Apparatus and method for authenticating a telematics terminal in vehicle

An apparatus and method for authenticating a telematics terminal are disclosed to receive a first telematics service based on inputted user authentication information and then easily receive a second telematics service based on the inputted user authentication information. The method for authenticating a telematics terminal in a vehicle including: storing user authentication information inputted to receive a first telematics service through a mobile communication network; and requesting a second telematics service to an information providing center through the mobile communication network based on the stored user authentication information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a telematics terminal in a vehicle and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for authenticating a telematics terminal in a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a telematics terminal is mounted in a vehicle and provides a call function, map information, traffic information, multimedia information and GPS navigation function, etc., to users through a wireless communication network.

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing a telematics system according to a related art.

As shown inFIG. 1, the related art telematics system includes an information providing center30for providing telematics service information such as the call function, the map information, the traffic information and the multimedia information; and a telematics terminal10mounted within a vehicle, receiving the telematics service information through a wireless communication network20, and provides the telematics service information to a user. Herein, by inputting authentication information to the telematics terminal, the user can use the telematics service information through the telematics terminal10.

However, with the related art telematics terminal10, the user should input the user authentication information whenever he/she uses the telematics service, causing user inconvenience.

In addition, when currently inputted authentication information is not identical to pre-set user authentication information, the related art telematics terminal19just cuts off (prevents) the telematics service information. For example, when the currently inputted authentication information is not identical to the pre-set user authentication information, the related art telematics terminal simply prevents the telematics service information, causing a problem that it cannot discriminate whether the authentication information has been inputted by an actual user (e.g., an owner of a vehicle) or inputted by someone else. Thus, although the vehicle of the owner has been stolen by a person and erroneous authentication information has been inputted by the person, the owner of the vehicle cannot promptly know about the fact that his/her vehicle has been stolen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One exemplary feature of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for authenticating a telematics terminal capable of receiving a first telematics service based on inputted user authentication information and then easily receiving a second telematics service based on the inputted user authentication information.

Another exemplary feature of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for authenticating a telematics terminal capable of allowing an owner of a vehicle to quickly determine whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen by promptly providing an authentication failure message informing that user authentication of a telematics terminal mounted within a vehicle has been failed as occurs.

To implement at least the above feature in whole or in parts, the present invention provides a method for authenticating a telematics terminal in a vehicle including: storing user authentication information inputted to receive a first telematics service through a mobile communication network; and requesting a second telematics service to an information providing center through the mobile communication network based on the stored user authentication information.

To implement at least the above feature in whole or in parts, the present invention also provides a telematics terminal in a vehicle including: a storage unit for storing user authentication information to receive a first telematics service through a mobile communication terminal; and a controller for requesting a second telematics service from an information providing center based on the stored user authentication information through the mobile communication network.

To implement at least the above feature in whole or in parts, the present invention provides a method for authenticating a telematics terminal in a vehicle including: storing user authentication information inputted to receive a first telematics service through a mobile communication network; requesting a second telematics service to an information providing center through the mobile communication network based on the stored user authentication information; maintaining the user authentication information for a predetermined time period or while the telematics terminal is being turned on; and deleting the stored user authentication information when the telematics terminal is turned off.

To implement at least the above feature in whole or in parts, the present invention provides a method for authenticating a telematics terminal in a vehicle including: requesting user authentication information of a telematics terminal in a vehicle; storing the user authentication information inputted in response to the request; requesting a first telematics service including at least one or more of a telephone function, map information, traffic information and multimedia information based on the stored user authentication information from an information providing center through a mobile communication network; requesting a second telematics service from the information providing center based on the stored user authentication information through the mobile communication network; maintaining the user authentication information for a predetermined time period or while the telematics terminal is being turned on; and deleting the stored user authentication information when the telematics terminal is turned off, wherein when the inputted user authentication information and pre-set authentication information are not identical, an authentication failure message is generated and transmitted to a communication device through the mobile communication network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus and method for authenticating a telematics terminal capable of receiving a first telematics service based on inputted user authentication information and then easily receiving a second telematics service based on the inputted user authentication information according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram showing an apparatus for authenticating a telematics terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 2, the apparatus for authenticating a telematics terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes: an input unit21for inputting user authentication information according to a first telematics service request; a storage unit23for storing the user authentication information; a transceiver24for transmitting the user authentication information to an information providing center30through a mobile communication network20or receiving user authentication request information; and a controller25for displaying user authentication information stored in the storage unit23on a screen of a display unit22when a second telematics service is requested by a user, and outputting selected user authentication information to the transceiver24when the user authentication information displayed on the screen of the display unit22is selected by the user. In this case, the transceiver24transmits the selected user authentication information to the information providing center30through the wireless communication network20.

