Locking Unit Communication Manipulation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing remote-controlled locking systems face challenges in detecting manipulation of communication between the locking unit and the remote control, leading to false alarms and user inconvenience due to interference signals, which can impair the locking process.

Innovation Solution

The system detects the user's intention to lock and checks for interference signals, generating a warning only when necessary, and selects a radio channel with minimal interference for reliable communication, using sensors and multiple radio channels to ensure accurate authentication and successful locking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system generates warnings for any detected interference signals, then the reliability of detecting manipulation is improved, but the number of false alarms increases causing user inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of interference signal power level to distinguish between significant interference and background noise. By setting a threshold power level, the system only generates warnings for interference signals exceeding this threshold, thereby maintaining detection reliability while reducing false alarms that would otherwise inconvenience users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the system checks for interference signals during every locking operation, then the security against manipulation is improved, but the complexity of the locking system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of interference signals before the locking operation completes. By checking for interference signals in advance during the locking process, the system ensures security reliability without requiring complex post-locking verification procedures, thus avoiding excessive system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple radio channels are used for communication, then the reliability of locking operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is segmented into multiple independent radio channels. Each channel can be independently monitored for interference signals, allowing the system to maintain reliable locking operations by switching to alternative channels if interference is detected, while keeping each individual channel relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3210838B1Method for detecting a manipulation of the communication between a locking unit and a corresponding remote control
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3210838B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3210838B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments relate to method 500 and devices 120 for detecting manipulation of communication between a remotely controlled locking unit 110 and a corresponding remote control 200. The method comprises detecting 510 an intention to lock. If an intention to lock can be detected, the next step of the method involves detecting 520 interference signals that impair communication. If such interference signals can be detected, a subsequent step of the method involves generating 530 a warning signal.