WO2024027870A1

WO2024027870A1 - Method and system for carrying out an action relating to a means of transport

Info

Publication number: WO2024027870A1
Application number: PCT/DE2023/100490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Neuhaeuser
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2022-08-05
Filing date: 2023-06-29
Publication date: 2024-02-08
Also published as: DE102022119800A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for carrying out an action relating to a means of transport. The method comprises: sending, via the means of transport, an authorisation request to carry out an action using a functional unit to a central unit of a communication service provider, wherein the authorisation request comprises information relating to a communication profile of a user; receiving, via the functional unit or a central unit of a functional unit management entity, an authorisation relating to the action from the central unit of the communication service provider as a response to the authorisation request; and carrying out the action using the functional unit.

Description

Method and system for carrying out an action in relation to a means of transport

The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for performing an action with respect to a means of transportation. The present disclosure relates in particular to a technical process for processing payment transactions, for example for paying for charging a vehicle at a charging station.

State of the art

For some time now, everyday processes in the field of mobility have been increasingly digitized, such as paying for charging, paying parking fees and paying toll fees. Such transactions are subject to certain security requirements to prevent misuse. However, implementing such security requirements can be cumbersome and/or time-consuming for users. An example of such a cumbersome and time-consuming security requirement is two-factor authentication, in which proof of the user's identity is provided by two different and independent components or factors (e.g. bank card and pin).

Disclosure of the invention

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a method and a system for performing an action with respect to a means of transportation that can facilitate approval of actions to be performed with respect to a means of transportation without compromising safety. In particular, it is an object of the present disclosure to carry out secure transactions with minimal user intervention.

This task is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous refinements are specified in the subclaims. According to an independent aspect of the present disclosure, a method for performing an action with respect to a means of transportation, in particular a vehicle, is specified. The method includes sending, by the means of transportation, a permission request to perform an action by a functional unit to a central unit of a communication service provider, the permission request comprising information relating to a communication profile of a user; receiving, by the functional unit or a central unit of a functional unit management, an authorization regarding the action from the central unit of the communication service provider in response to the authorization request; and carrying out the action by the functional unit.

According to the invention, an existing relationship between a user and a communication service provider is used to approve an action to be carried out by a functional unit in relation to a means of transport. In particular, the user is known to the communication service provider, so that further complex identification of the user by the functional unit or the functional unit administration can be dispensed with without compromising the security of the process.

For example, the means of transport can request authorization from the communication service provider to pay for a charging process before the charging process begins. If the communication service provider authorizes payment, the charging process can begin and be billed directly to the communication service provider. For this purpose, the user can, for example, have booked a corresponding option with the communications service provider, which enables charging processes to be billed via the user's mobile phone bill. As a result, approval of transactions can be simplified and/or occur with minimal (or even no) user intervention.

The term “means of transport” typically includes vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, mobile homes, motorcycles, etc., ships, aircraft and drones that are used to transport people, goods, etc. In particular, the term “means of transport” includes motor vehicles used to transport people. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this and the term “means of transport” can also include, for example, wearables such as smartphones, smart glasses and smart shoes.

Preferably, the communication profile is a SIM profile, in particular an eSIM profile (“Embedded Subscriber Identity Module”) or a plastic SIM. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this and other current or future communication profiles may be used.

The communication profile is preferably implemented in the means of transport. The communication profile can, for example, be a personal eSIM profile that has been loaded into the means of transport and is or was optionally enabled (the means of transport can, for example, have already received a disable command, for example because the user has left the means of transport).

Preferably, the functional unit is selected from the group that includes, or consists of, a charging station, a parking system and a toll system. Accordingly, the action may be selected from the group comprising or consisting of a charging process, a parking process and a toll processing operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the functional unit is a charging station for charging a hybrid or electric vehicle, and the action is a charging process.

