DE102016215627B4 - Communication system for managing a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Communication system (10) for managing a vehicle (12), with - an in-vehicle communication module (14a, 14b); - a mobile terminal (16), and - an electronic vehicle key (18), which is set up to communicate with the in-vehicle communication module ( 14a, 14b) and to communicate with the mobile terminal (16); characterized in that a vehicle management application is installed on the electronic vehicle key (18) and/or the mobile terminal device (16), which is set up to display information available to the electronic vehicle key (18) on the mobile terminal device (16);that the mobile terminal (16) is set up to release the electronic vehicle key (18) to a device-internal communication module, the electronic vehicle key (18) being set up to use the released device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal (16), the electronic vehicle key registers directly on a central computer (20); andthat a user modifies his user account on the central computer (20) or usage authorizations on the central computer (20) via the mobile terminal device and the electronic vehicle key.

Description

The invention relates to a communication system for managing a vehicle.

The functionality of electronic vehicle keys will continue to increase in the future. For example, electronic vehicle keys will not only be able to be used to lock and unlock vehicle doors, but will also allow vehicle settings to be made.

However, the increasing range of functions of an electronic vehicle key is offset by its small size, which considerably limits the ease of use. A compact electronic vehicle key can only have a limited number of input elements and can provide the user with a limited amount of information visually.

From the pamphlet DE 20 2011 105 142 U1 For example, an electronic vehicle key with an integrated color display is known, which also has a combined function and menu button and has advanced touchscreen technology for remote control of the vehicle access and authorization system.

The pamphlet DE 10 2007 060 609 A1 relates to a method for displaying information. The invention also relates to a system for displaying information and a mobile identification transmitter.

The pamphlet U.S. 2012/0303182 A1 teaches a vehicle management system using a wireless communication relay of a vehicle remote controller.

The pamphlet DE 102009 035 654A1 relates to a device for access authentication in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

The pamphlet DE 102009 016808A1 relates to a method for displaying information, with a mobile ID transmitter and a mobile phone with a display, the mobile ID transmitter serving to activate a security system of a motor vehicle.

However, the touchscreen of an electronic vehicle key can also only have limited dimensions so that the handiness of the electronic vehicle key is not impaired. Touchscreens of this size are neither suitable for clearly displaying information nor for conveniently controlling vehicle functions. On the other hand, if the size of the built-in touchscreen is increased, the convenience of use is significantly impaired, since it is no longer possible to carry the electronic vehicle key with you, for example on a bunch of keys.

In addition, the integration of display devices such as touch screens and the equipment of an electronic vehicle key with several communication modules leads to a significantly increased energy requirement. Due to the small size of an electronic vehicle key, however, only batteries with a limited size and thus a limited capacity can be installed. Additional electronic components lead to rapid discharge, forcing the user to replace the battery regularly. In the case of a rechargeable vehicle key battery, regular charging is necessary. Both the battery replacement and the charging of the vehicle key battery lead to a significant impairment of user comfort.

From the pamphlet EP 2 048 626 A2 a communication system is known which includes a wireless vehicle telematics unit, a portable and wireless operating unit and a wireless communication device which can be embodied as a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), for example. The portable and wireless control unit relays information between the wireless vehicle telematics unit and the wireless communication device. So that the wireless communication device does not have to be modified, information is provided by the wireless vehicle telematics unit and a selection menu is provided on the wireless communication device, for example by means of simple text messages.

In this way, although the hurdle of the limited usability of an electronic vehicle key is overcome, it is not possible to conveniently control the vehicle using simple text messages.

The pamphlet EP 1 216 899 A1 proposes a communication system comprising a first in-vehicle communication unit and a second portable communication unit which communicate with each other. The second portable communication unit is connectable to a cellular terminal to provide information to the user on the cellular terminal over the limited range of the second communication unit can be made available, for example the fuel level or the vehicle position.

However, the known solutions do not ensure sufficient ease of use for the future expanded vehicle key functionality.

The invention is now based on the object of providing a communication system by means of which complex functions of an electronic vehicle key can be operated conveniently and the electronic vehicle key has extended communication properties without the battery life of the electronic vehicle key being impaired.

This object is achieved by a communication system according to claim 1.

The communication system according to the invention for managing a vehicle comprises a vehicle-internal communication module, a mobile terminal device and an electronic vehicle key. The electronic vehicle key is set up to communicate with the vehicle-internal communication module and with the mobile terminal. According to the invention, a vehicle management application is installed on the electronic vehicle key and/or the mobile terminal device, which application is set up to display information available to the electronic vehicle key on the mobile terminal device.

