Automated Method for Coupling a Mobile Communication Terminal to a Central Computation Unit in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20140227979A1
• Filed: 07/28/2012
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Maihoefer, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for the automated coupling of a mobile communication terminal with a central computing unit of a motor vehicle involves the mobile communication terminal communicating with a server to exchange pairing information. The central computing unit of the vehicle and an internet server exchange the pairing information. The mobile terminal then transmits the pairing information to the central computing unit of the vehicle, which then identifies and authenticates the mobile communication terminal using the pairing information and allows a coupling of the mobile communication terminal with the central computing unit of the vehicle.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method for the automated coupling of a mobile communication terminal with a central computing unit of a motor vehicle using a virtual representation area of the vehicle on a vehicle home page provided by a server, the method comprising the steps:

establishing a communication connection between the mobile communication terminal and the internet server and logging in with the mobile communication terminal into the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle on the vehicle home page;

exchanging pairing information between the internet server and the mobile communication terminal;

establishing a communication connection between the central computing unit of the motor vehicle and the internet server for data exchange between the central computing unit of the motor vehicle and the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle on the vehicle home page;

exchanging the pairing information between the internet server and the central computing unit of the motor vehicle;

transmitting, by the mobile communication terminal, the pairing information to the central computing unit of the motor vehicle;

identifying and authenticating the mobile communication terminal by the central computing unit of the motor vehicle using the pairing information; and

allowing the coupling of the mobile communication terminal with the central computing unit of the motor vehicle based on the authentication.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:

processing of the pairing information by the central computing unit and the mobile communication terminal and obtaining a piece of processed information,

wherein the transmission of the pairing information is the transmission of the processed information, and

wherein the identification and authentication of the mobile communication terminal is carried out by the central computing unit of the motor vehicle using the processed information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the exchange of information between the internet server and the mobile communication terminal and between the internet server and the central computing unit of the motor vehicle is the transmission of the pairing information

from the central computing unit of the motor vehicle to the internet server and to the mobile communication terminal,

from the internet server to the central computing unit of the motor vehicle and to the mobile communication terminal, or

from the mobile communication terminal to the internet server and to the central computing unit of the motor vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps:

defining or generating the pairing information in advance using the central computing unit of the motor vehicle, the internet server, or the mobile communication terminal;

storing the pairing information on the server and linking the paring information to the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle; and

saving the pairing information on the central computing unit of the motor vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps:

expiring validity of the pairing information after expiry of an access right of the mobile communication terminal to the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle on the vehicle home page or after removal of the virtual representation area on the vehicle home page; and

deleting the pairing information on the internet server, the central computing unit of the motor vehicle, or the mobile communication terminal after the coupling between the central computing unit and the mobile communication terminal has ended.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps:

during disconnection of the coupling of the mobile communication terminal and the central computing unit of the motor vehicle, transmitting an access denial message to the internet server by the central computing unit of the motor vehicle; and

denying a repeat access of the mobile communication terminal to the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle on the vehicle home page if the mobile communication terminal is not coupled again with the central computing unit of the motor vehicle.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:

configuring a cancellation condition of the automatic coupling between the mobile communication terminal and the central computing unit of the motor vehicle on the mobile communication terminal, on the central computing unit of the motor vehicle, via the mobile communication terminal, or via the virtual representation area of the server, and defining cancellation conditions.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:

configuring automatic coupling between the mobile communication terminal and the central computing units of a plurality of vehicles, which involves exchanging the pairing information or the pieces of pairing information between the internet server and the central computing units of the plurality of vehicles and exchanging the pairing information or the pieces of pairing information between the internet server and the mobile communication terminal.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step:

limiting the automatic coupling between the mobile communication terminal and the central computing unit of one or more of the plurality of vehicles by at least one context-specific parameter, which comprises a time span, an end time, a location of use, a driver identity, a vehicle model, or a vehicle type.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:

compiling the pairing information as a cryptological key or a character string that is an initial name/password pair,

wherein the pairing information is generated using a vehicle identification number or a part thereof, a device name of the mobile communication terminal, a Bluetooth username, or a continuous device number.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the coupling between the mobile communication terminal and the central computing unit of the motor vehicle is a wired or wireless connection, wherein the wireless connection is provided by short-range radio interfaces.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium stored on a data carrier including program code, which when executed automatically couples a mobile communication terminal with a central computing unit of a motor vehicle using a virtual representation area of the vehicle on a vehicle home page provided by a server, by performing the steps:

establishing a communication connection between the mobile communication terminal and the internet server and logging in with the mobile communication terminal into the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle on the vehicle home page;

exchanging pairing information between the internet server and the mobile communication terminal;

establishing a communication connection between the central computing unit of the motor vehicle and the internet server for data exchange between the central computing unit of the motor vehicle and the virtual representation area of the motor vehicle on the vehicle home page;

exchanging the pairing information between the internet server and the central computing unit of the motor vehicle;

transmitting, by the mobile communication terminal, the pairing information to the central computing unit of the motor vehicle;

identifying and authenticating the mobile communication terminal by the central computing unit of the motor vehicle using the pairing information; and

allowing the coupling of the mobile communication terminal with the central computing unit of the motor vehicle based on the authentication.