DE102021134156B4 - Method for operating a WLAN router in a motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipped accordingly - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for operating a WLAN router (13), wherein the WLAN router (13) provides radio-based network access (14) to a data network (15) in a predetermined common room (12) and the network access (14) is only released for at least one mobile terminal (17) of a respective user (16) if the respective terminal (17) successfully logs on to the WLAN router (13) using current access data (19), wherein the access data (19) are provided by an output device (20) for contactless transmission to the terminal (17), characterized in that a monitoring circuit (23) monitors a predetermined absence condition (21) which is fulfilled if the respective user (16) and/or the at least one terminal (17) has been absent again since the last login in the common room (12), and in the event that the monitoring circuit (23) detects that the Absence condition (21) is met for at least a predetermined minimum period of time, the access data (19) of the WLAN router (13) are replaced by modified, updated access data (24) by the monitoring circuit (23) and are made available by means of the output device (20).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a WLAN router in order to provide radio-based network access to a data network in a predetermined common area (e.g. a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle or in a waiting room of an office building). Network access is only released for a user's respective terminal if the respective terminal successfully logs on to the WLAN router using current access data. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle in whose passenger compartment a data network is provided by means of a WLAN router. Different passengers can be transported alternately and/or together using the motor vehicle, e.g. as part of a "ride sharing" arrangement.

The use of "ride sharing" offers is becoming increasingly popular and autonomous taxis will also play an important role in the future. A small number of people can share a large taxi. As a convenience feature, passengers can be provided with a free WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) via a WLAN router, which can be used to provide Internet access or access to an entertainment database (music, series, films, games). Passengers can access such a vehicle WLAN either by manually entering their access data or by scanning a QR code (see, for example, EN 10 2019 004 721 A1 ) or by reading an NFC tag. Once this data has been read, it is permanently stored on the passenger's smartphone.

However, access to this WiFi should be limited to the duration of the current journey. Otherwise, the WiFi and thus the services offered could also be accessed after the journey has ended if the corresponding vehicle is nearby.

This problem is not limited to motor vehicles with Wi-Fi routers. This restriction may be necessary wherever guests are to be granted temporary Wi-Fi network access, for example in the waiting room of a doctor's office. In general, this is therefore referred to as a "lounge" in which radio-based network access to a data network is provided. In this way, the lounge can be a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle or a waiting room, although these are only to be understood as examples. The aim is therefore to prevent a former passenger or generally a user of a mobile device from continuing to connect to the data network and using the services offered after actually using the network access. In addition, the smartphone / mobile device of a former passenger / user should be prevented from unintentionally reconnecting to the network access at a later point in time - just because it happens to be within range.

However, smartphones have the ability to automatically reconnect to a known WiFi network as soon as it is within range. So if a former passenger is walking through the city and a previously used ride-sharing vehicle happens to drive past nearby, the smartphone would automatically connect to this WiFi network. On the one hand, this is critical in terms of data protection (tracking) and, on the other hand, it can limit the user's ability to use their smartphone if the smartphone tries to establish an Internet connection via the WiFi network, which may be far away at the time, and not via its own cellular connection.

From the EN 10 2018 214 630 A1 It is known that the access data for a radio-based network access to a data network of a rental vehicle is reset when the vehicle is rented again. However, the password must be agreed on a server when the rental contract is concluded and transferred to the vehicle via a network connection. If this is not done, the old password remains in the vehicle.

WO 2016/162 103 A1 discloses measures to detect the removal of a mobile device from a motor vehicle. Measures are also known to determine the identity of a user of a device. This is used to assign the current responsibility for the motor vehicle to a specific person.

From the EN 10 2017 117 296 A1 It is known to use a seat occupancy detector to determine which seat in a vehicle's interior is currently occupied. This makes it possible to check whether a registered person has actually taken part in a reserved ride in a ride-sharing service.

From the DE 10 2015 226 643 A1 It is known to check whether a detected mobile device should be granted access to a wireless network based on the so-called MAC address of mobile devices on the one hand and a list of permitted devices on the other. This requires However, the maintenance or updating of said list.

A motor vehicle with a WLAN data network for the vehicle interior is also known from WO 2020 / 226 700 A1.

The EP 3 583 754 B1 discloses multi-factor authentication and access control in a vehicle environment.

The US 2016/0337863 A1 discloses a method for performing device security corrective actions based on loss of proximity to another device.

The EP 2 865 198 B1 discloses a method for entering identification data of a vehicle into a user database of an Internet server device.

