Field

The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses and computer program products related to renting a vehicle.

Background

Most vehicles today may be unlocked and started using an electronic key. Vehicle start and entry systems are known in which the user needs to press an unlocking button on the electronic key to unlock the vehicle. Start and entry systems are also known in which the vehicle may be unlocked and started without the user having to press a button of a key or having to insert the key in any arrangement. Such start and entry systems are often called keyless start and entry systems. With keyless start and entry systems, the vehicle may be unlocked automatically when the key is detected within a certain distance from the vehicle. In order to start the vehicle, a start button within the vehicle usually is pressed while the key is wirelessly detected as being located near or within the vehicle.

Today, smartphones or other electronic devices may function as the vehicle key. That means that when the user's smartphone is detected within a certain distance from the vehicle, the vehicle may be unlocked and subsequently started when, in addition, a start button within the vehicle is pressed. This reduces the number of devices a user has to carry with him. Such electronic device -implemented key is often referred to as a virtual key.

Figure 1 illustrates a known method for renting a vehicle (10) for temporary use. The process starts by the user reading (101) typically a two-dimensional code (21), such as a QR-code, carried by the vehicle (10) with his/her mobile device (20). This two-dimensional code comprises instructions for an application running in the mobile device (20) to contact a server (40) over a data communication network (30) and sending a request (102) to the server (40) for an authorization to use the vehicle (10). The application is implemented as computer-executable code which, when executed in the mobile device (20), performs operations in the mobile device so that the application operates as a functional part of a rental management system. A mobile device in which the application is executed may also be referred to as a mobile client.

Typically, the request (102) is sent over internet, utilizing cellular or other wireless connectivity provided by the mobile device (20). Upon checking by the server (40) that the user is authorized, the server sends (103) unlocking instructions and settings to the vehicle (10) over the internet. The settings are stored in a memory of the vehicle (10) for further user. Settings may comprise for example unlocking the vehicle and possibly information on applicable authorization period. For this purpose, the vehicle shall have capability to communicate over the data communication network (30) and it should also be in a location that has network coverage so that communication between the server (40) and the vehicle (10) is possible. In a typical example, the vehicle (10) thus needs to be provided with cellular or other type of wireless connectivity. The server (40) further sends an acknowledgement to the mobile device (20), wherein the acknowledgement confirms to the user that the server (40) has now unlocked the vehicle (10) and it is ready for use by the user.

Description of the related art

Patent application W02020011802 Al discloses using two different virtual keys for unlocking and starting a vehicle. One virtual key is provided to the vehicle and the other to the mobile device acting as virtual key. Virtual keys may be valid for a limited amount of time and/or for a limited number of enabling events.

Patent application US 2019/0193678 Al discloses using a remote code received from a smart phone via a Bluetooth connection for unlocking a bicycle.

Patent application EP 3321874 Al discloses a lock that unlocks an asset in response to wireless communication between a network terminal station and a mobile device. Patent application US 2020/0013238 Al discloses a user terminal that communicates with a vehicle to obtain usage right to use the vehicle for a certain period.

A problem with the prior art is that the virtual key in the user's mobile device, just like an electronic key or a traditional key, must be carried by the user when the user wants to use the vehicle or to access features of the vehicle. Most virtual key arrangements primarily focus on ensuring security; the vehicle should not be available for use by any unauthorized persons, and a valid virtual key is required to be present when the rental vehicle is used.

Summary

An object is to provide a method and apparatus so as to solve the problem of enabling ease of use of a rented vehicle without a requirement to constantly carry any type of key for being authorized to access or use the vehicle. The objects of the present invention are achieved with methods according to the claim 1 and claim 7. The objects of the present invention are further achieved with apparatuses according to claims 12 and 14 and with computer program products according to claims 13 and 15.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, a method performed by a mobile device for enabling use of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a unique identifier of the vehicle via communication with a control unit of a vehicle over a short- range wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) connection, sending a request to a server over a data-communication network, wherein the request comprises the unique identifier of the vehicle, receiving an acknowledgement from the server, wherein the acknowledgement comprises authorization information, and forwarding at least part of the authorization information to control unit of the vehicle over the short-range wireless connection. The authorization information forwarded to the control unit of the vehicle is configured to enable use of the vehicle and/or at least one feature of the vehicle.

