) to the corresponding vehicle an identification signal indicative of a failed identification; if the received credentials are comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send (220) to the corresponding vehicle an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple (220) the identifier of such user comprised in such received credentials to a vehicle identification number of such corresponding vehicle; the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive (222; 224) and to send (222; 224) to the integrated visualization device such identification signal; and the integrated visualization device is configured to allow (222) access to at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification or to discontinue (224) access to the at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

Description

[0001] “Identification system for vehicle fleets and related vehicle”

[0002] ****

[0003] TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0004] Technical field

[0005] The embodiments of the present description relate to an identification system for vehicle fleets.

[0006] In particular, various embodiments of the present description relate to solutions for identifying a user, for example, a driver, in a respective vehicle of a vehicle fleet.

[0007] Technological background

[0008] The identification of vehicle drivers in vehicle fleets, that is, the association between a driver of a vehicle fleet and a corresponding vehicle used by such driver, for example, by means of its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), is an activity of fundamental importance for the correct management of the fleet and its resources since, for example, it allows monitoring the use of vehicles and the activity of each of the fleet drivers.

[0009] Furthermore, such driver identification may provide secure access to the vehicle, for example, by protecting sensitive data stored therein.

[0010] Known solutions for identifying drivers in vehicles within vehicle fleets use additional hardware, for example, mobile devices, ad-hoc hardware devices, badges with corresponding detectors, or the like, to provide such a function.

[0011] Such solutions result in a lack of connection between such additional hardware providing such driver identification function and the components integrated in the vehicles and, in the case where such additional hardware is eguipped with its own battery, such identification function is also dependent on the charge of such battery, risking to be absent in conditions where such battery is discharged.

[0012] In addition, eguipping fleet vehicles with such additional hardware devices involves a significant expense.

[0013] Furthermore, often, such driver identification function is dependent on one or more actions of the driver, for example, in the case where badges or identification cards are used, it is necessary for the driver to pass his badge or identification card in proximity of a respective detector, thus exposing the driver identification function to possible errors due to forgetfulness or mistakes.

[0014] For example, a known solution is to provide additional hardware configured to perform an RFID (“Radio-Frequency IDentification”) or NFC (“Near-Field Communication”) detection function.

[0015] In this case, each driver can be provided with his or her own RFID or NFC badge or card and can, in order to perform this identification operation, pass this badge in proximity to this additional hardware.

[0016] For example, a second known solution is to use dedicated applications running on a driver mobile device, which, while not requiring additional costs for fleet equipment, still has the disadvantages described above.

[0017] Solutions to facilitate the identification of drivers of vehicles comprised in a vehicle fleet by solving the technical problems mentioned above would therefore be advantageous.

[0018] Object and summary

[0019] An object of one or more embodiments is to facilitate the identification of drivers of vehicles comprised in a vehicle fleet by solving the previously mentioned technical problems.

[0020] According to one or more embodiments, the object described above can be achieved by means of an identification system for vehicle fleets.

[0021] Therefore, the present detailed description refers to an identification system for vehicle fleets comprising a plurality of vehicles and a remote control apparatus, wherein each vehicle in said plurality of vehicles comprises an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle and a visualization device integrated in the vehicle, wherein: said remote control apparatus is configured to receive, from a vehicle fleet manager, a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers; said integrated visualization device is configured to detect and to transmit to the integrated electronic controller credentials entered by a user comprising a respective identifier of said user; said integrated electronic controller is configured to receive and to send said credentials entered by the user to the remote control apparatus; said remote control apparatus is configured to receive said credentials entered by the user and to verify whether said received credentials entered by the user are comprised in said set of credentials; if the received credentials entered by the user are not comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a failed identification; if the received credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple the respective identifier of said user comprised in said received credentials entered by the user to a vehicle identification number of said vehicle; the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive and to send said identification signal to the integrated visualization device; and the integrated visualization device is configured to allow access to at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification or to discontinue access to the at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, said integrated visualization device is a visualization device integrated in the infotainment system of the vehicle.

[0023] Still preferably, said integrated visualization device is configured to:

[0024] - allow access to a plurality of applications accessible via said integrated visualization device if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification; or

[0025] - discontinue access to said plurality of applications accessible via said integrated visualization device if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

[0026] According to a further preferred feature, said remote control apparatus is configured to store a history of the couplings between:

[0027] - the respective identifier of said user comprised in said credentials entered by the user received from the remote control apparatus, and

[0028] - the vehicle identification number of said vehicle.