The invention is based on the object of restricting radio-based access to a data network to those users who are located in a predetermined location, in particular a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

Current vehicles already support the option of offering a WiFi network in the passenger compartment and/or in the vehicle environment. Logging in or logging in to the radio-based network access of this data network with a mobile device is already possible today via manual and/or voice-based entry of the access data and/or scanning a QR code and/or reading an NFC tag. This access data can then be stored permanently in the respective mobile device, which could make it possible to log in again at a later date.

As a solution to the problem mentioned above, the invention comprises a method for operating a WLAN router, wherein the WLAN router provides said radio-based network access to the data network in a predetermined location (e.g. in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in an office building, in a waiting room e.g. in a doctor's office or in a publicly accessible place) and the network access for at least one mobile terminal of a respective user is only released if the terminal successfully logs into the WLAN router using current access data. The access data is provided to the terminal using an output device for contactless transmission. "WLAN" and "WLAN" here refer in particular to the radio technology according to the IEEE standard 802.1x, in particular 802.11. The terms "WLAN" and "WiFi" are used synonymously here. The access data can in particular include a password that is assigned to an SSID (service set identifier) of the network access in the known manner and that must be signaled for successful login to the network access. The output device can provide the current access data in the known manner as a QR code on at least one screen in the common room and/or via at least one NFC transmitter in the common room.

In order to block an external or unauthorized terminal from permanently using the network access to the data network after the terminal is no longer in the common room, a monitoring circuit is provided to monitor a predetermined absence condition that signals that the respective user and/or the respective terminal has not been in the common room since the last login to the network access or is absent from there again. In the event that the monitoring circuit detects that the absence condition has been met for at least a predetermined minimum period of time, the monitoring circuit replaces the access data of the WLAN router with modified, updated access data and makes it available via the output device. The previously valid access data is therefore invalid or unusable. The absence condition can be designed by a specialist in such a way that it is met if all terminals currently authorized for network access are absent at a given time, i.e. if the common room is empty or at least no terminal is registered for the monitored network access. Alternatively, it can be provided that the absence condition is already fulfilled when an individual terminal is no longer detected or is absent, even if at least one other terminal is still logged on to the network access or is authorized or is at least in the lounge. The said minimum period of time can be set to a suitable value by the expert. If the minimum period of time is set to zero, the step described is carried out immediately when the absence condition is fulfilled, i.e. the access data is updated. The minimum period of time can also be in a value range from 10 seconds to one day, to name just example values. The said monitoring circuit can be based on at least one microprocessor and/or microcontroller. For example, in the case of a motor vehicle, the vehicle interior or passenger compartment of which is used as a lounge, the monitoring circuit can The control unit for the vehicle's interior space can be implemented by a control unit or a combination of several control units in the motor vehicle.

The invention provides the advantage that setting, defining or programming the absence condition in the monitoring circuit triggers an automatic updating, resetting or changing of the access data. If, for example, a passenger in a motor vehicle leaves the passenger compartment or a predetermined area of the passenger compartment monitored by the monitoring circuit, for example the back seat of the motor vehicle, this can be used as a trigger for updating the access data. This means that no maintenance or updating of the access data by an operator is necessary. Nevertheless, the data network in the motor vehicle is protected against a mobile terminal that was authorized or approved by access data during a previous trip or during a previous use and is now no longer authorized from continuing to use the network access. If the user of this terminal no longer uses the motor vehicle but only stays in its vicinity, he or she will no longer be able to access the motor vehicle's data network with the previous old access data. In the same way, when leaving a common room, such as a waiting room, for example in a doctor's office, or in a publicly accessible place, such as a marketplace, it can be ensured that after leaving the respective common room, a user's mobile device with the access data stored in the mobile device cannot connect to or access the data network when re-entering the common room or in the vicinity of the common room within the transmission range of the WLAN router.

Of course, at least one additional network access with permanent or static access data can also be operated for the respective lounge, for example for a mobile device of a driver of a motor vehicle whose network access should not be impaired by a change of passengers.

A mobile device that can be monitored could be a smartphone, a tablet PC or a smartwatch, to name just a few examples.

The invention also includes further developments which result in additional advantages.

A further development includes that the monitoring circuit receives a sensor signal from at least one sensor. The respective sensor generates a sensor signal that is correlated with the presence and/or absence of at least one person in a predetermined spatial area in the lounge. The absence condition accordingly includes that the sensor signal has a sensor value and/or a time profile that signals the absence of any person in the spatial area. In other words, the check as to whether the access data should be reset or re-adjusted is carried out sensor-based. The at least one sensor used for this purpose can monitor or sense the entire lounge or only a partial area, for example a lounge or seating area for the at least one user with their terminal device. In a motor vehicle, for example, a lounge or seating area for passengers can be monitored using the at least one sensor, so that, for example, a driver's behavior does not influence the access data. The sensor-based triggering of the renewal of the access data has the advantage that the access data in the WLAN router is automatically updated if the sensor signal detects that an update is necessary or if the update will not cause any disruption to the operation of end devices.

