Description

The present invention relates to a method of driving a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for said vehicle and an user identification unit of said vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 , a system for driving a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for said vehicle and an user identification unit of said vehicle according to the preamble of claim 6, a computer program product and a computer-readable medium.

Such methods, systems, computer program products and computer-readable media are already well known in different embodiments.

Furthermore, the machine translation of the FR 2 929 396 A1 into the English language discloses a system and a method for locating the position of a vehicle by a user. Said known system comprises a portable object intended to be made available to said user, whereat said portable object is equipped with at least one inertial device and means for processing a signal delivered by said internal device to determine a trajectory followed by said portable object. Said known method for implementing said system comprises the following steps: a step of initializing the implementation of the processing means of said portable object as a result of a request of putting in a locking device of vehicle doors of said vehicle, a first step of acquiring a first signal delivered by said inertial device, a first step of processing said first signal to determine a first trajectory, a step of storing said first trajectory, a step of restoring to said user said first trajectory through the implementation of a screen equipping said portable object, a second step of acquiring a second signal delivered by said inertial device, a second step of processing said second signal to determine a second trajectory, a step of implementing means for comparing said first and second trajectories for determining an item of information for retrieving said vehicle. It is an object of the invention to provide a higher level of security by driving a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for a vehicle.

This object is solved by a method of driving a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for said vehicle and an user identification unit of said vehicle according to the features of claim 1 , wherein by means of said movement sensor of said portable user identification device a trajectory of said portable user identification device is determined and stored in said memory on a continuous basis, starting with a point of time ti , to which said portable user identification device is entering a detection range of said receiver of said user identification unit and stopping to a point of time .2, to which said portable user identification device is arriving at said vehicle, whereat said identifying signal, which is transmitted by said transmitter of said portable user identification device to said receiver of said user identification unit of said vehicle, correlates to said trajectory of said portable user identification device, a system for driving a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for said vehicle and an user identification unit of said vehicle according to the features of claim 6, a computer program product according to claim 9 and a computer-readable medium according to claim 10.

A main advantage of the invention is a higher level of security by driving a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for a vehicle. Because of using the invention, said user identification device for said vehicle is determining its position independently from other parts of said system or said vehicle, therefore, said driving of a component of a vehicle by using a portable user identification device for a vehicle is more secure against relay station attacks. Moreover, the invention is energy saving because of determining and recording only a trajectory starting with a point of time ti, to which said portable user identification device is entering a detection range of said receiver of said user identification unit and stopping to a point of time .2, to which said portable user identification device is arriving at said vehicle. Basically, said evaluation of said identifying signal sent by said transmitter of said portable user identification device to said receiver of said user identification unit can be of any useful and applicable manner. Advantageously, said component of said vehicle will be driven by said controller, if said trajectory of said portable user identification device correlating to said identifying signal meets at least one condition defined beforehand, whereat said at least one condition is out of a group of conditions comprising a coherence of data of said trajectory, a length of said trajectory out of a certain range of lengths, a certain spatial course of said trajectory and a velocity of said portable user identification device. Preferably, said component of said vehicle will be driven by said controller, if said trajectory of said portable user identification device correlating to said identifying signal meets at least two of said conditions mentioned above.

An advantageous development of the aforementioned embodiment is, that said at least one condition is defined beforehand according to said detection range of said receiver of said user identification unit of said vehicle. That way, an even higher level of security is possible. Furthermore, differences in the detection ranges of different vehicles can be accounted for.

Another advantageous development of the method according to the invention is, that said point of time ti, to which said portable user identification device is entering said detection range of said receiver of said user identification unit of said vehicle, is stored in said memory of said portable user identification device and said controller of said user identification unit of said vehicle, whereat said evaluation of said identifying signal by said controller is executed according to said point of time ti stored. That way, the security against relay station attacks or other attacks is further improved.

A further advantageous development of the method according to the invention is, that an operation of said movement sensor of said portable user identification device is started and/or stopped according to an amount of energy available to said portable user identification device to operate said portable user identification device in a low power mode. Hereby, a malfunctioning of basic functions of said portable user identification device because of running out of energy due to the usage of said movement sensor of said portable user identification unit is avoided.

Basically, said evaluation of said identifying signal sent by said transmitter of said portable user identification device to said receiver of said user identification unit can be of any useful and applicable manner. Advantageously, the system according to the invention is built in such a manner, that said component of said vehicle will be driven by said controller, if said trajectory of said portable user identification device correlating to said identifying signal meets at least one condition defined beforehand, whereat said at least one condition is out of a group of conditions comprising a coherence of data of said trajectory, a length of said trajectory out of a certain range of lengths, a certain spatial course of said trajectory and a velocity of said portable user identification device.

In general, said movement sensor of said system according to the invention can be of any useful and applicable type, design, material, dimension and arrangement. Advantageously, said movement sensor is built as a 9-axes-sensor. A 9-axes-sensor is a sensor, which comprises three acceleration sensors for measuring in x, y, z directions, three gyroscopes for measuring turns around said x, y, z directions and three magnetometers for measuring in said x, y, z directions.