Vehicles with electric drives (in particular hybrid or electric vehicles) include electrical energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) that can be connected to a charging station and charged via a charging device on the vehicle. Various charging technologies can be used to charge the electrical storage of such hybrid or electric vehicles. With AC charging, the charger that converts the direct current to charge the electrical energy storage device is located in the vehicle. With DC charging, the charger that converts the direct current to charge the electrical energy storage device is located in the charging station. Hybrid or electric vehicles can use unidirectional communication in accordance with the IEC61851-1 standard when charging with a charging station. This communication includes a pilot signal with a PWM signal for the maximum charging current specified by the charging station. In contrast to the IEC61851-1 standard, the ISO 15118 communication standard allows the identification of a vehicle to a charging station via a corresponding identification message.

The central unit of functional unit management can be a server or backend of a provider or platform that manages and/or owns the functional unit and offers the actions of the functional unit for purchase, for example.

Preferably, the authorization request to perform the action that the means of transport sends to the central unit of the communication service provider is a request to start a charging process. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this and the approval request may have any configuration suitable to trigger the steps of the method according to the invention.

The authorization request to perform the action that the means of transportation sends to the central unit of the communication service provider includes the information related to the user's communication profile. The information relating to the user's communication profile may include or be a telephone number, in particular a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number, MSISDN. Additionally or alternatively, the information relating to the user's communication profile may include information relating to the communication service provider to which the communication profile is assigned.

The communication service provider can be a manufacturer, manager, etc. of the communication profile, and can in particular be a network operator of a mobile network (mobile network operator (MNO)). The communication service provider can, for example, provide communication in a mobile network according to the LTE (Long-Term Evolutionj standard and/or the 5G Enable standard. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this and other communication service providers are conceivable, for example WiFi providers.

In some embodiments, the authorization request to carry out the action that the means of transport sends to the central unit of the communication service provider further comprises a means of transport identification number, in particular a vehicle identification number (Vehicle Identification Number, VIN). Additionally or alternatively, the approval request may include information relating to a type of means of transport, in particular a vehicle model.

In some embodiments, the authorization request to perform the action that the means of transportation sends to the central unit of the communication service provider further comprises identification information of the functional unit (e.g. an ID of a charging station) and/or identification information of the functional unit management (e.g. an ID of an operator of the charging station).

In an exemplary embodiment, the means of transportation can receive the identification information of the functional unit and/or the identification information of the functional unit management in advance from the functional unit. For this purpose, the means of transport can be connected to the functional unit via a communication connection. The communication connection between the means of transport and the functional unit can use a suitable wireless and/or wired communication technology.

In the case of a charging process, the wired communication connection can be implemented, for example, via a charging cable. For example, a user can plug the charging cable into the charging station, with the charging cable providing a communication channel via which information can be exchanged between the means of transport and the charging station. The wireless communication connection can be implemented, for example, via WLAN, NFC, Bluetooth or a mobile network such as an LTE network or 5G network. The means of transport preferably sends the approval request directly to the central unit of the communication service provider. For example, the means of transport can be wirelessly connected to the central unit of the communication service provider. The wireless communication connection can be implemented, for example, via WLAN, NFC, Bluetooth or a mobile network such as an LTE network or 5G network.

Alternatively, the means of transport can send the request indirectly to the central unit of the communication service provider, for example via a third unit such as a server.

Preferably, sending the approval request to perform the action occurs automatically. In other words, the sending of the approval request can be triggered automatically, for example when the user connects the means of transport to the functional unit, for example with a charging cable. Additionally or alternatively, the authorization request to carry out the action is sent automatically when the user leaves the means of transport (e.g. closing a door, locking the vehicle, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the authorization request to carry out the action is sent automatically when the means of transport switches to parking mode, preferably in combination with a position of the vehicle (e.g. at a charging station or in a parking lot).

Preferably, the authorization in relation to the promotion includes an instruction to carry out the promotion and/or an authorization for payment for the promotion. The instruction to perform the action can be, for example, a load command.

For example, the approval request in relation to the promotion concerns an approval of a transaction for the promotion, in particular a payment process for the promotion (e.g. for a charging process or parking). Accordingly, the approval in relation to the promotion may be an approval of a transaction for the promotion, in particular a payment transaction for the promotion (e.g. for a charging transaction or parking). Preferably, the method further comprises setting, by the user, at least one action parameter in relation to the action at the communication service provider. For example, the user can book a specific option with the communications service provider, which allows actions such as charging and parking to be billed via the user's mobile phone bill. For each of the actions, the user can define corresponding parameters with the communication service provider, within which payment processes can be processed automatically without the user having to do anything.