A further development includes that the monitoring circuit receives an occupancy signal from a seat occupancy detector of at least one seat in the lounge and the absence condition includes that a predetermined seat or a predetermined group of seats in the lounge changes from an "occupied status" to an "unoccupied status". In other words, the detection that no terminal is present is carried out indirectly by checking whether a user is on the at least one seat or seating location. If the lounge is the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, for example, at least one vehicle seat, for example a seat on a back seat in a passenger car, and/or the vehicle seats in a passenger bus, can be monitored by means of the seat occupancy detector. Corresponding seat occupancy detectors are known from the prior art, as already described at the beginning. If there are several seats in the common room, the occupancy signal can also be used to differentiate between seats and only a single seat or a predetermined group, in particular a subgroup of seats, can be monitored in terms of the occupied status/unoccupied status. The occupied status indicates that one person is sitting on the seat, while the unoccupied status indicates that the seat is free.

A further development includes the monitoring circuit receiving a status signal from a transmitting/receiving unit of an ultra-wideband communication unit, UWB communication unit, which signals a connection status of a UWB connection with the terminal device, and the absence condition includes that the UWB connection has been terminated. A UWB communication unit can operate a broadband radio connection with a terminal device that has a bandwidth greater than 500 MHz. Such a radio connection can be provided, for example, for locating the terminal device in the lounge or in an area around the lounge. In a motor vehicle, a UWB communication unit can be used, for example, to locate or localize a vehicle key or a terminal device that is to be used as a vehicle key or as an identifier for the driver. A corresponding communication unit for operating such a UWB radio connection can signal the connection status, from which it can be determined whether UWB reception or a UWB connection with a terminal device has currently been successfully established or is being operated. This can be expected if a terminal device is in the common room or is located around the common room within a predetermined maximum distance, for example within 10 meters or within 5 meters, and then the network access is used. If the UWB connection is then lost again, it can be assumed that the terminal device has been removed from the common room and/or has been removed from the common room beyond the maximum distance, for example by a motor vehicle. It can then be assumed that the access data of this terminal device is no longer required and the access data can be updated accordingly.

A further development includes that the monitoring circuit receives detection data from an interior camera and/or an ultrasonic sensor and/or a radar and the absence condition includes that it is detected on the basis of the detection data that any person is absent in a predetermined area in and/or around the common room. In other words, the presence of a mobile terminal and/or its user can be monitored image-based or camera-based. For example, a difference signal can be generated that includes the subtraction of pixel values or color intensity values of corresponding pixels of two images that were generated at different recording times. As long as a user with a terminal is in the detection range of the interior camera after the successful connection to the network access to the common room has been established, the difference signal produces difference values other than 0 if the first camera image was generated before a person entered, i.e. when the common room was empty, or due to a movement of the user, which can always be assumed to be given for human users. If the lounge is empty, however, the difference signal or difference image produces difference values of 0, which can be used to identify an empty lounge, so that in this case network access is no longer required and the access data can be updated. In addition or as an alternative, occupant observation can be used, as is known for a motor vehicle, for example. Occupant observation can include a person model that is aligned or matched with the image data, i.e. the current state of a user in the lounge can be described using the person model. Corresponding occupant observations are known from the state of the art. If the occupant observation signals that no user is present in the lounge or does not require network access, the access data can be updated. The image data can also provide infrared information in addition or as an alternative if the interior camera has infrared detection. This allows the body heat of a user to be used to detect the presence of a user in the lounge. If no person is successfully detected based on the image data, it can be assumed that no person is present, in particular no user of a terminal device, and the access data can be updated. Such detection can additionally or alternatively be carried out on the basis of ultrasound and/or radar.

A further development includes that the monitoring circuit receives a user ID from a locking system of the common room, which is assigned to a radio key and/or a digital access key and/or a predetermined identification feature by means of which the common room was last unlocked, and includes an absence condition that a different user ID is then signaled. Such a locking system can be provided, for example, in a motor vehicle. But a locking system can also be available in an office building. An identification feature can be, for example, a biometric feature, e.g. a fingerprint, an iris scan, a result of image processing of a body image and/or facial image of the user. A digital access key can, for example, be provided in a smartphone, which is operated like a radio key in relation to the key system by means of a radio module. A locking system can use a radio key or a digital access key to determine a user ID that is assigned to the respective radio key or digital access key. If the person responsible for unlocking the common room changes, for example if the driver of a motor vehicle changes, this can be used as a trigger to update the access data, in particular because a different person has now taken over responsibility for the common room. This can be detected by the change or modification of the user ID. The user ID can, for example, include the name of the holder of the radio key/digital access key and/or a sequence of numbers assigned to this person. By waiting until a change in the user ID is signaled, the advantage is that a person can lock the lounge area, for example a driver can lock a motor vehicle whose passenger compartment is monitored as a lounge area, for example to run an errand, and then unlock the lounge area again without the access data changing in the meantime due to the absence. The access data are only updated when a different or new user ID is detected.

