WO2018104167A1

WO2018104167A1 - Method for configuring devices, and corresponding devices

Info

Publication number: WO2018104167A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/081163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Ebneter; Markus Hasler
Original assignee: Continental Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-12-05
Filing date: 2017-12-01
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: DE102016224158A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for configuring a first device (1) by means of a second device (2). The method comprises the following steps: detecting (S11) an active NFC device by way of an NFC module (12) of the first device (1) that is in the passive NFC mode. If the active NFC device is the second device (2), sending (S12) a status feedback by way of the first device (1) by means of the NFC module (12) thereof that is in the passive NFC mode. Receiving (S13) configuration data sent by the second device (2) by way of the NFC module (12) of the first device (1) in the passive NFC mode. Storing the received configuration data in a configuration data memory (11) of the first device (1). Starting the configuration (S15) by way of the first device (1) or the operation (S16) of the first device (1) based on the stored configuration data.

Description

description

Method for configuring devices and corresponding devices The present invention relates to a method for configuring a first device by means of a second device and corresponding devices.

EP 3 035 552 A1 discloses the general idea of configuring information for a device by means of near-field communication, also called NFC, from a mobile device. In this configuration Informa ^¬ functions initially be loaded from the device to the mobile device, there mo ^¬ difiziert, and transmit the modified configuration information back from the mobile device to the device.

US Pat. No. 9,058,550 B2, EP 2 199 946 A1 and US Pat. No. 9,184,801 B2 show the general idea of transmitting configuration information by means of near-field communication, but here to a switched-off device whose near-field communication module temporarily stores the configuration information and after switching on the device transmits to this. Also the

No. 7,825,776 B2 discloses a corresponding intermediate storage.

In US 8, 718, 554 B2, in addition to near field communication, at least one other wireless communication channel is opened and used to transfer configuration data from one device to another.

US Pat. No. 9,197,312 B2 discloses a system for near-field communication. Among other things, data is synchronized between two NFC devices, pass keys or other codes, ^Nut¬ zer-profiles exchanged or access to different automation sierungsfunktionalitäten a building. Instruments, devices and control units require in many applications, especially in land or sea vehicles, a so-called set-up or configuration, which often takes place via a so-called CAN bus or other hard-wired connections. The set-up parameters are stored locally in the device, mostly as so-called firmware by means of a Firmwa ^¬ re-updates in a read-only memory, a so-called EEPROM. The connection via CAN bus or other hard-wired data bus is expensive, expensive or difficult to handle, especially if a special additional device is required.

The object of the invention is to provide a further possibility of configuring a device, in particular using near field communication, which will be referred to below by the abbreviation NFC.

A method according to the invention for configuring a first device by means of a second device has the following steps to be carried out by the first device: Detecting an active NFC device by means of a passive NFC mode

NFC module of the first device. If the active NFC device is the second device, the first device sends status feedback using its NFC passive NFC module. Otherwise, it will continue to detect without giving any feedback. Upon completion of the status feedback, configuration data sent from the active NFC device is received by the NFC module in passive NFC mode. The received configuration data is stored in a configuration data memory of the first device. Subsequently, a configuration process of the first device starts based on either the ge ^¬ stored configuration data or, if no separate configuration step is required, the device is driven directly charged in accordance with the newly stored configuration data. The inventive method has the advantage that the NFC module is used only for establishing a data connection and data transfer, but locally there is no storage of data he follows. This increases protection against unauthorized reading or writing of data into the NFC module before or after the configuration process has been carried out. This complicates data manipulation and theft of data. The use of near-field communication also facilitates handling and saves a certain amount of wiring.

An inventive method of configuring a first device by a second device has the following performed by the second device steps: First configura ^¬ tion data for the first device to be created. Then status ^¬ information are transmitted in the active NFC mode. It is detected whether a status feedback of a device takes place in passive NFC mode. If this is the case and the detected device is the first device, the created configuration data are sent to the first device. The second device is preferably a mobile device. The creation of the configuration data can thus take place at any location. To transfer the configuration data to the first device, the second device is brought close to it so that a near field communication connection can be established. The data is then transmitted via this. Since all configuration data have already been created at this time, the input of information on the second device is largely eliminated, the transmission of the configuration data takes place without much effort. This is particularly advantageous if, depending on the environment in which the first device is located, such inputs or the like can be difficult or cumbersome, for example because of a cramped installation space.

