# US 10,766,453 B2 · Apparatus, key remote, and method for controlling operating conditions of a key module

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- Number: US 10,766,453 B2
- Document ID: US10766453B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/875,131
- Filed: 2018-01-19
- Published: 2018-07-26
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-24
- Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Volkswagen AG
- Inventors: Karsten Beyer; Christoph Fricke; Peter Lohmann; Dominique Nemetschek; Andreas Thiele; Julian Verkin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766453B2

## CPC

- B60R 25/045: by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
- B60R 25/245: {where the antenna reception area plays a role}
- B60R 25/248: {Electronic key extraction prevention}
- B60R 25/31: of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
- H04W 12/122: Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
- H04L 2209/80: Wireless
- H04L 2209/84: Vehicles
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 12/12: Detection or prevention of fraud
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

An apparatus, a key partner, methods and computer programs for a key module of a vehicle and a vehicle. The apparatus for the key module includes a communication interface for radio communication with a key partner of the vehicle, a motion sensor, and a control module for controlling an operating state from operating states of the key module based on the information about the motion of the key module. The operating states include at least a first operating state, a pre-shutdown operating state and a shutdown state. The control module activates the first operating state if the motion of the key module is above a motion limit value and activates the pre-shutdown operating state if the motion of the key module is below the motion limit value over a period of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for a key module for a transportation vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a communication interface for radio communication with a key partner of the transportation vehicle;
a motion sensor for determining information about a key module motion; and
a control module for:
controlling the communication interface and the motion sensor,
controlling an operating state included in a plurality of operating states of the key module based on the determined information about the key module motion,
wherein the plurality of operating states comprises at least a first operating state, a pre-shutdown operating state and a shutdown state, by:
activating the first operating state in response to the key module motion being above a motion limit value,
activating the pre-shutdown operating state in response to the key module motion being below the motion limit value over a period of time,
transmitting a shutdown request via the communication interface for the key partner of the transportation vehicle in response to the key module being in the pre-shutdown operating state, and
shutting down the key module in response to a response of the key partner of the transportation vehicle to the shutdown request indicating an authorization for shutdown of the key module while the key module continues to be in the pre-shutdown operating state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating states further comprises a second operating state, wherein the control module activates the second operating state in response to the key module motion being below the motion limit value over a further period of time, and wherein the control module activates the pre-shutdown operating state in response to the key module motion being below the motion limit value and below a further motion limit value over the period of time while the key module is in the second operating state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control module activates the second operating state in response to the key module motion being below the motion limit value over the further period of time and the key module being in the first operating state, and/or
the control module activates the first operating state, from the shutdown state or the pre-shutdown state, in response to the key module motion being above the motion limit value and activates the second operating state in response to the key module motion being between the motion limit value and the further motion limit value, and/or
the motion limit value permits a higher intensity of motion than the further motion limit value, and/or
the plurality of operating states further comprises one or more intermediate operating states between the second operating state and the pre-shutdown operating state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module activates the first operating state in response to:
the key module motion being above the motion limit value and the key module being in the shutdown state,
the pre-shutdown operating state or a second operating state, or
the control module activates the first operating state in response to the key module being in the shutdown state and the key module motion being above a first wakeup limit value a single time or being above a second wakeup limit value more than a predefined number of times within a wakeup period of time,
and/or the control module, after transmission of the shutdown request, activates the shutdown state in response to the response of the key partner of the transportation vehicle not arriving within a waiting period of time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is deactivated in the shutdown state, and/or the motion sensor and the control module are at least sometimes activated in the shutdown state.

### Claim 6

A key partner for a transportation vehicle, the key partner comprising:
a communication interface for radio communication with a key module for the transportation vehicle; and
a control module for:
controlling the communication interface,
receiving, via the communication interface, a shutdown request of the key module,
determining an authorization to shut down the key module based on whether a present state of the transportation vehicle permits shutdown of the key module, and
transmitting, via the communication interface, a response to the shutdown request of the key module for the key module, wherein the response indicates whether the key partner authorizes the shutdown of the key module.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The key partner of claim 6, wherein the control module permits shutdown of the key module in response to the transportation vehicle being locked from the outside.

### Claim 8

A method for a key module for a transportation vehicle, the method comprising:
determining information about a key module motion; and
controlling an operating state from a plurality of operating states of the key module based on the information about the key module motion, wherein the plurality of operating states comprises at least a first operating state, a pre-shutdown operating state and a shutdown state, by:
activating the first operating state in response to the key module motion being above a motion limit value,
activating the pre-shutdown operating state in response to the key module motion being below the motion limit value over a period of time,
transmitting a shutdown request via a radio communication to a key partner of the transportation vehicle in response to the key module being in the pre-shutdown operating state, and
shutting down the key module, in response to a response of the key partner of the transportation vehicle to the shutdown request indicating an authorization for shutdown of the key module while the key module continues to be in the pre-shutdown operating state.

### Claim 9

A method for a key partner for a transportation vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, via a radio communication, a shutdown request of the key module;
determining an authorization to shut down the key module based on whether a present state of the transportation vehicle permits shutdown of the key module; and
transmitting, via the radio communication, a response to the shutdown request of the key module for the key module, wherein the response indicates whether the key partner of the transportation vehicle authorizes the shutdown of the key module.

### Claim 10

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a program having a program code for performing a method for a key module for a transportation vehicle, when the program code is executed on a computer, a processor, a control module or a programmable hardware component the method comprising:
determining information about a key module motion; and
controlling an operating state from a plurality of operating states of the key module based on the information about the key module motion,
wherein the plurality of operating states comprises at least a first operating state, a pre-shutdown operating state and a shutdown state, by:
activating the first operating state in response to the key module motion le being above a motion limit value,
activating the pre-shutdown operating state in response to the motion of the key module motion being below the motion limit value over a period of time,
transmitting a shutdown request via a radio communication to a key partner of the transportation vehicle in response to the key module being in the pre-shutdown operating state, and
shutting down the key module, in response to a response of the key partner of the transportation vehicle to the shutdown request indicating an authorization for shutdown of the key module while the key module continues to be in the pre-shutdown operating state.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program having a program code for performing a method for a key partner for a transportation vehicle, when the program code is executed on a computer, a processor, a control module or a programmable hardware component the method comprising:
receiving, via a radio communication, a shutdown request of the key module;
determining an authorization to shut down the key module based on whether a present state of the transportation vehicle permits shutdown of the key module; and
transmitting, via the radio communication, a response to the shutdown request of the key module for the key module, wherein the response indicates whether the key partner for the transportation vehicle authorizes the shutdown of the key module.