The communication system according to the invention has the advantage that information which is available to the electronic vehicle key as a result of unidirectional or bidirectional communication with the in-vehicle communication module is clearly displayed to a user by the vehicle management application on the electronic vehicle key and/or the mobile terminal device using a display device on the mobile terminal device can. The electronic vehicle key therefore does not require a large display, which would result in an unwieldy key size and additional energy consumption. The mobile terminal device can be set up to permanently or temporarily store the information available to the electronic vehicle key so that the user can call it up again at a later point in time via the vehicle management application. Furthermore, the storage or caching of information on the mobile device enables the creation of information histories and the evaluation of information that has been received over a longer period of time. The mobile end device can be a smartphone or a tablet, for example. To further increase convenience, the electronic vehicle key can also have a display or a touch screen.

The electronic vehicle key of the communication system can be set up to request and/or retrieve information from the in-vehicle communication module. Requesting and retrieving such information from the in-vehicle communication module is advantageous in particular when the user requests the display of information on the mobile terminal which is not permanently available to the electronic vehicle key, for example because the information relates to changeable parameters. The request for information from the in-vehicle communication module is preferably carried out by sending a corresponding request message from the electronic vehicle key to the in-vehicle communication module. The in-vehicle communication module is preferably connected to an in-vehicle control device and/or an in-vehicle memory in a signal-conducting manner, with the in-vehicle control device and/or the in-vehicle memory making the requested information available to the in-vehicle communication module.

The information available to the electronic vehicle key can include vehicle-related information or personal information. The vehicle-related information can be, for example, the vehicle identification number, the mileage, the fuel level, the battery status, the status of one or more locking units or closing units of the vehicle, the position of the vehicle, the status of heating or cooling systems, the vehicle interior temperature, the temperature of vehicle components, the Mileage of individual vehicle components or the wear and tear of individual vehicle components. The personal information may include, for example, personal information such as the name and/or address of the vehicle owner and/or the last user of the vehicle.

The mobile terminal can be set up to send control commands to the electronic vehicle key. For example, the vehicle management application includes a menu structure that is displayed to the user of the mobile device. By appropriately selecting a menu item, predefined control commands can be suggested to the user. The control commands can, for example, lock or unlock the locking units of the vehicle, open or Closing vehicle doors, activating or deactivating the vehicle ignition, adjusting heating or cooling devices, such as for interior temperature control or for temperature control of vehicle components, such as the front or rear window, one or more vehicle seats, a battery unit or electronic components inside the vehicle, adjusting seat configurations, adjusting lighting units or sounding the vehicle horn.

The electronic vehicle key can be set up to be controlled via the mobile terminal device. In particular, the generation, sending and receiving of information and/or control commands can be controlled by the electronic vehicle key via the vehicle management application. The user can therefore use the functions of the electronic vehicle key with the mobile terminal without having to operate the electronic vehicle key himself. The mobile terminal thus provides the electronic vehicle key with its operating functionality, in particular by providing input elements such as pushbuttons, buttons or a touchscreen, and/or its display functionality, in particular by providing a display and/or a touchscreen. The ease of use of the electronic vehicle key is thus increased considerably.

The electronic vehicle key can also be set up to forward the control commands received from the mobile terminal to the in-vehicle communication module. The control commands received from the mobile terminal can be modified by the electronic vehicle key or forwarded to the in-vehicle communication module unchanged and/or expanded. The electronic vehicle key preferably uses a first key-internal communication module for communication with the mobile terminal and a second key-internal communication module for communication with the vehicle-internal communication module. The first communication module and the second communication module preferably use different communication standards. For example, the communication between the mobile device and the electronic vehicle key and/or between the electronic vehicle key and the in-vehicle communication module takes place at 20 kHz, 125 kHz, 130 kHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, 315 MHz, via Bluetooth, via infrared, via RFID , via mobile phone, via the Internet or using a local network.

Using the vehicle management application, settings can be made on the vehicle on the mobile terminal device. The settings are preferably made by communication between the mobile terminal device and the electronic vehicle key and communication based thereon between the electronic vehicle key and the vehicle-internal communication device. Thus, for example, heating or cooling devices, such as for interior temperature control or for temperature control of components of the vehicle, such as the front or rear window, one or more vehicle seats, a battery unit or vehicle-internal electronic components, seat configurations, lighting units or driver assistance systems can be set via the mobile device.

