Improved keyless entry system could replace car key fob with iPhone
Apple wants iPhone owners to be able to use their mobile devices as alternatives to a keyless entry system for their car, with a proposal that would let users unlock and start a vehicle simply by bringing their mobile device with them to the driving seat.
The patent application for "Enhanced automotive passive entry," published on Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, describes ways that could be used to improve upon the key fob used for keyless entry functions found in many vehicles. Such systems allow for a car to be unlocked when the key fob is near to the vehicle, and to enable drivers to start the vehicle by pushing a button, instead of inserting a key and turning it.
Apple's application also suggests this style of functionality could be applied to a mobile device other than a key fob, such as an iPhone or a wearable device like an Apple Watch. The filing even notes that key fobs can be "bulky and be an additional item that a user must carry," further suggesting the use of an iPhone or another mobile device would be ideal, reducing the amount of items the driver would need to possess on a daily basis.
According to the filing, the existing system using "magnetic signals emitted from magnetic antennas" in the car are measured by the vehicle to determine range and position. This could be improved, as the magnetic fields are short range, and that current techniques used for the driving feature are susceptible to hacking, allowing access to the inside of the vehicle and potential theft of the vehicle itself.
Apple proposes the use of both magnetic antennas and radio frequency antennas to determine range, including analyzing the RF received signal strength indicator, time-f-flight value, and other signal properties. This would allow for an unlocking system to detect at a far longer range than available at present.
The suggested system would also be capable of locating the device within the vehicle cabin, with its internal position potentially enabling specific features to work. Potentially, this could mean a car will be unlocked if the device is inside, but the engine won't start until it is located at the front or in a predetermined area.
To save from adding extra components, the magnetic antennas could also be used for RF signals. A similar efficiency idea could be had with mobile devices, with the NFC antenna potentially reusable as a magnetic antenna for this purpose while the use of three-dimensional magnetic antennas in the vehicle would limit the need for extra magnetic antennas to be added to mobile devices.
Apple files a large number of patent applications every week, and while the publication by the USPTO confirms the concepts are being considered by Apple, it isn't a guarantee the idea will appear in a future consumer device.
There are, however, plans to implement a new "digital key" for vehicles that would allow an iPhone or other NFC-enabled devices to unlock or start the vehicle. The Car Connectivity Consortium, which counts Apple among its charter members, published the Digital Key Release 1.0 specification in June, advising on how such a smartphone-based digital key would function.
Apple has also considered the possibility of using the iPhones as a security token in other ways. A recent patent application describes how an iPhone or another device could securely store credentials, such as from a passport, and then could be used as an alternative credential for authorities to accept.
The patent application for "Enhanced automotive passive entry," published on Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, describes ways that could be used to improve upon the key fob used for keyless entry functions found in many vehicles. Such systems allow for a car to be unlocked when the key fob is near to the vehicle, and to enable drivers to start the vehicle by pushing a button, instead of inserting a key and turning it.
Apple's application also suggests this style of functionality could be applied to a mobile device other than a key fob, such as an iPhone or a wearable device like an Apple Watch. The filing even notes that key fobs can be "bulky and be an additional item that a user must carry," further suggesting the use of an iPhone or another mobile device would be ideal, reducing the amount of items the driver would need to possess on a daily basis.
According to the filing, the existing system using "magnetic signals emitted from magnetic antennas" in the car are measured by the vehicle to determine range and position. This could be improved, as the magnetic fields are short range, and that current techniques used for the driving feature are susceptible to hacking, allowing access to the inside of the vehicle and potential theft of the vehicle itself.
Apple proposes the use of both magnetic antennas and radio frequency antennas to determine range, including analyzing the RF received signal strength indicator, time-f-flight value, and other signal properties. This would allow for an unlocking system to detect at a far longer range than available at present.
The suggested system would also be capable of locating the device within the vehicle cabin, with its internal position potentially enabling specific features to work. Potentially, this could mean a car will be unlocked if the device is inside, but the engine won't start until it is located at the front or in a predetermined area.
To save from adding extra components, the magnetic antennas could also be used for RF signals. A similar efficiency idea could be had with mobile devices, with the NFC antenna potentially reusable as a magnetic antenna for this purpose while the use of three-dimensional magnetic antennas in the vehicle would limit the need for extra magnetic antennas to be added to mobile devices.
Apple files a large number of patent applications every week, and while the publication by the USPTO confirms the concepts are being considered by Apple, it isn't a guarantee the idea will appear in a future consumer device.
