FR3084198A1 - METHOD FOR MANAGING THE OPENING AND LOCKING MEANS OF A TERRESTRIAL MOTOR VEHICLE AS WELL AS A TERRESTRIAL VEHICLE WITH ASSOCIATED MOTOR. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for managing a locking means (102) of at least one opening of a land motor vehicle (100) and a starting means (103) of said vehicle, said method being implemented by means of a portable electronic device (104) and a control unit (101) arranged within said vehicle, said control unit comprising an antenna (105) adapted for the transmission and / or reception of radio frequency signals generated in accordance with the Bluetooth standard and being provided with pairing means (106) for pairing with said electronic device (104) thereby forming a piconet.

Description

LOCKING MEANS MANAGEMENT METHOD

OPENING AND STARTING OF A LAND MOTOR VEHICLE AND AN ASSOCIATED LAND VEHICLE.

The present invention relates to the field of on-board communication systems within land motor vehicles and intended for the implementation of access management and start-up assistance functionalities. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing a locking means of at least one opening of a land motor vehicle and a starting means of said vehicle. The invention further relates to a land motor vehicle implementing such a method. The invention applies in particular to motor vehicles.

Methods are known for motor vehicles which make it possible to assist the user with locking, unlocking and starting procedures. Generally, such methods are implemented by means of a portable identification device which is used for the implementation of so-called “hands-free” procedures. To do this, the electronic device, for example a key provided with an electronic circuit implementing means of communication by radiofrequency waves, interacts autonomously with a control unit arranged in the vehicle, eg a computer, for, depending on the vehicle models, free the user from certain actions, for example pressing an unlocking button or inserting the key into a

In addition, the Bluetooth wireless communication standard having been widely imposed in recent years, computers, or communication boxes that use Bluetooth technology to provide various types of functionality are now found in motor vehicles. Among these functionalities, some relate to the implementation of procedures for assisting with unlocking / locking the doors and taking charge of procedures for assisting with starting.

However, in order to protect motor vehicle users against various risks, in particular the risk of theft, the unlocking and / or starting procedures implemented by motor vehicles by means of wireless communication devices are strictly governed by standards. set in particular by various certification bodies (eg Thatcham). Thus, car manufacturers are obliged to comply with certain obligations which, in the case of wireless communications implemented for unlocking and / or starting procedures, impose, for example, certain distance criteria which must be considered and respected. In fact, for a starting procedure for example, it is completely prohibited for starting to take place while the identification device is located several meters from the vehicle.

Also, in the context of the implementation of such procedures by means of wireless communication tools which use Bluetooth technology, the obligations issued by the certification bodies oblige the car manufacturers to provide for certain specific technical means, in particular those allowing a location as precise as possible of the portable elements (eg remote controls, electronic keys) which intervene within such procedures.

Consequently, to meet these constraints by providing a level of security in accordance with the requirements set by the certification bodies, manufacturers wishing to implement locking, unlocking and / or starting processes which are compatible with a smatphone or any other type Electronic devices using communication means based on the Bluetooth standard currently use systems which, at best, include a plurality of antennas arranged within the vehicle. It is indeed at the price of such means that the necessary localization capacities can be provided, in particular resistant to interference and / or whose efficiency is maintained even in environments where the quality of radiofrequency communications can be degraded (eg parking underground, wetlands, etc.).

However, for any wireless communication system, the complexity, the environmental impact linked to the use of raw material necessary for the design and the cost are logically proportional to the number of antennas used. Indeed, a larger number of antennas implies at least the need for synchronization mechanisms between the antennas, the use of more raw material for the design of the antennas themselves and their connection elements (eg electrical harnesses) , therefore, higher development and design costs. Thus, even today, the implementation of locking, unlocking and / or starting procedures based on the use of Bluetooth technology involves a complexity of design, an ecological footprint and costs that car manufacturers have at heart. to minimize.

The invention aims to provide a method to overcome these drawbacks.

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a method of assistance with locking, unlocking and / or starting which, while relying on the use of Bluetooth technology to allow better practicality of use, minimizes the complexity and cost of designing the technical means that its implementation requires. More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a method for assisting with locking, unlocking and / or starting up which uses Bluetooth technology, which complies with the security standards set by the certification bodies and which can be implemented. works using a single antenna.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a method for managing a locking means for at least one opening of a land motor vehicle and a means for starting said vehicle, said method being implemented at by means of a portable electronic device and a control unit arranged within said vehicle, said control unit comprising an antenna adapted for the emission and / or reception of radio frequency signals generated in accordance with the Bluetooth standard and being provided with pairing means for pairing with said electronic device thereby forming a piconet, the method comprising the steps of:

determine, by the control unit, a distance parameter representing the length of a straight line connecting the vehicle and the electronic device, emit, by the control unit, a first radiofrequency signal triggering the appearance of a notification at the electronic device level, receiving, by the control unit, a second radio frequency signal emitted by the electronic device that the control unit interprets to determine a command validation parameter, and determine, by l control unit, a control order for the locking means and / or the starting means by examining the command validation parameter with regard to at least one predefined criterion and / or to the distance parameter.

