Methods And Apparatuses For Unlocking A Motor Vehicle Having An Engine Start And/Or Vehicle Entry System

• US 20190039567A1
• Filed: 01/25/2017
• Published: 02/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: FROITZHEIM, Herbert, OBERMAIER, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,532,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• 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 2009/0038 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00428 periodically after a time period
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00992 mechanical key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Various embodiments may include systems for unlocking a motor vehicle. For example, an apparatus may include: a motor vehicle key for unlocking a motor vehicle having a remote engine start and/or vehicle entry system. The motor vehicle key comprises a Bluetooth antenna and a motor vehicle communication antenna. A controller of the motor vehicle key is configured to: use the Bluetooth antenna to set up a Bluetooth link to a mobile radio terminal using an activation key stored in a memory of the motor vehicle key; and instruct a motor vehicle controller installed in the motor vehicle to prompt an operation of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

having a motor vehicle key for unlocking a motor vehicle having a remote engine start and/or vehicle entry system;

wherein the motor vehicle key comprises a Bluetooth antenna and a motor vehicle communication antenna;

wherein a controller of the motor vehicle key is configured to;

use the Bluetooth antenna to set up a Bluetooth link to a mobile radio terminal using an activation key stored in a memory of the motor vehicle key; and

instruct a motor vehicle controller installed in the motor vehicle to prompt an operation of the motor vehicle.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the controller of the motor vehicle key is configured to:

use the Bluetooth link to the mobile radio terminal to request an authentication from a server; and

only if the motor vehicle key receives an authentication from the server, to instruct the motor vehicle controller to prompt unlocking of the motor vehicle.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the transmissions of an authentication request or of an authentication response or of an activation key take place via a mobile radio link or via a Bluetooth link.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle key (Kfz-key) is configured to:

either continually look for Bluetooth links;

or

look for Bluetooth links only after receipt of a request via a motor vehicle communication antenna and radio link in addition to the Bluetooth antenna.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

messages are transmitted between a motor vehicle key and a motor vehicle controller via a motor-vehicle-key-to-vehicle-controller-radio link between a motor vehicle key antenna in the motor vehicle key and a motor vehicle communication antenna in the motor vehicle controller,

using a motor-vehicle-key-to-vehicle-controller radio link.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further configured to

authenticate the mobile radio terminal to the server with a request from the mobile radio terminal to the server for an activation key.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further configured to synchronize a clock in the motor vehicle key by communicating a time of day of a clock in the server to the motor vehicle key via a mobile radio link and via a Bluetooth link.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further configured to communicate a period for a validity of an activation key from the server to the mobile radio terminal via a mobile radio link and from the mobile radio terminal to the motor vehicle key via a Bluetooth link.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile radio terminal for unlocking a motor vehicle having a remote engine start and/or vehicle entry system;

wherein the mobile radio terminal (MS) is configured to;

use a mobile radio link to a server to request an activation key from the server; and

to use the activation key received from the server to set up a Bluetooth link to a motor vehicle key associated with the motor vehicle.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the mobile radio terminal is configured to:

forward an authentication request originated by the motor vehicle key via the Bluetooth link from the mobile station to the server via a mobile radio link; and

forward an authentication confirmation from the server, received via a mobile radio link, to the motor vehicle key via the Bluetooth link.

5. A system for unlocking a motor vehicle having a remote engine start and/or vehicle entry system, the system comprising:

a motor vehicle key for unlocking a motor vehicle having a remote engine start and/or vehicle entry system; and

a mobile radio terminal for unlocking the motor vehicle;

wherein the motor vehicle key comprises a Bluetooth antenna and a motor vehicle communication antenna;

wherein a controller of the motor vehicle key is configured to;

use the Bluetooth antenna to set up a Bluetooth link to the mobile radio terminal using an activation key stored in a memory of the motor vehicle key; and

instruct a motor vehicle controller installed in the motor vehicle to prompt an operation of the motor vehicle;

wherein the mobile radio terminal is configured to;

use a mobile radio link to a server to request an activation key from the server; and

to use the activation key received from the server to set up a Bluetooth link to a motor vehicle key associated with the motor vehicle.

12. A method for unlocking a motor vehicle having a remote engine start and/or vehicle entry system, the method comprising:

using a mobile radio terminal with a mobile radio link to request and receive an activation key from a server;

using the mobile radio terminal to set up a Bluetooth link between the mobile station and a motor vehicle key associated with the motor vehicle;

using a Bluetooth link to the mobile station from the motor vehicle key and a mobile radio link from the mobile station to the server to request an authentication from the server using a secret code stored in the motor vehicle key and/or in the server; and

if the motor vehicle key obtains confirmation of an authentication from the server, instructing a motor vehicle controller installed in the motor vehicle to prompt unlocking the motor vehicle.