The operation of the apparatus for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIG. 2.

First, when the first telematics service is requested by the user, the input unit21outputs a request signal for requesting the first telematics service to the controller25.

The controller25transmits the request signal to the information providing center30through the transceiver24. In this case, the information providing center30checks whether the first telematics service requires user authentication, and if the first telematics service requires user authentication, the information providing center30outputs a request signal for requesting user authentication information to the controller25through the transceiver30.

The controller25receives the request signal for requesting the user authentication information, and if the user authentication information has not been stored in the storage unit23(e.g., when the telematics terminal is turned on to first use a telematics service), the controller25generates a message for requesting the user authentication information and outputs the message on the display unit22. In this case, the display unit22displays the message on its screen.

When the user authentication information is inputted by the user, the input unit21outputs the inputted user authentication information to the controller25.

The controller25outputs the user authentication information to the storage unit23and the transceiver24. In this case, the storage unit23stores the user authentication information and the transceiver24transmits the user authentication information to the information providing center30through the wireless communication network.

Thereafter, when the second telematics service is requested by the user, the input unit21outputs a request signal for requesting the second telematics service to the controller25.

The controller25transmits the request signal to the information providing center30through the transceiver24. In this cast, the information providing center30checks whether the second telematics service requires user authentication. If the second telematics service requests user authentication, the information providing center30outputs a request signal for requesting the user authentication information to the controller25through the transceiver30.

When the request signal for requesting the user authentication information is received, the controller25checks whether the user authentication information has been stored in the storage unit23. When the user authentication information exists in the storage unit23, the controller reads the user authentication information for the storage unit23and displays the read user authentication information on the screen of the display unit22.

Thereafter, when the user authentication information displayed on the screen of the display unit22is selected by the user, the controller25transmits the selected user authentication information to the information providing center30through the transceiver24.

If, however, the transmitted user authentication information is not valid for the second telematics service (e.g., when the second telematics service is a special service that incurs a high cost, not a basic service), the information providing center30requests the user authentication from the controller25of the telematics terminal and the controller25displays the request information for requesting the user authentication information for receiving the second telematics service on the screen of the display unit22. In this case, the user can input new user authentication information to the input unit21.

The method for authentication the telematics terminal according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 3is a flow chart illustrating the processes of a method for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the first telematics service is requested by the user, the input unit21outputs the request signal (or request information) for requesting the first telematics service to the controller25(step S11).

The controller25transmits the request signal to the information providing center30through the transceiver24. The information providing center30checks whether the first telematics service requires user authentication. When the first telematics service requires the user authentication, the information providing center30outputs the request signal for requesting the user authentication information to the controller25through the transceiver30(step S12).

The controller25receives the request signal for requesting the user authentication information, and when the user authentication information has not been stored in the storage unit23(e.g., when the telematics terminal is turned on and first uses the telematics service), the controller25generates a message for inputting the user authentication information and outputs the message to the display unit22. Then, the display unit22displays the message on the screen.

When the user authentication information is inputted by the user, the input unit21outputs the user authentication information to the controller25.