[0029] Again preferably, said integrated visualization device is configured to detect a logout request and, in response to the detection of said logout request, to discontinue access to the at least one application; preferably wherein said integrated visualization device is further configured to detect periods of user inactivity and, in response to the detection of a period of user inactivity longer than a limit period of inactivity, to discontinue access to the at least one application.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of said set of credentials is associated to a respective list of vehicle identification numbers comprising vehicle identification numbers related to vehicles of the plurality of vehicles that can be driven by a user identified by said respective user identifier, and wherein said remote control apparatus is configured to verify whether said received credentials entered by the user comprising the respective identifier of said user are comprised in said set of credentials and whether said vehicle identification number of said vehicle is comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to said respective identifier of said user; if the received credentials entered by the user are not comprised in the set of credentials or if said vehicle identification number of said vehicle is not comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to said respective identifier of said user, the remote control apparatus is configured to send to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a failed identification; and if the received credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials and if said vehicle identification number of said vehicle is comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to said respective identifier of said user, the remote control apparatus is configured to send to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple the respective identifier of said user comprised in said received credentials entered by the user to said vehicle identification number of said vehicle.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of said set of credentials is associated to personalization data indicative of a visualization mode of said integrated visualization device and wherein said identification signal indicative of a successful identification comprises said personalization data; wherein, preferably, each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of said set of credentials is associated to a user name related to said visualization mode of said integrated visualization device and wherein said identification signal indicative of successful identification comprises said user name.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, credentials in said set of credentials comprise the user identifier and a password, wherein:

[0033] - said user identifier and said password are determined by the vehicle fleet manager; or

[0034] - said user identifier is determined by said vehicle fleet manager and said password is determined by a user identified by said user identifier.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, credentials in said set of credentials are updated by the vehicle fleet manager and / or by a user identified by a user identifier comprised in said credentials.

[0036] One or more embodiments relate to a corresponding vehicle.

[0037] The solutions as described in the present detailed description therefore facilitate the identification of drivers of vehicles comprised in a vehicle fleet by solving the technical problems previously mentioned.

[0038] Brief description of the figures

[0039] One or more embodiments will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0040] - Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram related to an identification function according to embodiments of the present description; and

[0041] - Figure 2 illustrates an example of use of an identification system for drivers of vehicles comprised in a vehicle fleet according to embodiments of the present description.

[0042] The figures are represented to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0043] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0044] In the following description, one or more specific details are illustrated, in order to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. The embodiments may be achieved without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known operations, materials or structures are not illustrated or described in detail so that certain aspects of the embodiments will not be made unclear.

[0045] A reference to “an / one embodiment” in the present disclosure is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure, or feature described with reference to the embodiment is comprised in at least one embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as “in an / one embodiment” or the like that may appear in one or more places in this disclosure do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0046] Furthermore, particular configurations, structures, or features may be combined in any suitable way in one or more embodiments.

[0047] The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and therefore do not define the extent of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0048] In all figures herein and throughout the detailed description that follows, unless the context otherwise indicates, similar parts or elements are indicated by similar references / numbers and a corresponding description will not be repeated for brevity.

[0049] For example, solutions according to embodiments of the present description may be used in vehicle fleets used for deliveries, maintenance services, and / or general transport services.

[0050] Solutions according to the present description relate to an identification system for vehicle fleets comprising a remote control apparatus and a plurality of vehicles, wherein each vehicle in such plurality of vehicles comprises:

[0051] - an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle, for example, a control unit, an electronic control unit (so-called “Electronic Control Unit” - ECU), a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a control logic, or any other processing device integrated in such vehicle, comprising a wireless communication interface configured to communicate with the remote control apparatus, for example, via an asynchronous communication protocol; and

[0052] - a visualization device integrated in the vehicle, for example, a visualization device integrated in the infotainment system of such vehicle.

[0053] Such remote control apparatus may be, for example, an interface configured to allow a fleet manager of such a vehicle fleet to manage such a fleet via the described vehicle fleet identification system.

[0054] Such remote control apparatus is configured to receive, for example, from such vehicle fleet manager, a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers.

