FR3021798A1 - MOBILE TELEPHONE FOR ACCESSING AND / OR STARTING A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile phone (4) comprising a battery (BAT), and having an application for allowing the locking / unlocking and / or starting of a motor vehicle (2) from the loading of a code of authentication (ID) and via at least one wireless communication means, said mobile phone being further provided with telematic applications, characterized in that it comprises means for evaluating a time of use (TU), corresponding to the time still possible for use of the mobile phone until the battery charge level (BAT) is no longer able to allow the use of the locking / unlocking application and / or starting the vehicle (2) for access and / or starting of the vehicle (2).

Description

The invention relates to a mobile telephone used for locking / unlocking and / or starting a motor vehicle according to the Bluetooth® Low Energy protocol. Some motor vehicles now include an equipment, or device, control which is fixedly arranged inside the motor vehicle. This control equipment is responsible in particular for securely managing requests received from accessories in the possession of the user (electronic key, badge, etc.) in order to determine whether the request issued must cause a command (unlocking the doors, starting vehicle for example) on the vehicle. For this purpose, the control equipment exchanges data by short-range waves with identifying elements associated with the vehicle in question.

Identifying elements may today be for example an electronic key, sometimes called "plip", or a freehand key, in the form of an electronic badge. These identifiers memorize identifying codes that are recognized by the motor vehicle to which they are matched, that is to say, they are permanently associated to recognize each other. An exchange of data to achieve a command on the vehicle, for example a door unlock command or a vehicle start command, takes place between the electronic control equipment of the vehicle and the identifying element. In a first example of data exchange, designated as RKE mode (for Remote Keyless Entry in English language), an action, typically the pressing of a button, is performed on an identifier element of the electronic key type. This action causes the emission by said electronic key of a radiofrequency (RF) signal typically at 433 MHz. If the vehicle control equipment recognizes the identifiers conveyed by the RF signal, then it causes a suitable control of the vehicle, for example the unlocking of the doors.

3021798 2 In another example of data exchange, designated as "PEPS mode" (for Passive Entry / Passive Start in English), it acts on the vehicle for example a seizure of an outside door handle. The vehicle detects this action and, through its control equipment, emits a low frequency signal at 125 KHz. This is received by the identifying element, which sends a radio frequency (RF) signal typically at 433 MHz in order to be identified, and where appropriate recognized by the vehicle control equipment to cause a suitable control of the vehicle considered. . If these systems function properly and have entered the vehicle owners' usage habits, they remain closed systems, that is, systems using a specific communication protocol between the identifying element and the equipment. control. Other equipment that could, because of their mobile nature and light, act as an identifying element for the vehicle can not access these features because of the specificity of the protocol 15 existing until then. This is the case, for example, of mobile-type devices which are becoming more and more widespread. To this end, systems have been developed in recent years using a more open communication protocol such as BluetoothTM and more recently the "BluetoothTM Low Energy" for BluetoothTM low version 20 energy consumption; the BLE protocol is used in an optimized way, in particular to better manage the existing energy resources. BLE is also known as Bluetooth Smart (registered trademark). On the basis of this system, it is now possible to share a vehicle by several users. These sharing operations find an advantageous application among other things in vehicle rental companies. They are often referred to as "car sharing". In order for a user to be able to temporarily use a vehicle using his mobile phone, it is necessary for him to load on his mobile phone the authentication codes enabling him to access, start and / or all the other functions. 30 of the vehicle in the manner of a user who would own the vehicle.

