GB2340642A

GB2340642A - Security system

Info

Publication number: GB2340642A
Application number: GB9817870A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Trevor Talbot; Jonathon Chard
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-08-18
Filing date: 1998-08-18
Publication date: 2000-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-18
Also published as: GB9817870D0; GB2340642B

Abstract

A security system, suitable for use in a vehicle 10, includes a security controller 12 which is arranged to perform a predetermined security function in response to receipt of a signal from a transponder. If a user loses the transponder, the signal can be relayed via a mobile telephone 26 from a spare transponder 140 which is, for example, lodged with a breakdown and recovery organisation.

Description

2340642 - 1 A Security System This invention relates to security systems

and in particular to a security system suitable for use in a vehicle.

It is known to provide a security system which is arranged in use to deny access to a protected area, such as a building or a vehicle, and it is 5 common to control that access using a key and lock arrangement.

With the increasing use of electronically controlled security systems, it is also known supplement or replace the mechanical key and lock arrangement with an electronic key, such as a portable radio frequency transponder. Such electronic keys are marked with a key profile in the form of an electromagnetic code, which is recognised by a security control means which then controls a lock mechanism in response to recognition of a valid code. Such an arrangement is suitable for use in a passive entry and / or starting system for a vehicle.

It is a problem that if a user loses or breaks their transponder, unless they have a duplicate nearby, they may find it difficult to access the protected area.

One solution to the problem of lost transponders is disclosed in GB 2274347 in which the code is relayed by a radio telephone link to the security controller of the protected area. In this arrangement, it is n ecessary for the codes to be held on a database and therefore the system may be vulnerable to attack from computer hackers attempting to obtain the access codes for an area or piece of equipment protected by the system.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved security system.

According to the invention there is provided a security system comprising a security controller arranged in use to perform a predetermined security function in response to recognition by the security controller of a coded electromagnetic security signal, a telecommunications link means for communicating the security signal and a converting means for receiving the security signal from the telecommunications link means and communicating said security signal to the security controller, wherein the telecommunications link means is arranged to obtain the security signal for communication to the converting means by reading the security signal from an electronic key, whereby it is possible to communicate the security signal to the security controller from an electronic key at a remote location.

The converting means may be arranged to communicate the security signal to the security controller only after receiving a release signal. The release signal may be entered into a control logic of the converting means using a manual input means. The security signal may be communicated to the converting means in an encrypted format and the release signal may comprise a decryption key which is used to decipher the encrypted security signal.

The security signal may comprise a response signal and the electronic key may be arranged to release the response signal only upon receipt by the electronic key of a coded command signal which is determined, by the electronic key, to have originated from the s ecurity controller.

The command signal may be relayed to the electronic key by the telecommunications link means and the response signal may be encrypted before being communicated to the converting means by the telecommunications link means.

The security controller and the electronic key may comprise one or both of a passive entry and a passive starting system of a vehicle.

The invention also provides a vehicle including a security system according to the invention.

The invention also provides a method of controlling a security system comprising a security controller arranged in use to perform a predetermined security function in response to recognition by the security controller of a coded electromagnetic security signal, a telecommunications link means for communicating the security signal and a converting means for receiving the security signal from the telecommunications link means and communicating said security signal to the security controller, the method including obtaining the security signal for communication to the converting means by reading the security signal from an electronic key, whereby the method includes communicating the security signal to the security controller from an electronic key at a remote location.

The method may include communicating the security signal to the security controller only after the converting means has received a release signal.

The method may include entering the release signal into a control logic of the converting means using a manual input means.

The release signal may comprise a decryption key and the method may include communicating the security signal to the converting means in an encrypted format and using the decryption key to decipher the encrypted security signal.

The security signal may comprise a response signal and the method may include releasing the response signal from the electronic key only upon receipt by the electronic key of a coded command signal which is determined, by the electronic key, to have originated from the security controller.

The method may include relaying the command signal to the electronic key using the telecommunications link means and encrypting the response signal before providing it to the telecommunications link means for communication to the converting means.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one aspect of a security system according to an embodiment of this invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second aspect of the security system of Figure 1.

Referring to the figures, a security system for a vehicle 10 comprises a 15passive entry system of the type disclosed in EP 0 218 251. The system includes a security controller 12 which is fitted to the vehicle 10 and which is arranged to detect the presence of an electronic key in close proximity to the vehicle 10. The electronic key is in the form of a portable transponder 14 and its presence is detected by, for example, a micro-switch (not shown separately) which is operated by the lifting of a door handle.

When the security controller 12 detects the presence of the remote transponder 14, it 12 transmits a command signal Cs to the remote transponder 14, which it 14 receives through a receiver stage 16. A receiver control logic 18 in the remote transponder 14 decodes the received command signal Cs and passes it to a transponder central control logic 24. If the central control logic 24 recognises the command signal Cs as a genuine command signal Cs, it 24 passes to a transmitter stage control logic 20 a response signal Rs which it 20 transmits to the security controller 12.

On receipt of a valid response signal Rs, the security controller 12 performs one or more predetermined security functions, for example allowing passive entry and 1 or passive starting.

In the absence of a working transponder 14, a second way of providing a response signal Rs is provided using a telecommunications link means in the form of a mobile telephone 26 and a radio telephone transmitter and receiver base station 28 which is held at a secure location, for example at the headquarters of a breakdown and recovery organisation.

On joining the breakdown and recovery organisation, a user of the vehicle 10 deposits with that organisation a spare transponder 140, which is a duplicate of the transponder 14. In the event that the user loses the use of the transponder 14, through for example loss or damage, he or she can call the organisation concerned for help, identifying themselves by, for example, a membership number. - The organisation can then send a service agent to the vehicle 10 who will communicate with the base station 28 using the mobile telephone 26. The mobile telephone 26 is also interfaced with the security controller 26 so that the it 26 can relay command signals Cs from the security controller 12 to the base station 28 and response signals Rs from the base station 28 to the security controller 12.

