Smartphone Vehicle Key Fob Control via Smartkey Presence Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved techniques to operate security, convenience, and monitoring features of vehicle control systems (VCS) equipped vehicles without carrying a key, key fob, or analogous access device, particularly enabling temporary and limited access using a mobile device like a smartphone.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system coupled with a mobile device via a short-range radio frequency connection, simulating the presence of a smartkey by sensing challenges and generating responses, allowing the mobile device to control features like engine start, locking, and alarm activation through a communication link, using processors and transceivers like Bluetooth®, and a smartkey power control module to manage smartkey-enabled features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile device is used to control vehicle features without a physical key, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control system acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the vehicle features. The system receives commands from the mobile device, verifies them against stored access permissions and conditions, and then executes appropriate actions. This intermediary layer maintains security while enabling mobile device operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of key functionality by simulating smartkey presence through challenge-response authentication. The mobile device replicates the authentication protocol of a physical smartkey, allowing it to control vehicle features without the physical device. This copying approach maintains security protocols while enabling new access methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If temporary and limited access is provided to vehicles, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts access permissions based on pre-configured parameters. Access rights, time windows, and operational limitations are set in advance but automatically enforced in real-time. The system adapts its behavior based on the specific access grant received, providing different levels of vehicle control to different users without requiring complex manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Access permissions, time windows, and operational limits are configured in advance before the mobile device needs to access the vehicle. The vehicle control system stores these pre-defined access grants and automatically applies them when the mobile device presents valid authentication. This preliminary configuration reduces real-time complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
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
Enables secure and convenient operation of VCS-equipped vehicles using a smartphone, allowing temporary access and control of features like engine start, locking, and alarm management without the need for a physical key, enhancing user convenience and security.
Implementation Method 1
a relatively short range radio frequency VCS transceiver and a relatively short range radio frequency mobile device transceiver... to transmit to the vehicle control system the transmissions through the communication link
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identify smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to the communications.