The figure is a schematic illustration of a system according to the present invention, wherein only the details necessary for the understanding of the invention are shown.

It is shown by:

Fig. 1 an embodiment of a system according to the invention in a partial view. Fig. 1 displays an embodiment of a system for driving a component 2.1 of a vehicle 2 by using a portable user identification device 4 for said vehicle 2 and an user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 according to the invention. Said portable user identification device 4 is designed as a key fob and comprises a movement sensor 4.1 , a memory 4.2 and a transmitter 4.3. Said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 comprises a receiver 2.2.1 and a controller 2.2.2, whereat said controller 2.2.2 is built in such a manner, that an identifying signal sent by said transmitter 4.3 of said portable user identification device 4 to said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 can be evaluated by said controller 2.2.2 and said component 2.1 of said vehicle 2 can be driven by said controller 2.2.2 according to said evaluation of said identifying signal. Said movement sensor 4.1 of said portable user identification device 4 is designed as a 9-axes-sensor, comprising three acceleration sensors for measuring in x, y, z directions, three gyroscopes for measuring turns around said x, y, z directions and three magnetometers for measuring in said x, y, z directions. Said component 2.1 of said vehicle 2 is designed as a central locking system of said vehicle 2. Said identifying signal sent by said transmitter 4.3 of said portable user identification device 4 to said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 is symbolized by an arrow 6.

The function of said system as well as the method according to the embodiment of Fig. 1 are explained as follows:

A user of said vehicle 2 is deboarding said vehicle 2 while carrying said portable user identification device 4. The user is not displayed. After deboarding from said vehicle 2, said user carrying said portable user identification device 4 walks a certain path away from said vehicle 2, for example, to do some shopping. After a while, said user walks again back to said vehicle 2 for boarding said vehicle 2 and to drive away. To a certain point of time ti, said user reaches an outer boarder of a detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2, thus said portable user identification device 4 is entering said detection range of said vehicle 2 heading inbound to said point of time ti . Said outer boarder of said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 is symbolized in Fig. 1 by a broken line 3. By means of said movement sensor 4.1 of said portable user identification device 4 a trajectory of said portable user identification device 4 is determined and stored in said memory 4.2 on a continuous basis, starting with said point of time ti, to which said portable user identification device 4 is entering said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2, and stopping to a point of time .2, to which said portable user identification device 4 is arriving at said vehicle 2, whereat said identifying signal 6, which is transmitted by said transmitter 4.3 of said portable user identification device 4 to said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2, correlates to said trajectory of said portable user identification device 4. Said movement sensor 4.1 determines a spatial trajectory of said portable user identification device 4.

Said path walked by said user is symbolized in Fig. 1 by a number of dots 8 and arrows 10. Each dot 8 symbolizes a certain position of said portable user identification device 4 carried by said user to a certain point of time. Each arrow 10 symbolizes a certain distance and direction said portable user identification device 4 has been carried by said user. At said point of time ti , to which said portable user identification device 4 is entering said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 by passing said outer boarder 3 of said detection range heading inbound, said movement sensor 4.1 of said portable user identification device 4 starts to determine a trajectory of said portable user identification device 4.

While said user walks further towards said vehicle 2 carrying said portable user identification device 4, said portable user identification device 4 is moving further on along a path displayed by said arrows 10 starting at said boarder 3 of said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 heading inbound. Said trajectory detected and recorded starting at said point of time ti and stopping at said point of time .2 is displayed in Fig. 1 by closed line arrows 10. The path walked by said user starting from said departing of said vehicle 2 until said point of time ti said user is entering said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 by crossing said outer border 3 of said detection range heading inbound is displayed in Fig. 1 by dotted line arrows 10, because this path is not detected and not recorded. Thus, this path displayed by said dotted arrows 10 is not part of said trajectory of said portable user identification device 4 transmitted as said identifying signal 6. The determination and the recording of the trajectory of said portable user identification device 4 by using said movement sensor 4.1 and said memory 4.2 started to said point of time ti goes on until said point of time .2 has been reached.

At said point of time t2 said portable user identification device 4 is arriving at said vehicle 2. The position of said portable user identification device 4 corresponding to said point of time t2 is displayed in Fig. 1 with a certain distance to said vehicle 2 in order to support the explanations given to the embodiment shown by Fig. 1 . In reality, said user carrying said portable user identification device 4 touches a door handle 2.3.1 of a door 2.3 of said vehicle 2. Said vehicle 2 comprises five doors 2.3 in total, each with a door handle 2.3.1 . In each of said door handles 2.3.1 of said vehicle 2 a touch-sensitive sensor is integrated. Said touch-sensitive sensors are not displayed. By touching one of said door handles 2.3.1 of said doors 2.3 said user initiates a transmission of said identifying signal 6 by said transmitter 4.3 of said portable user identification device 4 to said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2. Said identifying signal 6 correlates to said trajectory of said portable user identification device 4 starting from said point of time ti while entering said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 and stopping to said point of time .2, to which said portable user identification device 4 is arriving at said vehicle 2. Thus, the trajectory of said portable user identification device 4 determined by said movement sensor 4.1 and recorded by said memory 4.2 for said period of time, starting with said point of time ti and ending with said point of time .2, is transmitted to said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 via said transmitter 4.3 of said portable user identification device 4. Said vehicle 2 did not move in said period of time beginning with ti and ending with .2.