According to a variant, the method may include a step of reception, by the control unit, of a first electrical signal generated during the detection by a sensor arranged within the vehicle of the opening of an opening.

According to another variant, the method can comprise a step of determination, by the control unit, of the duration of an interval of time elapsed between the reception of the first electrical signal and the reception, by the control unit, of 'a second electrical signal generated as a result of a change of state of a starting control accessory controlling the starting means.

According to another variant, the method may include a step of comparison, by the control unit, of the value of the distance parameter with a predefined threshold distance representing a maximum distance beyond which a validation order must be ignored.

According to another variant, said notification can be configured to induce, at the electronic device, the display of a text and / or an image on a screen of the electronic device.

According to another variant, said criterion may include a parameter for the locking state of the locking means and / or a parameter for the starting state of the starting means.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method for managing a locking means of at least one leaf of a vehicle according to the invention, when it is executed on one or more multiple processors.

The invention also relates to a device for managing a locking means of at least one opening of a vehicle, characterized in that it is configured to implement the method according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a land motor vehicle comprising a control unit implementing the method described above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a land motor vehicle according to the invention,

FIG. 2A represents certain steps of the method according to the invention,

FIG. 2B represents certain steps of the method according to the invention, and

- Figure 3 shows some steps of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a land motor vehicle 100 according to the invention. This is provided with a control unit 101, eg a computer, to which are connected a locking means of an opening 102, eg a centralized closing mechanism or a lock, and a starting means 103 of the powertrain, eg a starter arranged in the engine of the vehicle 100.

Within the control unit 101 is arranged an antenna 105 adapted for the emission and the reception of radiofrequency signals generated in accordance with the Bluetooth standard. The control unit 101 further comprises a pairing means 106, which preferably comprises a processor and storage means and which, by means of software means, is configured to allow the pairing of the control unit 101 with the portable electronic device 104. Thus, a communication channel is established between the electronic device 104 and the control unit 101 over which pass radiofrequency signals generated in accordance with the Bluetooth standard (ISM frequency bands at 2, 4 GHz, frequency shift modulation, communication protocols, etc.) so that the electronic device 104 and the control unit 101 together form a piconet. It will therefore be considered hereinafter that the electronic device 104 is paired with the control unit 101 in accordance with the Bluetooth standard so that they can, autonomously, exchange information when they are sufficiently close to one of the other.

The control unit 101 is also connected by means of a wired connection to a sensor 107 arranged within the vehicle. The sensor 107 is adapted to generate an electrical signal when at least the opening of a door of the vehicle.

In addition, the control unit 101 is connected, by a data bus or any other equivalent communication link, to a start control accessory 108, eg a “start & stop” start button. Advantageously, the start-up control accessory 108 is able to control the start-up means 103 to induce thereon a switch between a started state and a cut state. Preferably, this switching takes place, in the case of a “start & stop” push button, when the state of the starting control accessory 108 is itself operated so as to switch from a relaxed state to a supported state. Advantageously, when the start-up control accessory 108 changes state, an electrical signal is generated and received by the control unit 101.

On the other hand, the electronic device 104 is capable of pairing with the control unit 101. The latter is therefore provided, at a minimum, with the technical means necessary for managing Bluetooth communications. Preferably, it takes the form of a smartphone, a personal assistant (PDA) or any other type of portable electronic device implementing the usual communication functionalities, in particular according to the Bluetooth standard, well known to man. of career. According to a preferred embodiment, the electronic device 104 is provided with a touch screen 109 similar to that found on current smartphones. As will be described in more detail below, the electronic device 104 allows the appearance of notifications, in the form of text, image, video, light signal, vibration, and c.

The elements described above contribute to the implementation of a method for managing a locking means and / or a vehicle starting means which will be described below with regard to a plurality of scenarios to which it contributes advantageously.

According to a first scenario, illustrated by FIG. 2A, the vehicle 100 is initially locked, ie the locking means (s) 102 is (are) in a locked state preventing the opening of the opening (s) , and the starting means 103 is in a cut state, ie the engine is off. This first scenario corresponds for example to the case of a vehicle parked in a car park. With regard to this first scenario, the method according to the invention implements steps which allow the locking means 102 to be unlocked from at least one opening of the vehicle 100.

