Patent Description:
The usage of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) has been dramatically increased in the resent years. In the automotive domain, BLE is quite promising for different applications (e.g. keyless vehicle access). The main purpose of using BLE is a fast discovery, which may require a large coverage area. Therefore, multiple BLE chips might be mounted in different location in a vehicle in order to provide sufficient coverage around the vehicle. The establishment of connections, e.g. with a user device, for the multiple BLE chips might be time and/or resource consuming. Thus, there may be a need for an improved concept or connection establishment.

<CIT> discloses methods for a central device and a peripheral device in a communication network. In embodiments of the invention, the required computational effort is significantly reduced by comparing a part of a resolvable private address with a precomputed cryptographic value. The peripheral device sends an advertising address to the central device. The central device cryptographically processes, using the identity resolving key IRK, the extracted part R of the advertising address to obtain a cryptographic value H. This value is transmitted to the communication peripheral device to enable an improved authentication. A required computational effort is significantly reduced by comparing a part of the address with precomputed cryptographic values.

<CIT> discloses a system for authorizing access to vehicle functions for a vehicle stores (i) fob data relating to one or more key fobs linked to the vehicle, (ii) device data comprising data relating to one or more devices that are authorized to access the vehicle and (iii) vehicle access and/or function control data. When a new device is requesting access to the vehicle, a secure fob key is generated based on the fob data and the device data. Furthermore, a vehicle function control file is generated based on the vehicle access and/or function control data and the secure fob key. The vehicle function control file is configured to authenticate the new device with the vehicle via the secure fob key and to at least one of (i) limit access of the new device to the vehicle, (ii) limit an operational function of the vehicle, and (iii) provide alerts for the vehicle based on the vehicle access and/or function control data.

<CIT>discloses a system including a plurality of transceivers associated with a vehicle and a vehicle access system. The vehicle access system is configured to receive, via each of the plurality of transceivers, signal strength data associated with a portable communication device using a Bluetooth signal received at an antenna associated with each of the plurality of transceivers, and compare, for each of the plurality of transceivers, the signal strength data with a threshold signal strength value to perform a localization of the portable communication device generating the Bluetooth signal to determine whether the portable communication device is located inside or outside the vehicle. The vehicle access system is also configured to perform the operation based on whether the portable communication device is located inside or outside the vehicle.

In the state of the art, if multiple BLE chips are used to cover a contiguous area each BLE chip requires pairing with a user device. For example, multiple BLE chips may form a coverage area around a vehicle, and each BLE chip needs to be paired with a user device, e.g. a smart device for keyless vehicle access, to establish a connection with the user device. There are multiple ways to do the pairing according to Bluetooth specification. However, each of these multiple chips shall be paired with the user device, which is time consuming and not attractive for the end customer.

It is therefore a finding that connection establishment information can be communicated to multiple transceivers for reuse. Connection establishment or pairing procedures can then be reduced or even avoided. For example, identification information for establishing a connection may be generated and communicated to a plurality of receivers to enable reuse of said information. That way, connection establishment or pairing procedures may suffice at least for the part that relates to communicating the identification information if said information has been communicated with one of the plurality of receivers.

Embodiments provide a control unit for controlling connection establishment between a transmitter and a plurality of receivers. The control unit comprises an interface, which is configured to communicate with a plurality of receivers. The control unit further comprises processing circuitry, which is configured to control the interface and to generate identification information for establishing a connection between a transmitter and a receiver of the plurality of receivers. The processing circuitry is further configured to transmit the identification information to the plurality of receivers, to enable the plurality of receivers to reuse the same identification information for connecting to the transmitter.

Embodiments further provide a method for controlling connection establishment between a transmitter and a plurality of receivers. The method comprises generating identification information for establishing a connection between a transmitter and a receiver of the plurality of receivers. The method further comprises transmitting the identification information to the plurality of receivers to enable the plurality of receivers to reuse the same identification information for connecting to the transmitter.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of an example of a control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> comprises an interface <NUM> configured to communicate with a plurality of receivers. Further, the control unit <NUM> comprises a processing circuitry <NUM>, which is coupled to the interface <NUM>, and which is configured to control the interface <NUM> and to generate identification information for establishing a connection between a transmitter and a receiver of the plurality of receivers. Further, the processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to transmit the identification information to the plurality of receivers, to enable the plurality of receivers to reuse the same identification information for connecting to the transmitter.

By reusing the same identification information for connecting to the transmitter connection establishment between any other of the plurality of receivers and the transmitter may be eased. So, a time and/or resource consumption of connection establishment processes between the transmitter and the plurality of receivers may be reduced and/or a user experience may be improved.