It is also within the scope of the invention to initially create the configuration data on a third device, then transfer it to the second device, and then from this by means of near-field communication to the first device. This has the advantage that a relatively small device can be used as a mobile device that needs to be formed not particularly good for Da ^¬ teneingabe. The data entry takes place "

then as far as possible on a more suitable third device, such as a fixed or a mobile computer with a large screen and comfortable input means. The transmission of this to the second device is wired or wireless, locally, in a data network, the Internet or the so-called cloud. These modifications also fall under the concept of creating configuration data on the second device. Advantageously, the other device is authenticated and / or the data received from it. By means of the authentication of the respective other device, it is checked whether the respective other device is a device suitable for the configuration ^method , in particular whether the other device is authorized for this special device for the configuration method according to the invention. Furthermore, it is checked whether the configuration data certain predetermined or

meet specified security requirements, and whether they are appropriate and allowed to override any existing configuration data.

Preferably, the NFC communication is preceded by establishing a connection between the first device and the NFC module of the first device. Following the NFC communication, the corresponding connection is disconnected. This has the advantage that the device is only configurable when it is connected to the NFC module. This leads to an additional security ^¬ profit, since an accidental or abusive configuration due to the lack of connection can not be made. Furthermore, after the NFC module is disconnected from the first device, it may be used to configure other devices. Thus, components are saved and thus costs. The connection is made physically, for example, a mechanical and electrical connection by a

Plug connection made. Alternatively, the connection is functional, so without a physical connection or dismantle, for example, via a Data bus by assigning the corresponding device to an NFC module also located on the data bus. In this way, the benefits of a data bus, such as the CAN bus, and the benefits of near field communication are combined.

A storage medium according to the invention contains instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to execute the method. The storage medium is a data carrier such as floppy disk, optical storage medium, USB stick, hard disk or other suitable storage medium.

An apparatus according to the invention is suitable for carrying out the method according to one or more of the method claims. In particular, such a device on a Configurati ^¬ onsdatenspeicher, a powered in passive mode NFC NFC module, at least one configurable module and a control unit. The NFC module is according to an advantageous embodiment, a separate component which can be used with the device and also separated from this again. Advantages of this

Embodiments correspond to those specified for the corresponding method.

The configuration data belong to at least one of the following types of data. Locking data and

Unlock data for locking or unlocking a device or sub-functions of a device. One system ^¬ tellungsdaten which serve to describe the system in which the device is located. These include settings for level sensors, the geometry of a liquid container, a system profile, specified power limitations of a motor or other parameters. Personalization data includes, for example, logos that are displayed when the device is started or switched off or in certain operating situations, images, background images, ready-made texts, favorites lists and the like. For example, vehicle data used in common by multiple devices of a vehicle Speed limits, shutdown conditions (also referred to as "disabling features") and others. Logbook data and information for collecting data also fall under the configuration data treated according to the invention.

It is understood that the features mentioned also modified and in a different order or combination than described here are useful and thus fall under the protection of the claims. In addition to the advantages mentioned above, advantages also ensue from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. Showing:

Fig.l flowchart of a method according to the invention for a first device

2 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention for a second device

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention for a first device 1. For the device 1 and other devices, see also the description of FIG. The process starts with a step S10. In step Sil the NFC located in the passive NFC-mode detecting module 12 of the first device 1, whether an in-active mode, NFC NFC device finds ^¬ be in its vicinity. In active NFC mode, a device actively sends through the antenna of its NFC module. It requires a Energiever ^¬ supply. In passive mode NFC-no-device Ener ^¬ gieversorgung for near field communication is needed. The energy of an active NFC device received by the antenna is sufficient to supply the passive NFC mode device with the energy required for near field communication. In step Sil no active NFC device detects or is detected device not associated or expected second device 2, the system branches back to step Sil, at ^¬ Otherwise to step S12. In step S12, a status feedback is received by means of the energy received via the NFC antenna 123 delivered by the 1st device. In step S13, the first device 1 receives configuration data sent out from the second device 2, which is in the active NFC mode. In step S14, the received configuration data are stored in a configuration data memory 11 of the first device 1. In step S15, the first device is configured based on the stored configuration data. Subsequently, the operation of the first device 1 takes place in step S16 based on the stored configuration data. If no configuration is required in the device 1, but the operation takes place directly based on the stored configuration data, the step S15 is omitted. Between step S15 and step S16 may well elapse a longer period of time, although the device 1 is indeed reconfigured, but then is not put into operation directly. Is it a one-time

Configuration, the process ends after step S16. If it is intended to reconfigure the device 1, then after step S16, branch back to step S11. This is preferably done only on the basis of a request by the user, a request by the control unit of the device, or at certain time intervals. In this case, the detection of the step Sil occurs only at a few selected times. Unwanted or unexpected Configurati ^¬ onsänderungen is thus avoided. Alternatively, the step Sil can be carried out continuously, which has the advantage that a reconfiguration of the device without much effort only when approaching a suitably prepared second device 2, if such a "fast" configuration at the cost of less data security is desired.

