EP2130184A2

EP2130184A2 - System and method for managing data originating from and destined for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2130184A2
Application number: EP08775742A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Monique Touati; Aurélien FERRAND
Original assignee: Renault SAS
Current assignee: Renault SAS
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2008-03-21
Publication date: 2009-12-09
Also published as: JP2010522335A; US20100115505A1; JP5361856B2; WO2008132396A2; FR2914080A1; WO2008132396A3; US8336042B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for managing data originating from and destined for a motor vehicle, comprising: a first data communication unit (4) permanently disposed on-board the vehicle; a second data communication unit (17) disposed at a distance from the vehicle; and a device for transmitting, receiving and storing data (2) originating from and destined for the vehicle, said device including means (3) for communicating data with the first (4) and second communication units, means (23) for interfacing with a user of the vehicle and data storage means (34). The second communication unit is a computer terminal (17, 17', 20) connected to a computer network, such as the Internet and/or an intranet, providing access to an interactive computer application, such as to transmit data originating from the vehicle and to receive said data destined for the data transmission, reception and storage device (2) and the vehicle. The invention is characterised in that the system includes at least two data transmission, reception and storage devices (2) which can synchronise non-custom data that have become obsolete, by comparing the data contained in the at least two data transmission, reception and storage devices (2) in the first communication unit (4) and in the second communication unit (17), said synchronisation being performed by the first communication unit (4), by the second communication unit (17) or directly therebetween by means of a communication established as soon as one of the at least two devices (2) detects another of said devices in the environment thereof.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING DATA FROM AND TO A MOTOR VEHICLE

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a data management system from and to a motor vehicle, incorporating a sending device, receiving and storage for the same data. The invention also relates to a method for managing data from and to a motor vehicle, by means of the device for sending, receiving and storing data.

At present, the user is confronted with a mass of more and more important information relating to his motor vehicle. This information, presented in very different and disparate forms, may be lost, forgotten, or partially interpreted and insufficient, by the user itself, or by the network of the manufacturer of this vehicle.

A first source of information consists of various documents existing in paper form, such as the instructions for use, the maintenance book and the various contracts. The purchase of the vehicle, the uses, the revisions, the repairs, the resale and the possible relations with the network of the manufacturer are most often noted on these documents. Thus, with the exception of these few documents, which are not always personalized or updated in a systematic way, users can not follow the life of the vehicle.

A second source of information comes from the various sensors, calculators and organs that can provide information on the state of the vehicle and help to establish its diagnosis. This information is only accessible to the manufacturer's network once the vehicle has been admitted to the workshop for maintenance or repair. The workshop can not anticipate the seriousness of the incident, or the workload, before the arrival of the user. Another source of information is formed by all the settings, adjustments and personalized services (seats, radio, air conditioning, ...), established by the user. The conventional car radios, including a compact disc (CD) player, are beginning to be adapted to the means and personal items to have music, known as MP3 players (using compressed sound files according to the algorithm known by the abbreviation MP3), universal serial bus keys (known as USB Universal Serial Bus), and others.

Other information, such as road maps, is also used by the user during his travels. It can for example print a route on a specialized website, but its use while driving is difficult or dangerous. Embedded or nomadic devices, known as portable navigation devices (known by the abbreviation PND, that is, "Portable Navigation

Device "), or stand-alone GPS devices, using the Global Positioning System (known as GPS) (Global Positioning System), are becoming part of a vehicle's options. personal objects of the user that he uses in his vehicle without real adaptation to the driving conditions, in terms of comfort as security.

The update of embedded navigation devices, information related to navigation (cartography, parking, radar, ...) via dedicated physical media (CD, DVD) and personal information related to travel (address book from the user) is difficult and expensive. In addition, the costs of telematics equipment and communication means landed, which would allow easy updating, remain high. On the other hand, some of the information available in the vehicle (GPS position, ...) could be useful when the user is out of his vehicle or in mobility. For example, the GPS position information could be useful when he needs to find his vehicle or the information on the opening status would allow him to check that his vehicle is locked.

Currently, the user can not benefit from the user-friendliness and ergonomics offered by his terminal, personal computer type PC ("Personal Computer") for all that concerns the management of his vehicle, his mobility, with the settings and configurations, knowledge of the use of his vehicle, preparation of a trip or a trip.

Assistance with the maintenance of the vehicle and more generally with its use and its management are made available to the user by some manufacturers, via user spaces, posted on the Internet. To access it, the user must himself declare vehicle information, including in the first place the vehicle identification number (known under the abbreviation VIN, that is to say "Vehicle Identification").

Number "). But this information is dependent on a declarative mode, is not dynamic and can not be updated easily.

Finally, with regard to the key of the vehicle, unless permanently hanging in a differentiating keychain, the user has difficulties to physically customize, to distinguish it from the second key of his vehicle and especially all existing keys on the market for the same model.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

There are already solutions allowing, via a vehicle key, to communicate the vehicle with user terminals in wired or wireless technologies.

