METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a communication device of a motor vehicle. A sensor device captures an identification feature, on the basis of which a user of a user profile stored in a motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus is identifiable, for example a feature of a mobile terminal of the user or of the user, for example a fingerprint. On the basis of the captured identification feature, an identification device of the motor vehicle establishes an identity of the user. Depending on the established identity, the identification device establishes an access code for the user profile of the user, wherein the at least one access code is stored in a database, and the established access code is used to enable the ascertained user profile for the communication apparatus.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A method for operating a communication device of a motor vehicle, which is adapted to provide a data communication connection to a motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus and to communicate with the motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus, comprising the steps: capturing by a sensor device an identification feature, on the basis of which a user of a user profile is identifiable, wherein the identification feature is a feature of a mobile terminal of the user or a feature of the user, establishing, on the basis of the captured identification feature, an identity of the user by an identification device of the motor vehicle, establishing, by the identification device and depending on the established identity, an access code for the user profile of the user, wherein the at least one access code is stored in a database, and enabling, by the established access code, the ascertained user profile for the communication apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a biometric feature of the user is captured as an identification feature, preferably a fingerprint of the user.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the establishing of the identification of the identity is carried out comprising the following steps: generating an identifier that represents the identification feature by the identification device, transmitting the generated identifier to the motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus for ascertaining the identity, and receiving an authentication signal from the motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus, which describes the identity determined by the motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus, wherein the establishing of the identity by the identification device takes place on the basis of the authentication signal.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the establishing of the identity comprises the following steps: generating an identifier that represents the identification feature by an identification device of the mobile terminal, and transmitting the generated identifier to the identification device of the motor vehicle for establishing the identity.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein generating the identifier that represents the identification feature comprises creating a cryptographic hash function as identifier, preferably creating a checksum and/or a hex string and/or a hash code by a SHA1 algorithm and/or a md5 checksum.

15. The method according to claim 10, comprising the step: generating a control signal for activating to control a motor vehicle system of the motor vehicle, depending on the established identity and a predetermined function of the user profile for activating to control a motor vehicle system, and transmitting the control signal to the motor vehicle system, wherein the motor vehicle system is preferably configured as an auxiliary heater and/or as a motor vehicle system for starting and/or stopping an engine and/or as an ignition device.

16. An identification device, comprising a processor device, wherein the processor device is adapted to carry out the method steps of a method according to claim 10 relating to an identification device.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising an identification device according to claim 16, and a communication device.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, comprising a sensor device for capturing the identification feature, preferably wherein a sensor of the sensor device is arranged on a door handle of the motor vehicle and/or on a motor vehicle system of the motor vehicle, in particular on an operating element of the motor vehicle system for starting and/or stopping an engine and/or an ignition device of the motor vehicle, and/or on a reader.

Description

[0033] AN exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. For this purpose, the sole FIGURE (FIG.) shows:

a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0034] The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another, which develop the invention further also independently of one another and thus also must be considered individually or in a different combination than the one shown as part of the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0035] In the FIGURE, functionally identical elements are each provided with the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates the method according to the invention with reference to an exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, the FIGURE shows a motor vehicle 10 that, for example, can be configured as a motor car, for example, as a passenger car.

[0036] The motor vehicle has a communication device 12, which as equipment is equipped, for example, with a transmitter and/or a receiver and is adapted for communicating with other equipment or devices of motor vehicle 10 on the one hand, and with motor-vehicle-external equipment or devices on the other hand. Communication device 12 can be adapted, for example, for near-field communication and, for example, have a corresponding NFC chip for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, communication device 12 may be adapted to establish a WLAN connection and/or an Internet connection and/or a BLE use. Corresponding techniques are known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art.

