System for the automatic control of the access and/or engine start authorization of a user in a vehicle

• US 10,449,929 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Pflug, Florian, Decke, Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US15/687,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/106 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2036 by using the door logic and door and engine unlock means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A system for automatic control of entry and/or motor starting authorization of a user for a vehicle. A control device or a computation device associated with the control device uses at least one statistical computation method to compute a probability of misuse for obtaining an entry and/or motor starting authorization for the vehicle. If the computed probability of misuse reaches or exceeds a prescribable threshold value, a control signal at least for unlocking the vehicle doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device is/are stopped or produced by the control device only if at least one additional authentication criterion has been satisfied; and/or the system for control of entry and/or motor starting authorization is deactivated if it is established that the vehicle is parking in an environment where the probability of future misuse of the electronic key reaches or exceeds a prescribable threshold value.

Claims

1. A system for automatic control of entry and/or motor starting authorization of a user for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a control device that controls at least one function of unlocking/locking one or more entry doors of the motor vehicle and/or enabling/disabling a motor control device adapted for controlling operation of a motor of the motor vehicle; and

an electronic key associated with the control device,

wherein the control device and the electronic key each include a transceiver for sending and receiving signals,

wherein at least one signal transmitted from the electronic key to the control device is an encoded signal for authentication of the electronic key so that, after evaluation of the encoded signal, given an authorized electronic key, the control device produces a control signal for unlocking one or more of the entry doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device,

wherein the control device is configured for at least one of;

computing, after receiving the encoded signal for an authorized electronic key, by at least one statistical computation method using one or more pieces of information available to the control device able to be used as an indication for computation of a probability of misuse of the electronic key for obtaining an entry and/or motor starting authorization for the motor vehicle, and, in response to the computed probability of misuse reaching or exceeding a prescribable threshold value, stopping at least one control signal for unlocking one or more of the entry doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device or producing the at least one control signal only in response to at least one additional authentication criterion being satisfied, wherein the one or more pieces of information include at least one of;

a time of a last stoppage of the motor of the motor vehicle;

a time of a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle;

a time of a last locking of the one or more entry doors;

a time of a last unlocking of the one or more entry doors;

a time of a last disabling of the motor control device;

a time of a last enabling of the motor control device;

which of the one or more entry doors that was used last;

an approximate position of the electronic key in an interior of the motor vehicle before a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle;

times of regularly made journeys; and

regular times of nonuse of the motor vehicle; and

deactivating the system for control of the entry and/or motor starting authorization in response to the control device using at least one statistical computation method to establish that the motor vehicle is parking in an environment in which the probability of future misuse of the electronic key reaches or exceeds a prescribable threshold value based on current parking coordinates of the motor vehicle and at least one further criterion associable with the parking coordinates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more pieces of information include at least one of:

a time difference between a last unlocking and a last locking of the one or more entry doors;

a time difference between a last stoppage of the motor of the motor vehicle and a last locking of the one or more entry doors; and

a time difference between a last unlocking of the one or more entry doors and a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional authentication criterion includes at least one of:

manual operation of the electronic key;

presence of a trustworthy mobile device within a maximum, prescribable distance from the motor vehicle;

presence of a mobile device on hand for a last locking of the one or more entry doors within a maximum, prescribable distance from the motor vehicle;

confirmation action by a user for a trustworthy mobile device;

authentication by voice recognition; and

authentication by performance of a prescribable gesture.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the further criterion associable with the parking coordinates includes at least one of:

whether the parking position is in a public carpark;

whether the parking position is in a railroad station or surroundings of a railroad station;

whether the parking position is in a surroundings of a freeway entry ramp;

whether the parking position is in a rest area on a freeway;

whether the parking position is in an environment with an increased number of criminal offences in comparison with the average;

whether the parking position is in a private carpark;

whether the parking position is adjacent a residence;

whether the parking position is adjacent a workplace.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a signaling device that signals to the user a denial of unlocking of the one or more entry doors, a denial of enabling of the motor control device, a requirement for an additional authentication criterion and/or a deactivation of the system for control of the entry and/or motor starting authorization.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one statistical computation method makes use of or is based on:

a neural network;

a rule-based method;

a tree-based algorithm;

a genetic algorithm;

fuzzy logic;

a hybrid model;

a Bayesian network;

or

meta learning.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a learning mode that, when activated, allows data regarding proper use of the motor vehicle to be captured and/or input into the system by a legitimate user of the vehicle.

8. A motor vehicle including the system for automatic control of entry and/or motor starting authorization of a user for the motor vehicle as recited in claim 1.

9. A method for control of a system for automatic entry and/or motor starting authorization of a user for a motor vehicle, wherein the system comprises a control device that controls at least one function of unlocking/locking one or more entry doors of the motor vehicle and/or enabling/disabling the motor control device, and an electronic key associated with the control device, wherein the control device and the electronic key have a transceiver for sending and receiving signals, the method comprising:

transmitting at least one encoded signal from the electronic key to the control device;

for authentication of the electronic key;

evaluating the encoded signal for an authorized electronic key;

producing a control signal with the control device, given an authorized electronic key, for unlocking one or more of the entry doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device; and

the method further comprising at least one of;

computing, after receiving the encoded signal for an authorized electronic key, by at least one statistical computation method using one or more pieces of information available to the control device able to be used as an indication for computation of a probability of misuse of the electronic key or obtaining an entry and/or motor starting authorization for the motor vehicle, and, in response to the computed probability of misuse reaching or exceeding a prescribable threshold value, stopping at least one control signal for unlocking one or more of the entry doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device or producing the at least one control signal only in response to at least one additional authentication criterion being satisfied, wherein the one or more pieces of information include at least one of;