According to a variant of the invention, in step S101 first of all a connection is established between the first device 1 and its associated NFC module 12. This connection is disconnected in step S132. This separation is done according to a variant immediately after receiving the configuration data in step S132. Alternatively, the separation is performed in step S142 after storing the received configuration data, or in step S152 after completing the configuration.

According to a variant, the active NFC device is subsequently subjected to an authentication at step S11 in step S111. If the active NFC device is authenticated as the second device 2, the process branches to step S12, otherwise back to step S11. According to another variant, in step S131 following step S13, the received configuration data is subjected to authentication. If these can not be authenticated unambiguously, then branch back is made to step S11, otherwise to step S14 or step S132.

2 shows a flow chart of an inventive method for a second device 2. In step S20 Configurati ^¬ onsdaten for the first device 1 are created. In step S21, status information of the second device 2 is sent in the active NFC mode. In step S22, it is detected whether a status of a ^¬ feedback operated in the passive mode NFC device 1 is present. If this is not the case, then branches back to step S21 to ^¬, otherwise to step S23. In step S23, the configuration data is sent to the device 1.

According to a variant, an authentication of the first device 1 takes place in step S221, whose status feedback in

Step S22 has been received. If it is authenticated as a correct second device, it branches to step S23, otherwise to step S22. According to a variant of the invention, a connection between the second device 2 and its associated NFC module 22 is first established in step S201. This connection is disconnected in step S232. In this case, a second device can be used, which normally operates without an NFC module, and is only connected to an NFC module if necessary. "

According to a variant creating the Configurati ^¬ onsdaten does not take place on the second device 2, but on a third device 3, from which they are then transferred to the second device 2 in step S20.

3 shows devices 1-3 according to the invention. A first device 1 has a configuration data memory 11, which is designated here by M1, an NFC module 12 operated in passive NFC mode, a plurality of configurable modules 13, which are designated here by KM, and a control unit 14, here denoted μϋ is designated. Corresponding names are also used for other devices, but not necessarily explained again. The NFC module 12 has an NFC antenna 123 and further elements known to the person skilled in the art and therefore not shown here. An element for storing transmitted data is not required here, since the configuration data are stored directly in the configuration data memory 11. If an NFC module is used which permits data storage, then according to the invention it is not used in order to achieve the highest possible data security.

The NFC module 12 is shown here as a separate unit, which can be connected via a plug connection 121 to the device 1, and is separable from this again. Alternatively, the NFC module 12 is connected via a dashed line shown here 122 to a data bus 4. This data bus 4 is connected via a line 400 to the device 1 in connection. Instead of the connector 121, the device 1 and the NFC module 12 are connected to each other in this case via the data bus 4 or separated from each other.

On the data bus 4 there are further configurable modules connected via lines 401-404. A display device 131, here labeled LCD, is a screen on which the device 1 visually outputs information to its user. It is an LC display, an LED display, a

OLED display, a picture tube or a display according to a other suitable technology. The display device 131 is configured or operated by means of the configuration data provided for it, which are located in the configuration data memory 11. Furthermore, there are on the data bus, a measuring instrument 132, a navigation unit 133 and a ^¬ Since space A 134, which records, for example, log data of a tachograph of a land vehicle or marine vehicle. These are also configured or operated by means of configuration data intended for them which are located in the configuration data memory 11. The same applies to the configurable modules 13. If a module 13 is used, for example, to calculate distances, then it is configured by means of the configuration data provided for it to the metric, a nautical or another measurement system. Serves a module 13 for calculating a tank contents from a

Level sensor signal so configura ^¬ tion data are provided for this module, which describe the geometry of the tank.

On the data bus 4 is another first device 1 ', which has a measuring instrument 132' as a configurable module, a configuration data memory 11 'and a control unit 14'. The device 1 'is in communication via the line 405 and the data bus 4 with the NFC module 12 when it requires configuration data. Otherwise it is separate from this.