3021798 3 Once the authentication codes are loaded on the mobile phone, there remains a major problem related to the autonomy of the mobile phone. Indeed, if the user is unable to recharge the battery of his mobile phone and that it empties completely, the user will no longer be able to access his vehicle, and start it for this purpose, the The subject of the invention is a mobile phone comprising a battery, and having an application for enabling the locking / unlocking and / or starting of a motor vehicle from the loading of an authentication code and through at least one wireless communication means, said mobile telephone being further provided with telematic applications, characterized in that it comprises means for evaluating a usage time, corresponding to the time still possible for use mobile phone until the charge level of the battery is no longer able to allow the use of the lock / unlock and / or vehicle start application for access and / or of a d startup of the vehicle. The mobile phone according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination: the mobile telephone comprises means for comparing the usage time with predetermined critical usage time values; The mobile telephone comprises alerting means which alert the user when crossing the values of critical use time; the warning means correspond to sound and / or visual signal transmissions; the visual signals correspond to the display on the screen of the mobile telephone 25 of a text message; the wireless communication means uses the BIuetoothTM Low Energy (BLE) protocol; The wireless communication means uses the Near Field Communication Protocol (NFC); The invention also relates to a method of maintaining management of the battery of a mobile phone, said mobile phone having an application to allow the locking / unlocking and / or starting of a motor vehicle from the loading an authentication code and via at least one means of wireless communication, said mobile phone being further provided with telematic applications, said management method for maintaining the mobile phone battery at a level for the use of the locking / unlocking and / or starting application of the vehicle for access and / or starting of the vehicle, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: evaluate a usage time (UT), corresponding to the time still available until the battery charge level is no longer able to allow the use of the lock / unlock application and / or starting the vehicle (2) for access and / or starting of the vehicle (2); comparing the usage time (TU) with predetermined critical usage time values (TC1, TC2, TC3); - to alert the user of the mobile phone (4) when crossing the values 20 of critical use time (TC1, TC2, TC3); The method according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination: it also comprises the step of proposing the stopping of at least one of the applications in use outside of the car vehicle access application; if the usage time reaches a limit value of critical usage time, there is provided an automatic shutdown of all applications in progress, outside the access application to the motor vehicle.

Further advantages and features will become apparent upon reading the description of the invention given by way of example, as well as in the appended figure on which is represented a schematic view of a locking / unlocking assembly and / or starting motor vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows a key 1 for locking / unlocking and / or starting a motor vehicle 2. This locking / unlocking and / or starting key 1 may advantageously comprise a communication interface configured to communicate. according to the BluetoothTM Low Energy (BLE) protocol. The key 1 can also have a metal insert 3 having a unique locking / unlocking pattern associated with a lock of the vehicle. The key lock / unlock and / or start 1 is usually configured at the factory or concession by loading an ID authentication code necessary for locking / unlocking and / or startup according to the protocol 15 BLE. According to the principles of the invention, it is also possible to authorize a device of the mobile telephone type 4 to function as a key for locking / unlocking and / or starting the vehicle 2 according to the BLE protocol, without proceeding to the configurations operated at the factory or in concession.

This type of mobile telephone commonly comprises, in addition to GSM type communication interfaces, a communication interface according to the BLE protocol. To enable this operation as a locking / unlocking key and / or starting the vehicle 2 according to the BLE protocol, an application is loaded which will allow the locking / unlocking and / or starting of the vehicle 2 according to the BLE protocol. from an ID authentication code loaded from a remote server. Thus loaded on the mobile phone 4, the authentication code ID, will be transmitted by the mobile phone 4 on request of the vehicle 2, during BLE exchanges 3021798 6 between the mobile phone 4 and the vehicle 2 in the context of the application locking / unlocking and / or starting the vehicle 2. Of course the authentication code ID can be revoked. This revocation can be either automatic depending on a period of validity granted to the ID authentication code 5 loaded on the mobile phone 4 or intentionally to compensate for a loss or a theft of the mobile phone. Calls via a mobile telephone network of the GSM type, mobile phones are equipped with multiple applications, called telematic applications, which are loaded either during the initial configuration or at the request of the user. Once installed, some of these applications update or exchange data in real time. These different operations turn out to be very energy consuming. Energy consuming applications include television and road traffic. In these conditions the batteries equipping mobile phones can ensure a limited autonomy, usually of the order of the day. However, in certain situations, the mobile phone is the only way for the user to access his vehicle and start it. If it turns out that in order to carry out these operations the energy available in the battery of the mobile phone is not sufficient, the user will no longer be able to access his vehicle nor start it until he has recharged his battery. Mobile phones are mostly equipped with a visual indicator of the battery charge level. But this information is not sufficient to warn the user that he may be quickly in a critical situation to access his vehicle. According to the invention, it is therefore planned to equip the mobile phone with means of evaluation of the usage time TU, corresponding to the time still possible for use of the mobile phone until the charge level of the BAT battery is no longer able to allow the use of the locking / unlocking application and / or vehicle start 2, for access and / or starting the vehicle 2 according to the protocol BluetoothTM Low Energy (BLE). Of course, this estimate is made each time on the basis of the energy consumption of the applications in use. Once evaluated, the usage time TU is compared with predetermined critical usage time values TC1, TC2, TC3. As soon as the utilization time TU reaches a first value of critical usage time TC1, it is expected that alerting means arranged in the telephone inform the user as to the critical level of battery life in the current conditions of use. Advantageously the first value of critical use time TC1, corresponds to a mobile phone use for another hour. These warning means can be visual or audible.