It is known from US-2004 / 0.230.348, US-7,006,914 and EP-1,138,563 a device for identifying a vehicle in the form of a key or a badge. The badge comprises an electronic circuit containing a non-volatile memory, integrating, on the one hand, an encrypted start authorization authorization function and, on the other hand, for storing information relating to the user of the vehicle and relating to the vehicle, its condition and operation. The non-volatile memory can be read / written using a first reader permanently disposed in the vehicle, and a second reader remote from the vehicle, the latter being associated with an information processing system. - AT -

However, such a device remains insufficient in terms of memory and information transmitted between the badge and the vehicle and between the badge and the information processing system. In addition, no connection to a computer network for transmission of data to a network of the manufacturer is possible.

WO-2005 / 069.131 discloses an ergonomic interface facilitating adjustment of preferences and other user-specific programmable parameters. The interface is hosted by a server on an Internet network, easily accessible by the user. The settings made through this interface are stored and transferred first to a portable device type USB drive, and then to the vehicle.

However, the data exchanges are made unidirectionally, from the interface, to the portable device, and then to the vehicle. As a result, the exchange of data is relatively limited. In addition, without a computer that can connect to the Internet, the user can not access information directly on their mobile device. The latter is only a non-interactive data carrier.

It is also known from FR-2,792,754 a vehicle monitoring system comprising first at least one transportable data carrier, which can be in the form of a key or a housing provided with a human-machine interface and a memory. The system further comprises at least one data communication device permanently disposed in the vehicle for data storage / retrieval for bidirectional data communication with the data carrier. The system further includes at least one remote data communication device of the vehicle for data input / output for bi-directional communication of the data with the data carrier. The operation of the vehicle is controlled by data loaded on the medium by means of the data communication device integral with the vehicle and the data loaded by means of the data communication device secured to the vehicle are read on the data medium. However, in such a system the information transmitted by the data carrier relates specifically to the identity of the user. It is thus not possible to communicate information relating to the settings of the vehicle, for example to improve driving comfort. In addition, the vehicle user can not access the data stored and transmitted to the remote data communication device of the vehicle.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

A main problem to be solved by the invention is to develop a data management system from and to a motor vehicle. A second problem is to optimize, through a device for sending, receiving and storing data, multidirectional data transfers. A third problem is to make a device, integrating into a vehicle data management system, to access all or part of these same data. Yet another problem is to implement a data management method for communicating the vehicle with a personal device of the user, as well as with a computer environment of the user and specific to the manufacturer.

The invention therefore relates to a data management system from and to a motor vehicle, comprising: a first data communication unit permanently disposed on board the vehicle, - a second data communication unit remote from said vehicle , and a device for sending, receiving and storing data from and to said vehicle, having: data communication means with the first and with the second communication unit, - interfacing means with a user of said vehicle, and data storage means, the second communication unit being a computer terminal connected to a computer network such as the Internet and / or Intranet, giving access to an application interactive computer system, for sending data from the vehicle and receiving said data for the device for sending, receiving and storing the data and the vehicle, the device for sending, receiving and storing the data being, preferably, integrated in a device, substantially similar to a vehicle key, for example of the smartcard or smart card type, characterized in that the system comprises at least two devices for sending, receiving and storing data, able to synchronizing non-customized data that has become obsolete, by comparing the data contained in the at least two devices for sending, receiving and storing data, in the first communication unit and in the second communication unit, said synchronization being set to either by the first communication unit or by the second communication unit, or directly between they thanks to a communication establishing itself as soon as one of the at least two devices detects another one in its environment.

In other words, the system simultaneously makes it possible to communicate the vehicle with the device for sending, receiving and storing data and to manage information and data transiting and using all the flexibility of connection and usability of an accessible application. by a global computer network or a network specific to the manufacturer. Information transfers are done without the need for a telematics system on board the vehicle, and thus independently of a telecommunication network.

On the other hand, said synchronization is implemented by comparing the data sets, each set being characterized by the timestamp data and / or associated mileage. It should be noted that synchronization includes both enrichment and updating of data. For example, a user with a key capable of working with this system will be able to update and enrich a new software version or new data of his navigation system simply by connecting with this key to the interactive computer application without worrying about to know if the version proposed by the interactive computer application is the last compared to that of his vehicle. The devices for sending, receiving and storing data thus act as synchronization media for the entire system and are themselves beneficiaries of the synchronization. Synchronization thus enables the system user to always have the most complete and up-to-date information, regardless of the device used to send, receive and store data.

Thus a user will not have to worry about updating a key that he has not used for a long time, it will be automatically updated either by the vehicle, or by the other key, or when a connection to the interactive computer application.

The information stored in the device is secured in the interactive computer application. With the invention, the user of the vehicle, via his device operating as a nomadic personal automobile object, is the actor of the information system. The present invention makes it possible to enrich, systematize and integrate the communication and synchronization solutions between the various elements of the system (wireless and / or wired, upstream and / or downstream communication sense), the various services offered. to the user via this system and the associated device.