[0055] For example, such set of credentials may be a list of credentials wherein credentials in such list of credentials comprise a respective user identifier (for example, a unique code associated to a respective user, that is, a respective driver, for example, a username determined by the fleet manager) and a password determined either by the fleet manager or by the user.

[0056] It is noted that other types of credentials may also be considered in embodiments of the present description.

[0057] For example, such credentials may be provided by the fleet manager or may be determined by the user the first time a vehicle of the fleet is accessed, subject to authorization by the fleet manager.

[0058] Furthermore, such credentials may be retrieved or modified by the user, for example, subject to authorization by the fleet manager.

[0059] It is noted that such a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers comprises credentials related to users authorized to drive vehicles comprised in the vehicle fleet.

[0060] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram 10 of an identification function according to embodiments of the present description.

[0061] In a first block 100, a vehicle driver may select an identification application on the integrated visualization device.

[0062] For example, other applications accessible via the integrated visualization device may not be selectable until such an identification application is selected.

[0063] In a block 102, in response to the selection of the identification application by the driver, the integrated visualization device may be configured to visualize a credential request screen related to such identification application.

[0064] In a block 104, the driver may enter his or her credentials into the credential request screen, for example, again via the visualization device integrated in the vehicle. Note that such credentials entered by the driver comprise a respective identifier of such driver who entered the credentials.

[0065] The integrated visualization device is configured to detect the entry of credentials by the driver and to transmit such credentials to the integrated electronic controller.

[0066] The integrated electronic controller is configured to receive such credentials from the visualization device and to send such credentials to the remote control apparatus.

[0067] In a block 106, the remote control apparatus is configured to receive such credentials comprising the respective identifier of such driver and to verify, for example, via block 108, whether such credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers received, for example, from such vehicle fleet manager.

[0068] Such remote control apparatus is further configured:

[0069] - if the received credentials are not comprised in the set of credentials, to send to the corresponding vehicle, that is, the vehicle from which the driver entered the credentials, an identification signal indicative of a failed identification, that is, an identification result indicating that the driver who entered the credentials is not authorized to drive vehicles belonging to the vehicle fleet and, in particular, the vehicle on which he / she entered the credentials; and

[0070] - if the received credentials are comprised in the set of credentials, to send to the corresponding vehicle, that is, the vehicle from which the driver entered the credentials, an identification signal indicative of a successful identification, that is, an identification result indicating that the driver who entered the credentials is authorized to drive vehicles belonging to the vehicle fleet, and, in particular, the vehicle on which he / she entered the credentials.

[0071] If the received credentials are comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is further configured to couple the respective identifier of such user who entered his / her credentials comprised in the received credentials to a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the corresponding vehicle, that is, the vehicle in which the driver entered the credentials.

[0072] In a step 110 or in a step 112, the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive the identification signal and to send such identification signal to the integrated visualization device.

[0073] The integrated visualization device is configured to receive such identification signal and:

[0074] - if the identification signal received from the integrated visualization device indicates a failed identification, to discontinue, for example, in block 110, access to such vehicle identification application and / or to discontinue access also to any other application accessible via the integrated visualization device in the vehicle, for example, to other applications accessible via the integrated visualization device useful for managing and carrying out fleet activities; or

[0075] - if the identification signal received from the integrated visualization device indicates a successful identification, to allow, for example, in block 112, access to such vehicle identification application and / or to allow access also to any other application accessible via the integrated visualization device in the vehicle, for example, other applications accessible via the integrated visualization device useful for managing and carrying out fleet activities.

[0076] For example, the use of the integrated visualization device may:

[0077] - be locked, for example, by continuing to visualize the credential request screen, in response to an identification signal indicating a failed identification, and

[0078] - be unlocked, that is, normally usable and allowing access to applications accessible from such integrated visualization device, in response to an identification signal indicating a successful identification.

[0079] Thus, by using solutions as described in the present description, it is possible to access multiple applications, for example, all applications accessible from such integrated visualization device, with the same credentials, by entering them only once via the credential request screen.

[0080] Therefore, in embodiments according to the present description, the integrated visualization device may be configured to:

[0081] - allow, for example, via the block 112, access to a plurality of applications accessible via such integrated visualization device if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification; or

[0082] - discontinue, for example, via the block 110, access to such plurality of applications accessible via such integrated visualization device if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

[0083] Furthermore, solutions as described in the present description allow to perform such driver identification function without the need of using additional hardware, directly using elements already present and integrated in the vehicle, therefore, saving on the costs for equipping the fleet of vehicles with such identification function.