The user or breakdown operative now activates the security controller 12 so as to cause it 12 to transmit its command signal Cs, for example by lifting a door handle. The command signal Cs is relayed to the base station 28 using the mobile telephone 26.

The base station 28 then communicates the command signal Cs to the duplicate transponder 140 and obtains its response signal Rs. The response signal is then encrypted by an encryption portion of the base station 28 before being passed to the base station's telecommunication stage for transmission to the mobile telephone 26 in the encrypted form.

In a variation or addition to this embodiment, the user can elect to keep the spare transponder 140 at home or with a partner. In this case, the spare transponder 140 would be taken to, for example, a police station or breakdown and recovery organisation who possesses a suitable base station 28 and the process described above could then be performed.

In a second variation or addition, the breakdown and recovery organisation could be sent to the user's house or to wherever a spare 10transponder 140 was kept and could then use a second mobile telephone 30 to relay the response signal Rs back to the mobile telephone 26 which is near the vehicle 10. Although this relay could be performed directly, it would be preferable to do it through the base station 28 or at least using a security modem (not shown) in order to perform the encryption as a security measure.

When the response signal Rs has been received by the mobile telephone 26, it is still encrypted and therefore not in a useful format. As wen as acting as part of the telecommunications means, the mobile telephone 26 is arranged to act as a converting means so as to decipher the encrypted response signal Rs before communicating it to the security controller 12.

The deciphering is performed in a control logic forming part of the mobile telephone 26 and only upon receipt by that control logic of a release signal which is the decryption key.

For high security, it is preferable for the decryption key to be entered into the mobile telephone 26 manually by the user of the vehicle 10, for example using its 26 keyboard or by voice. The decryption key may be in the form of, for example a personal identification number (PIN) or a password.

One advantage of this invention is that there is no need to keep the command signal Cs or the response signal Rs on a database and thus security is improved against computer database hackers.

A system manufacturer may find this system useful because the onus for keeping the spare transponder 140 safe, and therefore the integrity of the whole security system, shifts to the system user.

The user may make the decision to delegate the responsibility for keeping one spare transponder 140 to an appropriate organisation, in order to have the reassurance that use of the vehicle can be regained by contacting them.

A system user further benefits from improved security because there is no need for any third party to ever know the command signal Cs or the response signal Rs. In the event that a spare key 140 is lodged with a third party organisation, they will still never need to know the signals Cs, Rs and do not even need to know who the electronic key owner is or with which protected area any of the keys they have lodged belong. A membership number is all that is necessary to authorise the relay of the command signal Cs to a deposited spare transponder 140 and the user retains the ultimate responsibility for security by holding the decryption key for deciphering a 10 resulting response signal Rs.

In the event that the user leaves the organisation, the spare transponder 140 is simply returned to its owner and he or she then resumes full responsibility for its security. At this time, it would be advisable for the user to check that they have been given back the correct spare transponder 15 140 by, for example, using it to gain access to the protected area.

Claims

- 11 CLAIMS

A security system comprising a security controller arranged in use to perform a predetermined security function in response to recognition by the security controller of a coded electromagnetic security signal, a telecommunications link means for communicating the security signal and a converting means for receiving the security signal from the telecommunications link means and communicating said security signal to the security controller, wherein the telecommunications link means is arranged to obtain the security signal for communication to the converting means by reading the security signal from an electronic key, whereby it is possible to communicate the security signal to the security controller from an electronic key at a remote location.
2. A security system according to Claim 1, wherein the converting means is arranged to communicate the security signal to the security controller only after receiving a release signal.
3. A security system according to Claim 2, wherein the release signal is entered into a control logic of the converting means using a manual input means.
4. A security system according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the security signal is communicated to the converting means in an 12- encrypted format and the release signal comprises a decryption key which is used to decipher the encrypted security signal.
5. A security system according to any preceding claim, wherein the security signal comprises a response signal and the electronic key is arranged to release the response signal only upon receipt by the electronic key of a coded command signal which is determined, by the electronic key, to have originated from the security controller.
6. A security system according to Claim 5, wherein the command signal is relayed to the electronic key by the telecommunications link means and the response signal is encrypted before being communicated to the converting means by the telecommunications link means.
7. A security system according -any preceding claim, wherein the security controller and the electronic key comprise one or both of a passive entry and a passive starting system of a vehicle.
8. A security system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A vehicle including a security system according to any preceding claim.

13-
10. A method of controlling a security system comprising a security controller arranged in use to perform a predetermined security function in response to recognition by the security controller of a coded electromagnetic security signal, a telecommunications link means for communicating the security signal and a converting means for receiving the security signal from the telecommunications link means and communicating said security signal to the security controller, the method including obtaining the security signal for communication to the converting means by reading the security signal from an electronic key, whereby the method includes communicating the security signal to the security controller from an electronic key at a remote location.
11. A method according to Claim 10, including communicating the security signal to the security controller only after the converting means has received a release signal.
12. A method according to Claim 11, including entering the release signal into a control logic of the converting means using a manual input means.
13. A method according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, the release signal comprising a decryption key and the method including communicating the security signal to the converting means in an encrypted format and using the decryption key to decipher the encrypted security signal.
14. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the security signal comprises a response signal and the method includes releasing the response signal from the electronic key only upon receipt by the electronic key of a coded command signal which is determined, by the electronic key, to have originated from the security controller.
15. A security system according to Claim 14, including relaying the command signal to the electronic key using the telecommunications link means and encrypting the response signal before providing it to the telecommunications link means for communication to the converting means.
16. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.