Particularly favorably, means for accessing the device for sending, receiving and storing data to the second communication unit can be provided by an identified and authenticated connection. The connection may allow access to the interactive computer application controlled by the manufacturer, so that a user can view, load and / or unload this data from the sending, receiving and storing device via his portal services and to provide services powered by this information and offered by the manufacturer.

Preferably, the connection of the device for sending, receiving and storing data to the second communication unit can automatically trigger the launch of the interactive computer application hosted in the server and accessible from the second communication unit. The connection of the sending device can be implemented thanks to the automatic documentation of at least one identifier, that of the vehicle (that is to say the VIN). A password associated with a user may need to be entered to authenticate his / her access rights to the application interactive computer controlled by the manufacturer. The connection between the sending, receiving and storing device and the second communication unit may be wired or wireless.

The sending and receiving of data between the device for sending, receiving and storing the data and the second communication unit can be carried out remotely from the vehicle, automatically, without voluntary connection of said sending, receiving and data storage. The sending and receiving of data can be done, for example, via a wireless access point or a node of a mesh network.

The second communication unit can use at least two means for securing independent data from each other. The first means may be an identifier of the vehicle (such as the VIN), which can be engraved in the memory of the device for sending, receiving and storing data. And, the second means can be a physical identifier of at least one piece of the device for sending, receiving and storing data, which can be engraved in the memory of the device. The integrity of the data stored in the device for sending, receiving and storing data can be ensured by the prohibition of direct read and write access to the data storage means.

According to one particular form of the invention, the device may be a software application embedded in a communicating personal object, constituting the second communication unit, or hosted on an application card intended to be received in a personal object communicating with a mobile phone type, said application allowing the communicating personal object to also include vehicle access control and immobilizer.

In practice, the device or the first unit of the vehicle communicates information in an "opportunistic" manner, that is to say as soon as communication is possible, with at least one wireless access point and / or at least a node of a mesh network belonging to an infrastructure via wireless computer network technologies, such as Wifi, Wimax, as soon as the node or access point is detected, the the user accessing the information and the service portal hosted in the server via an Internet connection.

The human machine interfacing means of the device for sending, receiving and storing the data may comprise, alone or in combination, a loudspeaker, a microphone, a vibrator, controls, a display, one or more light-emitting diodes. , and even more.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a use of a system, having one or more of the technical characteristics described above, is characterized in that a vehicle fleet management system is powered by the data from said connections of at least one device for sending, receiving and storing data to an interactive computer application intended for fleet vehicle users or any other terminal connected to a fleet management system and intended for managers of these fleets.

The system can be used to allow the manufacturer's after-sales network to remotely perform a pre-diagnosis of a vehicle.

The system can be used to update, from the data provided by the interactive computer application hosted in a server, the vehicle's embedded systems. The data may comprise, for example, the latest versions of updates of embedded software from the manufacturer's after-sales network or the manufacturer itself, such as computer software or a navigation system.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for managing data from and to a motor vehicle, by means of a data sending, receiving and storing device, comprising the steps of to: send and receive data with the device for sending, receiving and storing data to and from a first data communication unit permanently disposed in the vehicle, to be started automatically by said device for sending, receiving and storing the data an interactive computer application, hosted in a server of the manufacturer or another actor, accessible by a second communication unit of said data, remote from said vehicle and connected to a computer network, sending and receiving said data with said device for sending, receiving and storing the data to and from the second communication unit, by the interactive computer application, for processing said data by said interactive computer application, and to store with said device data received from the first and said second communication unit.

An integrity of the data stored in the device for sending, receiving and storing data can be ensured by prohibiting direct access to read and write data storage means.

Access to the interactive computer application controlled by the manufacturer can be provided by an identified and authenticated connection. In this way, a user can view, load and / or unload data from the sending, receiving and storing device via his service portal. To ensure the confidentiality of the data relating to the vehicle, this data may be encrypted by the service portal controlled by the manufacturer or by the first communication unit before being recorded in said device for sending, receiving and storing data. .

This data can then be decrypted by the service portal or by the first communication unit when it is transferred to the user's terminal or the vehicle.

The step of storing in the sending, receiving and storing device dynamic data received from the first communication unit is implemented in a memory of said sending, receiving and storing device. data, at each stop and / or start of the vehicle, or following a vehicle event or command operated by the user. The data can be, for example, the type of mileage traveled by the vehicle, date and time, engine start and stop, levels, alerts and faults, component wear, opening status, status and custom settings of vehicle functions, GPS position ( Global Position Satellite) or location of the vehicle in an infrastructure or other information that may evolve over time and concerning the vehicle or its environment, and others.

The step of storing in the sending, receiving and storing device static data received from the second communication unit or a chain edge tool can be implemented in a memory of said sending device, reception and storage. The data may be, for example, of the type technical, commercial, legal characteristics of the vehicle.

The step of storing in the sending, receiving and storing device temporary data received from the second communication unit can be implemented in a memory of said sending device, receiving and storing data. The data may be, for example, of the associated vehicle setting type or service contracts subscribed for the vehicle.

The step of storing in the sending device, reception and storage of historical data received from the first communication unit can be implemented in a memory of said device at each occurrence. The data can be, for example, the historical type of alerts and faults associated with data date, time and mileage.