The identification information may be used to (initiate) establish a connection between a first receiver of the plurality of receivers and the transmitter. For example, the identification information may be used to establish an initial linkage between the first receiver and the transmitter. After the initial linkage has been performed, the identification information may be reused to (re)connect the first receiver and the transmitter without the need for another initial linkage. As well, the identification information may be reused for each receiver of the plurality of receivers, such that only one initial linkage may be required to connect each receiver of the plurality of receivers to the transmitter. For example, the plurality of receivers, e.g. multiple BLE chips, may be connected to the transmitter, e.g. an electronic device, by establishing only one initial linkage between the first receiver of the plurality of receivers and the transmitter, e.g. by a pairing process.

In an example the processing circuitry may be further configured to receive connection information from a first receiver of the plurality of receivers using the interface. The connection information may comprise data about an established connection between the first receiver and the transmitter. Further, the processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to transmit the connection information to a second receiver of the plurality of receivers using the interface <NUM>. The connection information is used to connect the transmitter with the second receiver of the plurality of receivers. Thus, both receivers can be connected to/paired with the transmitter by performing only one initial connection (establishment) process.

For example, the first receiver and the transmitter may perform a connection process with an initial linkage. Connection information about this initial linkage may be generated by the first receiver and may be transmitted to a second receiver of the plurality of receivers. By using the same identification information at the first receiver and the second receiver, the initial linkage between the second receiver and the transmitter may be omitted and the generated connection information of the first receiver is reused at the second receiver. For example, the connection information provided by the first receiver may be sufficient to establish a connection between the second receiver and the transmitter without further initial linkage.

For example, the identification information may be required to perform a connection process, e.g. a pairing process. The connection process may establish an initial linkage between the first receiver and the transmitter to allow communications between them. The connection process may be used to establish a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth connection and/or Wi-Fi connection. By providing information about the connection process of the first receiver with the transmitter to a second receiver and assigning the same identification information to both receivers, the connection process (repetition) may be omitted for the second receiver. So, the second receiver may establish a connection to the transmitter without a further connection establishment process.

The plurality of receivers (e.g. multiple BLE Chips) may be used for certain functions. For example, a vehicle may have multiple BLE chips that are used for certain functions (e.g., keyless vehicle access). Thus, a connection, e.g. pairing, of each BLE chip with the transmitter, e.g. a smart device, is no longer required. For example, only the first receiver of the plurality of receivers may be connected, e.g. paired, with the transmitter, e.g. a first BLE chip of the vehicle may be connected, e.g. paired, with a smart device. After that (pairing process) data may be used to establish a connection between the transmitter and the second receiver of the plurality of receivers. For example, connection data, e.g. pairing data, may be transmitted to the second receiver enabling the second receiver to establish a connection with the transmitter without a further connection process, e.g. pairing.

In an example, the identification information comprises a private identity address and/or an identity resolving key. For example, the private identity address and/or the identity resolving key may be required to establish an initial linkage between the first receiver and the transmitter, e.g. for a Bluetooth pairing process. During the (Bluetooth) connection process connection information may be generated by the first receiver. The connection information may be specific for the private identity address and/or the identity resolving key and can only be used in combination with them. The paring information may be used by the first receiver to reconnect to the transmitter if a connection was lost, e.g. because the transmitter was outside a first receiver's sub-coverage area. This may allow the transmitter to reconnect to the first receiver based on the connection information without a need for a new initial linkage.

By assigning the same private identity address and/or the same identity resolving key to a second receiver, the connection information generated by the first receiver can also be used for establishing a connection between the second receiver and the transmitter. For example, the connection information may be transmitted from the first receiver to the second receiver and/or may be transmitted from the first receiver to the control unit <NUM> and from the control unit <NUM> to the second receiver. The second receiver can be connected to the transmitter using the connection information without the need for initial linkage. Thus, only one connection process may be required to connect both receivers to the transmitter, leading to a reduced time and/or resource consumption and an improved user experience.

Alternatively, the connection information may be generated by the transmitter. For example, the connection information generated during the initial linkage with the first receiver may be used for establishing a connection between the transmitter and the second receiver. For example, the transmitter may transmit the connection information to the second receiver, enabling a connection without a further initial linkage between the transmitter and the second transmitter. Thus, a further initial linkage may be omitted using the connection information generated by the transmitter.

In an example the processing circuitry <NUM> is further configured to generate the identification information for a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE, receiver. For example, the identification information may comprise only the private identity address and the identity resolving key for both BLE receivers, which enables connection between both BLE receivers and the transmitter with only one connection process.