The controller25outputs the user authentication information to the storage unit23and the transceiver24(step S13). At this time, the storage unit23stores the user authentication information (step S13A, and the transceiver24transmits the user authentication information to the information providing center30through the wireless communication network (step S13B). Herein, the information providing center30checks the validity of the user authentication information, and if the user authentication information is identical to pre-set user authentication information, the information providing center30provides the first telematics service (step S14).

Thereafter, when the second telematics service is requested by the user, the input unit21outputs the request signal for requesting the second telematics service to the controller25(step S25).

The controller25transmits the request signal to the information providing center30through the transceiver24. Then, the information providing center30checks whether the second telematics service requires user authentication. If the second telematics service requests user authentication, the information providing center30outputs the request signal for requesting the user authentication information to the controller25through the transceiver30(step S16).

When the controller25receives the request signal for requesting user authentication information, it checks whether the storage unit23stores the user authentication information. The controller25searches the user authentication information from the storage unit23, and when the user authentication information exists in the storage unit23, the controller25reads the user authentication information from the storage unit23and displays the read user authentication information on the screen of the display unit22(step S17A). If, however, the user authentication information does not exist in the storage unit23, the controller25requests the user to input user authentication information and transmits user authentication information inputted by the user to the information providing center30.

Thereafter, when the user authentication information displayed on the screen of the display unit22is selected by the user, the controller25transmits the selected user authentication information to the information providing center30through the transceiver24(step S17). In this case, when the user authentication information is identical to the pre-set user authentication information, the information providing center30provides the second telematics service to the telematics terminal (step S18).

Herein, in terms of security, the controller may maintain the user authentication information only during a predetermined time period or while the telematics terminal is being turned on, and may delete the stored user authentication information when the telematics terminal is turned off.

In this manner, according to the authenticating apparatus and method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, after the first telematics service is received based on the inputted user authentication information, the second telematics service can be easily received based on the inputted user authentication information. For example, when the telematics service that requires user authentication is accessed, the telematics terminal transmits the user authentication information to the information providing center and at the same time stores the user authentication information, and then receives the new telematics service based on the stored user authentication information. Thus, the user authentication procedure can be simplified.

In addition, if the transmitted user authentication information is not valid for the telematics service (e.g., when the telematics service is not a basic service but a special service that incurs a high cost), the information providing center can request the user authentication from the telematics terminal again and the controller23can display the user authentication re-requesting message through the display unit22. Accordingly, when the telematics terminal is in an OFF state, a non-authorized user can be prevented from receiving the telematics service that incurs a high cost.

An apparatus and method for authenticating the telematics terminal capable of allowing an owner of a vehicle to promptly recognize whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen by quickly providing the owner an authentication failure message informing that user authentication of a telematics terminal mounted in the vehicle has been failed as occurs according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 4is a schematic block diagram showing an apparatus for authenticating a telematics terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

As shown inFIG. 4, an apparatus40for authenticating a telematics terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes: a controller41for requesting authentication information of the telematics terminal mounted in a vehicle when the telematics terminal is turned on, and generating an authentication failure message informing that authentication of the telematics terminal has been failed as authentication information inputted by a user in response to the request is not identical to pre-set authentication information; and a message transmission unit42for transmitting the authentication failure message to a reception unit43through wireless communication.

The reception unit43is a short distance wireless communication device previously determined by the owner of the vehicle corresponding to the pre-set authentication information and can be a communication device having a Bluetooth function. In this case, the message transmission unit42transmits the authentication failure message to the reception unit43of the owner of the vehicle through the short distance communication device such as the Bluetooth.

The operation of the apparatus for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 5is a flow chart illustrating the processes of a method for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the telematics terminal20mounted in the vehicle is turned on, the controller41requests user authentication information (step S51).

When a user inputs the authentication information in response to the request, the controller41compares the inputted authentication information and the pre-set authentication information (step S52).

When the inputted authentication information is identical to the pre-set authentication information (step S53), the controller41provides a service requested by the user (step S54). For example, when the inputted authentication information and the pre-set authentication information are identical, the controller41receives telematics service information such as a call function, map information, traffic information and multimedia information, etc. from the information providing center30through the wireless communication network20, and provides the received telematics service information to the user (step S54). Herein, the technique for providing the telematics service information to the telematics terminal through the wireless communication network20is the same as that in the related art, so its detailed description will be omitted.

