Digital key pairing method and related apparatus

Abstract

A digital key pairing method and a related apparatus, applied to the technical field of digital keys. Digital key pairing between a terminal and a vehicle can be divided into two stages; in a first stage, the terminal acquires a first pairing factor provided by the vehicle to the terminal; in a second stage, the terminal reports the first pairing factor to a server; the server can determine first pairing information on the basis of a first shared secret key shared with the vehicle and the first pairing factor, and send same to the terminal, such that the terminal and the vehicle acquire consistent pairing information without depending on the network state of the vehicle. On the basis of first pairing information and second pairing information which is locally generated by the vehicle, the vehicle can perform digital key pairing. Digital key pairing between a vehicle and a terminal can be implemented without communication between the vehicle and a server, thereby greatly improving the success rate of digital key pairing, and significantly improving user experience of using digital keys.

Description

A digital key pairing method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411198865.3, filed on August 28, 2024, entitled "A Digital Key Pairing Method and Related Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of digital key technology, and in particular to a digital key pairing method and related apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] A digital key is a security tool that uses digital information (such as digital codes or passwords) to authorize access to specific systems or services. Especially in the automotive industry, digital keys allow users to unlock and control their vehicles using electronic devices such as smartphones or wearable devices, enhancing convenience and the vehicle's intelligence.

[0004] In the field of automotive digital keys, both the electronic device and the vehicle need to obtain a pairing code before activating the digital key. During the pairing code generation process, both the vehicle and the electronic device need to interact with the digital key server. When the vehicle is parked in a location with poor network conditions, such as an underground garage, the electronic device may fail to configure the digital key because it cannot connect to the digital key server, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a digital key pairing method and related device, which can perform digital key pairing even when the vehicle network is not in good condition, greatly improving the probability of successful digital key pairing and enhancing the user's experience with digital keys.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a digital key pairing method, comprising: receiving a first pairing factor from a vehicle; sending the first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to a server; and receiving first pairing information from the server, the first pairing information being used for digital key pairing with the vehicle. Wherein, the vehicle identifier is associated with a first shared key, the first pairing information is associated with the pairing factor and the first shared key, the first shared key being a key shared between the server and the vehicle, and the first pairing factor being used as a fresh parameter for obtaining the first pairing information.

[0007] This method can be applied to terminals, for example, implemented by a pairing device within the terminal. This pairing device can be executed by a software module, a hardware module, or a combined software and hardware functional module, such as a chip or processor within the terminal. For ease of description, the following explanation uses a terminal as the executing entity.

[0008] In this embodiment of the application, the pairing of the terminal and the vehicle's digital key can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, the terminal obtains the first pairing factor provided by the vehicle.

[0009] In the second stage, the terminal can send a first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to the server. The first pairing factor is used by the server to derive first pairing information, and the vehicle identifier is used by the server to index the first shared key corresponding to the vehicle. The terminal can receive the first pairing information sent to it by the server. This first pairing information is generated based on the first pairing factor and the first shared key; that is, the first pairing information is associated with the first pairing factor and the first shared key. Thus, the terminal obtains the first pairing information, and based on this first pairing information, the terminal can perform digital key pairing with the vehicle.

[0010] Since the location of the terminal is typically flexible, users can move the terminal when network conditions (referring to long-distance networks or the internet) are poor, thus improving the terminal's network performance. In this application, the digital key pairing process includes two stages. In the first stage, the vehicle sends the pairing factor to the terminal; this stage does not require a good network connection for either the terminal or the vehicle. In the second stage, the terminal communicates with the server to transmit the first pairing factor and the first pairing information; only in this second stage is the terminal required to have a network connection to communicate with the server. Because the terminal is mobile, the transmission of pairing information between the terminal and the server significantly increases the probability of successful transmission of the pairing factor and pairing information, thereby greatly increasing the probability of successful digital key pairing and improving the user experience.

[0011] Because vehicles are often parked in locations with poor network connectivity, such as underground garages, enclosed garages, or corners, and the vehicle's location is difficult to change, it cannot communicate with the server when the network connection is poor. However, the digital key pairing method provided in this application is unaffected by the vehicle's network conditions, significantly increasing the probability of successful digital key pairing.

[0012] The pairing information refers to the information used when pairing digital keys, including but not limited to pairing codes, pairing keys, and authentication codes. The first pairing factor can be considered a fresh parameter, and may include one or more of the following: a random number, a number-once (NONCE) random number, or a counter value (e.g., a transmission unit serial number). For ease of description, this application refers to the pairing information obtained by the terminal side as the first pairing information and the pairing information obtained by the vehicle side as the second pairing information.

[0013] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the digital key pairing method further includes: sending first pairing information to the vehicle, the pairing information being compared with second pairing information locally on the vehicle; and receiving an activation command from the vehicle, the activation command being sent if the first pairing information and the vehicle's second pairing information are successfully compared, the activation command indicating that the user has permission to control the vehicle.

[0014] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the digital key pairing method further includes: pairing a digital key with a vehicle based on pairing information.

[0015] In the above implementation, the terminal can perform a digital key pairing process with the vehicle based on the first pairing information sent by the server to activate the digital key, so that the terminal can use the digital key to control the vehicle.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the digital key pairing method further includes: sending a first instruction to the vehicle, the first instruction instructing the vehicle to send a pairing factor. Further, the above operation is performed before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle.

[0017] In the above implementation, the first stage is triggered by the terminal. When the terminal deems it ready to enter the first stage of pairing, it can proactively send a first instruction to instruct the vehicle to send a pairing factor. This first instruction controls the timing of the pairing factor's transmission, making the pairing process controllable and helping to improve the success rate of digital key pairing.

[0018] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the digital key pairing method further includes: receiving second operation information input by a user, and sending a first instruction to the vehicle in response to the second operation information. Further, the above operation is performed before receiving a first pairing factor from the vehicle.

[0019] In the above implementation, the first instruction is sent in response to the second operation input by the user. This allows the digital key to be paired under the user's operation instructions, enabling the user to control the timing of obtaining the pairing factor and providing the user with an immersive experience of the entire digital key pairing process, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0020] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the digital key pairing method further includes: outputting a first prompt message, the first prompt message being used to indicate the current network status of the terminal. Here, the network refers to a long-distance communication network, i.e., a network capable of communicating with a server, such as the Internet, LTE, 4G, 5G, etc.

[0021] Optionally, the terminal may prompt the user with the current network status through sound, light, or electrical prompts. For example, the terminal may display a user interface, which includes a first prompt message.

[0022] In the above implementation, the second stage of digital key pairing requires a connection to a server. If the terminal's network condition is poor, information transmission efficiency may be slow, or even fail. By outputting real-time prompts to improve the user terminal's current network condition, the user can be prompted to move their location, thus moving the terminal to a server with a better network condition for communication. This significantly increases the probability of successful transmission of pairing factors and initial pairing information, thereby increasing the probability of successful digital key pairing and improving the user's experience with the digital key.

[0023] Furthermore, the above steps are performed after receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle and before sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server.

[0024] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the digital key pairing method further includes: when the network status of the terminal meets the communication conditions, outputting a second prompt message, the second prompt message being used to prompt the user to confirm sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server.

[0025] Optionally, the terminal may prompt the user through sound, light, or electricity to indicate that the current network status meets the information transmission requirements between the terminal and the server. For example, the terminal may display a second interface, which includes a second prompt message.

[0026] In the above implementation, when the network condition meets the communication requirements, prompting the user to send information to the server can greatly increase the probability of successful transmission of the pairing factor and the first pairing information, thereby increasing the probability of successful digital key pairing and improving the user's experience with the digital key.

[0027] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, sending a first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to a server includes: receiving first operation information input by a user, and in response to the first operation information, sending the first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to the server.

[0028] In the above implementation, the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier are sent in response to the first operation input by the user. This allows the pairing factor to be uploaded under the user's operation instructions, enabling the user to control the timing of entering the second stage of the digital key pairing process and improving the user experience.

