Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for establishing a radio connection on the basis of proximity information

• US 10,427,644 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella Gmbh & Co. Kgaa (Forvia SE), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Weghaus, Ludger, Haupt, Hannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US15/748,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20180215347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/248 Electronic key extraction prevention

Abstract

An apparatus for a vehicle key, an apparatus for a vehicle control system, and an apparatus for a mobile device. The apparatus includes a first interface to communicate with a vehicle control system and a second interface to communicate via a radio connection. The apparatus also includes a control module to receive proximity information from the vehicle control system via the first interface and to establish a radio connection via the second interface if the proximity information indicates spatial proximity of the vehicle key to the vehicle control system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle key, the apparatus comprising:

a first interface to communicate with a vehicle control system;

a second interface to communicate via a radio connection; and

a control module to;

receive proximity information from the vehicle control system via the first interface, and

establish a radio connection via the second interface in response to a determination that the proximity information indicates spatial proximity of the vehicle key to the vehicle control system,

wherein a vehicle comprises the vehicle control system, and wherein the spatial proximity of the vehicle key to the vehicle control system corresponds to a presence of the vehicle key inside the vehicle, and

wherein the vehicle performs a learning operation inside of the vehicle to register a mobile device inside the vehicle in response to a determination that the vehicle key is inside the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process of establishing the radio connection comprises interchanging radio connection parameters, and wherein the control module also determines radio connection pairing for the radio connection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module establishes the radio connection to a mobile device,

and/or wherein the control module establishes the radio connection to the vehicle control system.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control module interchanges information relating to a device identification, and wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises device identification information relating to the vehicle key, device identification information relating to the mobile device and/or device identification information relating to the vehicle control system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises encryption information, and wherein the control module also establishes and/or encrypts the radio connection based on the encryption information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module also receives information relating to a connection trigger, and wherein the control module also establishes the radio connection based on the information relating to the connection trigger,

and/or wherein the radio connection corresponds to a BLUETOOTH®

connection, a short-distance connection, a near-field communication connection, NFC, or a short-range radio connection.

7. An apparatus for a vehicle control system, the apparatus comprising:

a first interface to communicate with a vehicle key;

a second interface to communicate via a communication connection; and

a control module to;

receive information relating to a device identification from the vehicle key via the first interface or the second interface,

communicate via the second interface based on the information relating to the device identification, and

perform a learning operation inside a vehicle to register a mobile device with the vehicle key in response to a determination that the vehicle key is inside the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control module determines proximity information based on spatial proximity of the vehicle key to the vehicle control system, and wherein the control module also provides the vehicle key with the proximity information.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises device identification information relating to the vehicle key, and wherein the control module establishes the communication connection to the vehicle key based on the device identification information relating to the vehicle key, and/or

wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises device identification information relating to a mobile device, and

wherein the control module establishes the communication connection to the mobile device based on the device identification information relating to the mobile device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises encryption information, and wherein the control module also establishes and/or encrypts the communication connection based on the encryption information.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication connection corresponds to a radio connection, a short-distance connection, a short-range radio connection or a wired connection.

12. An apparatus for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

an interface to communicate via a radio connection; and

a control module to;

establish a radio connection to a vehicle key via the interface,

determine radio connection pairing for the radio connection between the vehicle key and the mobile device, and

perform a learning operation inside a vehicle to register the mobile device with the vehicle key in response to a determination that the vehicle key is inside the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control module also interchanges information relating to a device identification with the vehicle key via the radio connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises device identification information relating to a vehicle control system, device identification information relating to the vehicle key and/or device identification information relating to the mobile device, and/or wherein the control module establishes a further radio connection to a vehicle control system based on the information relating to the device identification.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the information relating to the device identification comprises encryption information, and wherein the control module also establishes and/or encrypts the radio connection and/or the further radio connection based on the encryption information, and/or wherein the radio connection corresponds to a BLUETOOTH®

connection, a short-distance connection, a near-field communication connection, NFC, or a short-range radio connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a presence of the vehicle key in a vehicle, to which the vehicle key is assigned, is presupposed for pairing the vehicle key to the mobile device.