a time of a last stoppage of the motor of the motor vehicle;

a time of a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle;

a time of a last locking of the one or more entry doors;

a time of a last unlocking of the one or more entry doors;

a time of a last disabling of the motor control device;

a time of a last enabling of the motor control device;

which of the one or more entry doors that was used last;

an approximate position of the electronic key in an interior of the motor vehicle before a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle;

times of regularly made journeys; and

regular times of nonuse of the motor vehicle; and

deactivating the system for control of the entry and/or motor starting authorization in response to the control device using at least one statistical computation method to establish that the motor vehicle is parking in an environment in which the probability of future misuse of the electronic key reaches or exceeds a prescribable threshold value based on current parking coordinates of the motor vehicle and at least one further criterion associable with the parking coordinates.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more pieces of information include at least one of:

a time difference between a last unlocking and a last locking of the one or more entry doors;

a time difference between a last stoppage of the motor of the motor vehicle and a last locking of the one or more entry doors; and

a time difference between a last unlocking of the one or more entry doors and a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the additional authentication criterion includes at least one of:

manual operation of the electronic key;

presence of a trustworthy mobile device within a maximum, prescribable distance from the motor vehicle;

presence of a mobile device on hand for a last locking of the one or more entry doors within a maximum, prescribable distance from the motor vehicle;

confirmation action by a user for a trustworthy mobile device;

authentication by voice recognition; and

authentication by performance of a prescribable gesture.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the further criterion associable with the parking coordinates includes at least one of:

whether the parking position is in a public carpark;

whether the parking position is in a railroad station or surroundings of a railroad station;

whether the parking position is in a surroundings of a freeway entry ramp;

whether the parking position is in a rest area on a freeway;

whether the parking position is in an environment with an increased number of criminal offences in comparison with the average;

whether the parking position is in a private carpark;

whether the parking position is adjacent a residence;

whether the parking position is adjacent a workplace.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the system further comprises a signaling device that signals to the user a denial of unlocking of the one or more entry doors, a denial of enabling of the motor control device, a requirement for an additional authentication criterion and/or a deactivation of the system for control of the entry and/or motor starting authorization.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one statistical computation method makes use of or is based on:

a neural network;

a rule-based method;

a tree-based algorithm;

a genetic algorithm;

fuzzy logic;

a hybrid model;

a Bayesian network;

or

meta learning.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the system further comprises a learning mode that, when activated, allows data regarding proper use of the motor vehicle to be captured and/or input into the system by a legitimate user of the vehicle.

16. A control device for control of at least one function of unlocking/locking one or more entry doors of a motor vehicle and/or enabling/disabling a motor control device of the motor vehicle, wherein the control device is configured for:

receiving at least one encoded signal from an electronic key associated with the control device for authentication of the electronic key; and

evaluating the encoded signal, and given that the electronic key is an authorized electronic key, produce a control signal for unlocking one or more of the entry doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device,

wherein the control device is further configured for;

computing, after receiving the encoded signal for an authorized electronic key, by at least one statistical computation method using one or more pieces of information available to the control device able to be used as an indication for computation of a probability of misuse of the electronic key for obtaining an entry and/or motor starting authorization for the motor vehicle, and in response to the computed probability of misuse reaching or exceeding a prescribable threshold value, stopping at least one control signal for unlocking one or more of the entry doors and/or for enabling of the motor control device or producing the at least one control signal only in response to at least one additional authentication criterion being satisfied, wherein the one or more pieces of information include at least one of;

a time of a last stoppage of the motor of the motor vehicle;

a time of a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle;

a time of a last locking of the one or more entry doors;

a time of a last unlocking of the one or more entry doors;

a time of a last disabling of the motor control device;

a time of a last enabling of the motor control device;

which of the one or more entry doors that was used last;

an approximate position of the electronic key in an interior of the motor vehicle before a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle;

times of regularly made journeys; and

regular times of nonuse of the motor vehicle; and

deactivating control of the entry and/or motor starting authorization in response to the control device using at least one statistical computation method to establish if the motor vehicle is parking in an environment in which the probability of future misuse of the electronic key reaches or exceeds a prescribable threshold value based on current parking coordinates of the motor vehicle and at least one further criterion associable with the parking coordinates.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein the one or more pieces of information include at least one of:

a time difference between a last unlocking and a last locking of the one or more entry doors;

a time difference between a last stoppage of the motor of the motor vehicle and a last locking of the one or more entry doors; and

a time difference between a last unlocking of the one or more entry doors and a last start of the motor of the motor vehicle.

18. The control device of claim 16, wherein the additional authentication criterion includes at least one of:

manual operation of the electronic key;

presence of a trustworthy mobile device within a maximum, prescribable distance from the motor vehicle;

presence of a mobile device on hand for a last locking of the one or more entry doors within a maximum, prescribable distance from the motor vehicle;

confirmation action by a user for a trustworthy mobile device;

authentication by voice recognition; and

authentication by performance of a prescribable gesture.

19. The control device of claim 16, wherein the further criterion associable with the parking coordinates includes at least one of:

whether the parking position is in a public carpark;

whether the parking position is in a railroad station or surroundings of a railroad station;

whether the parking position is in a surroundings of a freeway entry ramp;

whether the parking position is in a rest area on a freeway;

whether the parking position is in an environment with an increased number of criminal offences in comparison with the average;

whether the parking position is in a private carpark;

whether the parking position is adjacent a residence;

whether the parking position is adjacent a workplace.

20. The control device of claim 16, further comprising a learning mode that, when activated, allows data regarding proper use of the motor vehicle to be captured and/or input into the control device by a legitimate user of the vehicle.