The step of storing in the sending device, receiving and storing historical data received from the second communication unit can be implemented in a memory of said device. The data may be of the type giving access to rights such as the manufacturer's warranty, the after-sales service contracts and any other rights related to the use or possession of a vehicle, maintenance operations, maintenance, any after-sales intervention or related to automotive services this data being associated with date, time and mileage data.

The step of storing in the device buffering data received from the first and second communication units may be implemented in a memory of said sending, receiving and storing device. The data can be, for example, of the video, audio, textual, image type such as the routes and coming to interact with the navigation systems, the audio or video systems, the on-board computer to carry out updates and patches of embedded software and load / display various information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and its various advantages and different characteristics will become more apparent in the following description of the nonlimiting example of embodiment, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a synoptic view of the system of FIG. management of data from and to a motor vehicle, according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 respectively show partial views of a second and third embodiments of the data management system according to the invention; and Figure 4 shows an architecture of the device for sending, receiving and storing data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the data management system from and to a motor vehicle (1) comprises a device for sending, receiving and storing these data (2). This device (2) can be substantially similar to a vehicle key.

In the preferred embodiment, the device (2) is the vehicle key (2) known to those skilled in the art as a user badge or any other object that can perform these functions, such as a smart card. This key (2) offers the functions conventional keys of a vehicle key, such as vehicle start management or anti-start and lock unlocking, according to the hands-free principle or not. In the rest of the description, we will speak rather of device (2).

First, the device (2) has communication means or modules

(3) communicating with a first communication unit on board the vehicle (4). And conversely, the device (2) is able to interface with this first unit (4), in wired communication technology (solid lines in Figures 1 to 3) and / or wireless (dashed lines in Figures 1 to 3) . The first unit (4) sends data from the serial system bus (5) (known under the abbreviation CAN, that is to say "Controller Area Network"), from computers (6) or sensors ( 7) not present on CAN (5).

The first unit (4) is connected with different equipment of the vehicle, such as a navigation system (8), an audio system (9), a video system (11), a hard disk type memory (not shown), and man-machine interfaces (12)

(HMI), for interfacing with a user of the vehicle. The HMI includes a screen

(13), controls (14) and a microphone (15). The first unit (4) could be for example a UCH (UCH), a microprocessor (known under the abbreviation CPU, that is to say "Central Processing Unit") or a telematic box.

The first unit (4) is powered by a battery (16) of the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, and in accordance with the present invention, the means or communication module (3) of the device (2) enter into communication with two second landed communication units. The first of the second two units is formed with a personal computer terminal of the user (17), PC or PDA type or Smart phone or PND (Personal Navigation Device) or any other intelligent personal nomadic object. The second of the two second communication units is formed by a terminal of the sales and after-sales network of the manufacturer (20) of the PC or PDA type. The terminal of the sales and after-sales network (20) communicates with the local server of this after-sales network, itself communicating with the professional interactive computer applications hosted in a server (18) of a network system. information for example from the manufacturer automobile. The sales and service network terminal (20) also communicates with fleet management systems (19).

The terminals of the user and of the sales and after-sales network (17, 20) are connected to a computer network, for example the Internet. They use one or more wired technologies and / or one or more wireless technologies, so as to communicate with the device (2). Wired technologies are USB, USB cable or Ethernet, or others. The wireless technologies are of the radio frequency identification type (known by the abbreviation RFID, that is to say "Radio Frequency Identification"), short-range radio (known under the name "Bluetooth"), radio transmission modulation. pulses (known by the abbreviation UWB, that is to say "Ultra Wide Band"), universal wireless serial bus (known by the abbreviation WUSB, that is to say "Wireless USB"), or others. Other technologies may be employed, such as wireless computer network technology (known as Wi-Fi), by wireless network standard (known by the abbreviation Wimax, that is, "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access "), and / or by others.

The user accesses personalized information and services in a dedicated service portal accessible via the Internet. The service portal is in the form of an interactive computer application, housed in a computer terminal or a server (18) of an information system for example of the car manufacturer. The server (18) can also be connected with fleet management systems (19).

In a second embodiment (see Figure 2), the device (2) is a software application embedded in a communicating personal object (IV) such as a mobile phone or a smartphone or hosted on an application card intended to be received in a communicating personal object (IV). This application allows the communicating personal object to perform the functions described above, also including vehicle access control and immobilizer. In this embodiment, the device (2) communicates with a first communication unit on board the vehicle (4) using communication means or modules in wired communication technology (solid lines in FIG. 2) and / or wireless (dashed line in Figure 2) of a communicating personal object (IV).