According to a second aspect, the authorization information determines a rental term and/or the authorization information comprises at least one authorization key and one or more settings.

According to a third aspect, the authorization information comprises at least one authorization key and one or more settings, and wherein the at least part of the authorization information sent to the control unit of the vehicle comprises at least one authorization key and the one or more settings.

According to a fourth aspect, the method further comprises, upon or prior to expiry of the rental term, receiving a first authorization request message from the control unit of the vehicle over the short-range wireless connection, and if authorization information for a subsequent rental term is available at the mobile device, sending the authorization information to the vehicle over the short-range wireless connection in response to the first authorization request message. If authorization information for the subsequent rental term is not available at the mobile device, sending a second authorization request message to the server over the data communication network for obtaining authorization information for the subsequent rental term. Upon receiving authorization information from the server, forwarding the respective at least part of the authorization information to the control unit of the vehicle over the short-range wireless connection.

According to a fifth aspect, the control unit of the vehicle is configured, on basis of the authorization information, to independently enable use of the vehicle or the at least one feature of the vehicle over the entire rental term without further requesting authorization information from any other device.

According to a sixth aspect, the rental term determines at least one of a predetermined period of time for using the vehicle, a predetermined period of time for using at least one feature of the vehicle, a predetermined number of uses of the vehicle, and a predetermined number of uses of at least one feature of the vehicle.

According to a further aspect, a mobile device is provided that comprises an application configured to perform the above method steps.

According to a yet further aspect, a computer program product is provided comprising computer executable code which, when executed by a computer or computer system performs the method steps according to any of the above method aspects.

According to another aspect, a computer program product embodied on a non- transitory computer readable medium is provided that when executed by a processor performs a method according to any of the above method aspects.

According to a seventh aspect, a method for enabling use of a vehicle, performed by a control unit of the vehicle, is provided. The method comprises communicating with a mobile device over a short-range wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) connection, receiving authorization information from the mobile device over the short-range wireless connection; and enabling use of the vehicle and/or at least one feature of the vehicle in response to receiving the authorization information.

According to an eighth aspect, the authorization information determines a rental term, and/or the authorization information comprises at least one authorization key and one or more settings.

According to a tenth aspect, in response to receiving the authorization information, the method comprises determining whether the authorization information comprises a valid authorization key, and, in response to determining that the authorization key is valid, autonomously enabling use of the vehicle and/or use of the at least one feature of the vehicle according to the rental term without further requesting authorization information from any other device during the rental term.

According to an eleventh aspect, the method further comprises, before or upon expiry of the rental term, sending a first authorization request message to the mobile device over the short-range wireless connection for requesting authorization information for a subsequent rental term, receiving, from the mobile device, authorization information for the subsequent rental term, and in response to receiving authorization information for the subsequent rental term, determining whether an authorization key in the received authorization information is valid, and in response to determining that the authorization key is valid, enabling use of the vehicle and/or at least one feature of the vehicle for the subsequent rental term.

According to a further aspect, a vehicle is provided comprising a control unit configured to perform any of the method steps according to any of the seventh to the eleventh aspects.

According to a yet further aspect, a computer program product is provided comprising computer executable code which, when executed by a computer or computer system performs the method steps according to any of the seventh to the eleventh aspects.

According to another aspect, a computer program product embodied on a non- transitory computer readable medium is provided that when executed by a processor performs a method according to any of the seventh to the eleventh aspects.

The present invention is based on the idea of using internet connectivity of the mobile device for transferring information to the vehicle and supervising the rental term independently by the vehicle. The present invention has the advantage that the vehicle does not need itself capability for internet connection over a long-range data communication network. The system also facilitates ease of use of the vehicle, in particular when the vehicle has been rented for a preset rental term, while ensuring that upon expiry of the rental term, the vehicle can no more be used until a new properly authorized rental term is determined to be valid.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail, in connection with preferred embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an existing method of renting a vehicle.

