Digital Car Key Remote Vehicle Control for Secure Valet Parking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies for remotely controlling a motor vehicle lack adequate safety measures and integration with existing components, particularly in automated valet parking systems.

Innovation Solution

A control device equipped with a radio beacon and a control unit using a digital car key compliant with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standards, employing UWB and Bluetooth technologies for precise positioning and authentication, to securely guide the vehicle to a destination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote control of motor vehicle is implemented without digital car key authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and security deteriorate due to unsolicited access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control operationVSAvoidvehicle security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A digital car key acts as an intermediary authentication mechanism between the control device and the motor vehicle. The control device must present a valid digital car key to the vehicle's control unit before remote control commands are accepted, thereby mediating access control and preventing unsolicited operations while maintaining ease of legitimate use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If precise positioning system with radio beacon is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle position determinationVSAvoidpositioning system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radio beacon system is integrated into the existing digital car key infrastructure, where the beacon serves multiple functions: it provides positioning information for automated valet parking, enables authentication through the digital car key, and communicates with the vehicle's control unit. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the added positioning capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If automated valet parking system is implemented, then productivity is improved, but safety risks increase due to lack of human intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking operation efficiencyVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the control unit monitors the vehicle's position relative to the destination, verifies authentication status through digital car key validation, and adjusts control signals accordingly. The radio beacon provides real-time position feedback, and the system only executes parking maneuvers when safety conditions are confirmed, enabling automated operation while maintaining safety through constant monitoring and verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures safe and precise automated vehicle movement, protecting against unsolicited access and enabling efficient service operations in closed areas without human intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a radio beacon that is disposed at a fixed location outside the motor vehicle; and a control unit with a storage for holding a digital car key for said motor vehicle. The control unit is adapted to determine a position of the vehicle relative to said radio beacon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The Digital Car Key (DCK) proposes an asymmetric cryptographic method for bi-directional authentication. A digital car key typically comprises a public and a private key which form an insolvable pair. Authentication may be done using a challenge-response scheme based on the key pair.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAsymmetric cryptography:

Implementation Method 3

It is especially preferred that the radio beacon uses Ultra Wide Band (UWB) and/or the wireless interface uses Bluetooth. UWB may advantageously support good precision of the determined position.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight measurement: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP4674731A1Remotely controlling a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4674731A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674731A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674731A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A control device (110) for a motor vehicle (105) is proposed, the control device (110) comprising a radio beacon (150) that is disposed at a fixed location outside the motor vehicle (105); and a control unit (140) with a storage (145) for holding a digital car key for said motor vehicle (105). The control unit is adapted to determine a position (165) of the vehicle (105) relative to said radio beacon (150); to determine a destination (155) for said vehicle (105); to authenticate against the motor vehicle (105) using said digital car key; to determine a movement control signal such that the vehicle (105) may move itself from the determined position (165) to the destination (155); and to transmit said movement control signal to said motor vehicle (105).