In a preferred embodiment, the alert is characterized by the transmission of a sound message, generally a beep, coupled with the appearance on the screen of the mobile phone of a message such as for example: low battery level - compromised vehicle access. This message may be accompanied by a validation request to ensure that it is taken into account by the user.

In addition to and after the alert, the user is offered the stopping of some or all applications outside the access application to the motor vehicle. When the utilization time TU reaches a second value of critical usage time TC2, it is planned to repeat the operations proposed above, that is to say: alerting, validating and stopping the applications in progress. Advantageously the second value of critical use time TC2, corresponds to a use of the mobile phone for another half hour.

Finally, when the utilization time TU reaches a critical time limit value TC3, a stop of all the applications, whether the applications are in use or not, is provided. This stop can be either automatic or after validation of the user.

Advantageously the limit value of critical use time TC3, corresponds to a use of the mobile phone for another ten minutes. In one embodiment, it is also possible to switch off the telephone mode via the GSM network. This can be done either automatically or on validation of the user.

In one embodiment, provision is made, before the telephone mode is switched off via the GSM network, to propose, by sending a text signal, the user to make an emergency call. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the management of the battery charge level preservation strategies when different critical time values TC1, TC2, TC3 are reached can be adapted to the specific needs of the user. On the other hand, although the invention has been described in the context of an access application using the BluetoothTM Low Energy (BLE) protocol, another mode of communication could have been envisaged. Among these modes of communication, ultra-wideband (UWB), NFC, bidirectional exchange in which a request is made at low frequency and the radio frequency response, etc., can be cited.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Mobile phone (4) comprising a battery (BAT), and having an application to enable the locking / unlocking and / or starting of a motor vehicle (2) from the loading of an authentication code (ID ) and via at least one wireless communication means, said mobile phone being further provided with telematic applications, characterized in that it comprises means for evaluating a usage time (TU) , corresponding to the time still possible for use of the mobile phone until the battery charge level (BAT) is no longer able to allow the use of the lock / unlock and / or start application of the vehicle (2) for access and / or starting of the vehicle (2). 2. Mobile telephone (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means of comparison of the time of use (TD) with critical time values of use (TC1, TC2, TC3) predetermined. 3. Mobile telephone (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises alert means that alert the user of the mobile phone (4) when crossing the critical use time values (TC1, TC2 , TC3). 4. Mobile telephone (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that the alert means correspond to sound and / or visual signals. 5. Mobile telephone (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that the visual signals correspond to the display on the screen of the mobile phone (4) of a text message. Mobile phone (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless communication means uses the BluetoothTM Low Energy (BLE) protocol. 3021798 10 7. Mobile telephone (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the wireless communication means uses the near field communication protocol (NFC). 8. A method for maintaining battery management (BAT) of a mobile telephone (4), said mobile phone (4) having an application to enable the locking / unlocking and / or starting of a motor vehicle (2) from the loading of an authentication code (ID) and through at least one means of wireless communication, said mobile phone being further provided with telematic applications, said management method allowing to maintain the mobile phone battery (BAT) (4) at a minimum charge level for use of the lock / unlock and / or vehicle start application (2) for access and / or of a vehicle starting (2), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: evaluating a usage time (TU), corresponding to the time still available until the charge level of the battery no longer able to allow the use of the lock / d application unlocking and / or starting the vehicle (2) for access and / or starting the vehicle (2); comparing the usage time (TU) with predetermined critical usage time values (TC1, TC2, TC3); - to alert the user of the mobile phone (4) when crossing the critical use time values (TC1, TC2, TC3); 9. A method of maintaining the battery (BAT) of a mobile phone (4), according to claim 8, characterized in that it also comprises the step of: - proposing the stopping of at least one of applications in use outside the motor vehicle access application. The method for holding the battery (BAT) of a mobile telephone (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that if the usage time (TU) reaches a limit value of critical usage time. TC3, there is provided an automatic shutdown of all current applications, outside the access application to the motor vehicle. 5