Daimler Chrysler Ag

Mercedes-benz Aktiengesellschaft

Guenter Schwegler

Horst Brinkmeyer

Michael Daiss

Juergen Setzer

Gerhard Nagel

Thomas Rick

Konrad Klein

Bertolt Krueger

Thomas Krehbiehl

Brigitte Althen

Guenther Metsch

An electronic vehicle key has a radio receiver for receiving radio call information which is transmitted by a control center, and a key communication device for communicating with a vehicle communication device in an associated vehicle, signals transmitted by the key communication device to the vehicle communication device serving to activate or deactivate an immobilizer on the vehicle. According to the invention, a key controller, which administers a mobility account, is provided in the electronic vehicle key; and radio call information is transmitted by a control center is registered as a &ldquo;credit&rdquo; in the mobility account. Relevant events are processed as &ldquo;debits&rdquo; in the mobility account, and deactivation or activation of the immobilizer on the vehicle is dependent on the account value of the mobility account.

Electronic vehicle key

An electronic authentication device has an authentication key unit for user authentication with respect to the target unit, which key unit communicates electronically with the target unit during an authentication communication process. An electronic authentication communication process is activated automatically when the key unit approaches the target unit or when a triggering element provided on the target unit is actuated. For increased protection against unauthorized authentication attempts, indicating apparatus are provided on the key unit to display the fact that an electronic authentication communication process is taking place. Also switching apparatus can be provided for allowing or blocking an authentication communication process, and a communication duration monitor can also be provided on the target unit to monitor the duration of an authentication communication process and block authentication if this duration exceeds a predetermined maximum duration.

Authentication device with electronic authentication communication

A method and a device with which data can be programmed into a vehicle component are provided. It is proposed to keep available at a central office the data which it encodes upon request with a code that is specific to the vehicle component and transmits it to the requesting location, and decoding is performed only in the vehicle component itself. In this way, a high level of protection against unauthorized attempts to acquire data during transmission of this data to be programmed into the component is ensured. Suitable devices for working the method include direct connectability of the individual vehicle component to a programming device at the requesting location for direct programming, or alternatively, intermediate connection of an intermediate storage component. In this way, for example, mobility-limiting key programming can be achieved that is highly protected against manipulation. The method and device are usable in vehicles with an anti-theft protection system and for vehicle rental systems.

Method and device for programming operating data into vehicle components

Growing community of inventors

Weinstadt, Germany

Guenter Schwegler