In this embodiment, the second data communication unit is in the form of a computer terminal (17) or a personal computer terminal (IV) such as a personal communicating object. The device (2) via the communicating personal object (IV) communicates directly with the reception means (35) by second generation fourth generation wireless technology (known by the abbreviation 2G to 4G), 2.5G with the service General Packet Radio (known as GPRS, General Packet Radio Service), 2.75G with EDGE, ie "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution" , 3G with the universal system of telecommunication with mobiles (known under the abbreviation UMTS, that is to say "Universal Mobile Telecommunications System"), 3.5G with HSDPA that is to say "High Speed Downlink Access Package ", 4G with OFDM ie" Orthogonal Frequency D " ivision Multiplexing ". The reception means (35) then communicate with the server (18) of an information system, for example, the car manufacturer, by wired Ethernet network computer technologies. The computer terminals (17) and (17 ') finally allow the user to access, via an Internet connection, the service portal previously supplied by the information transmitted to the server (18) by the communicating personal object (17' ). The fleet management systems (19) also access the server (18).

Advantageously (see Figure 3), the device (2) according to the first and second embodiment, or the first unit (4) of the vehicle themselves communicate information opportunistically, that is to say as soon as communication is possible, with at least one wireless access point (21) and / or at least one node (21) of a mesh network belonging to an infrastructure via wireless computer network technologies such as WiFi , Wimax, as soon as the node or access point (21) is detected. This infrastructure then communicates with the server (18) of a information system for example of the car manufacturer by wired Ethernet network computer technologies. In this case, the second data communication unit is in the form of a computer terminal (17). The user accesses personalized information and services in a dedicated service portal accessible via the Internet. The server (18) can also be connected with fleet management systems (19).

In all embodiments, the communications of the system (1) are bidirectional, i.e. rising, in the vehicle or first unit (4) - device (2) - user terminal (17.1V) direction and and / or terminal of the sales and after-sales network of the manufacturer (20), and descendants, in the terminal user (17, 17 ') and / or terminal direction of the manufacturer's sales and after-sales network ( 20) - device (2) - vehicle or first unit (4).

As shown in Figure 4, a microprocessor (22) of this device (2) controls the communication module (3). The microprocessor (22) is connected to a man-machine interface (23), with a display (24), preferably of the LCD type, one or more light-emitting diodes known under the abbreviation LED, that is to say "light- Emitting Diode "(26), a speaker (27), a microphone (28), a vibrator (29), control buttons (31) and a personalization area (32).

The human machine interface (23) of the device (2) makes it possible, for example, to make available to the user: information on the status of the vehicle (locked or unlocked doors), alerts (maintenance to be carried out, fuel level , expiry of rental agreements, and others), information concerning the location of the vehicle (for example in the form of a postal address), - emergency practical information, configured via the service portal, voice memos (parking location, and others), recorded by the microphone (28), or even music. A battery (33) of the device (2) is rechargeable via a wired connection (such as a computer bus for connecting computer peripherals to a computer for serial communication, otherwise known as "USB") to the computer terminals (17, 17 ', 20) or to the vehicle, or via its insertion in a possible vehicle reader (type RFId).

The device (2) is provided with a memory (34), intended to store all the data received from the first unit (4), the computer terminals (17, 17 ', 20), from the user himself via the human machine interface (23) and a chain edge tool of the vehicle manufacturer. The capacity of the memory (34) is several hundred megabytes. The data management method, from and to a motor vehicle, by means of the device (2), comprises several data storage steps, implemented by the microprocessor (22) and the memory (34). .

This memory (34) makes it possible to permanently store the data that technically define the vehicle, such as the VIN vehicle identification number.

This memory (34) also makes it possible to temporarily store information relating to the vehicle, such as mileage, levels, faults displayed on the dashboard, and others. This storage is done automatically, with each contact "On" and "Stop" and without the intervention of the user. This information is of a nature to be transmitted directly by the user to the manufacturer's after-sales network via the terminal (20) or indirectly via the computer terminals (17, 17 '). Transmission occurs through the service portal on certain occasions, such as revisions, maintenance, special technical operations, repairs, and more. With this information, the vehicle repairer has access to a pre-diagnosis function of the vehicle.

This memory (34) temporarily stores information relating to both the user and the vehicle, such as coordinates, settings, contracts, history interviews and interventions, emergency information, and other again. This information is entered by the after-sales network, via the terminal (20), and by the user via his PC (17) or his communicating personal object (IV).

This memory (34) makes it possible to temporarily store multimedia-type information (audio, video, image, etc.) intended for the vehicle, via the service portal or via the device directly (2), and to store in flux ascertaining the state of these data in the vehicle.

Unlike a USB key, the integrity of the data stored in the device (2) is ensured by the prohibition of access to this memory (34). Indeed, the user can not access it directly, but must necessarily go through its service portal to view, load and / or unload information from its device (2).

The connection of this device (2) to the computer terminals (17, 17 ', 20) controls access to the data. The connection triggers automatically, via an automatic launch application, the opening of an Internet Explorer window with the display of the "identification / authentication" page of the user services portal. The identifier information corresponding to the vehicle identification number is automatically documented. The user then only has to enter his password.

This feature represents a huge advantage in terms of comfort, reliability and ease of use. A second identifier physically registered in the device (2) and known only to the system (by the chain edge tool, for example) and transparent to the user makes it possible to add an additional security point. It can be the number of the component intended to simplify the connections between the electronic devices of Bluetooth type or of any other part composing the whole device (2).