[0084] Furthermore, solutions according to the present description allow to associate, without using additional hardware, a driver of the vehicle fleet, for example, through a user identifier related to such driver, to one or more corresponding vehicles used by such driver, for example, through one or more vehicle identification numbers, by storing, for example, a history of the vehicles that have been driven by such driver.

[0085] This function allows to obtain a mapping, possibly also temporal, of the drivers and the respective vehicles used, for example, facilitating the fleet management and the supervision of the driver activities by the fleet manager.

[0086] Furthermore, this function allows to keep track of the vehicles used by a particular driver and allows to trace, possibly also over time, the driver of a particular vehicle at a particular time.

[0087] Therefore, in embodiments according to the present description, the remote control apparatus may be configured to store a history of the couplings, for example, made by block 108, between:

[0088] - a respective user identifier comprised in the credentials entered by such user received from the remote control apparatus, that is, the identifier of the user who entered the credentials in a considered vehicle of the vehicle fleet, and

[0089] - the vehicle identification number of such considered vehicle, that is, the vehicle in which such credentials were entered and from which such credentials were sent.

[0090] Therefore, since the identification function is provided directly by elements integrated in the vehicle, a greater connection can be achieved between such driver identification function and the components present in the vehicle.

[0091] Furthermore, such identification function is not dependent on the charge of a battery external to the vehicle, but can operate in response to the ignition of the vehicle on which it is integrated.

[0092] It is also noted that, since the use of the integrated visualization device is locked, for example, by continuing to visualize the credential request screen, until there is an identification signal indicating successful identification, this driver identification function is not dependent on one or more driver actions that are subjected to forgetfulness or errors.

[0093] In fact, such driver has to perform the identification in order to access the applications necessary for carrying out his activities, since these are accessible via the integrated visualization device which is locked in the event of a missing identification, thus, reducing the risk of possible forgetfulness or errors.

[0094] It is noted that the integrated visualization device may receive, via the integrated electronic controller, from the remote control apparatus a user name associated to the identifier of such user, for example, to use it within the applications accessible from such integrated visualization device.

[0095] The visualization device may be provided with a logout function, which allows to discontinue access to the applications accessible from such integrated visualization device and to return to the credential request screen.

[0096] It is noted that such a logout function may be performed even after periods of inactivity, so as to avoid that an unused vehicle remains unlocked, that is, with applications accessible and usable via such an integrated visualization device.

[0097] Therefore, in embodiments according to the present description, the integrated visualization device may be configured to:

[0098] - detect a logout request, for example, a request from the vehicle user, and

[0099] - discontinue, in response to the detection of such a logout request, access to applications accessible via such an integrated visualization device.

[0100] Furthermore, such an integrated visualization device may be further configured to:

[0101] - detect periods of inactivity of the user, for example, periods when the vehicle is stationary and the user does not interact with the visualization device integrated in such vehicle, and

[0102] - discontinue, in response to the detection of a period of inactivity of the user longer than a limit period of inactivity, for example, a maximum period of inactivity during which vehicle applications remain accessible and usable without further user identification, access to applications accessible through such an integrated visualization device.

[0103] It is noted that such a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers may further comprise, for each user identifier comprised in the set, a list of vehicle identification numbers comprising vehicle identification numbers for vehicles that may be driven by the respective user.

[0104] In this way, it is possible to limit the access of users, that is, drivers, to certain subsets of vehicles.

[0105] In this case, the remote control apparatus may be configured to:

[0106] - send to the corresponding vehicle an identification signal indicative of a failed identification if: the received credentials are not comprised in the set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers, or such received credentials are comprised in the set, but the vehicle identification number related to the vehicle from which such credentials were sent, that is, the vehicle in which the driver entered the credentials, is not comprised in the list of vehicle identification numbers related to the user identifier of the driver who entered his / her credentials, and

[0107] - send to the corresponding vehicle an identification signal indicative of a successful identification if: the received credentials are comprised in the set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers, and the vehicle identification number related to the vehicle from which such credentials were sent, that is, the vehicle in which the driver entered the credentials, is comprised in the list of vehicle identification numbers related to the user identifier of the driver who entered his / her credentials.