A second device 2 has a configuration data memory 21, an NFC module 22, a control unit 24, a user ^¬ interface 25 and a command data memory 26. Das

NFC module 22 is embodied here as an integral part of the device 2, but may alternatively also, as shown for the device 1, be a separate unit, which is connectable to the device 2 and also separable therefrom. The NFC module 22 is operated in active mode and is, as indicated by double arrow, via its NFC antenna 223 with the

NFC module 12 of the device 1 in Nahfeldkommunikationsverbindung 41. In the command data memory 26 is a software, for example a so-called app, also called application stored, which allows the creation of configuration data in the device 2. For this purpose, via the user interface 25, the user is given the possibility via menus, etc., of creating and confirming configuration data for a first device 1. The confirmed configuration data are stored in the configuration data memory 21. The transmission of the configuration data from the configuration data memory 21 via the NFC module 22 and the NFC module 12 into the configuration data memory 11 of the device 1 is carried out as described for Fig.l and Fig.2. These and all other actions of the device 2 are controlled by the control unit 24.

The device 2 has an interface 52, indicated here by an arrow, to a storage medium 5. The storage medium 5 is shown schematically as an optical data storage such as CD or DVD and contains instructions which are transferred into the command data memory 26 and enable the device 2 to carry out a method according to the invention. A corresponding interface 51, 53 also have the devices 1, 3, which store instructions from a storage medium 5 in a command data memory 16,36. The instructions stored there enable the devices 1, 3 to be able to carry out a method according to the invention. A third device 3 has a configuration data memory 31, a control unit 34, a user interface 35 and a command data memory 36. The device 3 is connected to the device 2 by means of a wireless or wired connection 42, which is not detailed here Connection. As described for device 2, configuration data can be created on device 3 and stored in configuration data memory 31. They are then transmitted via the connection 42 to the configuration data memory 21 of the device 2, from where they are transmitted to the device 1 by means of near-field communication. A modification or supplement of the configuration data created in the device 3 in the device 2 is according to a variant by means of the user interface 25 and the allows instructions specified in the instruction data memory 26. In a variant, the user interface 25 and the command data memory 26, at least insofar as they relate to the configuration of the device 1, are dispensed with. The device 2 then serves mainly to transmit the configuration data created in the device 3 to the device 1.

It is understood that the measures mentioned in the individual embodiments and in the introduction to the description are useful in other than the combinations shown, and further developments, even if they are not specified in detail, are at the discretion of the skilled person.

Claims

claims

A method of configuring a first device (1,1 ') by means of a second device (2), comprising the steps of: - detecting (Sil) an active NFC device by an NFC module (12) in passive NFC mode of the first device (1,1 '),

- if the active NFC device is the second device (2), sending (S12) a status response by the first device (1,1 ') by means of its passive NFC mode be ^¬-sensitive NFC module (12),

- Receiving (S13) from the NFC mode located in the active second device (2) configuration data sent through the NFC module (12) of the first device (1,1 ') in the passive

NFC mode,

Storing (S14) the received configuration data in a configuration data memory (11, 11 ') of the first device (1, 1'),

- Start the configuration (S15) by the first device (1,1 ') based on the stored configuration data and / or operation (S16) of the first device (1,1') based on the stored configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, with the NFC communication (S11-S13) preceding step

- Construction (S101) of a connection between the first device (1,1 ') and the NFC module (12) of the first device (1,1'), and the NFC communication (S11-S13) subsequent step

Disconnecting (S132, S142, S152) the connection between the first device (1,1 ') and the NFC module (12) of the first device (1,1') ·

A method of configuring a first device (1) by means of a second device (2), comprising the steps of:

Creating (S20) configuration data for the first device (1) on the second device (2), Sending out (S21) status information by the second device (2) in the active NFC mode,

Detecting (S22) a status feedback of a device operated in passive NFC mode (1) by the second device (2) in active NFC mode,

if the detected passive device is the first device (1), sending (S23) configuration data through the second device (2) to the first device (1).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the creation (S20) of the configuration data for the first device (1) at least partially on a third device (3), and then transferred to the second device (2).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, with the further step:

- Authentication (Slll, S131, S221) of the other device (2,1) and / or the data received from this.

A storage medium (5) containing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a device (1,2,3), cause the device (1,2,3) to carry out the method of any one of claims 1-5.

7. device which is adapted to performing the method of one of the reciprocating before ^¬ claims.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a configuration ^¬ data memory (11), an operating in passive NFC mode NFC module (12), at least one configurable module (13), and a control unit (14).

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the NFC module (12) is a separate component connectable to the device (1,1 ').

Method according to one of claims 1-5, storage medium (5) according to claim 6, or device (1,2,3) according to one of the claims 7-9, wherein the configuration data is at least one of the following data types: interlock data,

Unlocking data, system setting data, personalization data, vehicle data, and logbook data.