To ensure the confidentiality of certain data, they are encrypted by the service portal or by the first unit (4) before being recorded in the device (2). They are then decrypted by the service portal or by the first unit (4), when transferred to the computer terminals (17, 17 ', 20) or the vehicle. This cryptographic principle does not concern in any case the multimedia data. And, access to the immobilizer and access control functions is separated and protected from the other functions described.

Information transmitted downward (terminal - device - vehicle), are: the transfer and display routes, loading and updating information related to the navigation system, the address book, the audio and video system, Internet favorites, all information that will enhance and facilitate their car use,

Information transmitted in the upstream direction (vehicle - device - terminal) is for example: the interpreted GPS position (postal address) of the vehicle, the memo recorded vocally, the recording from the vehicle radio, the saving of new addresses, 'routes, the state of the data contained in the vehicle.

More specifically, the structure of the memory (34) of the device (2) and the storage steps in the memory (34) of the data management method are as follows.

A record of kilometers, date and time, checks, pre-diagnosis (for example levels, alerts and faults), opening status, status of functions (on / off), the vehicle location, is implemented in rising flow, in a dynamic memory, at each stop or start of the vehicle, this information being overwritten for each at each stop or start of the vehicle, stored for others.

An engraving record of the static data of the vehicle (such as the vehicle identification number) is implemented in downflow in a static / permanent memory by the chain edge tool and / or the network. The VIN is the result of the hard inscription in a memory of said device (2) by a chain edge tool at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. A record of the data relating to the main user of the device, such as his profile and his personal settings, is implemented, downstream, in a temporary memory, via the service portal and the network, by the administrator . Data consultation and use of rights are restricted to the primary user of the device.

A recording of the data relating to the other users of the device, with their profile (s), is implemented, in downflow, in a temporary memory, via the service portal and the network. Data consultation and use of rights are restricted to other users of the device. A record of the subscribed vehicle contracts is implemented, in downstream flow, in a temporary memory, via the service portal and the network terminal, by the administrator and / or the after-sales network.

A record of a history of the alerts / defects, with the kilometer, the date and the time and the alert (s) / defect (s), is implemented, in ascending flow, in a vehicle historical memory, to each appearance of alert. A recording of a maintenance history, is implemented in downflow, in a vehicle history memory, by the network, at each maintenance performed. A recording of a history of interventions is implemented, downstream, in a vehicle history memory, by the network, at each intervention performed but granted by the vehicle owner.

A recording of the data that can be, for example, of the video, audio, textual or image type, such as the itineraries and interacting with the navigation systems, the audio or video systems, the on-board computer to carry out updates and Embedded software fixes and load / display various information, is implemented in downflow and amount in a buffer.

Thanks to the voluntary transfer of data between vehicle equipment and the user service portal, this device (2) offers new features in the vehicle. These features vary depending on the equipment on the user's vehicle. Vehicle settings and configurations are customized through the service portal. The device (2) thus contains personalized vehicle settings. Some are user-defined and then stored directly in the vehicle, such as, for example, driver seat settings, exterior mirrors, and interior mirrors. But the device (2) makes it possible to transfer other settings that have been configured more user-friendly via the service portal. These are, for example, radio stations, air conditioning temperature, and others.

If the vehicle is equipped with a screen (13), the user can display routes, practical information, memos previously transferred by the device (2) from the service portal. It can then navigate through this set of information via the man-machine interface of the vehicle (12).

For the practical information function, when landed and in the service portal, the user configures practical information, such as telephone numbers, and loads them into his device (2). It is available when needed on its device (2), via the display or in the vehicle, via the dashboard display (13).

If the vehicle is equipped with an MP3 audio system, the system offers three music functions. For the first music function, landed and in the service portal, the user loads audio files (type MP3) into the communicating memory device (2) and then transfers them into the vehicle. They can be stored in the vehicle, if it is equipped with a hard disk or read, thanks to the principle allowing the reading of an audio or video stream, as it is broadcast, directly from the device (2 ) via the audio equipment (9).

For the second music function, in the vehicle, the user can register the radio when he wishes via the vehicle man-machine interface (12). The recording is stored in the device (2) and can then be transferred and saved in the user's personal computer. For the third music function, in the vehicle, the user can, when listening to the radio, record in the device (2) the references of a song

(name author, title of the song) which it likes via the interface man-machine of the vehicle (12). He will then be able to consult these same references when landed, via the service portal.

If the vehicle is equipped with an audio system (9), a microphone (15), voice recognition and speech synthesis and the instrument panel display (13), the system offers two memory functions. For the first memory function, landed and via the service portal or directly on the device (2), the user records a voice memo or text, for example to memorize the location of his vehicle. He can then consult this memo in the vehicle via the audio equipment (9) and on the dashboard screen (13) or directly via the man-machine interface of the device (23), display (24) or loudspeaker (27) of the device (2).

For the second storage function, in the vehicle, the user records in the device (2) a voice or text memo, via the microphone (15) or a speech synthesis. He can then consult it in the service portal, in text mode, via voice recognition, or directly via the human machine interface of the device (23).