[0108] Therefore, in embodiments according to the present disclosure, each user identifier comprised in credentials of such set of credentials may be associated to a respective list of vehicle identification numbers comprising vehicle identification numbers related to vehicles of the plurality of vehicles that can be driven by a user identified by such respective considered user identifier.

[0109] In such embodiments, the remote control apparatus may be configured to verify, for example, via block 108:

[0110] - whether such credentials entered by the user received by the remote control apparatus, comprising the respective identifier of such user, are comprised in such set of credentials, and

[0111] - whether the vehicle identification number of the considered vehicle, that is, the vehicle from which such credentials entered by the user were sent, is comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to such respective identifier of such user.

[0112] Hence, if the received credentials entered by the user are not comprised in the set of credentials or if such vehicle identification number of the considered vehicle, that is, the vehicle from which such credentials entered by the user were sent, is not comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to such respective user identifier, the remote control apparatus may be further configured to send, for example, via block 108, to the integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a failed identification.

[0113] Otherwise, if the received credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials and if such vehicle identification number of the considered vehicle, that is, the vehicle from which such credentials entered by the user were sent, is comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to such respective identifier of such user, the remote control apparatus is configured to send, for example, via block 108, to the integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple, for example, again via such block 108, the respective identifier of such user comprised in said received credentials entered by the user to such vehicle identification number of such considered vehicle.

[0114] It is noted that such set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers may further comprise, for each user identifier comprised in the set, personalization data used to personalize the interface visualized via the integrated visualization device.

[0115] To this end, such identification signal may be configured to comprise such personalization data, which is then sent from the remote control apparatus to the integrated visualization device via the integrated electronic controller.

[0116] In this way, a user who changes vehicles will be able to maintain his or her personalized interface on the vehicles he / she uses, without having to set it up multiple times.

[0117] Therefore, in embodiments according to the present description, each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of such set of credentials may be associated to personalization data indicative of a visualization mode of such integrated visualization device, for example, a visualization mode related to a personalization of the interface visualized via the integrated visualization device, and wherein such identification signal indicative of a successful identification comprises such personalization data, so as to provide the integrated visualization device with information regarding the visualization mode to be adopted.

[0118] Furthermore, each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of such set of credentials may be associated to a user name, for example, the name of the driver corresponding to the respective considered user identifier, related to such visualization mode, that is, the visualization mode of the interface personalized by such driver, of such integrated visualization device and wherein such identification signal indicative of a successful identification comprises such user name, so as to provide the integrated visualization device with information regarding the name of the driver to be used in the visualization mode to be adopted.

[0119] Figure 2 illustrates an example of use 20 of a driver identification system in vehicles 200b comprised in a vehicle fleet according to embodiments of the present description.

[0120] Figure 2 is divided into two portions. A first portion 200aindicates the operations that can be performed in the remote control apparatus, while a second portion 200b indicates the operations that can be performed inside a vehicle of the vehicle fleet.

[0121] In a step 202, a fleet manager may access the remote control apparatus, for example, via an authentication performed with respective login credentials.

[0122] The fleet manager may further initiate processes of eligibility, for example, in a step 204, and subscription, for example, in a step 206, for a given vehicle, that is, a process for adding such given vehicle to the considered vehicle fleet.

[0123] During the eligibility process, in step 204, the fleet manager may:

[0124] - enter, via the remote control apparatus, a vehicle identification number related to such given vehicle to be added to the fleet, for example, in a list containing the vehicle identification numbers of vehicles belonging to the fleet, and

[0125] - obtain an eligibility confirmation, for example, via such remote control apparatus, indicating that the given vehicle to be added to the fleet is eligible to be added to it.

[0126] During the subscription process, in step 206, the fleet manager may register, via the remote control apparatus, such a given vehicle eligible to be added to the vehicle fleet to the identification function, that is, it may be entered into a vehicle fleet identification system according to the present description.

[0127] In a step 208, the fleet manager may send to the remote control apparatus the set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers, possibly also comprising lists of vehicle identification numbers, personalization data, and / or user names as previously described.

[0128] Such set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers may be validated and stored within the remote control apparatus, for example, in a step 212.