There are, however, plans to implement a new "digital key" for vehicles that would allow an iPhone or other NFC-enabled devices to unlock or start the vehicle. The Car Connectivity Consortium, which counts Apple among its charter members, published the Digital Key Release 1.0 specification in June, advising on how such a smartphone-based digital key would function.
Apple has also considered the possibility of using the iPhones as a security token in other ways. A recent patent application describes how an iPhone or another device could securely store credentials, such as from a passport, and then could be used as an alternative credential for authorities to accept.
Comments
I am have engineering background and worked on cars since I was 16. Car have gotten so complicated even the service tech as they are call today can not even work on the cars. I had a problem with my BMW, it was in the shop 5 weeks, it took 3 visits from the BMW field engineer to finally figure out what was wrong. The Service tech had no clue. There will not be enough engineers to go around to solve the litany of issues more complexity will create.
I believe Tesla and other car companies like Volvo who offer this feature are actually send data to the car over the cellular network. A co-worker has a Volvo with this feature and he could use it for 6 month then Volvo turn it off and wanted him to pay a subscription to have the ability to unlock the car from the phone as well as remote start and other features like check fuel level. This all could be done from any where you and the car had cell service.
Maybe try a Lexus next time.
It currently takes three different thieves to pull this off, but thanks to technological progress that will soon be accomplished by just one.
Imagine this on your AppleWatch!
I stayed away from Ford b/c of MicroSoft's iSync. Ugh!
Stayed away from Tesla b/c it's based on Android.
Will stay away from BMW b/c it's charging $300/yr. for CarPlay.
Currently driving a 2013 Prius C w/ 50+ miles per gallon.
Considered the Leaf, but 70 mile range was a non-starter.
When Apple comes out w/ their new Apple Car, I'm all in!
It will have a 300+ mile range. It will have the best suspension, best glass, best seats, best tires, best batteries, best SW!
It will have no buttons! Getting in a car today is like starting your home stereo system in 1981 where you had a eight buttons to press!
So when I was traveling for the two months, I was at a cafe in the Caribbean and there were two German women sitting at the next table. I got to talking with them and I mentioned I always drive BMWs. So one of them said which model do you have? How do you like it, etc? Is there anything you don't like about it? I thought that was a strange question but I responded that there were a couple design considerations that I thought could be improved. She said like what? Anyway, it turned out that she was an engineer for BMW so I told her the few things that I thought could be better and she said she would pass that along to the appropriate departments. Her expertise was in acoustics which I have to say is quite good in BMWs. They are quiet. Very minimal road noise and the audio equipment is also excellent.
But back on topic: Personally I don't think I would use an iPhone app to unlock my car. The key fob works fine for me. I also need the mechanical key and the key fob for parking at a valet and securing the trunk. I'm not sure how that would work with just an iPhone.
I have EXTENSIVE knowledge of BMW and their systems. I'm curious what specific issue did you have that took them that long to figure out? What vehicle was this on?
You'd be surprised how much training BMW technicians get in the fields of electrical, electronic, bus systems/networks and using tools to check them (like oscilloscopes).
BMW "field engineers" (actually RTMs for Regional Technical Managers) are typically former technicians themselves. The actual engineers are usually with the companies that provide components (for example, those that develop transmissions or other assemblies for BMW). These people don't make trips to dealers - that's what RTM's do. Basically, the person who came to look at your vehicle was just another technician, albeit with more experience.
I don't see car manufacturers building something as basic as this into their vehicles if every device manufacturer has to use a different method.
I think the tech in cars is here to stay, although the 5 or more so called computers seems to be a bit much. The manufacturers claim this is how they get the better fuel consumption/higher performance (if you can believe they are not cheating on the benchmarks). I hope after being caught they will now play it straight and go to enhancing the real performance. As far as the techs go I rather like the fact that the techs (with proper training) are a better educated group of professionals. It always seems to be painful when switching from 1 std to another, especially with the overlap of the two. With generally higher quality from auto manufacturers in theory it should get better. The fossil fuel driven engines of the past are on the downhill side. As for your BMW don't you have some kind of "lemon law" where you live?
Yes the RTM was brought in on the case, and I was told he though his hands up and they then began working with the engineers in Germany and final they send an engineer from BMWNA to the dealer to work on the car. This is what the dealer said happen, I really did not care at the time since I had a brand new loaner while they figure it out. They seem to be extremely interested in looking at my care and figure out what was going on. Considering when happen here, I had a previous issue when they updated ECU and it really messed with the performance of the car which required another update.