A further development includes that the monitoring circuit monitors a data transmission taking place via the network access and/or a connection status of a network connection operated via the network access and the absence condition includes that the data transmission is inactive and/or the network connection is reset to the connection status "disconnected" (not connected). In other words, the actual use of the network access by the at least one terminal device can be used. If no data traffic takes place for the said predetermined minimum period of time and/or all network connections are disconnected again, this can be used as a trigger to update or reset the access data. For example, if a motor vehicle whose passenger compartment is monitored as a lounge is parked overnight and there is no person in the motor vehicle, this can be the trigger for updating the access data.

A further development includes at least one further network access being provided in addition to the network access, with different access data being provided for each network access and the output device issuing the different access data at different seats in the lounge and/or the network accesses being kept separate from one another using different subnets (e.g. layer 2 isolation). In other words, the management or resetting or updating of the access data can be carried out individually for each network access. For example, a separate network access can be provided for each mobile device, so that if a user leaves the lounge with their device and their network access therefore receives updated access data, at least one other user who is still in the lounge will not experience any impairment of their network access as different access data apply to them and these remain valid unchanged. If several network accesses with different access data are planned, these can also be kept separate in the data network by different subnets, i.e. data traffic that is fed into the data network via one network access cannot be directly observed or read from another network access. For example, the subnets can be separated by using different network masks or subnet masks, so that knowledge of the subnet mask at one network access does not enable a user to estimate or guess the data packets or addresses of data packets with other subnet masks. Furthermore, the network can be segmented into so-called virtual LANs (VLANs). Additional information (e.g. a VLAN ID) is inserted into the packet headers of the data packets in order to logically separate the networks/VLANs from one another.

A further development includes checking the access data of a network access when a network connection is established between the end device and the WLAN router and several times during operation of the network connection. If the access data is checked several times during operation of the network connection, changing the access data can ensure that every network connection that has already been established or exists can also continue to be monitored to see whether the end device can still prove valid or current access data. Preferably, all frames / data packets of the network data traffic (except for management frames, if applicable) are encrypted for this purpose and if the access data (i.e. SSID and / or passphrase) change, the frames can no longer be decrypted and the connection is immediately disconnected. The passphrase that the user enters can be converted in a known manner, e.g. into a 64-byte key, which - depending on the duration of the connection and the network parameters - can be automatically exchanged in the meantime (so-called rekeying). If the passphrase / The WLAN standard stipulates that all key material is discarded when accessing the WLAN network, so that “old” clients are automatically discarded.

As already explained, the method can be used for lounges in different environments. It is preferred to use it in a motor vehicle, as this can lead to customer traffic, for example in the area of a taxi service or ride sharing (i.e. several people who do not know each other book themselves as passengers in a motor vehicle for a shared journey). In the context of this description, a taxi includes a vehicle with a driver or an autonomously operated transport solution. For example, a taxi can also be an autonomous "driving capsule".

As a further solution, the invention accordingly comprises a motor vehicle with a passenger compartment as a lounge area and with a WLAN router for a data network and with an output device for contactless transmission of access data of a network access of the data network to a user's terminal. In addition, a monitoring circuit is provided for monitoring a predetermined absence condition, which signals that the user and/or their terminal has been absent from the motor vehicle since the last time they logged in, the motor vehicle being set up to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The monitoring circuit can be based in the manner described on at least one microprocessor, which can be provided, for example, in a control unit or, in the case of several microprocessors, alternatively in a network of control units. The monitoring circuit can also be implemented by a central computer of the motor vehicle. The absence condition can be implemented, for example, as software or as program code for the at least one microprocessor. The program code can be stored for this purpose in a data memory, which can be coupled to the at least one microprocessor. In general, the method steps described can be implemented by a program code or program instructions which, when executed by at least one microprocessor, are designed to cause this at least one microprocessor to carry out the respective embodiment of the method. These program instructions or the program code can be stored in the manner described in a data memory which can be coupled to the at least one microprocessor.

The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention, which have components as have already been described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described developments.