[0037] In the example of the FIGURE, communication device 12 is connected to an identification device 14 via, for example, a wired data communication connection 13, for example via a data bus system of motor vehicle 10. Identification device 14 may optionally have a processor device 15, which may have, for example, a microprocessor and/or a microcontroller. In this case, identification device 14 can be configured, for example, as a control board, which can optionally have, for example, a memory device, such as a memory chip or memory card. In the memory device (not shown in the FIGURE), for example, a database may be stored in which, for example, information about a fingerprint of a user may be stored.

[0038] In the example of the FIGURE, communication device 12 of motor vehicle 10 may be connected to an operating device 16 of motor vehicle 10. Alternatively, operating device 16 may also be a component of communication device 12, for example a keyboard or a system for gesture recognition or a system for speech recognition. Corresponding techniques are known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art.

[0039] Motor vehicle 10 of the FIGURE also has, by way of example, a motor vehicle system 18 that can be configured, for example, as a locking system of motor vehicle 10, door handle, or as a system for starting and/or stopping an engine of motor vehicle 10, or as a system with an ignition system.

[0040] In the example of the FIGURE, motor vehicle system 18 may have a sensor device 20. Alternatively, however, sensor device 20 may be arranged structurally separate from motor vehicle system 18. Alternatively, motor vehicle 10 may be equipped without sensor device 20. For example, sensor device 20 may have a fingerprint reader that may be arranged on the exemplary door handle. Alternatively, the exemplary fingerprint reader can also be arranged, for example, on an operating element of mentioned motor vehicle system 18 for starting and/or stopping the engine, wherein the operating element is understood to be a component for receiving an operating action which for example can be configured as a key or rotary actuator.

[0041] Further alternatives of sensor device 20 may have, for example, a scanner for scanning an eye iris, and/or a receiver for receiving a recognition code of a mobile terminal 22, for example for recognizing the S-PIN or the serial number. An exemplary scanner, that is to say a reader, can be arranged, for example, on a location of motor vehicle 10 that is easily accessible ergonomically while driving, for example on an operating element of a multimedia interface (MMI).

[0042] In the example of the FIGURE, mobile terminal 22 can be configured as a smartphone. Said smartphone may have, for example, a sensor device 26 and a communication device 24. In this case, communication device 24 of the mobile terminal can establish a data communication connection 13 with communication device 12 of motor vehicle 10. Examples have already been mentioned above.

[0043] The mobile terminal may optionally also have an identification device 30, which may have the above-described properties of an identification device.

[0044] In the example of the FIGURE, sensor device 20, for example sensor device 20 of motor vehicle 10, captures in a first method step S1 identification feature I, which may be, for example, a fingerprint. For example, this can be done when the user touches a corresponding sensor on a door handle of motor vehicle 10, or if the user, for example, already sits in motor vehicle 10 and touches a button of motor vehicle system 18, for example, to start the engine of motor vehicle 10 with the button. If motor vehicle 10 has not started yet at this time, for example, then a separate power supply for sensor device 20 and/or identification device 14 may be provided. In the two examples mentioned, the user performed an intuitive action in which the identification feature I is captured simultaneously (S1). If a sensor of sensor device 20 is configured, for example, as a button, which may be arranged next to a multimedia interface, touching the sensor is an intended action of the user for capturing identification feature I.

[0045] If motor vehicle 10 is used by several users, for example, the respective user can be identified quickly without having to hand over a key from one user to the next user.

[0046] Identification device 14 determines the identity of the user in method step S2. For this purpose, for example, sensor device 20 can transmit a signal that can describe the fingerprint, via data communication connection 13 to identification device 14. In order to establish the identity (S2), the identification device can compare the detected fingerprint, for example, with files of a motor-vehicle-internal database, which, for example, can describe the fingerprints of the various users.

[0047] In the case of a positive result of the comparison, the identity can thus be deduced and thus established (S2).