In some embodiments, the at least one action parameter may include a maximum amount for action costs, such as maximum loading costs (e.g. 50 euros). Additionally or alternatively, different action parameters can be set for different actions (e.g. a maximum amount of 50 euros for a charging process and a maximum amount of 10 euros for parking).

Preferably, the method further comprises sending, by the central unit of the communication service provider, a confirmation request to a mobile terminal of the user after receiving the approval request and before sending the approval regarding the action; and sending, by the central unit of the communication service provider, the approval regarding the action to the functional unit or the central unit of functional unit management when a confirmation is received from the mobile terminal in response to the confirmation request. For example, the user can be asked to confirm or authorize payment for a charging process.

In some embodiments, the confirmation request is sent to the user's mobile device only if the approval request includes at least one action parameter that differs from the at least one action parameter set at the communication service provider. For example, charging costs may be higher than those specified by the user to the communication service provider, so that the transaction is not carried out automatically, but rather the user is prompted first will confirm the transaction. This can improve the security of the payment process.

The term mobile device includes in particular smartphones, but also other mobile telephones or cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet PCs, notebooks, smart watches as well as all common and future electronic devices that are equipped with communication technology.

The mobile terminal can, for example, be set up to operate in a mobile network, for example via wide area networks or Wide Area Networks (WANs) such as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Package Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution ( EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Downlink/Uplink Packet Access (HSDPA, HSUPA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), or World Wide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX). Communication via other common or future communication technologies, e.g. 5 G-Mobildunksy stars, is also possible.

According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a software (SW) program is provided. The SW program may be configured to run on one or more processors and thereby perform the method of performing an action on a means of transportation described in this document.

According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided. The storage medium may comprise a SW program configured to be executed on one or more processors and thereby to carry out the method for performing an action with respect to a means of transport described in this document.

According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, software with program code for carrying out the method of performing an action is related on a means of transport if the software runs on one or more software-controlled devices.

According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, a system for providing a communication function in a means of transportation is specified. The system includes processors and memories connected to the processors and containing instructions executable by the processors to carry out the method of performing an action with respect to a means of transportation described in this document.

The system is in particular set up to carry out the method described in this document for carrying out an action in relation to a means of transport.

A processor or a processor module is a programmable arithmetic unit, i.e. a machine or an electronic circuit that controls other elements according to instructions given and thereby drives an algorithm (process).

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the disclosure are shown in the figures and are described in more detail below. Show it:

1 shows a flowchart of a method for performing an action with respect to a means of transportation according to embodiments of the present disclosure,

Figure 2 shows schematically a vehicle, a functional unit, a central unit of a functional unit management and a central unit of a communication service provider according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and

Figure 3 shows schematically a vehicle, a functional unit, a mobile terminal, a central unit of a functional unit management and a central unit of a Communication service provider according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the disclosure

In the following, unless otherwise noted, the same reference numerals are used for elements that are the same and have the same effect.

Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a method 100 for performing an action with respect to a means of transportation according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The method 100 includes, in block 110, sending, by the means of transport, a request for permission to perform an action by a functional unit to a central unit of a communication service provider, the request for permission comprising information relating to a communication profile of a user; in block 120, receiving, by the functional unit or a central unit of a functional unit management, an approval regarding the action from the central unit of the communication service provider in response to the approval request; and in block 130 the functional unit performs the action.

Figure 2 shows schematically a vehicle 200, a functional unit 300, a central unit 400 of a functional unit management and a central unit 500 of a communication service provider according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The following description is based on an example of a vehicle, an eSIM and a charging process. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific aspects.

The vehicle 200 includes a communication module 210, which is used for communication with external entities such as the functional unit 300 and the central unit 500 of the Communication service provider and / or a mobile device of the user (not shown).