If the vehicle is equipped with a video system (11), the system provides a video function. In the service portal, the user loads video files (for example compressed in the MPG2 format) into the device (2) and then transfers them to the vehicle. They can be stored in the vehicle, if it is equipped with a hard disk or read (streaming) directly on the device (2) via the video system (11).

If the vehicle is equipped with a navigation system (8), the system offers four navigation functions and a location function. For the first navigation function, when landed and in the service portal, the user loads a destination into the device (2) and then transfers it to the navigation system

(8), for single use. The user benefits from a more user-friendly interface since its terminal (17) to prepare its journey and to enrich the information of its navigation system with data available via the Internet.

For the second navigation function, when disembarked, the user can load, update and save his navigation address book in the service portal. This function is particularly useful when the user changes vehicles. He does not need to re-enter his entire address book into the navigation system (8) of his new vehicle.

For the third navigation function, in the vehicle, the user can record in the device (2) a route made with points of interest (known by the abbreviation POI, that is to say "Points Of Interest"). ") Or any other enriched information associated via a vehicle man-machine interface. The recording can then be transferred and saved in the computer terminals (17, 17 '), in order to reuse this route or to send it to share it with other people.

For the fourth navigation function, disembarked, in the service portal, the user loads an update of the map, its points of interest such as car parks, petrol stations, the location of the radars or information to improve the safety of its movement and then transfers it into the navigation system (8).

For the location function, at each stop, the vehicle records its position

GPS, translated into a vehicle parking address (mailing address), in the device (2). The user can thus consult a posteriori, via the human machine interface of the device (23), via a communication with a phone, via a terminal or the service portal, to quickly find his vehicle.

If the vehicle is equipped with a navigation system without on-board mapping, that is to say with a "hybrid navigation", there is a navigation function. When landed, in the service portal, the user loads the map area enriched with POI corresponding to his route in the device (2) and then transfers it to the vehicle to display it on the dashboard display (13). This function has the advantage of avoiding the various disadvantages of an on-board mapping.

In certain situations and after signaling a vehicle problem by the user, this device (2) can be programmed by the manufacturer network to trace and archive certain vehicle data for a given period. These can then be stored in the device (2) and sent via the service portal to the network for analysis.

Embedded software on board the vehicle can also be downloaded to be regularly updated, in case of a recall campaign, following a new regulation (antipollution for example), an online diagnosis, the acquisition by the user of the vehicle. new equipment, and more. Via the service portal, the manufacturer's network can make available to users the latest versions, patches, updates or new embedded software, to transfer them via the device (2) relying on the identification / authentication system

It should also be noted that at least two devices (2) are recognized by the first communication unit on board the vehicle (4), by the second communication unit, in the form of the user's terminal (17). and / or the manufacturer's sales and after-sales service terminal (20), the manufacturer's information system server (18) and the fleet management system server (19).

According to an important aspect of the invention in all the embodiments, the at least two devices for sending, receiving and storing data (2) are able to systematically synchronize data that has become obsolete and that is neither personalized nor archived, by comparing the data contained in the at least two devices for sending, receiving and storing data (2), in the first communication unit (4) and in the second communication unit (17), said synchronization being implemented either by the first communication unit (4) or by the second communication unit (17), or directly between them thanks to a communication establishing itself as soon as one of the at least two devices (2) in detects another in his environment. It should be noted that the concept of proximity depends on the technology used, Wifi, Bluetooth, NFC (Near Field Communication), or others.

Said synchronization being implemented by comparing the data sets, each set being characterized by the timestamp and / or associated mileage data. It should be noted that synchronization includes both enrichment and updating of data. For example, a user with a key capable of working with this system will be able to update and enrich a new software version or new data of his navigation system simply by connecting with this key to the interactive computer application without worrying about to know if the version proposed by the interactive computer application is the last compared to that of his vehicle.

The devices for sending, receiving and storing data (2) thus act as synchronization media for the entire system and are themselves beneficiaries of the synchronization. Synchronization thus enables the user of the system to always have the most complete and up-to-date information, regardless of the sending, receiving and data storage device (2) used.

Claims

A data management system to and from a motor vehicle comprising: - a first data communication unit (4) permanently disposed in the vehicle, a second remote data communication unit (17). said vehicle, and a device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) from and to said vehicle, having: data communication means (3) with the first (4) and with the second unit communication means, interfacing means (23) with a user of said vehicle, and data storage means (34), the second communication unit being a computer terminal (17, 17 ', 20) connected to a computer network such as the Internet and / or Intranet, giving access to an interactive computer application, so as to send data from the vehicle and to receive said data intended for the sending device, for receiving and data storage (2) and the vehicle, the device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) being preferably integrated in a device, substantially similar to a vehicle key, for example of the type smartcard or smart card characterized in that the system comprises at least two devices for sending, receiving and storing data (2), able to synchronize non-personalized data that has become obsolete, by comparison of the data contained in the at least two devices for sending, receiving and storing data (2), in the first communication unit (4) and in the second communication unit (17), said synchronization being implemented either by the first communication unit (4), or by the second communication unit (17), or directly between them through a communication established as soon as one of the at least two devices (2) detects another in its environment onment.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that an access means of the device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) to the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) is ensured. by an identified and authenticated connection allowing access to the interactive computer application controlled by the manufacturer so that a user can consult, load and / or unload said data of the sending, receiving and storing device (2 ) via its service portal.