[0029] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the method is applied to a terminal. Sending a first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to a server includes: sending the first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to the server when it is detected that the network state of the terminal meets the communication conditions.

[0030] Furthermore, before sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server, the method also includes detecting the network status of the terminal.

[0031] In the above implementation, the terminal can detect the network status in real time, and when the network status meets the communication conditions, it communicates with the server. This increases the probability of successful transmission of the pairing factor and the first pairing information, thereby increasing the probability of successful digital key pairing and improving the user experience of the digital key.

[0032] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, receiving a first pairing factor from a vehicle includes: receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle at a first location. Sending the first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to a server includes: sending the first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier to the server at a second location. The first location and the second location are different, with the communication quality corresponding to the second location being higher than that corresponding to the first location.

[0033] In the above implementation, the terminal pairs with the vehicle at a first location, then moves a distance before sending data to the server at a second location. This location change avoids pairing failures due to poor network connectivity, thus improving the user experience.

[0034] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle, the method further includes: establishing a communication channel with the vehicle. Receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle includes: receiving the first pairing factor through the communication channel. The communication channel includes establishing a communication link based on wireless short-range communication technology, or an acoustic wave transmission channel.

[0035] As a possible example, before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle, the method further includes: establishing a communication link with the vehicle, wherein the communication link is a communication link established based on short-range wireless communication technology. Furthermore, the first pairing factor is transmitted through the communication link.

[0036] In the above implementation, the terminal and the vehicle can pair and establish a link via short-range wireless communication technology. This communication connection is typically a short-range connection, such as one based on Bluetooth, Starlink, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), or Ultra Wide Bandwidth (UWB) technologies. Based on this communication connection, the vehicle sends a first pairing factor to the terminal, and the terminal receives the first pairing factor from the vehicle. This facilitates secure information transmission between the terminal and the vehicle.

[0037] As another possible example, receiving a first pairing factor from a vehicle includes: receiving a first acoustic signal, parsing the acoustic signal, and obtaining the first pairing factor. The first acoustic signal is emitted by the vehicle and is generated based on the first pairing factor.

[0038] The above-described embodiments provide a new way to send pairing factors. Vehicles can send pairing factors via sound waves or the like. This method does not require the vehicle to establish a communication link with the terminal, enabling one-way transmission of information from the vehicle to the terminal. This can prevent vehicles from being compromised by attackers and improve vehicle security.

[0039] Secondly, this application provides a digital key pairing method, comprising: generating a first pairing factor; generating second pairing information based on the first pairing factor and a first shared key; sending the first pairing factor to a terminal; receiving the first pairing information from the terminal; and performing digital key pairing based on the first pairing information and the second pairing information. The first shared key is a key shared between the vehicle and a server, and the first pairing factor is used as a fresh parameter to obtain the second pairing information. The first pairing information is provided to the terminal by the server.

[0040] This method can be applied to vehicles, for example, by a pairing device within the vehicle. This pairing device can be a software module, a hardware module, or a combined software and hardware functional module, such as a chip or processor within the vehicle. For ease of description, the following explanation uses a vehicle as the executing entity.

[0041] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, digital key pairing is performed based on pairing information from the terminal and the local pairing information, including: comparing the first pairing information and the second pairing information; if the comparison of the first pairing information and the second pairing information is successful, sending an activation command to the terminal, the activation command being used to indicate that the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle.

[0042] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, before generating the first pairing factor, the method further includes: receiving a first instruction from a terminal, the first instruction being used to instruct the transmission of the pairing factor.

[0043] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, before sending the first pairing factor to the terminal, the method further includes: establishing a communication link with the terminal, wherein the communication link is a communication link established based on wireless short-range communication technology.

[0044] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, sending a first pairing factor to the terminal includes: establishing a communication channel with the terminal. Sending the first pairing factor to the terminal includes: sending the first pairing factor to the terminal through the communication channel. The communication channel is a communication link established based on wireless short-range communication technology, or an acoustic wave transmission channel.

[0045] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, the second pairing information is valid during the first validity period, and the method further includes: deleting the second pairing information when the first validity period expires.

[0046] Optionally, the expiration period can be implemented through duration, timer, time, or date. In the above embodiment, the second pairing information generated by the vehicle itself has a certain validity period. Consider a possible scenario: since the first pairing factor has already been given to the terminal, if no validity period is set for the second pairing information, and the terminal does not continuously enter the second stage, the pairing module in the vehicle may remain in a waiting-to-pair state. Furthermore, setting a validity period can also prevent the second pairing information from being cracked, thus improving the security of the pairing process.

[0047] Thirdly, this application provides a digital key pairing method, comprising: receiving a first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier from a terminal; obtaining a first shared key based on the vehicle identifier; generating first pairing information based on the first shared key and the first pairing factor; and sending the first pairing information to the terminal. The first shared key is a key shared between the server and the vehicle.

[0048] Fourthly, this application provides a digital key pairing device, including a unit or module for performing the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or including a unit or module for performing the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or including a unit or module for performing the method described in the third aspect.

[0049] For example, the digital key pairing device includes a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit performs one or more operations such as processing, determining, generating, calculating, encrypting, and decrypting. The communication unit performs one or more operations such as sending and receiving.

[0050] Fifthly, this application provides a digital key pairing device, which includes a processor and a memory. The memory is used to store computer instructions, and the processor is used to call the computer instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or to implement the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or to implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0051] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a chip including a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices (including nodes) and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices (including nodes). The processor is used through logic circuits or execution code instructions to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or to implement the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or to implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0052] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a terminal including a digital key pairing device. The digital key pairing device includes a processor and a memory, the memory for storing computer instructions, and the processor for calling the computer instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0053] Eighthly, this application provides a vehicle including a digital key pairing device. The digital key pairing device includes a processor and a memory, the memory for storing computer instructions, and the processor for calling the computer instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in any of the possible embodiments of the second or third aspect.

[0054] Ninthly, this application provides a server including a digital key pairing device. The digital key pairing device includes a processor and a memory, the memory for storing computer instructions, and the processor for calling the computer instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0055] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a digital key pairing system, the communication system including a terminal, a vehicle, and a server. The terminal is used to implement the method described in any of the first aspects, the vehicle is used to implement the method described in any of the second aspects, and the server is used to implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0056] Eleventhly, this application provides a readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes a communication device including a processor to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or to implement the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or to implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0057] In a twelfth aspect, this application provides a computer program product that, when executed by a processor, causes a communication device including the processor to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or to implement the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or to implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0058] The beneficial effects of aspects two through twelfth of this application can be found in the beneficial effects of the solution in aspect one. Attached Figure Description

[0059] The accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below.

[0060] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a digital key pairing system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a digital key pairing method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operating principle of a digital key pairing method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a scenario for requesting a matching factor provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a user interface scenario provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another user interface scenario provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another user interface scenario provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another user interface scenario provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a digital key pairing device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of another digital key pairing device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0070] The following section provides an exemplary description of the systems and scenarios in which this application may be applied.

[0071] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a digital key pairing system provided in an embodiment of this application. The digital key pairing system includes a terminal 10, a vehicle 20, and a server 30. Wherein:

[0072] Terminal 10 is an electronic device with communication capabilities, capable of communicating with other devices. Exemplarily, Terminal 10 includes a short-range communication module and a long-range communication module. The short-range communication module refers to a module that supports communication using short-range communication technologies. Exemplarily, short-range communication technologies include, but are not limited to, SparkLink (or Near Link), 802.11b / g, Bluetooth, Zigbee, radio frequency identification (RFID), ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, or wireless short-range communication systems. Long-range communication technologies include, but are not limited to, communication technologies based on Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5th Generation Mobile Networks (5th Generation Mobile Networks or 5th Generation Wireless Systems, 5th Generation, abbreviated as 5G or 5G technology), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), etc. The above description uses wireless communication technologies as examples. In some solutions, the communication module may also support one or more of the following wired communication technologies: fiber optic connection, Ethernet, controller area network (CAN), local interconnect network (LIN), and CAN flexible data-rate (CAN FD).