During a first step, illustrated by the arrow directed towards the vehicle, the electronic device 104, i.e. the user who wears it, approaches the vehicle. Automatically, as is advantageously the case for any device which operates according to the Bluetooth standard, the control unit 101 detects the presence of the electronic device 104. Following this detection step, the control unit 101 switches on implementing a step in which it determines the distance which separates the electronic device 104 from the vehicle 100. Preferably, this determination step implemented by the control unit 101 is carried out by means of a series of exchanges between the electronic device 104 and the control unit 101 in which, at a minimum, the electronic device 104 measures, preferably at the request of the control unit 101, the power of a signal which it receives to determine a power parameter, eg RSSI - Received Signal Strength Indication, which it transmits back to the control unit 101.

Upon receipt, the control unit 101 extracts the power parameter and interprets it to calculate a distance parameter which corresponds to the length of a straight line which connects the electronic device 104 and the vehicle 100, for example to the level of a reference point located at the location of antenna 105.

According to a subsequent step, the control unit 101 determines whether the calculated distance parameter is less than a certain predefined threshold distance, for example fixed at a few meters. In parallel, the control unit extracts, or establishes, a state parameter of the locking means 102, i.e. locked or unlocked, which, depending on the scenario concerned, corresponds to a locked state.

Then, when the control unit determines that the electronic device 104 is closer to the vehicle than the threshold distance, it determines that it must generate a radio frequency signal intended for the electronic device 104. This signal is configured to trigger, upon receipt by the electronic device, the appearance of a notification at the level of the electronic device 104. In this first scenario, this notification invites the user to validate an unlocking command using any element human-machine interface provided on the electronic device 104 (button, touch screen, voice recognition, etc.). When the user validates the command, a radio frequency signal is emitted by the electronic device 104 which contains, at a minimum, a command validation parameter which confirms an command to unlock the locking means 102.

Following the reception of the radiofrequency signal emitted by the electronic device 104, the control unit 101 extracts the command validation parameter. Preferably, this is then examined by the control unit 101 with regard to the locking state parameter and / or the distance parameter which, depending on the scenario concerned, indicate, respectively, a locked state of the locking means. and a distance less than the threshold distance. Following this analysis, the control unit is able to determine whether a control order must be formed and issued in the direction of the locking means 102.

Depending on the scenario concerned, the command must be authorized and the control unit 101 then forms an unlocking control order which is issued in the direction of the unlocking means 102. The first scenario ends with a step of unlocking the locking means 102, ie a transition from this to an unlocked state allowing the user to open one or more openings of the vehicle 100.

According to a second scenario, illustrated by FIG. 2B, the vehicle 100 is initially opened, ie the locking means (s) is (are) in an unlocked state authorizing the opening of the opening (s), and off, ie the engine is stopped. This second scenario corresponds for example to the case of a vehicle which has just been parked in a car park. With regard to this second scenario, the method implements steps which allow locking of the locking means 102 of at least one opening of the vehicle 100.

During a first step, illustrated by the arrow directed towards the outside of the vehicle, the electronic device 104, i.e. the user who wears it, moves away from the vehicle. In parallel, the control unit 101 determines, periodically or continuously, the distance which separates the electronic device 104 from the vehicle 100, preferably by implementing the series of exchanges of information described above with regard to the determination by the control unit of the distance parameter.

According to a subsequent step, the control unit 101 determines whether the calculated distance parameter is greater than the predefined threshold distance. In parallel, the control unit extracts, or establishes, a state parameter of the locking means 102 which, depending on the scenario concerned, corresponds to an unlocked state.

Then, when the control unit determines that the electronic device 104 is further from the vehicle than the threshold distance, it determines that it must generate a radio frequency signal intended for the electronic device 104. This signal is configured to trigger, upon receipt by the electronic device, the appearance of a notification at the electronic device. Depending on the scenario concerned, this notification invites the user to validate a locking command. Consequently, when the user validates the command, a radio frequency signal is emitted by the electronic device 104 which contains, at a minimum, a command validation parameter which confirms a command to lock the locking means 102.

Following the reception of the radiofrequency signal emitted by the electronic device 104, the control unit 101 extracts the command validation parameter. This is examined by the control unit 101 with regard to the locking state parameter of the locking means 102 and / or the distance parameter which, according to this second scenario, indicate, respectively, an unlocked state of the locking means. lock 102 and a distance greater than the threshold distance. Following this analysis, the control unit 101 is able to determine whether a control order must be formed and issued in the direction of the locking means 102.