[0129] In a step 210, for example, corresponding to a first ignition of the vehicle, the identification application is installed on the vehicle, and, in particular, on the integrated visualization device.

[0130] Then, in a step 214, a user, for example, a driver, selects, via the integrated visualization device, the identification application so that the user can access to the other applications in the vehicle that are accessible via the integrated visualization device.

[0131] In response to the selection of the identification application by the driver, for example, in a step 216, the integrated visualization device may be configured to visualize a credential request screen related to such identification application.

[0132] For example, such credential request screen may either allow the user to enter credentials manually, via the integrated visualization device, or allow the user to enter credentials by scanning a QR code visualized on the integrated visualization device, for example, via a mobile device of the user.

[0133] In a step 218, the user may enter his / her credentials into the credential request screen, for example, again via the visualization device integrated in the vehicle, or may scan the QR code.

[0134] It is noted that such credentials entered by the user comprise a respective user identifier related to such user entering the credentials.

[0135] In a step 220, the remote control apparatus may receive such credentials, for example, as described above, and may verify whether such credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers received, for example, from such vehicle fleet manager.

[0136] In such step 220, the remote control apparatus may further send an identification signal (as described above) to the corresponding vehicle (that is, the vehicle through which the user has entered his / her credentials), coupling, in the event of a successful identification, the respective user identifier comprised in the received credentials to a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the corresponding vehicle, that is, such vehicle in which the user has entered the credentials.

[0137] If the identification signal received from the corresponding vehicle indicates a successful identification, a step 222 is proceeded to, where the integrated visualization device may allow access to such vehicle identification application and / or any other application accessible through the integrated visualization device in the vehicle, for example, other applications accessible through the integrated visualization device useful for managing and carrying out fleet activities.

[0138] Thus, unlocking, that is making normally usable, the integrated visualization device and allowing access to the applications accessible from such integrated visualization device.

[0139] Note that after such step 222 one may proceed directly to a step 226, ignoring a step 224.

[0140] Alternatively, if the identification signal received from the corresponding vehicle indicates a failed identification, one proceeds to step 224 (ignoring step 222), where the integrated visualization device may discontinue access to such vehicle identification application and / or any other application accessible via the integrated visualization device in the vehicle, for example, other applications accessible via the integrated visualization device useful for managing and carrying out fleet activities.

[0141] Thus, locking, for example continuing to visualize the credential request screen, the integrated visualization device.

[0142] In a step 226, which may or may not be present, it is possible to retrieve or modify the credentials of a user.

[0143] Furthermore, in such step 226 it is possible, if allowed by the fleet manager, to register a new user and corresponding new credentials.

[0144] In a step 228, present if such step 226 is present, such new credentials or such modified credentials are provided to the remote control apparatus for further validation and to modify the stored set of credentials as a function of such new credentials or such modified credentials received.

[0145] It is noted that the fleet manager may also, at any time, send to the remote control apparatus modifications related to pre-existing credentials or new credentials comprising a respective user identifier, so as to modify the set of credentials stored in such remote control apparatus as a function of such modifications related to pre-existing credentials or such new credentials comprising the respective user identifier.

[0146] Therefore, in embodiments according to the present description, the credentials in such a set of credentials may comprise a user identifier, for example, a username, and a password, and:

[0147] - such user identifier and password may be determined by the vehicle fleet manager; or

[0148] - such user identifier may be determined by such vehicle fleet manager and such password may be determined by a user identified by such user identifier.

[0149] Furthermore, in embodiments according to the present description, the credentials in such a set of credentials may be updated, for example, some credentials may be modified, other credentials may be added, and other credentials may be deleted, by the vehicle fleet manager, for example, via adding, removing, or updating operations of drivers of the vehicle fleet, and / or by a user identified by a user identifier comprised in such credentials, for example, in the event that such user wishes to change a password comprised in his or her credentials.

[0150] Therefore, the solution described in detail herein allows to obtain an identification system for vehicle fleets comprising a plurality of vehicles and a remote control apparatus, wherein each vehicle in such plurality of vehicles comprises an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle and a visualization device integrated in the vehicle.

[0151] The remote control apparatus is configured to receive, from a vehicle fleet manager, a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers.

[0152] The integrated visualization device is configured to detect and transmit to the integrated electronic controller credentials entered by a user comprising a respective identifier of said user, and the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive and send to the remote control apparatus said credentials entered by the user.