[0073] In this application, terminal 10 includes a digital key module, which implements the functions of a digital key and can be considered as the implementation carrier of the digital key function. The digital key module can control the vehicle based on digital information. In this application, the digital key module can be granted permissions. When the digital key module has the permission to control the vehicle, it can control the vehicle based on pairing information. Exemplarily, the digital key module is used to apply for, maintain, and use pairing information, and to control the vehicle based on the pairing information. This control includes, but is not limited to, unlocking the car, opening / or closing the car doors, or turning on or off in-vehicle functions (such as air conditioning, fragrance, etc.) one or more of these functions.

[0074] Optionally, the digital key module can be a software module (e.g., computer program, computer code, computer instructions, etc.), such as a digital key application (APP). Alternatively, the digital key module can also be a hardware module (e.g., a processor), or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the digital key module may include a digital key application module and a digital key pairing module. The digital key application module is used to apply for a digital key from the server 30, and correspondingly, the server returns digital key information to the terminal. The digital key pairing module is used to perform pairing based on the pairing information. The main function of pairing is to enable the vehicle to confirm that the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle. For example, the digital key pairing module sends pairing information to the vehicle 20, and the vehicle 20 confirms whether the pairing information obtained by the terminal is consistent with the pairing information obtained by the vehicle 20. In some solutions, the digital key pairing module can also be integrated with the communication module in the terminal 10, for example, integrated into the short-range communication module of the terminal 10.

[0075] In some solutions, the digital key function is inactive when the digital key module has not yet obtained pairing information or when pairing fails, and the user cannot control the vehicle 20 through the digital key module of terminal 10. Understandably, when the digital key module obtains pairing information, it can provide this information to the vehicle 20 for digital key pairing, thereby gaining permission to control the vehicle 20. After gaining permission to control the vehicle 20, the digital key function is activated.

[0076] Furthermore, terminal 10 also has an input / output (IO) module, which can be used to input and / or output information. In some solutions, the IO module can be used to interact with the user. For example, the IO module is used to output information to the user, such as in the form of sound, light, or electricity; for example, the IO module includes a display screen, speaker, or indicator light. As another example, the IO module is used to receive user input information, such as one or more of the following: user-input voice information, image information (e.g., gesture operations, facial expressions), touch screen operations, button information, rocking operations, etc.; for example, the IO module includes a touch screen, buttons, microphone, camera, radar, or gyroscope.

[0077] Vehicle 20 is a means of transportation capable of movement, possessing both a propulsion system and communication capabilities. Typically, a vehicle may include computing devices, communication modules, and various subsystems.

[0078] A computing device includes at least one processor, which is a circuit with processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor unit (MPU), microcontroller unit (MCU), graphics processing unit (GPU), or electronic control unit (ECU). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits, which can be fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor may be a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). In reconfigurable hardware circuits, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the corresponding function. Furthermore, a processor can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as a type of ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), tensor processing unit (TPU), or deep learning processing unit (DPU). In some implementations, the computing device includes at least one processor integrated as a system-on-chip (SOC), commonly referred to as a SOC by those skilled in the art. This SOC may include at least one processor; when the SOC includes multiple processors, the types of processors can be different, such as including a CPU and an MCU.

[0079] For example, the computing device may be a data key controller. A digital key controller is a controller used to implement digital key technology, and may include, for example, a pairing factor generation module, a pairing information generation module, and a digital key pairing module. The pairing factor generation module generates pairing factors, the pairing information generation module generates pairing information based on a shared key and the pairing factors, and the digital key pairing module pairs the digital key with terminal 10 based on the pairing information. For example, the digital key pairing module verifies whether the pairing information from terminal 10 matches the pairing information generated by vehicle 20. Furthermore, the digital key controller also enables terminal 10 to control vehicle 20, for example, by acquiring control commands from terminal 10 and executing corresponding control operations based on the control commands, such as unlocking the car, opening / or closing the car door, or turning on or off in-vehicle functions.

[0080] In some solutions, the functions performed by the digital key controller can be implemented by software, in which case the digital key controller can be a software module. Of course, this application also applies to cases where the digital key is a hardware module, or a combination of hardware and software modules.

[0081] The communication module is used for communication, for example, for communication based on short-range communication technology. Furthermore, vehicle 20 may also include a system supporting communication using long-range communication technology. Optionally, the aforementioned digital key pairing module may also be integrated into the communication module, for example, integrated into the Bluetooth module.

[0082] Subsystems include, for example, a motion system, a control system, a sensing system, one or more peripheral devices, and a power supply and computing device. A subsystem may include one or more components, and subsystems or components may be interconnected via wired or wireless means.

[0083] Server 30, also known as server-side, cloud, cloud platform, etc., is a device with computing and communication capabilities. Server 30 typically concentrates a large number of computing resources, which can include physical devices or virtual units. For example, server 30 may include one or more physical servers, such as blade servers or rack servers. Alternatively, server 30 may contain one or more computing instances, which are virtualizations of computing resources, such as virtual machines or containers.

[0084] In this application, server 30 can issue pairing information to terminal 10. Server 30 can deduce pairing information based on the shared key and pairing factor shared with vehicle 20.

[0085] In some solutions, server 30 also needs to complete the authorization process. For example, when a terminal applies for pairing information or a digital key, the server can verify the identity of the terminal, or the identity of the user logged in on the terminal, to confirm whether the terminal (or the user of the terminal) has the authority to control the vehicle, so that the pairing code can be correctly issued to the terminal with vehicle control authority, thereby improving vehicle security.

[0086] In this embodiment, the terminal and the vehicle can communicate. Furthermore, the communication between the terminal and the vehicle can be based on short-range communication technology, wired connection, or information transmission based on sound waves or electromagnetic waves. The terminal also supports communication with a server, typically long-range communication. This application does not require a mandatory communication connection between the vehicle and the server.

[0087] As we know from the preceding introduction, activating the digital key function in terminal 10 requires terminal 10 to have pairing information consistent with vehicle 20. This pairing information is generated based on a shared key and a pairing factor. For security reasons, the pairing information for different terminals is usually different; therefore, the pairing factor is typically different when generating pairing information for different terminals. The pairing factor is usually determined by vehicle 20. Since the shared key is already shared between server 30 and vehicle 20, server 30 needs to obtain the pairing factor determined by vehicle 20 before issuing pairing information to terminal 10.

[0088] In some schemes, the vehicle generates a first pairing factor and, based on this first pairing factor and a shared key, generates a pairing code locally and provides the first pairing factor to the server. Correspondingly, the server, based on a consistent shared key and the first pairing factor obtained from the vehicle, also generates a pairing code and sends it to the terminal. In this scheme, both the terminal and the vehicle need to interact with the server, and both the vehicle and the terminal require a network condition that supports normal communication to ensure that both parties obtain a consistent pairing code.

[0089] Because vehicles are often parked underground, indoors, or in remote corners (such as under walls or on unused plots of land), network conditions in these locations are often poor. When a vehicle's network connection is weak, if a user needs to obtain a pairing code that matches the vehicle to activate the digital key function, the pairing code acquisition often fails because the vehicle cannot connect to the server, rendering the digital key module unusable.

[0090] In view of this, this application provides a digital key pairing method and related apparatus. In this application, the acquisition of pairing information (e.g., a pairing code) can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, the terminal acquires a first pairing factor provided by the vehicle. In the second stage, the terminal can send the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server. The first pairing factor is used by the server to derive pairing information, and the vehicle's identifier is used by the server to index the first shared key corresponding to the vehicle. Accordingly, the server can generate a pairing factor based on the first pairing key shared with the vehicle and the pairing factor provided by the terminal, and issue it to the terminal. Further, the terminal can perform digital key pairing with the vehicle based on the pairing information issued by the server.

