Method and system of communication between a motor vehicle and a diagnostic unit

• US 7,623,948 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Torlo, Marc, Gumpinger, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, SPENCER D
• Application Number:
  US11/955,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/32, 701/35, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/187, 702/188, 380/259, 380/260, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 713/185
• US Class Current: 701/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

In the case of a method of communicating between a motor vehicle and a diagnostic unit, a wireless communication connection is established between the motor vehicle and the diagnostic unit after an authorization of the diagnostic unit has been checked. The diagnostic unit is connected with a vehicle key assigned to the motor vehicle, and the authorization of the diagnostic unit is checked by use of authorization data stored in the vehicle key. A diagnostic unit for implementing such a method has devices for connecting with a vehicle key assigned to the motor vehicle. The diagnostic unit is suitable for receiving authorization data from the vehicle key, for the indirect or direct wireless communication with the motor vehicle, and for proving its authorization with respect to the motor vehicle by way of the received authorization data.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a motor vehicle and a diagnostic unit wherein a wireless communication connection is established between the motor vehicle and the diagnostic unit after an authorization of the diagnostic unit has been checked, the method comprising the acts of:

connecting the diagnostic unit with a vehicle key assigned to the motor vehicle; and

checking for an authorization of the diagnostic unit by way of authorization data stored in the vehicle key,

wherein

the diagnostic unit includes at least one device for wirelessly communicating with the motor vehicle,

the authorization data are transmitted from the vehicle key to the diagnostic unit by way of a communication connection between the diagnostic unit and a vehicle key reading device in which the vehicle key is placed,

a session key for coded communication between the motor vehicle and the diagnostic unit is generated on the basis of the received authorization data, and

a coded communication connection is established using the session key, and once established, the coded communication connection is maintained independent of whether the vehicle key remains in communication with the vehicle key reading device.

2. A diagnostic unit for communicating wirelessly with a motor vehicle having an assigned vehicle key, comprising:

a device configured to connect the diagnostic unit with the vehicle key, the device being a vehicle key reading device in which the vehicle key is placed;

at least one device configured to wirelessly communicate between the diagnostic unit and the motor vehicle; and

means for receiving authorization data from the vehicle key and generating a session key for coded communication between the motor vehicle and the diagnostic unit on the basis of the received authorization data,

wherein the diagnostic unit is operatively configured for direct or indirect communication with the motor vehicle and for proving an authorization with respect to the motor vehicle by way of the session key based on the authorization data receivable from the vehicle key, and

a coded communication connection is established using the session key, and once established, the coded communication connection is maintained independent of whether the vehicle key remains in communication with the vehicle key reading device.

3. The diagnostic unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

a device configured to communicate with the motor vehicle by way of a same radio technology by which the vehicle key communicates with the motor vehicle during locking and unlocking of the motor vehicle.