Method and security apparatus for validating an authorization for locking and unlocking and/or using an object

• US 20040178883A1
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Stielow, Arnd, Klement, Thomas, Hofbeck, Klaus, Rosel, Birgit, Haselsteiner, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 7,071,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00341 keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

Taking as a starting point known security apparatuses and their methods for distance-dependent initiation of functions in or at an object, the reliability of distance measurements is essentially increased by carrying out a series of distance measurements, an associated quality value (G) being calculated by a mathematical function in each case for the measuring results (M1-M5, R1, R2) of said distance measurements. Only those measured values which fall below a certain quality value (Krit) as a threshold value are generally accepted for an analysis in respect of initiating a distance-related function. Developments provide for selecting measured values beforehand with reference to a level measurement, in order to further increase the reliability, or applying methods of statistical analysis subsequently.

Claims

1. A method for validating an authorization for locking and unlocking and/or using an object such as in particular a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

sending out a request signal by at least one transmit and receive unit at the initiation of a control device, and

if a moving and in particular portable code generator receives this request signal, sending back a reply signal,

analyzing said reply signal being by the control device following receipt in the transmit and receive unit, and

if an authorization is present and confirmed, outputting by the control device at least one control command in the object or motor vehicle, depending on a relevant distance of the code generator from the object or motor vehicle and depending on a location in a relevant detection zone around the object or motor vehicle,

carrying out a series of distance measurements,

calculating an associated quality value by a mathematical function in each case for the measuring results of said distance measurements, wherein only those measured values which fall below a certain quality value as a threshold value are generally accepted for an analysis in respect of initiating a distance-related function.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a large amount of data is recorded for a distance measurement, said data being approximated by a straight line, wherein an algorithm in accordance with the method of smallest error squares is used for estimating the parameters of said straight line, and in particular points with greater deviation from the mean value are restrictively weighted by a factor Sigma, and the quality measure is the robust estimate of Sigma.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quality value is predetermined as a selection criterion and is itself selected depending on a distance and/or a position of a relevant code generator relative to the object.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one threshold for such a quality examination is specified from a relevant distance, position and/or area of a code generator relative to the object or motor vehicle.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a level measurement for each individual measured value is carried out in combination with the method for a quality definition.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1., wherein a level measurement and a selection of measured values of the quality definition are carried out beforehand, said selection being based on a limit value.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an analysis of mean value and scattering and an elimination of “

outliers”

are performed in order further to increase the reliability of the distance definition.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the range of variation is reduced further using known mathematical methods of adaptation and statistics.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a KALMAN filter technique is applied to the distance measurements.

10. A security apparatus for validating an authorization for locking and unlocking and/or using an object such as in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a control device and a memory arranged in the object, said control device being connected to at least one transmit and receive unit, wherein the transmit and receive unit is operable to transmit a request signal to a remote code generator when initiated by the control device, wherein the control device is further operable to calculate a distance of the code generator to the respective transmit and receive unit and operable to determine an authorization, wherein if an authorization is present and confirmed depending on a relevant distance of the code generator from the object or motor vehicle and depending on a location in a relevant detection zone around the object or motor vehicle, at least the control device is operable to output a control command in the object or motor vehicle, wherein the apparatus comprises means to analyze a reply signal from the code generator, and means to calculate an associated quality value by a mathematical function in each case for the measuring results of said distance measurements, wherein only those measured values which fall below a certain quality value as a threshold value are generally accepted for an analysis in respect of initiating a distance-related function and wherein adjustment parameters and threshold values for the quality criterion and/or a level are permanently stored in the memory of the security apparatus.

11. The security apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the additional hardware which is required in relation to known systems is essentially included in the control device.

12. A security system for validating an authorization for locking and unlocking and/or using an object such as in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control unit arranged in said object;

at least one transmit and receive unit arranged in said object and coupled with the control unit;

a mobile code generator;

wherein said control unit can trigger said at least one transmit and receive unit to send out a request signal, and

wherein the control unit comprises

authentication means to authenticate a reply signal sent from said code generator,

distance measurement means to determine a distance of said code generator and said transmit and receive unit, and

calculating means for determining an associated quality value by a mathematical function in each case for the measuring results of said distance measurements, wherein only those measured values which fall below a certain quality value as a threshold value are generally accepted for an analysis in respect of initiating a distance-related function.

13. The security system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a memory coupled with said control unit.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein adjustment parameters and threshold values for the quality criterion and/or a level are permanently stored in the memory.

15. The security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for measuring the distance record a large amount of data, said data being approximated by a straight line, wherein an algorithm in accordance with the method of smallest error squares is used for estimating the parameters of said straight line, and in particular points with greater deviation from the mean value are restrictively weighted by a factor Sigma, and the quality measure is the robust estimate of Sigma.

16. The security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the quality value is predetermined as a selection criterion and is itself selected depending on a distance and/or a position of a relevant code generator relative to the object.

17. The security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one threshold for such a quality examination is specified from a relevant distance, position and/or area of a code generator relative to the object or motor vehicle.

18. The security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a level measurement for each individual measured value is carried out in combination with the method for a quality definition.

19. The security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a level measurement and a selection of measured values of the quality definition are carried out beforehand, said selection being based on a limit value.

20. The security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein an analysis of mean value and scattering and an elimination of “

outliers”

are performed in order further to increase the reliability of the distance definition.