The mobile terminal can be set up to release the electronic vehicle key to a device-internal communication module, wherein the electronic vehicle key can be set up to use the released device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal. The device-internal communication module can be a radio module, for example, which allows the connection to a local radio network and/or the establishment of a mobile radio connection. The communication possibilities of the electronic vehicle key are thus expanded without the hardware required for this having to be present in the electronic vehicle key. In this way, it is avoided that additional communication units within the electronic vehicle key result in additional installation space and an additional energy requirement. The service life of the vehicle key battery is thus not affected, although the communication capability of the electronic vehicle key is expanded. In particular, the electronic vehicle key can be connected to the internet via the enabled communication module of the mobile terminal device. An internet connection of the electronic vehicle key also allows access to the key from other devices that are connected to the internet. For example, the electronic vehicle key can be accessed from a remote location using another mobile terminal device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, or a personal computer if the mobile terminal device's Internet connectivity is available. In addition, an Internet connection allows the vehicle key software to be updated quickly and easily and/or the vehicle key software to be replaced. This means that a software update and/or a software replacement can additional vehicle key functions can be implemented later, which can be controlled via the mobile device. In particular, the Internet connection also allows exchange, modification and/or updating of cryptographic material that is stored in a memory of the electronic vehicle key. The data in the memory of the electronic vehicle key can be stored partially or completely as plain text or as deciphered text and/or as cipher text. The ciphertext can be generated from a plaintext either by a reversible process or by an irreversible process. If the ciphertext has been generated from a plaintext by a reversible process, the generation process can be reversed in order to generate the plaintext from the ciphertext. If the ciphertext was generated from a plaintext by an irreversible process, then the plaintext cannot be generated from the ciphertext by reversing the generation process. The irreversible process can be based on a hash function.

The mobile terminal can also be set up to communicate directly with an in-vehicle communication module. Thus, not only is direct communication between the electronic vehicle key and the vehicle possible, but also direct communication between the mobile terminal device and the vehicle. The in-vehicle communication module, which is used for communication between the mobile terminal and the vehicle, can be either the same or a different in-vehicle communication module than that used for communication between the electronic vehicle key and the vehicle.

The mobile terminal can also be set up to communicate with a central computer, preferably via the releasable device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal. The central computer is, for example, a backend of a vehicle manufacturer or a third-party provider. For example, user information can be stored on the central computer. For example, a user account is stored on the central computer, with the user account or the user of the account being assigned specific usage rights to one or more vehicles. The user of the vehicle can thus log on to the central computer with a corresponding user account via the mobile terminal device. The usage rights stored on the central computer are then sent from the central computer to the mobile device, so that the mobile device can send them to the electronic vehicle key and the user can use the vehicle accordingly using the electronic vehicle key. Alternatively, usage rights that are already stored on the electronic vehicle key and usage rights that are stored in the user account on the central computer can also be compared. The user can use the mobile device and the electronic vehicle key to modify his user account or the usage authorizations, for example by changing stored data or by purchasing additional usage authorizations.

In addition, the electronic vehicle key can be set up to communicate with the central computer, preferably via the releasable device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal device. In this way, the electronic vehicle key can register directly on the central computer, for example in order to call up usage authorizations for a user account stored on the electronic vehicle key. Alternatively, usage rights that are already stored on the electronic vehicle key and usage rights that are stored in the user account on the central computer can also be compared. The user can use the mobile device and the electronic vehicle key to modify the user account or the usage authorizations, for example by changing stored data or by purchasing additional usage authorizations.

The communication system can also include a central computer which is set up to communicate with an in-vehicle communication module. The central computer is, for example, a backend of a vehicle manufacturer or a third-party provider. A mobile online service can preferably also be used to access the central computer from other mobile devices. The central computer is connected to the Internet and preferably makes a configuration platform available to the user, which can be called up and used via a mobile online service and/or via a browser on a personal computer.

The electronic vehicle key can be set up to authorize the mobile terminal device and/or the central computer to communicate with a vehicle-internal communication module. The authorization can include, for example, retrieving information from the in-vehicle communication module and/or controlling the vehicle in which the in-vehicle communication module is installed. The in-vehicle communication module can be the same or a different in-vehicle communication communication module than that with which the electronic vehicle key communicates. The authorization of the mobile terminal device and/or the central computer preferably takes place via a request-response method (challenge-response method).