[0091] Throughout the entire pairing information acquisition phase, the vehicle does not need to communicate with the server over long distances, achieving silent pairing of the vehicle's digital key. For the terminal, long-distance communication with the server is only required in the second phase. Moreover, due to the terminal's more flexible location and better ability to adapt to network conditions, communication with the server is easier to implement. In summary, this application uses a segmented pairing process, separating the communication between the terminal and the vehicle, and the communication between the terminal and the server. The terminal ensures the transmission of pairing factors, significantly increasing the probability of successful transmission of pairing factors and pairing information. This makes the pairing process unaffected by vehicle network conditions, greatly improving the probability of successful digital key pairing and enhancing the user experience.

[0092] The methods provided in the embodiments of this application will be described below.

[0093] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flowchart illustrating a digital key pairing method provided in an embodiment of this application. Optionally, this method can be applied to a digital key system, such as the digital key pairing system shown in Figure 1. The digital key pairing method shown in Figure 2 may include one or more steps from S201 to S208. It should be understood that, for ease of description, the steps S201 to S208 are described in this way, and it is not intended to limit the execution to the above order. This embodiment of the application does not limit the order of execution, the execution time, or the number of executions of the above one or more steps. Steps S201 to S208 are as follows:

[0094] Step S201: The vehicle generates the first pairing factor.

[0095] This example uses a vehicle as the executing entity. In practice, step S201 can be executed by a module within the vehicle, such as a communication module or a processing module. The processing module could include, for example, a digital key controller, an MCU, or an ECU. For a description of the vehicle, please refer to the aforementioned architecture section. For example, referring to Figure 3, vehicle V1 includes a first communication module, a processing module, and a pairing information generation module. The processing module can generate a pairing factor (as shown in step ①). The first communication module can be a short-range communication module used for communication using short-range communication technology. Optionally, the terminal includes a second communication module, which can also be a short-range communication module used for communication using short-range communication technology.

[0096] In a digital key scenario, the use of the digital key function requires consistent pairing information between the vehicle and the terminal. This pairing information is generated based on the vehicle's shared key and a pairing factor determined by the vehicle. The vehicle's shared key is pre-configured in both the vehicle and the server. Since this shared key is a secret value and cannot be provided to the terminal, using other keys would require a complex key negotiation process. Therefore, the vehicle can derive specific information based on the shared key combined with other inputs as credentials for using the digital key function; this credential serves as the pairing information referred to in this paper. To enhance the security of both the pairing information and the shared key, the vehicle typically combines the shared key with different pairing factors to generate the pairing information, ensuring that each generated pairing information is unique. For example, the pairing information with terminal T1 is generated using the first shared key and pairing factor Y1, while the pairing information with terminal T2 is generated using the first shared key and pairing factor Y2, which are different. Thus, different terminals use different pairing information, which helps bind the pairing information to the terminal's identity, making the pairing information less susceptible to theft by attackers and improving vehicle security. Therefore, the pairing factor mainly participates in the generation process of pairing information as a fresh parameter. In the security field, it is also known as a fresh value or salt. That is, the pairing factor can be used to identify the uniqueness of the obtained pairing information. For example, the first pairing factor may include one or more of the following: a random number, a number-once (NONCE), or a counter value (e.g., a transmission unit sequence number). The NONCE is a non-repeating random value used only once, and can be generated using a pre-set method to ensure that the value of the NONCE generated each time is different. For example, a vehicle can generate the first pairing factor using a random number generator.

[0097] In some possible implementations, a communication connection is established between the vehicle and the terminal using short-range communication technology. This communication connection enables point-to-point communication (i.e., message sending and receiving) between the terminal and the vehicle. For example, using Bluetooth as a short-range communication technology, the terminal and the vehicle can perform a Bluetooth-based pairing and binding process to establish a Bluetooth communication connection.

[0098] Optionally, after the vehicle successfully establishes a communication connection with the terminal, it actively triggers the generation of the first pairing factor. Alternatively, the generation of the first pairing factor may not require the condition of a successful communication connection to be triggered. For example, the first pairing factor may be pre-generated, such as the vehicle obtaining one or more pairing factors in advance for use when generating pairing information later.

[0099] In some possible scenarios, the establishment of the communication connection can be triggered in response to a user's operation. For example, a digital key application (an exemplary digital key module) is installed in the terminal, and the user enters a pairing instruction in the digital key application, triggering the terminal to pair with the vehicle to establish a communication connection.

[0100] Step S202: The vehicle generates second pairing information.

[0101] For ease of distinction, this application refers to the pairing information generated locally on the vehicle side as the second pairing information, which is related to the first shared key and the first pairing factor. For example, the vehicle generates the second pairing information based on the first shared key and the first pairing factor. The first shared key is used to ensure the privacy of the generated second pairing information, while the first pairing factor, as a fresh parameter for obtaining the second pairing information, can identify the uniqueness of the second pairing information.

[0102] The first shared key is a pre-configured shared key in the vehicle. Referring to Figure 3, the vehicle V1 has a pre-configured first shared key KEY1, which may be configured in the processing module, for example. The processing module can provide the first shared key KEY1 to the pairing information generation module. The pairing information generation module generates second pairing information based on the first shared key KEY1 and the first pairing factor (as shown in step ②).

[0103] The second pairing information is used for digital key pairing, including but not limited to pairing codes, pairing keys, and authentication codes. For example, the second pairing information can be a pairing code, which is a number or string of a certain length, such as a 128-bit value, a 16-bit value, or a 64-bit string. Of course, in specific implementations, the length of the pairing code and the data content in the second pairing information can be designed differently. For example, in addition to the pairing code, the second pairing information may also include the terminal's identification and the vehicle's identification.

[0104] Digital key pairing is a process between the terminal and the vehicle, used to verify the terminal's authority to control the vehicle using the digital key. If the terminal has vehicle control authority, the server will issue pairing information (such as the first pairing information) to the terminal that is consistent with the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle can pair with the terminal using the pairing information to verify the terminal's vehicle control authority.

[0105] In some possible implementations, a communication connection is established between the vehicle and the terminal using short-range communication technology. When the vehicle completes the communication connection with the terminal (e.g., by sending or receiving a pairing completion signal), it can actively trigger the pairing information generation module to generate second pairing information.

[0106] In some possible implementations, the second pairing information generated by the vehicle is valid for a first validity period. That is, the second pairing information generated by the vehicle itself has a certain validity period. Optionally, the expiration period can be implemented by a duration, a timer, a moment, or a date. For example, the pairing information may be valid for a first duration, or valid before the timer ends, or valid before a certain moment or date.

[0107] For example, after a vehicle generates second pairing information, the generated second pairing information can be cached for a first duration (i.e., a first validity period). Within the first duration, the second pairing information is valid for pairing when used by the vehicle. Accordingly, after the first duration expires, the second pairing information becomes invalid. Even if the terminal obtains first pairing information consistent with the vehicle and performs digital key pairing with the vehicle based on the first pairing information, the pairing process will fail because the second pairing information on the vehicle side has expired. The first duration can be predefined, preconfigured, or specified by the protocol.

[0108] Considering some possible scenarios, since the first pairing factor has already been given to the terminal, if the vehicle does not set an expiration date for the second pairing information, and the terminal does not provide it to the server or initiate digital key pairing for an extended period, the vehicle may remain in a state of waiting for digital key pairing. This is detrimental to the closed-loop execution of the process and can easily lead to increased energy consumption. Setting a certain expiration date allows the vehicle to end the relevant process after the second pairing information expires, forming a closed loop and helping to reduce energy consumption.

[0109] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that no secret information can be completely protected from being cracked. For a given secret value, various cracking methods (such as brute-force attacks) can be used to crack it, but the key cracking process often takes a considerable amount of time. Therefore, setting a certain validity period for the second pairing information on the vehicle side can also prevent the second pairing information from being cracked, thereby improving vehicle security. Further, when the first validity period of the second pairing information expires, the vehicle deletes the second pairing information. This prevents attackers from stealing previous pairing information to initiate pairing, further enhancing vehicle security.

