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DE-102024132897-A1 - Method for establishing a Bluetooth Low Energy connection between a terminal device and a vehicle within the framework of a digital key infrastructure and control unit

DE102024132897A1DE 102024132897 A1DE102024132897 A1DE 102024132897A1DE-102024132897-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for establishing a Bluetooth Low Energy connection between an end device and a vehicle within the framework of a digital key infrastructure, comprising the steps of sending an advertisement in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band has a higher frequency; establishing a first connection in the first frequency band; scanning for an advertisement in the second frequency band; establishing a second connection in the second frequency band. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control device for carrying out such a method.

Inventors

  • Alaa Mourad

Assignees

  • BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (10)

  1. Method for establishing a Bluetooth Low Energy connection between a terminal device and a vehicle within a digital key infrastructure, comprising the steps of: - Sending an advertisement in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, the second frequency band having a higher frequency; - Establishing a first connection in the first frequency band; - Scanning for an advertisement in the second frequency band; - Establishing a second connection in the second frequency band.
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , whereby the second connection is established in parallel to the first connection.
  3. Procedure according to Claim 1 , where the second connection replaces the first connection.
  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first frequency band is at 2.4 GHz and the second frequency band is at 5 GHz.
  5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second connection is established in the second frequency band when the distance between the terminal device and the vehicle falls below a certain minimum distance.
  6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second connection is used in the second frequency band when a higher data transmission rate is required and/or when higher battery power is available.
  7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second connection is used in the second frequency band if the first frequency band has poor connection quality.
  8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a switch from the first to the second connection and/or from the second connection to the first connection is dynamically controlled based on signal strength, data requirements, interference and/or energy consumption.
  9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the scanning step is only performed if there is a need to establish the second connection.
  10. Control device for a vehicle for carrying out a procedure according to one of the preceding Claims 1 - 9 .

Description

The invention relates to a method for establishing a Bluetooth Low Energy connection between an end device and a vehicle within the framework of a digital key infrastructure, and to a control unit for a vehicle for carrying out such a method. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has established itself in recent years as one of the leading technologies for wireless communication in numerous applications. Thanks to its energy-efficient architecture and its ability to connect devices over short and medium distances, the BLE standard is widely used in various fields, including digital key architectures for device-vehicle communication. BLE uses the license-free 2.4 GHz ISM band for transmissions, which allows for simple implementation and global availability. However, the growing number of devices using this frequency band is increasingly causing problems for this technology. The 2.4 GHz band is now heavily congested not only by BLE applications but also by other communication systems such as Wi-Fi, microwaves, and other Bluetooth protocols. This leads to increased interference, disruptions, and reduced data transmission quality, especially in densely populated environments. To ensure the performance and reliability of BLE, there is a growing need for a technology that addresses the problem of frequency band congestion without significantly compromising the advantages of BLE. The present invention aims to further develop BLE so that it can operate reliably in congested frequency environments. This problem is solved by a method according to the independent method claim. The inventive method for establishing a Bluetooth Low Energy connection between an end device and a vehicle within the framework of a digital key infrastructure comprises the following steps: sending an advertisement in a first frequency band and sending an advertisement in a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band has a higher frequency than the first frequency band; establishing a first connection in the first frequency band; scanning for an advertisement in the second frequency band; establishing a second connection in the second frequency band. The first frequency band can be the existing frequency band at 2.4 GHz, while the second frequency band is located at a higher frequency. The procedure involves initially transmitting advertisements in both frequency bands. Since the lower frequency band typically has a greater range, a connection is usually established first in the lower frequency band. However, because this lower frequency band is also usually the more congested, this initial connection serves as a pilot connection for establishing the second connection in the lower frequency band. To facilitate this, after the first connection is established in the lower frequency band, a scan is performed for the advertisement in the lower frequency band. Both the transmission of advertisements and the subsequent scan can take place in the lower frequency band. Alternatively, or additionally, information about the presence of the lower frequency band can be transmitted on the existing lower frequency band via advertisements and active scanning. {Is this sensible?} Specifically, the procedure can involve establishing the second connection in parallel with the first. Alternatively, the second connection can replace the first after it has been established. In this context, the available resources of the terminal device and the vehicle are relevant. If the terminal device is designed for dual-band operation, the second connection can operate in the higher frequency band in parallel with the first. This has the advantage of achieving higher overall data rates. However, if resources are limited, it is advisable to terminate the first connection after the second connection has been established. Preferably, the first frequency band is at 2.4 GHz and the second frequency band in the 5-6 GHz range. The 5-6 GHz or higher frequency band has the advantage of allowing higher data transfer rates and generally less interference, as this band is currently less congested. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second connection is established in the second frequency band when the distance between the terminal device and the vehicle falls below a certain minimum distance. The frequency band with the higher frequency generally exhibits the same or comparable transmission characteristics. The performance results in a shorter range. Using an existing initial connection in the lower frequency range, the distance between the device and the vehicle can be determined, for example, by the signal strength or directly. If it is then determined that the distance between the device and the vehicle falls below a minimum distance that allows the second connection to be established without problems, this can be done. Alternatively or additionally, the second connection can be used in the second frequency band when a higher data transfer rate is required and/or w