[0153] The remote control apparatus is configured to receive said credentials entered by the user and to verify whether such received credentials, entered by the user, are comprised in such set of credentials.

[0154] Furthermore, if the received credentials entered by the user are not comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send to the integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a failed identification.

[0155] Otherwise, if the received credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send to the integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple the respective identifier of such user comprised in such received credentials entered by the user to a vehicle identification number of such corresponding vehicle.

[0156] The integrated electronic controller is configured to receive and send to the integrated visualization device such identification signal, and such integrated visualization device is configured to allow access to at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification or to discontinue access to the at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

[0157] It is noted that in embodiments according to the present description, such integrated visualization device may be a visualization device integrated in the infotainment system of the vehicle. Solutions according to the present description also relate to vehicles comprised in an identification system for vehicle fleets according to the present description, wherein each of such vehicle comprises an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle and a visualization device integrated in the vehicle, wherein:

[0158] - the integrated visualization device is configured to detect and transmit to the integrated electronic controller credentials entered by a user comprising an identifier of that user;

[0159] - the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive and to send to a remote control apparatus such credentials entered by the user;

[0160] - the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive from the remote control apparatus and to send to the integrated visualization device an identification signal indicative of a failed identification or a successful identification; and

[0161] - the integrated visualization device is configured to allow access to at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification or to discontinue access to the at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

[0162] Hence, it can be understood how the solution described in the present detailed description can allow access to multiple applications, for example, to all applications accessible from the integrated visualization device, with the same credentials, by entering them only once.

[0163] In fact, since such identification function is performed directly on the visualization device integrated in the vehicle, it is possible to perform this identification function once and then allow access to multiple applications accessible through such visualization device integrated in the vehicle without having to repeat the identification.

[0164] Furthermore, using solutions as described herein, it is possible to perform such driver identification function without the need of using additional hardware, directly using elements already present and integrated in the vehicle, obtaining a saving in costs for equipping the fleet vehicles with such identification function.

[0165] In addition, solutions according to the present description may allow to associate, without using additional hardware, a driver of the vehicle fleet, for example, through a user identifier related to that driver, to one or more corresponding vehicles used by that driver, for example, through one or more vehicle identification numbers, storing, for example, a history of the vehicles that have been driven by that driver.

[0166] Furthermore, solutions according to the present description may allow to obtain a mapping, possibly also temporal, of the drivers and the respective vehicles used, facilitating the management of the fleet and the supervision of the driver activities by the fleet manager, for example, allowing to keep track of the vehicles used by a particular driver and to trace, possibly also over time, the driver of a particular vehicle at a given time.

[0167] Furthermore, the following advantages can be achieved:

[0168] - since the identification function is provided via elements integrated in the vehicle, a greater connection can be achieved between such driver identification function and the components present in the vehicle;

[0169] - since such identification function is not dependent on the charge of a battery external to the vehicle but operates in response to the ignition of the vehicle on which it is integrated, there are no problems relating to the discharge of batteries external to the vehicle; and

[0170] - since the use of the integrated visualization device is locked until there is an identification signal indicating successful identification, such driver identification function is not dependent on one or more actions of the driver, thus reducing the risk of possible forgetfulness or errors.

[0171] Notwithstanding the basic principles, the details and embodiments may vary, even appreciably, with respect to what has been described, purely by way of example, without departing from the extent of protection.

[0172] The extent of protection is defined by the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An identification system for vehicle fleets comprising a plurality of vehicles and a remote control apparatus (200a), wherein each vehicle (200b) in said plurality of vehicles comprises an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle (200b) and a visualization device integrated in the vehicle (200b), wherein: said remote control apparatus (200a) is configured to receive (208), from a vehicle fleet manager, a set of credentials comprising respective user identifiers; said integrated visualization device is configured to detect (104; 218) and to transmit (104; 218) to the integrated electronic controller credentials entered by a user comprising a respective identifier of said user; said integrated electronic controller is configured to receive (104; 218) and to send (104; 218) to the remote control apparatus said credentials entered by the user; said remote control apparatus is configured to receive (106; 220) said credentials entered by the user and to verify (108; 220) whether said received credentials entered by the user are comprised in said set of credentials; if the received credentials entered by the user are not comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send (108; 220) to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a failed identification; if the received credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials, the remote control apparatus is configured to send (108; 220) to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple (108; 220) the respective identifier of said user comprised in said received credentials entered by the user to a vehicle identification number of said vehicle (200b); the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive (112, 222; 110, 224) and to send (112, 222; 110, 224) to the integrated visualization device said identification signal; and the integrated visualization device is configured to allow (112; 222) access to at least one application if the received identification signalindicates a successful identification or to discontinue (110; 224) access to the at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

2. The identification system according to claim 1 , wherein said integrated visualization device is a visualization device integrated in the infotainment system of the vehicle (200b).

