Method for the anonymized provision of data of a first vehicle for a vehicle-external server device, and anonymization apparatus and motor vehicle

An anonymization apparatus for a transmission of data from a first vehicle to a vehicle-external server device, the anonymization apparatus comprising a processor and memory, the processor configured to:

• randomly select a recipient vehicle from one or more recipient vehicles;
• use the processor configured to transmit the data from a first vehicle to the vehicle-external server device by one or more successive hops facilitated by one or more recipient vehicles, wherein the one or more recipient vehicles are in an operating state, and wherein the operating state includes a driving operation or a stationary operation;
• transmit to the recipient vehicle, using a communication device, a count value and a limit value wherein the count value describes a current number of hops and the limit value determines a maximum number of hops for transmitting the data;
• increment the count value by one with each successive hop;
• transmit the data to the vehicle-external server device when the count value equals the limit value;
• transmit, using the communication device, an authentication feature of the first vehicle or a first recipient vehicle to a second recipient vehicle or to the vehicle-external server device;
• transmit, using the communication device, data to the second recipient vehicle or to the vehicle-external server device, in response to verifying a match of the authentication feature with a listed authentication feature of a plurality of authentication features, by the second recipient vehicle or the vehicle-external server device;
• and
• delete sender information of the first vehicle and the recipient vehicle from the data to anonymously transmit the data to the vehicle-external server device via the recipient vehicle.

A motor vehicle comprising:

• an anonymization apparatus for a transmission of data from a first vehicle to a vehicle-external server device, wherein the anonymization apparatus comprises a processor and memory, the processor being configured to:
• randomly select a recipient vehicle from one or more recipient vehicles,
• using the processor;
• use the processor to transmit the data from a first vehicle to the vehicle-external server device via one or more successive hops facilitated by one or more recipient vehicles, wherein the one or more recipient vehicles are in an operating state, and wherein the operating state includes a driving operation or a stationary operation;
• transmit to the recipient vehicle, using a communication device, a count value and a limit value wherein the count value describes a current number of hops and the limit value determines a maximum number of hops for transmitting the data;
• increment the count value by one with each successive hop;
• transmit the data to the vehicle-external server device when the count value equals the limit value;
• transmit, using the communication device, an authentication feature of the first vehicle or a first recipient vehicle to a second recipient vehicle or the vehicle-external server device;
• transmit, using the communication device, data to the second recipient vehicle or to the vehicle-external server device, in response to verifying a match of the authentication feature with a listed authentication feature of a plurality of authentication features, by the second recipient vehicle or the vehicle-external server device;
• and
• delete sender information of the first vehicle and the recipient vehicle from the data to anonymously transmit the data to the vehicle-external server device via the recipient vehicle.