The electronic vehicle key can be a personalized and/or personal electronic vehicle key. Such an electronic vehicle key is preferably issued by a vehicle manufacturer for use by a user or a user group and is fundamentally not tied to a specific vehicle. The user or the user group has the option of coupling the electronic vehicle key to one or more vehicles via a management system, for example via the central computer, or locally, in order to be able to use these vehicles with the electronic vehicle key. When entering the vehicle, the user is then preferably automatically registered with a customer account stored on the electronic vehicle key. Payment services and functions can also be linked to this customer account, which are then activated in the vehicle. For example, two-factor authentication is required to log in.

In particular, the electronic vehicle key provides a cryptographic factor for two-factor authentication, in particular proof of ownership. The electronic vehicle key thus also serves as proof of authentication. Alternatively, the electronic vehicle key can also be a conventional vehicle-bound electronic vehicle key.

The electronic vehicle key can be set up to communicate with a number of different in-vehicle communication modules and/or with a number of different mobile terminals. As a result, the electronic vehicle key can be used for several vehicles. The user's corresponding usage authorizations for the multiple vehicles are preferably also stored in the user's user account. If the electronic vehicle key is set up to communicate with a number of mobile terminals, the use of the electronic vehicle key by a user group is considerably simplified. The members of the user group can thus access the electronic vehicle key with their mobile devices. However, for security reasons it may be advisable or even necessary that the electronic vehicle key can only be coupled to one mobile device at a time in order to prevent misuse.

The electronic vehicle key can also be set up to cryptographically protect the control commands to be sent to the in-vehicle communication module against modification and/or eavesdropping, in particular to cryptographically sign them. Because the electronic vehicle key is suitable for cryptographically signing the control commands to be sent to the vehicle-internal communication module, the authenticity of the control commands can be checked by the vehicle. Furthermore, the electronic vehicle key can be set up to cryptographically secure other communication content, which is exchanged with the in-vehicle communication module or the mobile terminal device, against modification and/or eavesdropping, in particular to cryptographically sign it.

The electronic vehicle key can provide an open API (application programming interface) interface. The mobile terminal can communicate directly with the electronic vehicle key using an available communication technology such as Bluetooth, NFC, ZigBee, USB. To secure the communication between the mobile terminal device and the electronic vehicle key, authentication can take place between the electronic vehicle key and the mobile terminal device. Authentication can be unilateral or bilateral. The presence of the remote station can be checked through the authentication. The communication between the mobile terminal device and the electronic vehicle key can also be encrypted and/or authenticated by choosing a cryptographic solution for protection. In this case, the vehicle management application and the logic preferably run on the mobile terminal device. The vehicle management application can thus access the functions and memory of the electronic vehicle key.

Alternatively, there is a trustworthy runtime environment (Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)) on the electronic vehicle key. Only applications that have been approved or released by the manufacturer of the vehicle preferably run in this runtime environment. These applications can also preferably only be introduced into the runtime environment via a secure process. The nature of this process depends on the technology used in the runtime environment. The mobile terminal device is preferably set up to start a remote maintenance session with the electronic vehicle when it is coupled to set up a tool key, for example via Virtual Network Computing. In this case, the mobile end device is used purely as a display and operating device and/or serves as an interface to the Internet. The vehicle management application thus runs on the electronic vehicle key and the surfaces and graphics are also calculated on the electronic vehicle key. These surfaces are then sent to the mobile device for display. Conversely, the mobile device sends control commands and/or data from the Internet to the electronic vehicle key in the secure environment. The application logic thus runs entirely on the electronic vehicle key and is therefore under the control of the vehicle manufacturer. The data from the mobile terminal device, for example the control commands and/or the data from the Internet, is preferably secured or authenticated accordingly, so that no faulty or manipulated data can penetrate the secured runtime environment.

The user data is preferably saved on the mobile terminal device and/or the electronic vehicle key. For example, security is provided by a pin or password request when connecting the mobile device and the electronic vehicle key. In this way, simple and easy access protection against manipulation is provided.

Further preferred configurations of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the dependent claims. Unless stated otherwise in the individual case, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can advantageously be combined with one another.

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kommunikationssystems in einer schematischen Darstellung;
• 2 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kommunikationssystems in einer schematischen Darstellung;
• 3 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kommunikationssystems in einer schematischen Darstellung; und
• 4 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kommunikationssystems in einer schematischen Darstellung.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. Show it:

• 1 an embodiment of a communication system according to the invention in a schematic representation;
• 2 a further embodiment of a communication system according to the invention in a schematic representation;
• 3 a further embodiment of a communication system according to the invention in a schematic representation; and
• 4 another embodiment of a communication system according to the invention in a schematic representation.