Typically, the communication module 210 includes a SIM module with a user's personal eSIM. Optionally, the communication module 210 includes a permanently installed SIM card that is assigned to the vehicle. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this and other current or future communication technologies and/or communication profiles may be used.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 200 can communicate with the functional unit 300, such as a charging station, via a first communication connection 10. The first communication link 10 may be a wireless or wired communication link. The wireless communication connection can be implemented, for example, via WLAN, NFC, Bluetooth or a mobile network such as an LTE network or 5G network. The wired communication connection can be implemented in the case of a charging process via a charging cable, for example using the ISO 15118 communication standard, which allows identification of a vehicle to a charging station via a corresponding identification message.

The vehicle 200 can also communicate with the central unit 500 of the communication service provider via a second communication connection 20. The second communication link 20 may be a wireless communication link. The wireless communication connection can be implemented, for example, via WLAN, NFC, Bluetooth or a mobile network such as an LTE network or 5G network.

The functional unit 300 can communicate with the central unit 400 of the functional unit management via a third communication connection 30. The third communication link 30 may be a wireless or wired communication link. The wireless communication connection can be used for For example, implemented over a mobile network, such as an LTE network or 5G network.

The central unit 500 of the communication service provider can communicate with the central unit 400 of the functional unit management via a fourth communication connection 40. The fourth communication link 40 may be a wireless or wired communication link. The wireless communication link can be implemented, for example, over a mobile network, such as an LTE network or 5G network.

Additionally or alternatively, the central unit 500 of the communication service provider can communicate with the functional unit 300 via a fifth communication connection (not shown). The fifth communication link may be a wireless or wired communication link. The wireless communication link can be implemented, for example, over a mobile network, such as an LTE network or 5G network.

A process according to the invention is explained in detail below.

An eSIM profile of the user is loaded (and optionally enabled) in the vehicle 200, and the user is logged in (or was logged in until recently) in the vehicle 200 with his personal login. In addition, the user has booked an option with the communications service provider that allows charging processes to be billed via the user's mobile phone bill. In some embodiments, it is conceivable that the user has booked an option that allows the vehicle 200 to always be charged via the mobile phone bill, regardless of where the vehicle 200 is currently located, for example within a specific country.

In a first step, the user can put the vehicle 200 into parking mode, leave the vehicle and connect a charging cable to the vehicle 200. Triggered by this, the vehicle 200 sends a message to the central unit 500 of the communication service provider in a second step. The message can be a recently used one Include phone number (MSISDN). Optionally, the message can further include a vehicle identification number (VIN) and/or a vehicle model and/or identification information of the charging station and/or identification information of an operator of the charging station.

With the message, the vehicle 200 requests payment approval for the charging process from the central unit 500 of the communication service provider for the received telephone number (MSISDN) and/or an identifier (e.g. a VIN).

In a third step, the central unit 500 of the communication service provider checks the request and, in a fourth step, sends a payment approval to the central unit 400 of the functional unit management, which forwards the payment approval to the functional unit 300. Alternatively, the central unit 500 of the communication service provider can send the payment approval directly to the functional unit 300.

In a fifth step, the functional unit 300 starts the charging process and ends it after a certain time or at a certain charge level. In a sixth step, the functional unit 300 sends information about the completed charging process to the central unit 400 of the functional unit management.

In a seventh step, the central unit 400 of the functional unit management sends the information about the completed loading process to the central unit 500 of the communication service provider in order to carry out the transaction or complete the payment process.

Figure 3 shows schematically a vehicle 200, a functional unit 300, a central unit 400 of a functional unit management, a central unit 500 of a communication service provider and a mobile terminal 600 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In contrast to FIG. 2, in FIG. 3 a mobile terminal 600 of the user is involved in the process according to the invention. The mobile terminal 600 can communicate with the central unit 500 of the communication service provider via a further communication connection 50. The further communication connection 50 can be a wireless communication connection. The wireless communication link can be implemented, for example, over a mobile network, such as an LTE network or 5G network.

The central unit 500 of the communication service provider may send a confirmation request to the user's mobile terminal 600 after receiving the approval request for the action and before sending the approval. Subsequently, the central unit 500 of the communication service provider can send the approval to the functional unit 300 or the central unit 400 of the functional unit management when a confirmation is received from the mobile terminal 600 or the user in response to the confirmation request. For example, the user can be asked to confirm or authorize payment for a charging process.