If, however, the inputted authentication information is not identical to the pre-set authentication information, the controller41generates an authentication failure message informing that authentication of the telematics terminal has been failed, and outputs the generated authentication failure message to the message transmission unit42(step S55).

The message transmission unit42transmits the authentication failure message received from the controller41to the reception unit43of the owner of the vehicle through the wireless communication device (e.g., the Bluetooth device) (step S56). Then, the owner of the vehicle can easily determine whether the cause of the authentication of the telematics terminal has been generated by him/her or whether it has been generated by someone else through the authentication failure message displayed on the reception unit43, thereby quickly recognizing whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen.

Also, the message transmission unit42can transmit the authentication failure message to a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone through the wireless communication network20.

An apparatus for authenticating a telematics terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 6.

FIG. 6is a schematic block diagram showing an apparatus for authenticating a telematics terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 6, an apparatus60for authenticating a telematics terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes: a controller61for requesting authentication information of the telematics terminal mounted in a vehicle when the telematics terminal is turned on, and generating an authentication failure message informing that authentication of the telematics terminal has been failed as authentication information inputted by a user in response to the request is not identical to pre-set authentication information; and a message transmission unit62for transmitting the authentication failure message to an information providing center30through the wireless communication network20.

Herein, the information providing center30transmits the authentication failure message to a mobile terminal63previously determined by the owner of the vehicle corresponding to the pre-set authentication information through the wireless communication network20. Accordingly, the owner of the vehicle can check the authentication failure message in a short distance area or from a remote area and easily determine whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen based on the authentication failure message.

The operation of the apparatus for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 7is a flow chart illustrating the processes of a method for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

First, when the telematics terminal mounted in the vehicle is turned on, the controller61requests user authentication information (step S71).

When a user inputs the authentication information in response to the request, the controller61compares the inputted authentication information and the pre-set authentication information (step S72).

When the inputted authentication information is identical to the pre-set authentication information (step S73), the controller61provides a service requested by the user (step S74).

If, however, the inputted authentication information is not identical to the pre-set authentication information, the controller61generates an authentication failure message informing that authentication of the telematics terminal has been failed, and outputs the generated authentication failure message to the message transmission unit42(step S75).

The message transmission unit62transmits the authentication failure message received from the controller61to the information providing center30through the wireless communication network20(step S76).

Thereafter, the information providing center30transmits the authentication failure message corresponding to the pre-set authentication information to the mobile terminal63previously determined by the owner of the vehicle (step S77). Accordingly, the owner of the vehicle can easily determine whether or not the cause of the authentication failure of the telematics terminal has been generated by him/her or whether it has been generated by someone else through the authentication failure message displayed on the mobile terminal63. That is, the owner of the vehicle can quickly determine whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen from a short distance area or remote area.

The message transmission unit62can directly transmit the authentication failure message directly to the mobile terminal63through the wireless communication network20, without going by way of the information providing center30.

As so far described, according to the authenticating apparatus and method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, after the first telematics service is received based on the inputted user authentication information, the second telematics service can be easily received based on the inputted user authentication information. For example, when the telematics service that requires user authentication is accessed, the telematics terminal transmits the user authentication information to the information providing center and at the same time stores the user authentication information, and then the new telematics service can be received based on the stored user authentication information. Thus, the user authentication procedure can be simplified.

According to the apparatus and method for authenticating the telematics terminal according to the second and third embodiments, when the user authentication of the telematics terminal is failed, the authentication failure message is quickly provided to the owner of the vehicle to allow the owner of the vehicle to be quickly determined whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen. For example, when the owner of the vehicle stays at home, if the authentication failure message is received by the reception unit or the mobile terminal, the owner of the vehicle can promptly recognize whether or not his/her vehicle has been stolen.