[0110] Step S203: The vehicle sends a first pairing factor to the terminal. Accordingly, the terminal receives the first pairing factor from the vehicle.

[0111] The first pairing factor can be sent via a communication channel, which can be a channel established based on short-range communication technology (such as a communication link), an acoustic channel, or other signal channels. For example, a communication channel is established between the vehicle and the terminal before sending the first pairing factor. The vehicle can then send the first pairing factor to the terminal through this communication channel.

[0112] To facilitate understanding, two possible implementations are described below:

[0113] In implementation 1, the first pairing factor is sent via a communication link. In this implementation, the vehicle has already established a communication connection with the terminal, so the vehicle can send the first pairing factor through the communication connection, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the first pairing factor through the communication connection. For example, taking Bluetooth as a short-range communication technology, the vehicle can send the first pairing factor via an unencrypted Bluetooth connection. Referring to Figure 3, after the pairing information generation module generates pairing information, the pairing information is provided to the first communication module, which then sends it to the terminal, for example, to be received by the terminal's second communication module (as shown in step ③).

[0114] In implementation 2, the first pairing factor is transmitted via sound waves. Since sound can carry information—for example, high frequencies can transmit one type of information, while low frequencies transmit another—the first pairing factor can be indicated by changes in the frequency or amplitude of the sound waves. In this application, the vehicle includes a sound wave transmitter, and the terminal includes a sound wave sensor. The vehicle can generate a sound wave signal based on the first pairing factor and transmit the sound wave signal through the sound wave transmitter. Accordingly, the terminal can receive the sound wave signal, analyze the sound wave signal, and identify the first pairing factor.

[0115] Alternatively, sound waves can be replaced by electromagnetic waves, light, or other signals that carry information.

[0116] It should be understood that the execution of step S203, as well as the aforementioned steps S201 and S202, does not depend on the vehicle having a good network condition. For example, when the vehicle's network condition is poor, the first pairing factor can still be provided to the terminal through short-range connections or sound waves.

[0117] In some possible implementations, the terminal may send a first instruction to the vehicle, which instructs the vehicle to send a pairing factor to the terminal. For example, the terminal sends the first instruction to the vehicle via an unencrypted Bluetooth connection channel. The vehicle receives the first instruction and triggers the sending of the first pairing factor. In some schemes, the first instruction may be referred to as a randomly generated factor instruction. It should be noted that the names of the devices, information, and instructions proposed in this application are all examples, and the names may be replaced in specific implementations.

[0118] In some possible implementations, the first instruction is sent in response to a second operation input by the user. Specifically, the terminal receives the second operation information input by the user and sends the first instruction to the vehicle in response to the second operation information. Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a scenario for requesting a pairing factor according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal 10 and the vehicle 20 establish a connection via short-range communication technology, such as a Bluetooth connection. The terminal 10 may present a first interface 120, which includes a first control 121, i.e., the second operation. The user can click (or long-press, or double-click, etc.) the first control 121, and the terminal 10 can receive a confirmation operation input by the user (i.e., the second operation information) and send the first instruction to the vehicle based on the confirmation operation.

[0119] Step S204: The terminal sends the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server. Correspondingly, the server receives the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier from the terminal.

[0120] The vehicle identifier, also known as vehicle information, is used to distinguish different vehicles. Examples include the vehicle's chassis number (VIN), device serial number, and media access control (MAC) address (also called LAN address, hardware address, or physical address). The terminal can obtain the vehicle identifier via short-range communication technology, user input (e.g., user output of the VIN), or pre-sent by other devices, such as a digital key module shared or configured by the vehicle owner or manufacturer. Based on the vehicle identifier, the server can obtain the first shared key corresponding to the vehicle (described below). In some possible implementations, the terminal can send the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server via long-range communication technology, as shown in step ④ of Figure 3. Long-range communication technologies include LTE, Wi-Fi networks with long-range access, 5G, and 4G networks. For example, the server can provide a first service interface, which is the service interface for the digital key service. The terminal can use long-range communication technology to call the first server interface and provide the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server.

[0121] In step S204, since the terminal needs to transmit information with the server, the terminal needs to have the conditions to communicate with the server, such as the terminal's network status needing to support its communication with the server.

[0122] It should be understood that the information transmission between the terminal and the server is separate from the information transmission between the terminal and the vehicle. In the steps preceding step S204, such as the aforementioned step S203, this application does not require the terminal to have a good network connection. That is, in performing the aforementioned step S203, the terminal and the server may not have a communication connection. Of course, this application also applies to cases where the terminal already has the conditions to communicate with the server.

[0123] In this application, the vehicle and the terminal need to obtain consistent pairing information, which is generated based on a first shared key and a first pairing factor. Since the server and the vehicle have pre-shared the first shared key, the server also needs to obtain the first pairing factor to combine the first shared key with the first pairing factor to generate pairing information and distribute it to the terminal. This application provides the first pairing factor generated on the vehicle side to the server via a "vehicle -> terminal -> server" transmission path. The "vehicle -> terminal" stage can be completed using short-range communication technology or sound waves, independent of the network status of the vehicle and the terminal. Only in the "terminal -> server" stage is the terminal required to have network conditions to communicate with the server. Since the terminal is mobile, communication between the terminal and the server has a higher success rate. Compared to the method where the vehicle directly provides the first pairing factor to the server, the embodiments of this application can greatly improve the probability of successful pairing factor transmission.

[0124] In one possible implementation, the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier are sent in response to a first operation input by the user, thus allowing the pairing factor to be uploaded under the user's instruction. Referring to Figure 5, the terminal 10 can display a second interface 130, which includes a second control 131. The user can click (or long-press, or double-click, etc.) the second control 131, i.e., the first operation. In response to the user's first operation, the terminal sends the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server.

[0125] In some possible implementations, the terminal can detect the network status in real time, and when the network status meets the communication conditions, it sends a first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server. Here, "network" refers to a long-distance communication network, i.e., a network capable of communicating with the server, such as the Internet, a Wi-Fi network connected to a long-distance network, LTE, 4G, or 5G.

[0126] Specifically, when the network status of the terminal is detected to meet the communication conditions, the first matching factor and the vehicle's identifier are sent to the server. For example, the communication conditions can be preset, such as: network signal strength greater than a certain threshold, and / or, upload speed greater than a certain threshold.

[0127] In some possible implementations, the terminal may output a prompt message N1, which indicates whether the current communication conditions are met, or whether a pairing factor and vehicle identifier can be sent to the server. Referring to Figure 6, the terminal 10 may display a third interface 140, which includes a second control 131 and a first display area 141. The information displayed in the first display area 141 indicates whether the current communication conditions are met. For example, when the displayed information is as shown in Figure 6, it indicates to the user that the current network status of the terminal meets the communication conditions, and the user can trigger the sending of the first pairing factor and vehicle identifier. Optionally, the second control 131 has an operable state and an inoperable state. When the second control 131 is in an operable state, the user can click on the second control 131 to trigger communication with the server.

[0128] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of another type of third interface 140. When the current state of the terminal does not meet the communication conditions, the information displayed in the first display area 141 is as shown in Figure 7, which can prompt the user that the current network status may not support communication with the server. Furthermore, at this time, the second control 131 is in an inoperable state.

[0129] Furthermore, when the terminal's status does not meet the communication conditions with the server, the terminal can also output a prompt message N2, which prompts the user to move. For example, in the third interface 140, the information displayed in the first display area 142 can be regarded as prompt message N2, which can prompt the user that the terminal's current network status is poor and that the terminal needs to be moved to a location with network access before reporting.