Figure 2 illustrates a new method of renting a vehicle.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a method of authorizing a user.

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of a method of authorizing a user.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrates information shown in a display unit of a vehicle.

Figure 6 illustrates a first computing device.

Figure 7 illustrates a second computing device.

Detailed description

The figure 2 illustrates a method of renting a vehicle according to the invention.

In the following description, the term "vehicle" may be used for referring to the vehicle itself or to programmatic operations performed by a control unit of the vehicle. It is clear to a skilled person from the respective context, which one is referred to.

The vehicle (10) is enabled for short-range wireless communication only. For example, the vehicle may be enabled for Bluetooth™ low energy (BLE) communication. With short-range wireless communication we refer to any wireless communication technology that is capable of wirelessly exchanging data between two communication units over a limited distance, for example in a range between a couple of centimeters to a few meters. The mobile device (20) detects the vehicle (10) by the short-range wireless communication technology, and a communication connection is established between the two, preferably automatically. Establishment of the communication may require some manual step, for example enabling communication over the respective communication technology and/or activating an application in the mobile device (20). Alternatively, an application running on background may activate automatically upon detection of communication by a vehicle (10) over the short-range wireless communication channel. Upon establishment of the short-range wireless connection, the mobile device (20) receives (201) at least a unique identifier of the vehicle (10) from the vehicle (10) over the short-range wireless communication.

If the vehicle and/or its short-range wireless communication apparatus is not switched on when the user approaches the vehicle (10), i.e. the vehicle is off or in an idle or other power saving state, the user, like any other person, may be allowed to activate a control device of the vehicle to enable establishment of the short-range wireless communication.

Upon receiving the unique identifier of the vehicle, the application running on the mobile device (10) utilizes the wireless communication capabilities of the mobile device for contacting a server (40) over a data communication network (30). The application sends an access request (202) to the server (40), wherein the access request is a request for accessing features of the vehicle (10). The access request (202) is preferably sent over internet, utilizing cellular or other wireless connectivity provided by the mobile device (10) for connecting to the internet. The server (40) checks the received access request (202) and determines whether the mobile device of the user is duly authorized for accessing features of the vehicle (10).

The user may be readily registered to the vehicle rental service. For example, a registration of the user may be performed by the user when installing the application in the mobile device (20). If a request is received from a user that has not registered to the vehicle rental service, a registration process may be initiated upon receiving a first request (202) from this particular user. Registration process comprises exchange of data between the mobile device (20) or other computing device of the user and the server (40), and the registration preferably includes generation of a unique user identifier, as known in the art.

A registered user may buy him/herself access to vehicle rental services by performing a purchase, using any known web purchasing method suitable to be used by the vehicle rental service. Preferably, the vehicle rental is subscription based. In other words, the purchase defines a rental term. The rental term may be defined for example as a time period during which the user is authorized to use the vehicle, and/or as number of times the user is authorized to use the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the user subscribes to a repeating service, for example to a daily, weekly or monthly subscription and/or to a predetermined number of usage times. A predetermined number of uses defining the rental term is preferably at least two. A predetermined period of time defining the duration of time of the rental term is preferably a predetermined number of minutes, hours, days, weeks or months.

If the user or mobile device is not readily authorized, the server (40) may initiate a rental subscription process, in which the user performs a purchase that defines a subscription model, and the user is requested to perform the purchase using the application. In addition to access to use the vehicle, the purchase may further define authorization for accessing selected features of the vehicle. Upon completing the purchase, or upon detecting that the user has already a valid, paid subscription, the server (40) sends an acknowledgement (203) to the mobile device (20). The acknowledgement (203) comprises authorization information. Authorization information is preferably encrypted, and it comprises one or more authentication keys and one or more settings. At least a portion of the authorization information is intended for use of the vehicle (10) and some is intended for use of the mobile device (20). The mobile device (20) forwards (204) the portion of the authorization information intended for the vehicle to the vehicle (10) over the short-range wireless communication connection. The vehicle checks the authorization information. Upon determining, by the vehicle (10), that valid authorization information was received, use of features of the vehicle (10) is enabled according to the one or more settings, and the rental term is initiated. Determining, whether the authorization information is valid comprises determining, whether the at least one authentication key is valid. Any known oneway or two-way encryption method may be used without departing from the scope.