3. The identification system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said integrated visualization device is configured to:- allow (112; 222) access to a plurality of applications accessible via said integrated visualization device if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification; or- discontinue (110; 224) access to said plurality of applications accessible via said integrated visualization device if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

4. The identification system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said remote control apparatus (200a) is configured to store a history of the couplings (108; 220) between:- the respective identifier of said user comprised in said credentials entered by the user received from the remote control apparatus, and- the vehicle identification number of said vehicle (200b).

5. The identification system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said integrated visualization device is configured to detect a logout request and, in response to the detection of said logout request, to discontinue (110; 224) access to the at least one application; preferably wherein said integrated visualization device is further configured to detect periods of user inactivity and, in response to the detection of a period of user inactivity longer than a limit period of inactivity, to discontinue (110; 224) access to the at least one application.

6. The identification system according to any of the previous claims, wherein each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of said set of credentials is associated to a respective list of vehicle identification numbers comprising vehicle identification numbers related to vehicles of the plurality of vehicles that can be driven by a user identified by said respective user identifier, and wherein said remote control apparatus is configured to verify (108;220) whether said received credentials entered by the user comprising the respective identifier of said user are comprised in said set of credentials and whether said vehicle identification number of said vehicle (200b) is comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to said respective identifier of said user; if the received credentials entered by the user are not comprised in the set of credentials or if said vehicle identification number of said vehicle (200b) is not comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to said respective identifier of said user, the remote control apparatus is configured to send (108; 220) to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a failed identification; and if the received credentials entered by the user are comprised in the set of credentials and if said vehicle identification number of said vehicle (200b) is comprised in the respective list of vehicle identification numbers associated to said respective identifier of said user, the remote control apparatus is configured to send (108; 220) to said integrated electronic controller an identification signal indicative of a successful identification and to couple (108; 220) the respective identifier of said user comprised in said received credentials entered by the user to said vehicle identification number of said vehicle (200b).

7. The identification system according to any of the previous claims, wherein each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of said set of credentials is associated to personalization data indicative of a visualization mode of said integrated visualization device and wherein said identification signal indicative of a successful identification comprises said personalization data; wherein, preferably, each respective user identifier comprised in credentials of said set of credentials is associated to a user name related to said visualization mode of said integrated visualization device and wherein said identification signal indicative of a successful identification comprises said user name.

8. The identification system according to any of the previous claims, wherein credentials in said set of credentials comprise the user identifier and a password, wherein:- said user identifier and said password are determined by the vehiclefleet manager; or- said user identifier is determined by said vehicle fleet manager and said password is determined by a user identified by said user identifier.

9. The identification system according to any of the previous claims, wherein credentials in said set of credentials are updated by the vehicle fleet manager and / or by a user identified by a user identifier comprised in said credentials.

10. A vehicle (200b) comprised in an identification system for vehicle fleets according to any of the previous claims, wherein said vehicle (200b) comprises an electronic controller integrated in the vehicle (200b) and a visualization device integrated in the vehicle (200b), wherein: said integrated visualization device is configured to detect (104; 218) and to transmit (104; 218) to the integrated electronic controller credentials entered by a user comprising a respective identifier of said user; said integrated electronic controller is configured to receive (104; 218) and to send (104; 218) to a remote control apparatus said credentials entered by the user; the integrated electronic controller is configured to receive (112, 222; 110, 224) from the remote control apparatus and to send (112, 222; 110, 224) to the integrated visualization device an identification signal indicative of a failed identification or a successful identification; and the integrated visualization device is configured to allow (112; 222) access to at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a successful identification or to discontinue (110; 224) access to the at least one application if the received identification signal indicates a failed identification.

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