[0130] In some possible implementations, the terminal may output a prompt message N3, also known as a first prompt message. The prompt message N3 is used to indicate the terminal's current network status. Optionally, the terminal may prompt the user about the current network status through sound, light, electricity, or other means. For example, referring to Figure 8, the terminal may present a fourth interface 150, which includes a second display area 151. The information displayed in the second display area is the prompt message N3. For example, the second display area may display the current network signal strength, such as through a stepped graphic indicator. Alternatively, the second display area may display the current upload rate, for example, 2 kilobits per second (1kb / s). By outputting prompt messages in real time to improve the user terminal's current network status, the user can be prompted to move their location, thereby moving the terminal to a location with better network conditions to communicate with the server.

[0131] In some possible implementations, the terminal receives the first pairing factor from the vehicle at a first location and sends the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server at a second location. Here, "location" refers to a physical location, i.e., a location on a map. The first and second locations are different; the communication quality at the second location is higher than that at the first location. For example, the network signal strength or network transmission rate at the second location is higher than at the first location. In other words, the terminal pairs with the vehicle at the first location, then moves a distance to the second location with better communication quality before sending data to the server.

[0132] Step S205: The server obtains the first shared key based on the vehicle's identifier.

[0133] The first shared key is a key shared between the vehicle and the server, meaning that both the vehicle and the server can obtain the first shared key.

[0134] For example, the server can pre-store the shared key corresponding to the vehicle, so the first shared key can be indexed based on the vehicle's identifier. Of course, this storage includes storage in the server's internal memory or in a storage device connected to the server. Referring to Figure 3, the server pre-stores the correspondence between vehicle identifiers and shared keys. When the server receives the vehicle identifier V1, it can determine the first shared key KEY1 using the vehicle identifier V1 and the corresponding relationship.

[0135] Step S206: The server generates first pairing information based on the first shared key and the first pairing factor.

[0136] Since the first shared key is shared between the server and the vehicle, and the first pairing factor is sent from the vehicle to the terminal and then uploaded to the server by the terminal, the first pairing factor obtained by the server is the same as that of the vehicle, assuming no attacker tampering with the first pairing factor. Therefore, the first pairing information generated by the server and the second pairing information generated by the vehicle are consistent under secure communication conditions.

[0137] Wherein, the first pairing factor is used as a fresh parameter to obtain the first pairing information, that is, the first pairing factor is used to represent the uniqueness of the generated first pairing information.

[0138] Referring to the description in step S201 above, since the first shared key is secret information, it is usually not directly transmitted or used. This embodiment uses a first pairing factor as a freshness parameter, making the pairing information generated by the server based on the first shared key distinct, which helps improve the privacy of the first shared key and the security of the pairing information.

[0139] In some possible implementations, the server can authenticate the terminal, and if the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle, the server generates second pairing information. For example, the terminal can send its identity identifier and / or the identity credentials of the logged-in user on the terminal to the server, and the server can determine whether the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle based on the terminal's identity identifier and / or the identity credentials of the logged-in user on the terminal.

[0140] Optionally, the authentication operation can also be performed before this method is executed.

[0141] In some solutions, after the digital key APP is installed on the terminal, the user logs in to the account via account login. At this time, the server can perform authentication operations on the terminal (or replace it with authorization operations) to confirm which vehicles the terminal user has the authority to control.

[0142] Step S207: The server sends the first pairing information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first pairing information from the server.

[0143] The terminal and server can communicate via long-distance communication technology. The terminal can receive the first pairing information sent by the server based on this technology. Referring to Figure 3, the terminal can receive the first pairing information sent by the server via a third communication module (e.g., one that supports long-distance communication technology), as shown in step ⑤ of Figure 3.

[0144] The first pairing information is used for digital key pairing between the terminal and the vehicle. For a description of the digital pairing process, please refer to step S208.

[0145] In some solutions, the terminal can provide the vehicle with initial pairing information for digital key pairing.

[0146] Optionally, the method shown in Figure 2 further includes step S208.

[0147] Step S208: The vehicle performs digital key pairing based on the first pairing information and the second pairing information.

[0148] Both the terminal and the vehicle acquire pairing information, and they can pair their digital keys using the pairing information they each acquire, as shown in step ⑥ of Figure 3. Digital key pairing is performed between the terminal and the vehicle, and is used in the authorization process for the terminal to control the vehicle using the digital key (or digital key module). Its main function is for the vehicle to verify whether the pairing information acquired by the terminal is consistent with the pairing information generated by the vehicle.

[0149] In some possible implementations, the terminal can send first pairing information to the vehicle, and the vehicle receives the first pairing information from the terminal. The vehicle compares the first pairing information with its local second pairing information. If the comparison matches, it indicates that the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle. For example, the terminal can send a pairing request to the terminal, and the user can send control commands to the vehicle through the terminal. The vehicle will also perform corresponding control operations in response to the control commands. These control operations include, but are not limited to, unlocking the car, opening / or closing the car doors, or turning on or off in-vehicle functions (such as air conditioning, fragrance, etc.) one or more of these. Conversely, if the vehicle's local pairing information does not match the pairing information from the terminal, the terminal's pairing information may be forged, and the digital key pairing will fail, preventing the user from controlling the vehicle through the terminal.

[0150] In one possible approach, if the vehicle successfully compares the first pairing information with the locally available second pairing information (i.e., the acquired pairing information matches), the vehicle can send an activation command to the terminal. This activation command indicates that the terminal has permission to control the vehicle. Accordingly, the terminal receives the activation command, which signifies successful authentication. In some approaches, this activation command can activate the digital key function of the digital key module in the terminal, enabling the terminal to control the vehicle via a digital key.

[0151] Of course, the aforementioned method of directly sending pairing information is merely an example and not intended to limit the digital key pairing process. As another example of a digital key pairing process, the terminal can use the pairing information from the server to encrypt, scramble, or derive verification information, and then send the verification information to the vehicle. The vehicle uses its local pairing information to obtain the verification information in the same way, and compares the verification information with the verification information to determine whether the terminal has obtained pairing information consistent with the vehicle's. Alternatively, the digital key pairing process can also refer to some existing digital key pairing processes.

[0152] As can be seen in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the digital key pairing between the terminal and the vehicle can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, the terminal obtains a first pairing factor provided by the vehicle. In the second stage, the terminal can send the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server. The first pairing factor is used by the server to derive pairing information, and the vehicle's identifier is used by the server to index the first shared key corresponding to the vehicle. The terminal can receive pairing information sent by the server, which is generated based on the first pairing factor and the first shared key. Therefore, the pairing information is related to the first pairing factor and the first shared key. In this way, the terminal obtains the pairing information, and based on this pairing information, the terminal can perform digital key pairing with the vehicle.

[0153] In both the first and second stages, the vehicle does not require long-distance communication with the server, enabling silent pairing of the vehicle's digital key. In summary, this application provides a segmented pairing method that does not rely on the vehicle's network status and does not require communication between the vehicle and the server to achieve digital key pairing, significantly increasing the probability of successful pairing. Using the method provided in this application, digital key pairing can also be completed when the vehicle is parked in scenarios such as an underground garage without network access, significantly improving the user experience of using the digital key.

[0154] The methods of the embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. The apparatus of the embodiments of this application is provided below.

[0155] It should be understood that the division of units in the apparatus provided in this application embodiment is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units in the apparatus can be implemented by a processor calling software. For example, the apparatus includes a processor connected to a memory, which stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of each unit of the apparatus. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a CPU or MPU, and the memory is either internal or external to the apparatus.

[0156] Alternatively, the units in the device can be implemented as hardware circuits. The functionality of some or all of the units can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an ASIC, and the functionality of some or all of the above units is achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a PLD (Programmable Logic Controller). Taking an FPGA as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates, and the connection relationships between these logic gates are configured through configuration files to achieve the functionality of some or all of the above units.

[0157] In the embodiments of this application, each unit in the device may be one or more processors (or processing circuits) configured to implement the above methods, such as: CPU, GPU, NPU, TPU, DPU, MPU, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, FPGA, or a combination of at least two of these processor forms.