As shown in <FIG> the respective one or more interfaces <NUM> are coupled to the respective processing circuitry <NUM> at the control module <NUM>. In embodiments the processing circuitry <NUM> may be implemented using one or more processing units, one or more processing devices, any means for processing, such as a processor, a computer or a programmable hardware component being operable with accordingly adapted software. Similar, the described functions of the processing circuitry <NUM> may as well be implemented in software, which is then executed on one or more programmable hardware components. Such hardware components may comprise a general-purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a micro-controller, etc. The processing circuitry <NUM> is capable of controlling the interface <NUM>, so that any data transfer that occurs over the interface and/or any interaction in which the interface may be involved may be controlled by the processing circuitry <NUM>.

In an embodiment the control unit <NUM> may comprise a memory and at least one processor <NUM> operably coupled to the memory and configured to perform the below mentioned method.

In embodiments the one or more interfaces <NUM> may correspond to any means for obtaining, receiving, transmitting or providing analog or digital signals or information, e.g. any connector, contact, pin, register, input port, output port, conductor, lane, etc. which allows providing or obtaining a signal or information. An interface may be wireless or wireline and it may be configured to communicate, i.e. transmit or receive signals, information with further internal or external components. The one or more interfaces <NUM> may comprise further components to enable communication between vehicles. Such components may include transceiver (transmitter and/or receiver) components, such as one or more Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), one or more Power-Amplifiers (PAs), one or more duplexers, one or more diplexers, one or more filters or filter circuitry, one or more converters, one or more mixers, accordingly, adapted radio frequency components, etc..

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. The example shown in <FIG> may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described below (e.g. <FIG>).

<FIG> shows a schematic view of a vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM> (as described in <FIG>), e.g. an engine control unit, and a plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g. BLE receivers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In an example, each receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a sub-coverage area 60a, 62a, so that the transmitter connected to one receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> is detectable in every sub-coverage area 60a, 62a by an associated receiver <NUM>, <NUM>. A sub-coverage area may be formed by a coverage radius <NUM> of a receiver <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, a maximum distance at which the receiver <NUM>, <NUM> can be connected to the transmitter may define the coverage radius <NUM>, and thus the sub-coverage area of each receiver <NUM>, <NUM>. The coverage radius <NUM> may differ in relation to different spatial directions. After establishing a connection to a receiver <NUM>, <NUM> the transmitter may be detected in the sub-coverage area 60a, 62a of this receiver <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. By using the same identification information to establish further connections between the transmitter and each receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>, the transmitter may be detected in every associated sub-coverage area 60a, 62a of each receiver <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, a coverage area <NUM> may be increased, e.g. a contiguous coverage area <NUM> may be formed by the associated sub-coverage areas 60a, 62a of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In an example, the sub-coverage areas 60a, 62a of at least two receivers <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> partially overlap with each other forming a coverage area <NUM>, so that the transmitter connected to one receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> is detectable in the coverage area by every associated receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, a vehicle <NUM> may comprise two receivers <NUM>, <NUM> at opposite parts of the vehicle <NUM>, e.g. front (receiver <NUM>) and rear (receiver <NUM>). Each receiver <NUM>, <NUM> with its associated sub-coverage area 60a and 62a may cover a partial area around the vehicle <NUM>, in which the transmitter, e.g. a smart device for keyless vehicle access, may be detected. Thus, a continuous coverage area <NUM> may be formed by the two sub-coverage area 60a, 62a.

In an example, the coverage area <NUM> encloses the vehicle <NUM>, so that a transmitter in the vicinity of the vehicle <NUM> is detectable by at least one receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, a sub-coverage area 60a of the first receiver <NUM> may be partially shielded by a radiopaque structure, e.g. an engine of the vehicle <NUM>, such that multiple receivers <NUM>, <NUM> may be required to form a coverage area <NUM> that encloses the vehicle <NUM>. Therefore, to form a coverage area <NUM>, that completely surrounds the vehicle <NUM>, multiple receivers <NUM>, <NUM> may be required. By assigning the same identification information to both receivers <NUM>, <NUM>, only one connection process may be required to form the coverage area <NUM>, that completely surrounds the vehicle <NUM>, leading to a reduced time and/or resource consumption and an improved user experience.

For example, the vehicle <NUM> may comprise multiple BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM>. These multiple BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM> may be used to cover a contiguous area <NUM>, so that a detection of a transmitter may be improved with the multiple BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM>, which cover different areas around the vehicle <NUM>. Each BLE chip <NUM>, <NUM> can be assigned an IRK (identity resolving key) and a static random address. Both may be needed to establish a Bluetooth connection, e.g. by pairing process.

