EP-4742200-A1 - VEHICLE ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

EP4742200A1EP 4742200 A1EP4742200 A1EP 4742200A1EP-4742200-A1

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure are directed to systems and methods, for controlling access to a vehicle. The system comprises: a transceiver device, configured to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, an access device of a user, thereby to provide an indication that the user is within a first range of the system; a sensing system, comprising a video camera, and configured to, in response to the indication, record movements of the user; and a processor, coupled to the sensing system, and configured to: analyse the movements, determine, from the movements, whether the user is one of a group of known users, and in response to determining that the user is a one of the group of known users, authenticate the user.

Inventors

SANDU, BOGDAN-TUDOR
Alioanei, Cosmin

Assignees

NXP USA, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20250425

Claims (15)

A system, for controlling access to a vehicle and comprising: a transceiver device, configured to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, an access device of a user, thereby to provide an indication that the user is within a first range of the system; a sensing system, comprising a video camera, and configured to, in response to the indication, record movements of the user; and a processor, coupled to the sensing system, and configured to: analyse the movements, determine, from the movements, whether the user is one of a group of known users, and in response to determining that the user is a one of the group of known users, authenticate the user.
The system of claim 1, further comprising: an access controller, configured to, in response to the processer authenticating the user, provide access to the vehicle.
The system of claim 1, further comprising: an access controller, configured to, in response to both receiving an authentication of the access device and the processer authenticating the user, provide access to the vehicle.
The system of any preceding claim, wherein the movements include a gait.
The system of claim 3 or any other claim dependent thereon, wherein the transceiver device comprises a blue-tooth low energy, BLE, device configured to authenticate the access device.
The system of any claim 2 or 3, or any claim depending from claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the access controller comprises a lock, and providing access comprises unlocking the lock.
The system of any claim 2 or 3 or any claim depending from claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the access controller comprises a vehicle management system, and providing access comprises enabling the vehicle management system.
The system of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the user is a guest-user, authenticate the user without determining whether the user is one of a group of known users.
The system of any preceding claim, wherein the processer comprises a trained neural network.
A method of controlling access to a vehicle, comprising: receiving an indication that an access device of a user is within is within a first range of the vehicle; in response to the indication, recording, by a sensing system comprising a video camera, movements of the user; analysing the movements; determining, from the movements, whether the user is one of a group of known users; and in response to determining that the user is a one of the group of known users, authenticating the user.
The method of claim 9, wherein receiving an indication that an access device of a user is within is within a first range of the vehicle comprises: scanning, using a transceiver device, for the presence of the access device; and exchanging keys with the access device.
The method of claim 9 of 10, further comprising, in response to authenticating the user: providing access, by an access controller, to the vehicle.
The method of claim 9 or 10, further comprising: authenticating the access device; and in response to authenticating the user and authenticating the access control device: providing access, by an access controller, to the vehicle.
The method of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein authenticating the access device comprises exchanging security using a UWB device.
The method of any of claims 9 to 12, further comprising: receiving an indication that the user is a guest-user, and in response thereto, authenticating the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling access to a vehicle. BACKGROUND Conventional vehicle access systems and methods generally use communication technologies such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and ultra-wideband (UWB) communications and protocols, and provide access to the vehicle, using one or more digital keys within an access device (such as a key fob, or other mobile device such as a mobile phone). Such systems and methods generally rely on a single-factor authentication process based on a cryptographic verification of the digital key (or keys) stored in the access device. Some access devices may offer a second level of protection, for instance the user may have to initiate, or "unlock", the device. However increasingly access devices are being configured to be normally on, in order to minimise inconvenience to a user when approaching the vehicle. Unauthorised use of the access device, for example resulting from theft of the device, may thus be a security threat. Conversely, in order to avoid inconvenience to the user, conventional two factor authentication methods, such as requiring the user to input a personal identification number (PIN), may be undesirable. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system, for controlling access to a vehicle and comprising: a transceiver device, configured to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, an access device of a user, thereby to provide an indication that the user is within a first range of the system; a sensing system, comprising a video camera, and configured to, in response to the indication, record movements of the user; and a processor, coupled to the sensing system, and configured to: analyse the movements, determine, from the movements, whether the user is one of a group of known users, and in response to determining that the user is a one of the group of known users, authenticate the user. Such systems thus provide access based on a combination of the digital key in the access device, and an attribute or characteristic of the user themselves, in particular related to the way a user moves. In one or more embodiments, the system further comprises: an access controller, configured to, in response to the processer authenticating the user, provide access to the vehicle. In one or more embodiments, the system further comprises: an access controller, configured to, in response to both receiving an authentication of the access device and the processer authenticating the user, provide access to the vehicle. The access device may thus enable the movement recognition, or may enable the recognition and directly provide a second factor for the authentication. The movements may include a gait. A gait is a type of movement which is generally unique to one, or a very small set of, individuals. Using gait as a "biometric" may thus uniquely identify an individual, or to identify the individual with a high degree of confidence, and is particularly convenient since it may be less dependent on environmental factors, such as lighting, than other biometrics such as facial recognition. In one or more embodiments, the transceiver device comprises a blue-tooth low energy (BLE) device configured to authenticate the access device. The access controller may comprise a lock, and providing access comprises unlocking the lock. Moreover, the access controller may comprise a vehicle management system, and providing access comprises enabling the vehicle management system. In one or more embodiments, the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the user is a guest-user, authenticate the user without determining whether the user is one of a group of known users. The system may thus include a "bypass" functionality - for example in cases in which it does not have enough data about a possible user to authenticate them with a sufficiently high degree of confidence. According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling access to a vehicle, comprising: receiving an indication that an access device of a user is within is within a first range of the vehicle; in response to the indication, recording, by a sensing system comprising a video camera, movements of the user; analysing the movements; determining, from the movements, whether the user is one of a group of known users; and in response to determining that the user is a one of the group of known users, authenticating the user. In one or more embodiments receiving an indication that an access device of a user is within is within a first range of the system comprises: scanning, using a transceiver device, for the presence of the access device; and exchanging keys with the access device. In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises, in response to the processer authenticating the user: providing access, by an access controller, to the vehicle. I