[0048] In method step S3, the identification device can then establish an access code of a user profile of the user (S3), wherein the user profile can be, for example, a customer profile of the user on motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus 28, i.e., for example, a customer profile on a data server of the motor vehicle manufacturer. Alternatively or additionally, the user profile may be a profile of a social network or a profile of an online service through which the user may, for example, purchase products over the Internet. In this case, according to the method according to the invention, more than one access code can be established (S3), and multiple user profiles can be unlocked (S4). The user profile on the exemplary data server of the motor vehicle manufacturer can, for example, offer the user so-called in-car apps, for example additional functions for motor vehicle 10, which can be purchased for payment via a payment function in order, for example, to increase engine power.

[0049] The determined user profile (S4) can be unlocked by communication device 12 using the determined access code, wherein communication device 12 can log in or register at the user profile using the access code, for example, according to a method familiar to a person skilled in the art. This can be done via data communication connection 13 between communication device 12 of motor vehicle 10 and external data server apparatus 28.

[0050] Establishing the identity of the user (S2) can alternatively be done in that motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus 28 ascertains the identity (S6) and can transmit an authentication signal to communication device 12 and further to identification device 14, which can describe and/or confirm the identity. On the basis of the information of the received (S8) authentication signal, the identity can then be established by identification device 14 (S2). For secure data transmission, identification device 14 can, for example, convert the signal describing the exemplary fingerprint into a hash code, for example, and thus generate an identifier representing identification feature I (S5). Techniques for decrypting an encrypted signal/or identifier are known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art. This identifier can then be transmitted to data server apparatus 28 for ascertaining the identity (S6) (S7). The transmission of the identifier (S7) can be done with communication device 12. Enabling the user profile (S4) can also be performed by data server apparatus 28, for example.

[0051] Ascertaining the identity (S6) by data server apparatus 28 is advantageous if motor vehicle 10 is, for example, a rental car in which identification features I of various users are not present, for example because a user does not want his fingerprint permanently stored in a rental car company and thus in a foreign vehicle 10.

[0052] The FIGURE shows an alternative example for capturing the identification feature, according to which identification feature I can be captured by sensor device 26 of mobile terminal 22 (S1). In this case, by way of example, a fingerprint sensor can be utilized, which can be integrated in mobile terminal 22. A sensor signal describing identification feature I can then be transmitted to identification device 14 of motor vehicle 10 in method step S9. In this case, the sensor signal can preferably be transmitted in encrypted form, wherein the generation of the representative identifier (S5) can be performed by identification device 30 of mobile terminal 22.

[0053] The transmission of the sensor signal or the encrypted sensor signal or the identifier (S9) can then take place via communication device 24 of mobile terminal 22 and communication device 12 of motor vehicle 10. For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that communication device 24 and communication device 12 can each have an NFC-capable chip. The user may then, for example, hold mobile terminal 22 to communication device 12 so that the corresponding signal can be transmitted.

[0054] After unlocking user profile S4, data server apparatus 28 may, for example, transmit an image signal to communication device 12 (S10), and the user may use the user profile via operation device 16, for example.

[0055] If identification feature I is, for example, an S-PIN or a serial number of mobile terminal 22, then said S-PIN or serial number can be transmitted, for example, from communication device 24 of mobile terminal 22 to sensor device 20 of motor vehicle 10. Alternatively, such an identification feature I can be transmitted to sensor device 20 via communication device 12.

[0056] Optionally, on the basis of the ascertained identity, motor vehicle system 18 can be controlled by, for example, generating a corresponding control signal for, for example, activating an auxiliary heater to motor vehicle system 18 by identification device 14 and transmitting it to motor vehicle system 18 (S11):

[0057] The embodiments described above illustrate the principle of the invention, enabling identification of the current motor vehicle user to personalize, for example, services/or access control. Such a user identification can take place, for example, by means of a fingerprint reader in and/or on or on motor vehicle 10.

[0058] An identification and/or authentication of a user can take place via a sensor device 20, 26, for example via a fingerprint reader in and/or on motor vehicle 10. Such an exemplary fingerprint reader may, for example, be comparable to a corresponding reader in current smartphones for unlocking the equipment.