System according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection of the data transmission, reception and storage device (2) to the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) automatically triggers the launch of the interactive computer application hosted in the server and accessible from the second communication unit (17.17 ', 20), and is implemented thanks to the automatic documentation of at least one identifier, that of the vehicle (VIN ), and in that a password associated with a user is to be entered to authenticate his access right to the interactive computer application controlled by the manufacturer.

System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sending and receiving of data between the data transmission, reception and storage device (2) and the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) is performed at a distance from the vehicle automatically without voluntary connection of said sending, receiving and data storage device (2), for example via a wireless access point or a wireless access point. node of a mesh network (21).

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) uses at least two means for securing data independent of each other, the first means being a vehicle identifier (VIN) engraved in the memory of the device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) and the second means being a physical identifier of at least one piece of the device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) engraved in the memory of the device (2).

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the integrity of the data stored in the device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) is ensured by the prohibition of direct access to reading and writing to the data storage means (34).

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device (2) is a software application embedded in a communicating personal object (IV) constituting the second communication unit, or hosted on an application card intended to be received in a personal communicating object (IV) mobile phone type, said application allowing the communicating personal object (IV) also including vehicle access control and immobilizer.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the device (2) or the first unit (4) of the vehicle communicate information opportunistically, that is to say as soon as the communication is possible, with at least one wireless access point (21) and / or at least one node (21) of a mesh network belonging to an infrastructure via wireless computer network technologies, as soon as the node or access point (21) is detected, the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) thus accessing the information and the service portal hosted in the server (18) via an Internet connection.

9. Use of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a management system of a fleet of vehicles is fed by the data from said connections of at least one sending device , receiving and storing the data (2) to an interactive computer application for users or fleet vehicle managers or any other terminal connected to a fleet management system (19).

10. Use of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, for updating, from the data provided by the interactive computer application hosted in a server, the embedded systems, for example, the latest versions of updating the embedded software from the manufacturer's after-sales network (20) or the manufacturer itself such as computer software or a navigation system.

A method of managing data from and to a motor vehicle by means of a data sending, receiving and storing device (2), comprising the steps of: sending and receiving data data with the device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) to and from a first data communication unit permanently disposed on board the vehicle (4), to be started automatically by said device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) an interactive computer application, hosted in a server (18), accessible by a second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) of said data, remote from said vehicle and connected to a computer network, sending and receiving said data with said data sending, receiving and storing device (2) to and from the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20), by application interactive computer, to process said data by said interactive computer application, and to store with said device (2) data received from the first (4) and said second (17, 17 ', 20) communication unit.

The method according to claim 11, characterized in that to ensure the confidentiality of the data relating to the vehicle, said data is encrypted by the service portal or by the first communication unit (4) before being recorded in said device. sending, receiving and storing data (2).

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data are then decrypted by the service portal controlled by the manufacturer or by the first communication unit when they are transferred in the second. communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) or in the vehicle.

14. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the step of storing in the sending device, receiving and storage (2) dynamic data received from the first communication unit ( 4) is implemented in a memory of said device for sending, receiving and storing data (2), at each stop and / or start of the vehicle or while driving, the data being, for example, mileage-type the vehicle, date and time, engine start and stop, levels, alerts and faults, component wear, status of the sashes, status and custom settings of vehicle functions, GPS position (Global Position Satellite) or location of the vehicle in a vehicle. infrastructure or any other information likely to evolve over time and concerning the vehicle or its environment.

15. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the step of storing in the sending device, receiving and storage

(2) static data received from the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) or a chain edge tool is implemented in a memory of said device, the data being, for example, of the type technical characteristics , commercial, legal of the vehicle.

16. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the step of storing in the device for sending, receiving and storing (2) temporary data received from the second communication unit ( 17, 17 ', 20) is implemented in a memory of said device for sending, receiving and storing data (2) by the interactive computer application, the data being, for example, of the type associated settings of the vehicle or service contracts underwritten for the vehicle.

17. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the step of storing in the sending device, reception and storage (2) historical data received from the first communication unit ( 4) is implemented in a memory of said device (2) for the purpose of making a history, at each occurrence, the data being, for example, the historical type of alerts and defects associated with data date, time and mileage.

18. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the step of storing in the receiving device and storage (2) historical data received from the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) is implemented in a memory of said device (2) in order to make a history.

19. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the step of storing in the device (2) buffer data received from the first (4) and the second communication unit (17, 17 ', 20) is implemented in a memory of said device for sending, receiving and storing data (2), by the interactive computer application, the data being, for example, video, audio, textual type. , image like routes, navigation systems, audio or video systems, updates and patches of embedded software, practical information.