Settings may comprise a simple on/off type authorization. Settings may define the rental term. The rental term may comprise information on a predefined length of the rental period, during which authorization is valid so that the vehicle (10) is unlocked and may be used. The rental term may comprise information on a predefined number of times the vehicle may be used after receiving the settings, before new authorization is required. The settings may further comprise information on features enabled in the vehicle. For example, enabled feature may be a predefined maximum speed or a predefined maximum operation period per each time the vehicle is used, a predefined maximum power available, or a predefined maximum operation distance. Settings may also define that lights of the vehicle are to be set on or off. Settings may also define capacity of the battery.

For example, the rental term may authorize for using the vehicle for N times during an unlimited period of time, or the rental term may authorize for using the vehicle for a maximum of N times during a limited period of time. The rental term may authorize for using the vehicle for any number of times during a predefined period of time. The rental term may authorize for operating the vehicle for N times, wherein each of the N operation times have a predefined maximum duration or a predefined maximum distance so that operating the vehicle by a period that exceeds the maximum duration or maximum distance spends another of the N times. Upon expiration of the rental term defined in the authorization, the authorization needs to be checked again, before the user (or any user) is authorized to operate the vehicle and/or its features as defined by the respective settings.

Since the application in the mobile device handles communicating of the authorization information to the vehicle over the short-range wireless communication, the vehicle does not need to have any cellular or internet communication capability of its own to enable allocation of the vehicle to a user and authorization of the mobile device of the user as a virtual key for using the vehicle over the rental term.

According to one embodiment, the vehicle (10) is unlocked automatically, when the authorized mobile device (20) arrives within the range of the short-range wireless communication from the vehicle (10), or within a predefined subrange of the short-range wireless communication from the vehicle (10). For example, signal strength of the short-range wireless communication of the mobile device (20) may be used by the vehicle and/or the application for detecting, whether the mobile device (20) is within the predefined subrange.

If the request is not accepted by the server (40) for any reason, it sends a rejection message instead, and use of the vehicle is not authorized. The rejection message does not comprise any authorization information to be forwarded to the vehicle (10).

Figure 3 illustrates a further enhancement of the invention as a flow chart. The user (5) first switches on (301) power of the vehicle (10). Upon activating, a control unit of the vehicle (10) performs first an independent, internal authorization check (302). The settings stored in the memory may define a predefined rental term. The internal authorization check comprises checking whether the predefined rental term is still valid. If the rental term is still valid, i.e. the rental period is ongoing and/or a non-zero amount of power on times is left, the vehicle and/or one or more features of the vehicle is/are unlocked (303) and ready to be used. It should be noticed that this internal authorization check does not require any connection to the server (40) nor to the mobile device (20), and the vehicle can be made available for use by any user during the rental term, i.e. during the currently ongoing valid rental period and/or for the predefined number of times without requiring presence of the mobile device (20) or any other type of key or virtual key. This is very convenient for the user, who does not need to carry any authorization device for using the vehicle (10) during the rental term.

If the internal authorization check (302) determines that there is no valid rental term, the vehicle (10) is not unlocked. Instead, the vehicle (10) tries to establish a connection with the mobile device (20). If the mobile device (20) is within range of the short-range wireless communication, the vehicle (10) sends a first authorization request (309) to the application in the mobile device (20) for determining (304), whether the mobile device (20) has valid authorization information for a new rental term. If the application in the mobile device (20) determines, that valid authorization information is available, relevant authorization information is provided (305) to the vehicle (10) over the short- range wireless communication and stored in the memory of the vehicle (10), and the rental term is initiated according to settings. The user is now authorized to use the vehicle (10) according to the settings.