1 shows a communication system 10 for managing a vehicle 12. The communication system 10 includes an in-vehicle communication module 14a, a mobile terminal 16 and an electronic vehicle key 18.

The electronic vehicle key 18 is set up to communicate with the in-vehicle communication module 14a via the communication link 24 and with the mobile terminal device 16 via the communication link 22 .

A vehicle management application is installed on the electronic vehicle key 18 and is set up to display information available to the electronic vehicle key 18 on the mobile terminal device 16 , the information available to the electronic vehicle key 18 comprising vehicle-related information and personal information. For this purpose, there is a trustworthy runtime environment (Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)) on the electronic vehicle key 18, with the vehicle management application being located in the runtime environment.

The mobile terminal 16 is used as a display and control device. The surfaces and graphics that are displayed on the mobile terminal 16 are calculated on the electronic vehicle key 18. These surfaces are only sent to the mobile terminal 16 for display. The mobile end device 16 sends control commands and data to the electronic vehicle key 18 via the communication link 22.

The electronic vehicle key 18 is set up to request and retrieve information from the in-vehicle communication module 14a and to be controlled via the mobile terminal device 16 .

The mobile terminal device 16 is set up to send control commands to the electronic vehicle key 18, the electronic vehicle key 18 being set up to forward the control commands received from the mobile terminal device 16 to the in-vehicle communication module 14a.

The electronic vehicle key 18 is a personalized and personal electronic vehicle key 18 and is set up to cryptographically protect the control commands to be sent to the in-vehicle communication module 14a against modification and/or eavesdropping. In addition, the electronic vehicle key 18 is set up with several different communications internal to the vehicle tion modules and/or to communicate with several different mobile devices.

Settings on the vehicle 12 can also be made using the vehicle management application. After a user has logged on to mobile terminal device 16, for example by entering a user name and an associated password, the user can enter a control command, for example to open the door of vehicle 12, by actuating an input element such as a button or a touchscreen enter the mobile terminal 16.

If the mobile terminal device 16 is logged on to the electronic vehicle key 18 , a notification 32 for unlocking the door of the vehicle 12 is sent from the mobile terminal device 16 to the electronic vehicle key 18 . If the electronic vehicle key 18 is authorized to control the vehicle 12, the electronic vehicle key 18 sends a message 34, which includes the control command and a secret, to the in-vehicle communication module 14a. The vehicle 12 can use the secret to check whether the electronic vehicle key 18 is authorized to control the vehicle 12 . If the sent secret matches the secret stored in the vehicle 12, the door of the vehicle 12 is opened.

2 shows a communication system 10, which also includes an in-vehicle communication module 14a, a mobile terminal 16 and an electronic vehicle key 18.

In principle, the electronic vehicle key 18 is set up to communicate with the vehicle-internal communication module 14a and with the mobile terminal device 16 . However, the vehicle 14a with the in-vehicle communication module 14a is not within communication range of the electronic vehicle key 18.

However, the vehicle 12 has a further in-vehicle communication module 14b which is set up to communicate with the mobile terminal device 16 . The communication between the mobile terminal device 16 and the vehicle-internal communication module 14b takes place via the communication connection 26. The electronic vehicle key 18 is also set up to authorize the mobile terminal device 16 to communicate with an in-vehicle communication module 14a in order to use this communication to make settings on the vehicle 12 to do. This is described below using the vehicle door opening as an example.

To open the door of the vehicle 12, a user makes a corresponding input on the mobile terminal device 16. The mobile terminal device 16 thereby generates a control command, which is sent as a message 36 to the in-vehicle communication module 14b of the vehicle 12 . Since the message does not include a secret with which the authorization of the mobile device 16 can be proven, the in-vehicle communication module 14b of the vehicle 12 sends a message 38 back to the mobile device 16 with which the message of the secret is requested. The mobile terminal 16 then requests the secret from the electronic vehicle key 18 by means of the message 40 . The secret is known to the electronic vehicle key and communicates the secret to the mobile terminal 16 through the message 42 . The mobile terminal device 16 can use the message 44 to prove its authorization to the vehicle 12 so that the door of the vehicle 12 is opened.

This in 3 The communication system 10 shown essentially corresponds to the communication system 10 from FIG 2 , However, the illustrated communication system 10 also includes a central computer 20, which is part of a backend of a vehicle manufacturer.

The in-vehicle communication module 14b of the vehicle 12 is set up to communicate with the central computer 20 . The communication between the central computer 20 and the vehicle-internal communication module 14b takes place via the communication link 30. The central computer is also set up to communicate with the mobile terminal device 16. The mobile terminal device 16 communicates with the central computer 20 via the communication link 28.