Said controller 2.2.2 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 evaluates said identifying signal 6 sent by said transmitter 4.3 and received by said receiver 2.2.1 . Because of the fact, that said trajectory of said portable user identification device 4 for said period of time from said point of time ti until said point of time .2 correlating to said identifying signal 6 meets all conditions defined beforehand, said controller 2.2.2 of said user identification unit 2.2 is driving said component 2.1 ; thus, said central locking system 2.1 of said vehicle 2 is unlocking said doors 2.3. For example, said position of said vehicle 2 can be determined by a movement sensor of said vehicle 2 or any other useful and applicable type of determining a position of said vehicle 2. Said position determined as mentioned before can be stored in a memory of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2 in order to evaluate said identifying signal 6 of said user identification device 4.

Said conditions defined beforehand are a coherence of data of said trajectory, a length of said trajectory out of a certain range of lengths, a certain spatial course of said trajectory and a velocity of said portable user identification device 4. Furthermore, said at least one condition is defined beforehand according to said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2. Thus, said conditions which have to be met by said trajectory correlating to said identifying signal 6 are tailored to the specific type of said vehicle 2. Said component 2.1 of said vehicle 2 will be driven only, if said data of said trajectory, said length of said trajectory, said spatial course of said trajectory and said velocity of said portable user identification device 4 are matching said conditions defined beforehand according to said vehicle 2 with said specific detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2. For example, would said length of said trajectory be too short for said detection range of said vehicle 2 or would said spatial course of said trajectory be such, that said portable user identification device 4 and therefore said user had to cross said vehicle 2, said component 2.1 of said vehicle 2 would not be driven by said controller 2.2.2 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2. The same is true, if said data of said trajectory is not coherent. For instance, said trajectory would start inside said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 and not at said outer boarder 3 of said detection range of said receiver 2.2.1 of said user identification unit 2.2 of said vehicle 2. A requirement for said velocity of said portable user identification device 4 could be to be not higher than a certain velocity while said user reaches said vehicle 2 to said point of time .2, namely while said user is touching said door handle 2.3.1 of said door 2.3 of said vehicle 2. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments of the inventive system and the inventive method discussed above. The portable user identification device could not only be designed as a key fob, but could be of any useful and applicable type. For example, the portable user identification device could be a smartphone or something similar. The same is true for the component of the vehicle, which is not limited to be a central locking system, but could be of any useful and applicable type, too.

Said movement sensor of said vehicle according to the explained embodiment of the invention as well as of alternative embodiments could also be of any useful and applicable type, material, dimension and arrangement. For instance, said movement sensor of said vehicle could be a GNSS sensor in order to use a global navigation satellite system. Said movement sensor of said vehicle could also be a movement sensor of a portable device which is linked in a signal transmitting manner to said user identification unit of said vehicle.

Furthermore, said point of time ti , to which said portable user identification device is entering said detection range of said receiver of said user identification unit of said vehicle, could be stored in said memory of said portable user identification device and said controller of said user identification unit of said vehicle, whereat said evaluation of said identifying signal by said controller could be executed according to said point of time ti stored. Hereby, the level of security against relay station attacks or other attacks is further increased.

In other embodiments, an operation of said movement sensor of said portable user identification device is started and/or stopped according to an amount of energy available to said portable user identification device to operate said portable user identification device in a low power mode. That way, basic functions of said portable user identification device are not affected by a movement sensor of the invention. For example, said movement sensor could be deactivated after a certain amount of time. Thus, after deactivating said movement sensor, said portable user identification device is used like a usual key fob. For instance, in order to unlock a central locking system a user would have to press a button of said key fob. The invention relates also to a computer program product, comprising instructions to cause the inventive system, for example, the system according to the explained embodiment, to execute the steps of the inventive method, for example, the method according to the explained embodiment, and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon such a computer program product.

The signal transmissions between said portable user identification device and said user identification unit of said vehicle as well as a signal transmission between exterior devices and said user identification unit for determining the position of said vehicle at a certain point of time could be secured by using cryptographic techniques.

List of reference numbers

2 Vehicle

2.1 Component of the vehicle 2

2.2 User identification unit of the vehicle 2

2.2.1 Receiver of the user identification unit 2.2

2.2.2 Controller of the user identification unit 2.2

2.3 Doors of the vehicle 2

2.3.1 Door handles of the doors 2.3

4 Portable user identification device

4.1 Movement sensor of the portable user identification device 4

4.2 Memory of the portable user identification device 4

4.3 Transmitter of the portable user identification device 4

6 Identifying signal

8 Positions of the portable user identification device 4

10 Distances and directions of movement of the portable user identification device 4