If the application determines (304), upon receiving the first authorization request(309), that the mobile device (20) does not have valid authorization information, the application on the mobile device (20) sends a second authorization request (310) to the server (40) over the data communication network for checking, whether the user is authorized. For example, the server (40) may check whether the user has paid all his/her outstanding bills and is thus authorized.

After initializing the first rental period the vehicle rental service is preferably subscription-based. The system may send invoices to the user periodically, for example monthly, or the system may perform automatic billing of customer's account or credit card periodically. If all outstanding invoices have been paid, the server (40) generates (307) new authorization information for the mobile device for the next rental term in response to receiving the second authorization request, and returns the relevant authorization information over the data-communication network to the mobile device (20). The application in the mobile device (20) causes the mobile device to forward the authorization information to the vehicle (10) for unlocking. The authorization information includes all required information on the new rental term for the vehicle (10), such as at least one authorization key and one or more settings.

If there are unsettled invoices, the server (40) recognizes this and does not send any new authorization information to the mobile device (20). The server (40) may send refusal information (308) to the application. The user application may then notify the user, that there is no valid authorization for using the vehicle (10), and possibly provide additional information such as information on unsettled invoice(s) or expired subscription. In such case, the vehicle (10) remains locked and cannot be used.

By enabling the control unit of the vehicle (10) to autonomously perform independent authorization checking, communication between the server (40) and the vehicle (10) as well as between the server (40) and the mobile device (20) can be minimized. The system is thus operable even if there is poor wide-area wireless network connectivity.

The mobile device (20) needs to communicate with the server (40) at the time of first renting the vehicle (10) and after that, only upon expiration of the ongoing rental term. The vehicle (10) needs to establish communication via the mobile device (20) to the server (40) regarding the authorization upon receiving a request from a mobile device (20) for the first time, and further, it may utilize communication with the server (40) via the mobile device (20), when the previously paid rental term has expired. For enhanced user experience, the vehicle (10) may try to establish communication via the mobile device (20) to the server (40) when the rental term is about to expire. This way, updating of the rental term may be made transparent for the user; it is enough that the mobile device (10) with the application is brought in vicinity of the vehicle (10) between payment of the subscription fee for the next rental term and expiry of the ongoing rental term, and the authorization information may be automatically updated without user action. Further, new authorization information may be automatically sent to the mobile device (20) upon determining, by the server (40), that the user has paid his/her invoice for the next rental term. This way, the mobile device has readily available all authorization information for the next rental term as soon as the vehicle (10) requests for verification (304) for authorization upon expiration of the previous rental term. The authorization information may thus be downloaded to the mobile device (20) when it has good data communication connection, and updating authorization information upon expiration of a rental term does not require any other communication to be available but the short- range wireless communication between the mobile device (20) and the vehicle (10).

While fully autonomous, independent authorization for use by the vehicle itself, as disclosed in figure 3, with no requirement for presence of the mobile device (20) or other physical or virtual key may be considered to represent a security risk, one alternative is that the vehicle (10) may authorize independently, based on the internal authorization check (302) performed by the vehicle itself, use of the vehicle with limited features, while access to full features may require presence of the mobile device (20) that has valid authorization information available. Examples of limited features enabled during a valid rental term without verifying authorization with the user device (20) may be for example limited speed, power or operation range, use of headlights etc.

The figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention as a flow chart. The method comprises essentially the same operations as in the figure 3, but now the authorization is for use of a one or more specific features of the vehicle (10) rather than a more generic authority to use the vehicle. We refer to this as feature authorization, which is valid over a feature authorization term. Like the general use authorization discussed above, the feature authorization term may cover predetermined a time period and/or a predetermined number of times.