To open the door of the vehicle 12, a user makes a corresponding input on the mobile terminal device 16. The mobile terminal 16 thereby generates a control command, which is sent to the central computer 20 as a message 46 . Since the message 46 does not include a secret with which the central computer 20 can prove its authorization to the vehicle 12, the central computer 20 sends a message 48 back to the mobile terminal 16, with which the message of the secret is requested. The mobile terminal 16 then requests the secret from the electronic vehicle key 18 by means of the message 50 . The secret is known to the electronic vehicle key and communicates the secret to mobile terminal 16 via message 52 . The mobile terminal guides the secret through message 54 the central computer 20 further. The central computer 20 can use the message 56 to prove its authorization to the vehicle 12 so that the door of the vehicle 12 is opened.

4 shows the communication system 3 , the central computer 20 being authorized in a different way.

To open the door of the vehicle 12, a user makes a corresponding input on the mobile terminal device 16. The mobile terminal 16 thereby generates a control command, which is sent to the central computer 20 as a message 58 . The central computer 20 sends the control command for opening the door of the vehicle 12 to the in-vehicle communication module 14b. This is done by the message 60. Since the message 60 does not include a secret with which the central computer 20 can prove its authorization to the vehicle 12, the vehicle 12 sends a corresponding request message 62 back to the central computer 20, with which the message of the secret is requested. The central computer 20 then uses the message 64 to request the secret from the mobile terminal 16, which forwards this request as a message 66 to the electronic vehicle key. The secret is known to the electronic vehicle key and it communicates the secret to the mobile terminal 16 by means of the message 68 . The mobile terminal 16 forwards the secret to the central computer 20 by means of the message 70 . The central computer 20 can use the message 72 to prove its authorization to the vehicle 12 so that the door of the vehicle 12 is opened.

The invention thus allows complex functions of an electronic vehicle key to be displayed and conveniently operated using a mobile terminal device by means of a vehicle management application installed on the electronic vehicle key and/or the mobile terminal device. In addition, the communication properties of the electronic vehicle key are expanded without affecting the battery life of the electronic vehicle key.

Reference List

10

communication system

12

vehicle

14a, 14b

in-vehicle communication modules

16

mobile device

18

electronic vehicle key

20

mainframe

22-30

communication links

32-70

Messages

Claims (14)

Communication system (10) for managing a vehicle (12), with - a vehicle-internal communication module (14a, 14b); - a mobile terminal (16), and - an electronic vehicle key (18), which is set up to communicate with the in-vehicle communication module (14a, 14b) and with the mobile terminal (16); characterized in that a vehicle management application is installed on the electronic vehicle key (18) and/or the mobile terminal (16), which is set up to display information available to the electronic vehicle key (18) on the mobile terminal (16); that the mobile terminal device (16) is set up to release the electronic vehicle key (18) to a device-internal communication module, the electronic vehicle key (18) being set up to use the released device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal device (16), the electronic Registers the vehicle key directly on a central computer (20); and that a user modifies his user account on the central computer (20) or usage authorizations on the central computer (20) via the mobile terminal device and the electronic vehicle key. Communication system (10) after claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to request and/or retrieve information from the in-vehicle communication module (14a, 14b). Communication system (10) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the information available to the electronic vehicle key (18) includes vehicle-related or personal information. Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile terminal (16) is set up to send control commands to the electronic vehicle key (18). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to be controlled via the mobile terminal (16). Communication system (10) after claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to forward the control commands received from the mobile terminal (16) to the in-vehicle communication module (14a, 14b). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle management application can be used to make settings on the vehicle (12). Communications system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile terminal (16) is set up to communicate directly with a vehicle-internal communication module (14a, 14b). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile terminal (16) is set up to communicate with the central computer (20), preferably via the releasable device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal (16). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to communicate with the central computer (20), preferably via the releasable device-internal communication module of the mobile terminal (16). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to enable the mobile terminal device (16) and/or the central computer (20) to communicate with a vehicle-internal communication module (14a, 14b). authorize. Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is a personalized and/or personal electronic vehicle key (18). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to communicate with a number of different vehicle-internal communication modules (14a, 14b) and/or with a number of different mobile terminals (16). Communication system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic vehicle key (18) is set up to cryptographically protect the control commands to be sent to the vehicle-internal communication module (14a, 14b) against modification and/or eavesdropping, in particular to cryptographically sign them .

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