In some embodiments, the user can store at least one action parameter with the communication service provider. For example, the user can book a specific option with the communications service provider, which allows actions such as charging and parking to be billed via the user's mobile phone bill. For each of the actions, the user can define corresponding parameters with the communication service provider within which payment transactions can be processed automatically without the user having to do anything.

The at least one action parameter can include a maximum amount for action costs, such as maximum loading costs (e.g. 50 euros). Additionally or alternatively, different action parameters can be set for different actions (e.g. a maximum amount of 50 euros for a charging process and a maximum amount of 10 euros for parking). In some embodiments, the confirmation request is sent to the user's mobile terminal 600 only if the approval request includes at least one action parameter that differs from the at least one action parameter set at the communication service provider. For example, charging costs may be higher than those specified by the user to the communication service provider, so that the transaction is not carried out automatically, but the user is first asked to confirm the transaction. This can improve the security of the payment process.

According to the invention, an existing relationship between a user and a communication service provider is used to approve an action to be carried out by a functional unit in relation to a means of transport. In particular, the user is known to the communication service provider, so that further complex identification of the user by the functional unit or the functional unit administration can be dispensed with without compromising the security of the process. For example, the means of transport can request authorization from the communication service provider to pay for a charging process before the charging process begins. If the communication service provider authorizes payment, the charging process can begin and be billed directly to the communication service provider. For this purpose, the user can, for example, have booked a corresponding option with the communication service provider, which enables charging processes to be billed via the user's mobile phone bill. As a result, approval of transactions can be simplified and/or occur with minimal (or even no) user intervention.

Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a large number of possible variations exist. It is also to be understood that exemplary embodiments are truly examples only and should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope, application, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the previous description and the Description of the figures enables the person skilled in the art to concretely implement the exemplary embodiments, whereby the person skilled in the art can make a variety of changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, without leaving the scope of protection provided by the Claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description, are defined.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Method (100) for carrying out an action in relation to a means of transport, comprising:

Sending (110), by the means of transportation, a request for permission to perform an action by a functional unit to a central unit of a communication service provider, the request for permission comprising information relating to a communication profile of a user;

receiving (120), by the functional unit or a central unit of a functional unit management, an authorization regarding the action from the central unit of the communication service provider in response to the authorization request; and

Carrying out (130) the action by the functional unit.

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, wherein: the functional unit is selected from the group consisting of a charging station, a parking system and a toll system, in particular wherein the functional unit is a charging station for charging a hybrid or electric vehicle; and/or the action is selected from the group consisting of a charging process, a parking process and a toll processing.

3. The method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the information relating to the user's communication profile comprises a telephone number, in particular a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number, MSISDN; and/or the information relating to the user's communications profile includes information relating to a communications service provider to which the communications profile is associated.

4. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the authorization request to perform the action further comprises: a vehicle identification number, in particular a vehicle identification number; and or

Information relating to a type of means of transport, in particular a vehicle model; and or

functional unit identification information; and or

Functional unit management identification information.

5. The method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sending of the authorization request to carry out the action occurs automatically when: the user connects the means of transport to the functional unit, in particular through a charging cable; and/or the user leaves the means of transport; and/or the means of transport switches to parking mode.

6. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the approval with respect to the action comprises an instruction to perform the action and/or an authorization for payment for the action.

7. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

Determination by the user of at least one action parameter in relation to the action at the communication service provider, in particular wherein the at least one action parameter includes a maximum amount for action costs and / or different action parameters can be set for different actions.

8. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

Sending, by the central unit of the communication service provider, a confirmation request to a mobile terminal of the user after receiving the approval request and before sending the approval in relation to the action; and

Sending, by the central unit of the communication service provider, the approval regarding the action to the functional unit or the central unit of functional unit management when a confirmation is received from the mobile terminal in response to the confirmation request.

9. The method (100) according to claim 8, wherein the confirmation request is only sent to the user's mobile terminal if the approval request includes at least one action parameter that differs from the at least one action parameter set at the communication service provider.

10. System (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for performing an action with respect to a means of transportation, comprising:

processors; and storage media connected to the processors and containing instructions executable by the processors to carry out the method (100) of performing an action with respect to a means of transportation according to any one of claims 1 to 9.