[0059] The use of an identification feature I, for example a fingerprint, for identifying the user, i.e. for establishing the identity of the user (S2), can be used for the utilization of personalized services. Alternatively or additionally, for example, a utilization for authentication for a remote-controlled function for opening or closing motor vehicle 10 can take place (the so-called remote lock/unlock function).

[0060] According to a further exemplary embodiment, the enabling of the user profile S4, a so-called login, can take place, for example, in a computer program by way of a fingerprint as an identification feature I, for example with a fingerprint reader in the smartphone, and/or an input of, for example, an S-pin in mobile terminal 22 for authentication of safety-critical services, such as an auxiliary heater or the remote lock/unlock function.

[0061] The exemplary fingerprint can be linked, for example, as an identifier and/or with, for example, an encrypted checksum and replace other ID transmitters at many locations in and/or on motor vehicle 10, i.e., other access codes (credentials) or, such as a password, a user ID, or logins.

[0062] Via identification feature I, for example, the personal fingerprint, all people, meaning both drivers and/or users are identifiable without mobile device 22. The exemplary fingerprint advantageously replaces, compared to motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus 28, for example a back-end, for example, an access code such as a user ID and/or a password (if previously linked thereto).

[0063] For user identification in the course of personalization of services, the following advantages result, among others: identification and/or authentication of offline users, even users without a mobile terminal 22 or with a mobile terminal 22 switched off; the identification and/or authentication is not dependent on a performance of a mobile terminal 22, for example, not even dependent on, for example, software problems of mobile terminal 22; for example, provided in a start-stop button, the identification can take place directly at the start of the engine or in the event of a failure of the ignition; a unique link of, for example, fingerprint and user account, for example via mobile terminal 22, which may comprise, for example, a fingerprint reader, enables user identification in all motor vehicles 10; increased protection of vehicle profiles and profile data, since an identification feature I can not be stolen or read, wherein protection may be important because a vehicle profile may still contain, for example, credit card information and other personal data; identification in, for example, in-car purchases (for example in an in-car web shop) can also be done conveniently via identification feature I; from the identification of online updates in motor vehicle 10; identification and/or authentication are also possible while driving and not prevented due to a distraction of the user, since the driver is hardly distracted by it; identification and/or authentication for, for example, an access control in which sensor device 20 is arranged on motor vehicle 10, for example on the door handle, and can replace an ID transmitter for unlocking, for example, motor vehicle 10, and no ID transmitter must be used for unlocking motor vehicle 10.

[0064] Identification with, for example, a fingerprint eliminates annoying and repetitive queries of identification features I, for example of a password, for the user, and the convenience for the personalized utilization of online services is considerably increased.

[0065] For example, according to another exemplary embodiment, a function may be provided in an application program (app), for example, may be provided via an encrypted checksum of a personal fingerprint with a personal user account.

[0066] According to a further exemplary embodiment, for example, a back-end function in motor vehicle 10 for linking the user profile and/or the user profile at a data server of the motor vehicle manufacturer can take place via, for example, a fingerprint, for example for a user who has no mobile terminal 22.

[0067] According to a further exemplary embodiment, sensor device 20, for example the exemplary fingerprint reader, may be located in a start-stop button of motor vehicle 10, for example for identification when switching a terminal of the ignition system, and/or for enabling a vehicle start.

[0068] In a further exemplary embodiment, sensor device 20 may be located, for example, in an outside door handle for the identification and/or authentication of a user to unlock motor vehicle 10 and thus replace a remote control of the lock.

[0069] In a further exemplary embodiment, matching, for example, of a fingerprint read by a start-stop button and/or a checksum of the fingerprint can be done, for example with a local profile database or online with data server apparatus 28 for downloading a profile.

[0070] In other words, the identification of a user can take place via the identification feature offline in motor vehicle 10 or online via data server apparatus 28 and thus enabling a personalized profile for the utilization of online services can take place.