Device for protecting the access to a vehicle by means of a mobile phone

• US 10,332,328 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Delevoye, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US14/895,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561, 340 101- 106, 3405721-5729
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00317 keyless data carrier having only one limited data transmission range
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

A method of access to a motor vehicle includes establishing contactless communication according to an NFC protocol between a badge of the motor vehicle and a smartphone, communicating an authentication key from the badge to the smartphone, transmitting the authentication key of the smartphone to a server by telephone communication, the server being capable of communicating with the vehicle, and recognizing the authentication key by the server and transmitting data concerning a status of the vehicle from the server to the smartphone.

Claims

1. A method of access to a motor vehicle, comprising:

establishing contactless communication according to an NFC protocol between a badge of the motor vehicle and a smartphone;

communicating an authentication key from the badge to the smartphone;

transmitting the authentication key of the smartphone to a server by communication, the server being in communication with the vehicle;

recognizing the authentication key by the server; and

transmitting first data from the server to the smartphone in response to the recognizing of the authentication key, wherein the first data includes operating characteristics of physical portions of the vehicle; and

transmitting second data from the server to the smartphone in response to the recognizing of the authentication key and reception of a correct pin code from the smartphone, wherein start up information for remotely starting up an engine of the motor vehicle is included in the second data,

wherein the authentication key is generated from a VIN of the motor vehicle, and

wherein transmission of the first data is authenticated based only on the authentication key generated from the VIN of the motor vehicle without requiring user password input.

2. The method of access to a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first data concerning the status of the vehicle comprise at least one of the following data:

mileage, various liquid levels in reservoirs, and a state of charge of starting, lighting and ignition battery, and of a traction battery if the vehicle is an electric or hybrid vehicle.

3. The method of access to a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the second data of the vehicle comprise a geolocation of the vehicle and/or a locked/unlocked state of the vehicle.

4. The method of access to a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a change of state of operation of the vehicle from the smartphone to the server, which forwards the changes of state to a computer of the vehicle, which then modifies elements accordingly.

5. The method of access to a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the change of state of the operation of the vehicle is at least one of the following changes:

a change in customization data for interior arrangements,

modification of data concerning a telephone directory and radio pre-setting,

a change in a locked/unlocked state of the vehicle,

modification of an operation of an air conditioning or heating of a passenger compartment of the vehicle,

a change of state in an engine operation, including when the engine is started or stopped, and

a change of state of steering lock devices.

6. The method of access to a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first data include at least one of mileage of the vehicle, a fuel level or a charge level for the vehicle, a temperature of the vehicle, a tire pressure of the vehicle, and liquid levels of the vehicle.

7. A system for accessing to a motor vehicle, comprising:

a smartphone including;

first circuitry configured to

establish contactless communication according to an NFC protocol between a badge of the motor vehicle and the smartphone,

receive a communication of an authentication key from the badge at the smartphone, and

transmit the authentication key of the smartphone to a server by communication, the server being in communication with the vehicle; and

the server including;

second circuitry configured to

recognize the authentication key,

transmit first data from the server to the smartphone in response to the recognizing of the authentication key, wherein the first data includes operating characteristics of physical portions of the vehicle, and

transmit second data from the server to the smartphone in response to the recognizing of the authentication key and reception of a correct pin code from the smartphone, wherein start up information for remotely starting up an engine of the motor vehicle is included in the second data,

wherein the authentication key is generated from a VIN of the motor vehicle,

wherein transmission of the first data is authenticated based only on the authentication key generated from the VIN of the motor vehicle without requiring user password input.