The vehicle (10) performs an internal authorization check (402), whether a feature authorization term for any particular feature of the vehicle is stored in the memory of the vehicle (10) and is currently valid. If the feature authorization term is valid, the feature is enabled (403). If no feature authorization term is valid, the vehicle (10) sends a first authorization request (40) to the mobile device (20) over the short-range wireless connection. The mobile device (20) determines (404), whether it has a valid feature authorization available for this feature. If there is a valid feature authorization stored in the mobile device, authorization information is forwarded (405) to the vehicle (10), which stores the authorization information in the memory and unlocks the respective one or more features (403).

If the mobile device (20) determines (404) that there is no valid feature authorization information readily available, the mobile device (20) sends a second authorization request (410) to the server (40) for checking (406) whether there is valid feature authorization information at the server (40) for this user. If the server (40) determines during this check (406) by the server (40) that there is a valid rental term for the requested feature, it returns (407) authorization information to the mobile device (20), which further forwards (405) relevant parts of the authorization information to the vehicle (10), which stores these and unlocks (403) the respective feature for use. If the server (40) determines during the check (406), that there is no currently valid feature authorization term, it rejects the authorization and sends refusal information (408) to the mobile device (20). The application in the mobile device (20) may inform the user that there is no valid feature authorization available. For example, the user may be provided with indication to pay an outstanding invoice before the requested authorization can be provided. Upon confirming payment of the outstanding invoice, the server (40) determines (406) that there is a valid feature rental term and provides the authorization information to the mobile device (20).

Figures 5a and 5b illustrates a display unit (50) provided in the vehicle (10). The display unit (50) is coupled to a processing device of the vehicle. When the vehicle is in use, the display unit provides information for the user of the vehicle. For example, the display unit may provide information on current speed (51), together with information on used metric (56) for the speed, such as km/h or mph. Settings may define which metric (56) is to be used for this user. For an electric vehicle, the display may also show indication of level of battery bower

(53). The display may show further informative icons, such as an indicator that appears in case the vehicle is in need for repair (52), a multi-function indicator

(54), which may be used for example for providing various warnings, such as warning of excess heating of the engine, and a gear indicator (55).

The display unit (50) may further be configured to provide information on the current subscription period. An example of this operation is illustrated in the Figure 5b. In this example, when the vehicle is activated, the display unit (50) may momentarily show rental term information (57) to the user for keeping him/her aware of the status of the current rental term. For example, the rental term information (57) may represent number of days remaining in the current rental term, and/or number of remaining power-on authorizations in the current rental term, before the authorization needs to be updated with communication with the mobile device (20) and/or with the server (40) via the mobile device (20). Unit information (58), determining what is the relevant unit of the displayed rental term is preferably shown momentarily during displaying the rental term information (57). Alternatively, the display unit (50) may comprise separate portions, which display rental term information (57) and respective unit information (58) continuously when the vehicle is active and/or in use and the display unit is on.

The vehicle may be any type of vehicle, such as a car, a motorcycle, a scooter, a kickboard or a bicycle or equivalent that may be used for transporting humans. Preferably, the vehicle is provided with an electric motor.

Figure 6 illustrates a first computing device implementing a control unit in the vehicle (10). The control unit comprises at least one processing device (60). At least one memory (62) is coupled with the processing device (60). Further, the display unit (50) and a short-range wireless communication unit (61) are coupled with the at least one processing device (60). The computing device may further be coupled to a separate locking device (63) configured to lock and unlock the vehicle or one of more features thereof based on control signals received from the processing device. The locking device may comprise a physical locking device, and/or it may comprise a programmatic locking device, which electrically controls for example start-up and operation of the vehicle and/or availability of features of the vehicle.

Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary second computing device, such as the mobile device (20). The mobile device comprises at least one processing device (70) operatively coupled to at least one memory (72). The mobile device comprises at least one short-range wireless communication unit (71) and at least one further wireless communication unit (73), such as a cellular communication unit and/or a wireless local area network communication unit. The mobile device comprises at least one user interface unit (74), such as a display unit, an input unit and/or a voice interface unit for communicating towards the user. The display unit may be a touch display unit that serves also as an input unit. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.