APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE AUTHENTICATION MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING

• US 20150145648A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: WINKELMAN, Dominic
• Granted Patent: US 9,305,412 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 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• 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 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

Apparatus, system and method for authenticating access to a vehicle, where vehicle events, such as a door lock condition or an operating condition of the vehicle, are reported to an authentication network. Vehicle events are compared to a vehicle schedule to determine if the vehicle events comply with the schedule using authentication rules. If the events are not compliant, an authentication request signal, requiring a predetermined authentication response, is transmitted to the vehicle. Access to the vehicle may be denied until a match to the predetermined authentication response is received. Authentication may include the use of a portable device, which may act as an intermediary between the vehicle and the authentication system. Vehicle events may further be reported to the portable device. Authentication rules may be updated automatically based on further incoming vehicle events, or may be updated manually using a computer.

Claims

1. A system for vehicle authentication, comprising:

a communications interface for receiving a vehicle event signal, said vehicle event signal comprising information regarding at least one of (i) a door lock condition and (ii) an operating condition of a vehicle;

a storage, operatively coupled to the communications interface, said storage being configured to store a vehicle event schedule and at least one authentication rule, said storage being further configured to store the vehicle event signal; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the communications interface and storage, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the vehicle event signal is compliant with the vehicle event schedule based on the at least one authentication rule, wherein the processor is further configured to flag the vehicle event as potentially unauthorized if the signal is not compliant, and generate an authentication request, requiring a predetermined response, for transmission from the communications interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle event schedule comprises a plurality of previously received event signals recorded over a predetermined period of time

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one authentication rule comprises at least one parameter for determining compliance with the vehicle event schedule.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein the system is further configured to receive, via the communications interface, portable device data comprising information regarding an operating characteristic of a portable device registered to the vehicle,

and wherein the at least one authentication rule further comprises portable device data parameters.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the received vehicle event signal is compliant by comparing the received portable device data to the portable device parameters.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the portable device data comprises at least one of global positioning system (GPS) data, a media access control (MAC) address, a wireless access point (WAP), a subscriber identity module (SIM) card identification number, an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, and a Bluetooth address (BD_ADDR).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications interface is configured to receive authentication data in response to the authentication request signal, wherein the processor is configured to remove the flag if the authentication data matches the predetermined response.

8. A method for multi-step authentication for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving first authentication data and second authentication data via a communications interface in the vehicle, wherein the first authentication data is used for controlling at least one of vehicle access and vehicle operation for the vehicle;

generating a vehicle event signal in a processor of the vehicle, said vehicle event signal comprises information regarding at least one of a door lock condition and operating condition of the vehicle;

transmitting the vehicle event signal via the communications interface;

receiving an authentication request signal in response to the vehicle event signal;

disabling the first authentication data, using said processor, in response to receiving the authentication request signal; and

assigning the second authentication data, using said processor, for use in controlling the at least one of vehicle access and vehicle operation for the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first authentication data and second authentication data is received from at least one of a portable device and an authentication network.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises denying at least one of vehicle access and vehicle operation for the vehicle unless data is received matching the first authentication data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data is received from one of a portable device via the communications interface and a keypad affixed to the vehicle and operatively coupled to the processor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein disabling the first authentication data disables controlling of the at least one of vehicle access and vehicle operation for the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the controlling comprises denying at least one of vehicle access and vehicle operation for the vehicle unless data is received matching the second authentication data

14. A processor-based method for performing vehicle authentication, comprising the steps of:

receiving a vehicle event signal at a communications interface, said vehicle event signal comprising information regarding at least one of (i) a door lock condition and (ii) an operating condition of a vehicle;

accessing a vehicle event schedule and at least one authentication rule; and

determining if the received vehicle event signal is compliant with the vehicle event schedule based on the at least one authentication rule;

flagging the vehicle event as potentially unauthorized if the signal is not compliant; and

generating an authentication request, requiring a predetermined response, for transmission to the vehicle from the communications interface.

15. The processor-based method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle event schedule comprises a plurality of previously received event signals recorded over a predetermined period of time

16. The processor-based method of claim 14, wherein the at least one authentication rule comprises at least one parameter for determining compliance with the vehicle event schedule.

17. The processor-based method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of receiving, via the communications interface, portable device data comprising information regarding an operating characteristic of a portable device registered to the vehicle, wherein the at least one authentication rule further comprises portable device data parameters.

18. The processor-based method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of determining if the received vehicle event signal is compliant by comparing the received portable device data to the portable device parameters.

19. The processor-based method of claim 17, wherein the portable device data comprises at least one of global positioning system (GPS) data, a media access control (MAC) address, a wireless access point (WAP), a subscriber identity module (SIM) card identification number, an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, and a Bluetooth address (BD_ADDR).

20. The processor-based method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of receiving authentication data in response to the authentication request signal, and removing the flag if the authentication data matches the predetermined response.