[0158] Furthermore, the units in the above devices can be integrated in whole or in part, or they can be implemented independently. In one implementation, these units are integrated together and implemented in the form of a System-on-a-Chip (SoC). The SoC may include at least one processor for implementing any of the above methods or implementing the functions of the units in the device. The at least one processor may be of different types, such as including a CPU and an FPGA, or including a CPU and an MCU, or including a CPU and a GPU, etc. Several possible devices are listed below.

[0159] Please refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of a digital key pairing device provided in an embodiment of this application. Optionally, the digital key pairing device 90 can be an independent device, such as a vehicle, terminal, server, processing device, communication module, etc. Alternatively, the digital key pairing device 90 can also be a component in an independent device (such as a digital key pairing device), such as a chip or integrated circuit. The digital key pairing device 90 is used to implement the aforementioned digital key pairing method, such as the digital key pairing method and its possible implementations shown in Figure 2.

[0160] For example, the digital key pairing device 90 includes a communication unit 902 and further includes a processing unit 901. The processing unit 901 is used to perform one or more operations such as processing, determining, generating, calculating, and updating, while the communication unit 902 is used to perform one or more operations such as sending, receiving, and acquiring. It should be understood that the unit division here is only illustrative; in a specific implementation, some units may be combined together, or a single unit may be divided into multiple units.

[0161] In one possible design, the digital key pairing device 90 is used to implement the terminal-side method in the aforementioned digital key pairing method.

[0162] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is configured to receive a first pairing factor from the vehicle, and further configured to send the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server. The communication unit 902 is also configured to receive first pairing information from the server, the first pairing information being used for digital key pairing with the vehicle.

[0163] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is further configured to: send first pairing information to the vehicle and receive an activation command from the vehicle.

[0164] In one possible implementation, the processing unit 901 is used to pair the digital key with the vehicle based on the pairing information to activate the digital key.

[0165] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is further configured to send a first instruction to the vehicle, the first instruction instructing the vehicle to send a pairing factor. Further, the above operation is performed before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle.

[0166] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is further configured to receive second operation information input by the user and, in response to the second operation information, send a first instruction to the vehicle. Further, the above operation is performed before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle.

[0167] In one possible implementation, the digital key pairing device 90 further includes an output unit. The output unit outputs a first prompt message indicating the current network status of the terminal. This output unit may be, for example, a display unit, such as a monitor or display processor.

[0168] In one possible implementation, the output unit is further configured to output a second prompt message when the network status of the terminal meets the communication conditions. The second prompt message is used to prompt the user to confirm sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server.

[0169] Optionally, the terminal may prompt the user through sound, light, or electricity to indicate that the current network status meets the information transmission requirements between the terminal and the server. For example, the terminal may display a second interface, which includes a second prompt message.

[0170] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is further configured to receive first operation information input by the user, and in response to the first operation information, send a first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server.

[0171] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is further configured to send a first matching factor and the vehicle identifier to the server when the network status of the terminal is detected to meet the communication conditions.

[0172] Furthermore, the communication unit 902 and the processing unit 901 are also used to detect the network status of the terminal.

[0173] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is further configured to receive a first pairing factor from the vehicle at a first location. The communication unit 902 is also configured to send the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to a server at a second location.

[0174] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 and the processing unit 901 are further configured to establish a communication link with the vehicle, the communication link being a communication link established based on short-range wireless communication technology. Furthermore, the first pairing factor is transmitted through the communication link.

[0175] In one possible implementation, the digital key pairing device 90 further includes an acoustic wave sensor for receiving a first acoustic wave signal, and the processing unit 901 is further used to analyze the acoustic wave signal to obtain a first pairing factor.

[0176] For a detailed description of the above design, please refer to the description of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0177] In one possible design, the digital key pairing device 90 is used to implement the method on the vehicle side in the aforementioned digital key pairing method.

[0178] In another possible implementation, processing unit 901 is used to generate a first pairing factor and generate second pairing information based on the first pairing factor and a first shared key. Communication unit 902 is used to send the first pairing factor to the terminal and receive the first pairing information from the terminal. Communication unit 902 and processing unit 901 are also used to perform digital key pairing based on the first pairing information and the second pairing information.

[0179] In one possible implementation, the processing unit 901 is further configured to compare the first pairing information and the second pairing information, and the communication unit 902 is further configured to send an activation command to the terminal if the comparison of the first pairing information and the second pairing information is successful. The activation command is used to indicate that the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle.

[0180] In another possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is also configured to receive a first instruction from the terminal, the first instruction being configured to instruct the transmission of a pairing factor.

[0181] In another possible implementation, the communication unit 902 and the processing unit 901 are also used to establish a communication channel with the terminal.

[0182] In another possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is also used to send a first pairing factor to the terminal via a communication channel.

[0183] In yet another possible implementation, the processing unit 901 is further configured to generate an acoustic signal based on a first pairing factor. The digital key pairing device 90 also includes an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal.

[0184] In another possible implementation, the second pairing information is valid during the first validity period. The processing unit 901 is also configured to delete the second pairing information when the first validity period expires.

[0185] For a detailed description of the above design, please refer to the description of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0186] In one possible design, the digital key pairing device 90 is used to implement the server-side method in the aforementioned digital key pairing method.

[0187] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 902 is configured to receive a first pairing factor and a vehicle identifier from the terminal, and the processing unit 901 is configured to obtain a first shared key based on the vehicle identifier, and generate first pairing information based on the first shared key and the first pairing factor. The communication unit 902 is also configured to send the first pairing information to the terminal.

[0188] For a detailed description of the above design, please refer to the description of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0189] Please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic diagram of another digital key pairing device provided in this application embodiment. As shown in Figure 10, the digital key pairing device 100 can be an independent device, such as a vehicle, terminal, server, or computing device. Alternatively, the digital key pairing device 100 can also be a component within an independent device (such as a digital key pairing device), such as a chip or integrated circuit. This digital key pairing device 100 is used to implement the aforementioned digital key pairing method, such as the digital key pairing method and its possible implementations shown in Figure 2.

[0190] The digital key pairing device 100 may include at least one processor 1001 and a memory 1003. Optionally, it may also include a communication interface 1002. Further optionally, it may also include a connection line 1004, wherein the processor 1001, the communication interface 1002 and / or the memory 1003 are connected via the connection line 1004, and / or communicate with each other via the connection line 1004 to transmit control signals and / or data signals.

[0191] in:

[0192] Processor 1001 is a module that performs arithmetic and / or logical operations, and may specifically include one or more of the following modules: CPU, application processor (AP), MCU, ECU, GPU, MPU, ASIC, image signal processor (ISP), DSP, FPGA, complex programmable logic device (CPLD), or coprocessor, etc.

[0193] The communication interface 1002 can be used to provide information input or output to at least one processor, or to receive and / or transmit signals to externally transmitted signals. For example, the communication interface 1002 may include interface circuitry. For instance, the communication interface 1002 may include a wired link interface such as an Ethernet cable, or a wireless link interface (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, general wireless transmission, vehicular short-range communication technology, and other short-range wireless communication technologies, etc.). Optionally, the communication interface 1002 may also include a radio frequency transmitter, an antenna, etc. If the communication interface 1002 includes an antenna, the number of antennas can be one or more.

[0194] As one possible design, if the digital key pairing device 100 is a standalone device, the communication interface 1002 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver and transmitter may be the same component or different components. When the receiver and transmitter are the same component, this component may be referred to as a transceiver.

[0195] As another possible design, if the digital key pairing device 100 is a chip or circuit, the communication interface 1002 may include an input interface and an output interface, which may be the same interface or different interfaces.

[0196] Alternatively, the functions of the communication interface 1002 can be implemented by a transceiver circuit or a dedicated transceiver chip.

[0197] The memory 1003 provides storage space, in which data such as the operating system and computer programs can be stored. The memory 1003 can be one or a combination of several of the following: random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM).

