Intermediary Access Device for Communication With a Vehicle

• US 20150061828A1
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: FISCHER, Hans-Peter, BARRETT, Timothy, KASPRZOK, Andreas, PAYNE, Keith, ZAHN, Johannes Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,062,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• 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 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

An intermediary access device enables a user electronic device to communicate with a vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer system. A first wireless transceiver of the intermediary access device is used to establish a secure wireless communication channel between the intermediary access device and a vehicle on-board computer system. A second wireless transceiver of the intermediary access device is used to establish a user-initiated communication channel between the intermediary access device and a user electronic device. User commands and vehicle information can then be transmitted between the vehicle on-board computer system and the user electronic device via the intermediary access device in a safe, secure and efficient manner.

Claims

1. An intermediary access device for a vehicle comprising:

a memory configured to store security-related information that is user-inaccessible;

a first wireless transceiver configured to establish a secure wireless communication channel between the intermediary access device and a vehicle on-board computer system using the security-related information;

a second wireless transceiver configured to establish a user-initiated communication channel between the intermediary access device and a user electronic device; and

a controller, coupled to the memory, the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to control the second wireless transceiver to receive a user command from the user electronic device over the user-initiated communication channel, and to further control the first wireless transceiver to transmit the user command to the vehicle on-board computer system over the secure wireless communication channel.

2. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the security-related information comprises one or more security codes that uniquely identify the intermediary access device, and wherein the first wireless transceiver is configured to establish the secure wireless communication channel between the intermediary access device and the vehicle on-board computer system by transmitting the one or more security codes to the vehicle on-board computer system.

3. The intermediary access device of claim 2, wherein the security-related information comprises a rolling code algorithm from which said one or more security codes that uniquely identify the intermediary access device are generated, and wherein the first wireless transceiver is configured to establish the secure wireless communication channel between the intermediary access device and the vehicle on-board computer system by transmitting the one or more security codes to the vehicle on-board computer system.

4. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the user command comprises one of a door lock/unlock command, a window open/close command, a roof open/close command and a trunk open command.

5. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store vehicle information.

6. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the first wireless transceiver to receive vehicle information from the vehicle on-board computer system over the secure wireless communication channel, and to control the second wireless transceiver to transmit the vehicle information to the user electronic device over the user-initiated communication channel.

7. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of vehicle fuel level, tire pressure, average fuel consumption and vehicle mileage.

8. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the intermediary access device is integrated into a personal accessory.

9. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the user-initiated communication channel is one of a near field communication channel and a Bluetooth communication channel.

10. The intermediary access device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless transceiver is configured to establish the user-initiated communication channel in response to a pairing operation between the intermediary access device and the user electronic device.

11. A method for communicating with a vehicle using an intermediary access device, the method comprising the acts of:

establishing, by a first wireless transceiver of the intermediary access device, a secure wireless communication channel between the intermediary access device and a vehicle on-board computer system using user-inaccessible security-related information stored in a memory of the intermediary access device;

establishing, by a second wireless transceiver of the intermediary access device, a user-initiated communication channel between the intermediary access device and a user electronic device; and

receiving, by the second wireless transceiver, a user command from the user electronic device over the user-initiated communication channel; and

transmitting, by the first wireless transceiver, the user command to the vehicle on-board computer system over the secure wireless communication channel, wherein the user command is configured to cause the vehicle on-board computer system to perform a vehicle operation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the security-related information comprises one or more security codes that uniquely identify the intermediary access device, and wherein establishing, by the first wireless transceiver, the secure wireless communication channel comprises establishing, by the first wireless transceiver, the secure wireless communication channel by transmitting the one or more security codes to the vehicle on-board computer system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the security-related information comprises a rolling code algorithm from which said one or more security codes that uniquely identify the intermediary access device are generated, and wherein establishing, by the first wireless transceiver, the secure wireless communication channel comprises establishing, by the first wireless transceiver, the secure wireless communication channel by generating the one or more security codes using the rolling code algorithm, and transmitting the one or more security codes to the vehicle on-board computer system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user command comprises one of a door lock/unlock command, a window open/close command, a roof open/close command and a trunk open command.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing vehicle information that is user-accessible in the memory of the intermediary access device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the first wireless transceiver, vehicle information from the vehicle on-board computer system over the secure wireless communication channel; and

transmitting, by the second wireless transceiver, the vehicle information to the user electronic device over the user-initiated communication channel.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of vehicle fuel level, tire pressure, average fuel consumption and vehicle mileage.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the intermediary access device is integrated into a personal accessory.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the user-initiated communication channel is one of a near field communication channel and a Bluetooth communication channel.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing, by the second wireless transceiver, the user-initiated communication channel comprises performing a pairing operation between the intermediary access device and the user electronic device.