The connection process between the transmitter and the BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> may be done by using one BLE chip <NUM>, <NUM>. However, the other BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM> shall/may be paired as well (without a further initial linkage) in order to be used by/enabled for a user. This may be possible in case the multiple BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM> have the same BLE identify address and identity resolving key (IRK). This may be possible when the static random address is used as an identity address. To do this, just one random static address and just one IRK may be generated in the main engine control unit <NUM> (ECU) in the vehicle <NUM> and may be sent to all BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, the random static address and the IRK are identical for each BLE chip <NUM>, <NUM>. These addresses may be used by all BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM> in the vehicle <NUM>. This means if a smart device is paired with one BLE chip <NUM>, <NUM>, only the connection data (pairing information) shall be sent to the other BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g. by the ECU <NUM>, so that all of them become paired with the smart device. Thus, for establishing a connection with each BLE chip <NUM>, <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> only one connection (e.g. pairing) process between the transmitter and one BLE chip <NUM>, <NUM> is required. All other BLE chips <NUM>, <NUM> can then be connected to the transmitter without a further initial linkage.

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. The example shown in <FIG> may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (<FIG>) and/or below (e.g. <FIG>).

<FIG> shows an example of a method <NUM> for controlling connection establishment between a transmitter and a plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>. The method <NUM> comprises generating <NUM> identification information for establishing a connection between a transmitter and a receiver <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, the method <NUM> comprises transmitting <NUM> the identification information to the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> to enable the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> to reuse the same identification information for connecting to the transmitter.

For example, generating <NUM> and transmitting <NUM> the identification information may be performed by a control unit described in <FIG>, which may be embedded in a vehicle as described in <FIG>. The identification information may comprise e.g. a private identity address and an identity resolving key, which may be required for establishing a Bluetooth connection between a transmitter and a receiver. By transmitting <NUM> the identification information to a plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM>, each receiver may be assigned the same identification information, e.g. the same private identity address and the same identity resolving key. Thus, when a connection between the first receiver and the transmitter is established by an initial linkage (connection process), e.g. by a pairing process, the transmitter can be automatically connected to each receiver of the plurality of receivers <NUM>, <NUM> without a further initial linkage.

For example, a vehicle may comprise multiple BLE chips. A user may have a smart device for keyless access to the vehicle using BLE. To enable the functionality of the smart device for the user, the smart device needs to establish a connection with at least one BLE chip. To establish a connection between the smart device and a BLE chip, the smart device may need to be paired with the BLE chip. To provide an improved user experience the smart device may be required to connect with each of the vehicle's multiple BLE chips. Transmitting the (same) identification information to each BLE chip may enable the smart device to establish a connection to each of the vehicle's multiple BLE chips by performing only one initial linkage to one BLE chip of the vehicle. This may be achieved by generating connection information, e.g. pairing information specific for the identification information, enabling each of the vehicle's multiple BLE chips to connect with smart device using the connection information without further required initial linkage.

For example, a user may approach a vehicle to get into it. The user may carry a smart device for keyless vehicle access and the vehicle may comprise multiple BLE chips. When the smart device arrives within the sub-coverage area of a vehicle's BLE chip, the smart device and the BLE chip may perform a connection process, e.g. a pairing process, to establish a connection between them. So, the smart device may reconnect to the BLE chip any time without a new connection process. Information about the connection process can be transmitted to other vehicle's BLE chips, such that the smart device may be connected automatically to each vehicle's BLE chip when it comes into the associated sub-coverage area of the BLE chip. Thus, only one connection process may be required to connect/reconnect the smart device with each vehicle's BLE chip.

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above. The example shown in <FIG> may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (e.g. <FIG>).

Furthermore, in further examples, a single step, function, process or operation may include and/or be broken up into several sub-steps, - functions, -processes or -operations.

Claim 1:
A control unit (<NUM>) for controlling connection establishment between a transmitter and a plurality of receivers (<NUM>; <NUM>), the control unit (<NUM>) comprising
an interface (<NUM>) configured to communicate with a plurality of receivers (<NUM>; <NUM>); and processing circuitry (<NUM>) configured to control the interface (<NUM>) and to:
generate identification information for establishing a connection between a transmitter and a receiver (<NUM>; <NUM>) of the plurality of receivers (<NUM>; <NUM>); and to
transmit the identification information to the plurality of receivers (<NUM>; <NUM>), to enable the plurality of receivers (<NUM>; <NUM>) to reuse the same identification information for connecting to the transmitter.