[0198] The functions and actions of each module or unit in the digital key pairing device 100 listed above are merely illustrative examples.

[0199] Each functional unit in the digital key pairing device 100 can be used to implement the aforementioned digital key pairing method, such as the digital key pairing method and its possible implementations shown in FIG2. For example, the digital key pairing device 100 is used to execute the method executed by the first digital key pairing device, or the method executed by the second digital key pairing device, or the method executed by the terminal, or the method executed by the vehicle, or the method executed by the server in the digital key pairing method shown in FIG2.

[0200] Optionally, the processor 1001 may be a processor specifically designed to execute the aforementioned methods (for ease of distinction, referred to as a dedicated processor), or a processor that executes the aforementioned methods by calling a computer program (for ease of distinction, referred to as a dedicated processor). Optionally, at least one processor may include both dedicated processors and general-purpose processors.

[0201] Optionally, if the digital key pairing device 100 includes at least one memory 1003, and the processor 1001 implements the aforementioned digital key pairing method by calling a computer program, the computer program can be stored in the memory 1003.

[0202] This application also provides a chip, which includes logic circuitry and a communication interface. The communication interface is used to receive or transmit signals; the logic circuitry is used to receive or transmit signals through the communication interface. The chip is used to implement the aforementioned digital key pairing method, such as the digital key pairing method and its possible implementations shown in Figure 2.

[0203] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on at least one processor (or digital key pairing device), implement the aforementioned digital key pairing method, such as the digital key pairing method and its possible implementations shown in Figure 2 and other embodiments.

[0204] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer instructions for implementing the aforementioned digital key pairing method, such as the digital key pairing method and its possible implementations shown in FIG2.

[0205] This application also provides a vehicle with a digital key pairing device 90 and / or a digital key pairing device 100. The pairable devices include intelligent terminals or transportation vehicles such as vehicles, robots, drones, ships, and vessels. Alternatively, they may include smart home devices, smart showroom devices, smart factory devices, smart city devices, entertainment devices, etc.

[0206] It should be understood that the aforementioned vehicles are vehicles in a broad sense, which can include transportation vehicles (such as commercial vehicles, passenger cars, motorcycles, flying cars, trains, etc.), industrial vehicles (such as forklifts, trailers, tractors, etc.), engineering vehicles (such as excavators, bulldozers, cranes, etc.), agricultural equipment (such as lawnmowers, harvesters, etc.). Similarly, robots can refer to automated guided vehicles (AGVs), walking and talking robots, service robots, and other types of robots.

[0207] This application also provides a server that includes the aforementioned digital key pairing device 90 and / or digital key pairing device 100.

[0208] This application also provides a terminal, which includes the aforementioned digital key pairing device 90 and / or digital key pairing device 100.

[0209] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0210] In this embodiment, the names of information and devices are exemplarily chosen for ease of understanding of the content of this solution. In specific implementations, their names may be designed differently. Furthermore, the names of the same thing may also be designed differently in different scenarios (e.g., different communication layers).

[0211] In the embodiments of this application, "at least one" refers to one or more items, and "more than one" refers to two or more items. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or a plurality of items.

[0212] For example, at least one of a, b, or c can be represented as: a, b, c, (a and b), (a and c), (b and c), or (a and b and c), where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. "AND / OR" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "OR" relationship.

[0213] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the use of ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc., in the embodiments of this application is for distinguishing multiple objects and is not for limiting the order, sequence, priority, or importance of multiple objects. Similarly, terms like "first operation information" and "second operation information" are merely for convenience in describing operation information in different implementations and do not indicate differences in their importance, structure, etc.

[0214] In the above embodiments, the term "when..." can be interpreted, depending on the context, as meaning "if...", "after...", "in response to determining...", or "in response to detecting...". The above descriptions are merely optional embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the concept and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

[0215] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk.

Claims

1. A digital key pairing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive the first pairing factor from the vehicle; Send the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server, the vehicle's identifier being associated with the first shared key; The system receives first pairing information from the server. The first pairing information is related to a first pairing factor and a first shared key. The first pairing factor is used as a fresh parameter to obtain the first pairing information. The first shared key is a key shared between the server and the vehicle. The first pairing information is used to pair with the vehicle using a digital key.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method is applied to a terminal, and the method further includes: The first pairing information is sent to the vehicle, and the pairing information is used to compare with the second pairing information locally on the vehicle; Receive an activation command from the vehicle, the activation command being sent if the first pairing information and the second pairing information of the vehicle are successfully matched; The activation command is used to indicate that the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle, the method further includes: Send a first instruction to the vehicle, the first instruction being used to instruct the vehicle to send a pairing factor.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method is applied to the terminal; After receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle, the method of sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server further includes: Output a first prompt message, which is used to indicate the current network status of the terminal; And / or, When the network status of the terminal meets the communication conditions, a second prompt message is output. The second prompt message is used to prompt the user to confirm sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server includes: Receive the first operation information input by the user; In response to the first operation information, the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier are sent to the server.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method is applied to the terminal; Before sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier to the server, the method further includes: Detect the network status of the terminal; Sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server includes: When the network status of the terminal is detected to meet the communication conditions, the first matching factor and the vehicle's identifier are sent to the server.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The receiving of the first pairing factor from the vehicle includes: The first pairing factor is received from the vehicle at the first location; Sending the first pairing factor and the vehicle identifier to the server includes: The first pairing factor and the vehicle's identifier are sent to the server from the second location; The first position and the second position are different, and the communication quality corresponding to the second position is higher than that corresponding to the first position.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, Before receiving the first pairing factor from the vehicle, the method further includes: Establish a communication channel with the vehicle, the communication channel including establishing a communication link based on wireless short-range communication technology, or an acoustic wave transmission channel; The receiving of the first pairing factor from the vehicle includes: The first pairing factor is received through the communication channel.

9. A digital key pairing method, characterized in that, The method includes: Generate the first pairing factor; The second pairing information is generated based on the first pairing factor and the first shared key, wherein the first shared key is a key shared between the vehicle and the server, and the first pairing factor is used as a fresh parameter to obtain the second pairing information. Send the first pairing factor to the terminal; Receive first pairing information from the terminal, the first pairing information being provided to the terminal by the server; Digital key pairing is performed based on the first pairing information and the second pairing information.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Based on the pairing information from the terminal and the local pairing information, digital key pairing is performed, including: Compare the first pairing information with the second pairing information; If the first pairing information and the second pairing information are successfully compared, an activation command is sent to the terminal, the activation command being used to indicate that the terminal has the authority to control the vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, Before sending the first pairing factor to the terminal, the method further includes: Receive a first instruction from the terminal, the first instruction being used to instruct the transmission of a pairing factor.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, Before sending the first pairing factor to the terminal, the method further includes: A communication channel is established with the terminal, wherein the communication channel is a communication link established based on wireless short-range communication technology or an acoustic wave transmission channel; Sending the first pairing factor to the terminal includes: The first pairing factor is sent to the terminal through the communication channel.

13. A digital key pairing device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the communication device is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-8, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 9-12.

14. A digital key pairing device, characterized in that, The digital key pairing device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is used to store computer instructions. The processor is configured to invoke computer instructions stored in the memory to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-8, or to execute the method as described in any one of claims 9-12.

15. A terminal, characterized in that, The terminal includes a digital key pairing device, which includes a processor and a memory. The memory provides storage space for storing computer instructions. The processor is used to invoke computer instructions stored in the memory to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-8.

16. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a digital key pairing device, which includes a processor and a memory. The memory provides storage space for storing computer instructions. The processor is used to invoke computer instructions stored in the memory to execute the method as described in any one of claims 9-12.

17. A digital key pairing system, characterized in that, The digital key pairing system includes the terminal as described in claim 15 and the vehicle as described in claim 16.

18. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer language code or computer instructions; When the computer program product is executed by a processor, it causes the method as described in any one of claims 1-8 to be executed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 9-12 to be executed.

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