According to the scenario concerned, the locking command must be authorized and the control unit 101 then forms a locking command order which is issued in the direction of the unlocking means 102. The second scenario ends with a step of locking the means locking device 102, ie a transition from the latter to a locked state preventing the opening of the doors of the vehicle 100.

According to a third scenario, illustrated in Figure 3,

the vehicle 100 is initially open, i.e. the (the) means (s) of locking is (are) in a state unlocked authorizing the opening of (of) opening (s), and the means of boot is in a state

off, i.e. the engine is off. This scenario corresponds for example to the case of a vehicle which has just been unlocked following the implementation of the steps described with regard to the first scenario. Around this third scenario, the method according to the invention implements steps which allow the starting of the starting means 103.

During a first step, the control unit 101 receives an electrical signal generated by the sensor 107 upon detection by the latter of the opening of one of the doors of the vehicle, preferably an opening giving access to the station. driving. In parallel, taking into account the prior implementation of the steps relating to the first scenario, the control unit 101 knows, by the distance parameter, that the electronic device 104 is at a distance less than the threshold distance, represented in the figure by the circle within which the electronic device 104 is located.

Then, the electronic device 104 being at the recommended distance, the control unit 101 determines that it must generate a radiofrequency signal intended for the electronic device 104 which is configured to trigger, when it is received by the electronic device 104, the appearance of a notification at the electronic device. Depending on the scenario concerned, this notification invites the user to validate a start command. Then, when the user validates the command, a radio frequency signal is emitted by the electronic device 104 which contains, at a minimum, a command validation parameter which confirms a command to start the starting means 103.

Following reception of the radiofrequency signal emitted by the electronic device 104, the control unit 101 extracts the command validation parameter. This is interpreted by the control unit 101, using the starting state parameter of the starting means and the distance parameter which, depending on the scenario concerned, respectively indicate a cut state of the starting means 103 and a distance greater than the threshold distance.

Depending on the scenario concerned, the command is valid and the control unit 101 then determines whether it receives an electrical signal, preferably via one of its hardware ports which is connected to the start-up control accessory 108, during a predefined time interval. Preferably, this time interval begins when the electrical signal emitted by the sensor 107 has been received by the control unit 101. If this is the case, the control unit 101 forms a start command order which is sent in the direction of the starting means 103. This third scenario ends with a step of starting the starting means 103,

i.e. a transition from a cut state to a started state.

On the contrary, if the control unit determines that no electrical signal from the start-up control accessory 108 is received, it then emits a new radiofrequency signal intended for the electronic device 104 which triggers the appearance of a notification at the level of the electronic device 104. This new notification informs, for example, the user that the starting of the starting means 103 has not been carried out and / or invites him to validate again the start command.

Claims (8)

1. A method for managing a locking means (102) of at least one opening of a land motor vehicle (100) and a starting means (103) of said vehicle, said method being implemented at by means of a portable electronic device (104) and a control unit (101) arranged within said vehicle, said control unit comprising an antenna (105) adapted for the transmission and / or reception of generated radio frequency signals in accordance with the Bluetooth standard and being provided with pairing means (106) for pairing with said electronic device (104) thereby forming a piconet, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: determining, by the control unit (101), a distance parameter representing the length of a straight line connecting the vehicle and the electronic device, transmitting, by the control unit (101), a first radiofrequency signal triggering the appearance of a notification at the electronic device, receiving, by the control unit (101), a second radio frequency signal emitted by the electronic device that the control unit interprets to determine a parameter of order validation, and determining, by the control unit (101), a control order for the locking means and / or the starting means by examining the order validation parameter with regard to at least one predefined criterion and / or the distance parameter. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step of reception, by the control unit, of a first electrical signal generated during detection by a sensor (107) arranged within the vehicle of opening an opening. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a step of determination, by the control unit (101), of the duration of a time interval elapsed between the reception of the first electrical signal and the reception , by the control unit (101), of a second electrical signal generated as a result of a change of state of a starting control accessory (108) controlling the starting means (103). 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of comparison, by the control unit, of the value of the distance parameter with a predefined threshold distance representing a maximum distance beyond which a validation order should be ignored. 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said notification is configured to induce, at the electronic device, the display of a text and / or an image on a screen (109) of the electronic device. 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said criterion comprises a locking state parameter of the locking means (102) and / or a starting state parameter (103) of the starting means. 7. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method for managing a locking means (102) of at least one opening leaf of a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, when it is executed on one or more processors. 8. Device for managing a locking means (102) of at least one opening of a vehicle, characterized in that it is configured to put implemented 1 to 6. the process according to one of claims 9. Vehicle earthly motor (100), characterized in what he comprises a unit of control (101) putting implemented the method according to one of previous claims.