Method for controlling access to a vehicle

• US 7,928,829 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hermann, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/851,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.61, 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 340/539.21, 340/539.23
• 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 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00698 actuated in function of displayed informations

Abstract

In a method for controlling access to a vehicle (FZ), first an authentication signal is sent from the vehicle to an authorized mobile ID transmitter (IDG), with which authentication signal the ID transmitter is authorized to unlock the vehicle. Subsequently, the distance from the valid authorized mobile ID transmitter to the vehicle is determined. Finally, an unlock signal (ES) is transmitted from the valid authorized mobile ID transmitter to the vehicle, if the distance from the ID transmitter to the vehicle is less than a predetermined first proximity distance (ANRE). In this way an efficient control of access to a vehicle is achieved, wherein the mobile ID transmitter automatically unlocks the vehicle when a certain proximity to the vehicle is identified.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to a vehicle, comprising the following steps:

sending a periodic request signal from the vehicle to a mobile ID transmitter;

in response to receiving the periodic request signal from the vehicle, the mobile ID transmitter transmitting a response signal including an identifier to the vehicle;

the vehicle authorizing the mobile ID transmitter based on the identifier received from mobile ID transmitter;

in response to authorizing the mobile ID transmitter, the vehicle sending an authentication request to the mobile ID transmitter;

in response to receiving the authentication request from the vehicle, the mobile ID transmitter transmitting an authentication response including an authentication code to the vehicle;

the vehicle confirming the authentication code received from mobile ID transmitter, and in response, sending an authentication signal to the mobile ID transmitter, with which signal the ID transmitter is authorized to unlock the vehicle;

the mobile ID transmitter determining the distance from the valid mobile ID transmitter to the vehicle;

the mobile ID transmitter determining whether the determined distance is below a predetermined first proximity distance;

in response to determining that the determined distance is below the predetermined first proximity distance, the mobile ID transmitter transmitting an unlock signal from the valid authorized mobile ID transmitter to the vehicle, such that the process for unlocking the vehicle includes at least the three message exchanges of (a) the periodic request signal from the vehicle answered by the response signal from the mobile ID transmitter, (b) the authentication request from the vehicle answered by the authentication response from the mobile ID transmitter, and (c) the authentication signal from the vehicle followed by the unlock signal from the mobile ID transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle emits the periodic request signal in order to check whether a mobile ID transmitter is located within a second proximity distance that is greater than the first proximity distance.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle, in the event of the check being successful, emits a confirmation signal of the successful check to a user carrying the mobile ID transmitter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication signal is sent directly to the mobile ID transmitter.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in order to determine the distance from the valid mobile ID transmitter to the vehicle the vehicle emits one or several distance determining signals with a predetermined field strength, and on receiving said signals, the valid, mobile ID transmitter determines the distance to the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the authentication signal has been sent, a predetermined unlock time interval for receiving the unlock signal from the mobile ID transmitter begins to be counted down.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein after the predetermined unlock time interval has expired, the unlock signal is classed as invalid by the vehicle.

8. An access system for a vehicle, comprising:

a send/receive device on the vehicle for;

(a) sending a periodic request signal to a mobile ID transmitter;

(b) sending an authentication request to the mobile ID transmitter after the vehicle authorizes the mobile ID transmitter based on an identifier received from mobile ID transmitter in response to the periodic request signal; and

(c) sending an authentication signal to an mobile ID transmitter, through which signal the ID transmitter is authorized to unlock the vehicle, the authentication signal sent after the vehicle confirms an authentication code received from mobile ID transmitter in response to the authentication request; and

the mobile ID transmitter comprising;

a send/receive device on the ID transmitter; and

a distance determining device for determining the distance between the mobile ID transmitter and the corresponding vehicle;

wherein the send/receive device on the ID transmitter is operable for;

(a) sending a response signal including the identifier to the vehicle, in response to the periodic request signal received from the vehicle;

(b) sending an authentication response including the authentication code to the vehicle, in response the authentication request received from the vehicle; and

(c) sending an unlock signal to the vehicle, after it has received the authentication signal and a distance less than a first predetermined proximity distance has been determined.

9. The access system according to claim 8, wherein the send/receive device on the vehicle is designed to emit the periodic request signal in order to check whether the mobile ID transmitter is located within a second proximity distance that is greater than the first proximity distance.

10. The access system according to claim 8, wherein the send/receive device on the vehicle emits the periodic request signal with predetermined field strength for a distance determination, using which signals the distance determining device of the mobile ID transmitter can determine the distance to the vehicle.

11. The access system according to claim 8, further including a control device on the vehicle, to which the send/receive device on the vehicle routes the received unlock signal, so that the control device on the vehicle unlocks at least one door of the vehicle.

12. The access system according to claim 11, wherein, after sending the authentication signal, the control device on the vehicle is designed to measure a predetermined unlock time interval within which the receipt of the unlock signal is accepted.

13. A car comprising:

an access system with;

a send/receive device on the vehicle for;

(a) sending a periodic request signal to a mobile ID transmitter;

(b) sending an authentication request to the mobile ID transmitter after the vehicle authorizes the mobile ID transmitter based on an identifier received from mobile ID transmitter in response to the periodic request signal; and

(c) sending an authentication signal to an mobile ID transmitter, through which signal the ID transmitter is authorized to unlock the vehicle, the authentication signal sent after the vehicle confirms an authentication code received from mobile ID transmitter in response to the authentication request; and

the mobile ID transmitter comprising;

a send/receive device on the ID transmitter; and

a distance determining device for determining the distance between the mobile ID transmitter and the corresponding vehicle;

wherein the send/receive device on the ID transmitter is operable for;

(a) sending a response signal including the identifier to the vehicle, in response to the periodic request signal received from the vehicle;

(b) sending an authentication response including the authentication code to the vehicle, in response the authentication request received from the vehicle; and

(c) sending an unlock signal to the vehicle, after it has received the authentication signal and a distance less than a first predetermined proximity distance has been determined.