• Fig. eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeugs, in welchem eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens durchgeführt werden kann.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are described. The single figure shows:

• Fig. a schematic representation of a plan view of an embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the invention, in which an embodiment of the method according to the invention can be carried out.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the components described each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another, which also develop the invention independently of one another and are therefore to be viewed as part of the invention individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments described can also be supplemented by other features of the invention already described.

In the figure, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

The figure shows a motor vehicle 10, which can be a motor vehicle, for example a passenger car or truck, or a passenger bus. The motor vehicle 10 can also be, for example, a passenger train or an airplane or a spaceship. A passenger compartment 11 of the motor vehicle 10 can represent a lounge 12 in the sense already described. However, a lounge 12 can also be provided outside of a motor vehicle, for example a waiting room in a doctor's office or an office building or a floor in an office building or a room in an office building or a publicly accessible place, for example a market place (i.e. a roof over the lounge is not absolutely necessary). These are just examples of possible lounges. In the following, it is assumed that the lounge 12 is the passenger compartment 11 of the motor vehicle 10. to further describe the implementation example.

In the lounge 12, a network access 14 to a data network 15 can be provided by means of a WLAN router 13, as can be provided, for example, in the motor vehicle 10 for providing an Internet connection and/or for providing media content, for example video films and/or music files or a data stream with music data. At least one user 16 can be present in the motor vehicle 10 or generally in the lounge 12, who wants to use the network access 14 with a mobile terminal 17. To do this, a radio-based network connection 18 must be set up by the respective terminal 17 in a manner known per se. In the WLAN router 13, it can be provided that only those terminals 17 that provide so-called credentials or access data 19 when setting up or during operation of the network connection 18 are permitted to access the network 14. The access data 19 can in particular provide a so-called password or password data, as is known per se. So that a user 16 does not have to manually enter the access data 19 into his terminal device 17, an output device 20 can be provided for the lounge 12, for example in the motor vehicle 10, which can provide current access data 19 for retrieval or reading by a terminal device 17, for example on the basis of a QR code (QR - Quick Response) and/or on the basis of an NFC transmission (NFC - Near Field Communication).

In the motor vehicle 10 or generally for the lounge 12, it can be provided that the access data are updated or reset when a predetermined absence condition 21 is met, that is, changed, so that a mobile terminal 17 that has not been in the lounge 12 or was absent from it in the meantime cannot re-establish the network connection 18 for network access 14 using the old previous access data. This can be provided, for example, if the lounge 12 has been empty in the meantime. Different access data 19 can also be provided for different seats 22, so that when an individual user 16 leaves the lounge 12 with his terminal 17, another user 16 with his terminal 17 can continue to use or re-establish his network connection 18 with the access data applicable to his seat 22 without being influenced.

The absence condition 21 can be monitored or checked by a monitoring circuit 23, which can then set or adjust the new access data or updated access data 24 in the output device 20 and the WLAN router 13 when the absence condition 21 is met. The previously valid access data 19 can then be marked as invalid or deleted.

The access data for the WLAN network is therefore not static and is updated automatically. The access data no longer has to be changed manually via an input device in the infotainment system.

• - die Konfiguration auf QR-Code oder NFC basieren kann und/oder
• - die Verfügbarkeit auf den mobilen Endgeräten nicht garantiert ist (im Gegensatz der „Consumer-Authentifizierung“) und/oder
• - der Implementierungsaufwand durch Bereitstellung eines Authentifizierungsservers (gegebenenfalls. sogar im Backend) wesentlich höher ist.

For a preferred usage scenario, authentication can now be implemented advantageously because:

• - the configuration can be based on QR code or NFC and/or
• - availability on mobile devices is not guaranteed (in contrast to “consumer authentication”) and/or
• - the implementation effort is significantly higher due to the provision of an authentication server (possibly even in the backend).

The access data of a WLAN network (data network with radio-based network access), for example, consists of a network identifier (SSID) and a password (passphrase). This data can be entered manually in a WLAN client (mobile device) or it can be "encoded" in a QR code or NFC tag. The QR code is created or the NFC tag is written by the WLAN access point (network access) that provides the WLAN network. The QR code is shown on one or more displays in the vehicle, for example, and the NFC tag is also located in the vehicle interior, where it can be easily reached by passengers.

When entering the vehicle, passengers can scan the QR code or NFC tag with their mobile device/smartphone and thus gain access to the Wi-Fi network.

The access data of the WLAN network is the same for all users and already connected devices, i.e. if the access data changes while one or more WLAN clients (end devices) are currently connected to the WLAN network, these WLAN clients would lose the connection.

The update of the access data can take place at a time when no Passengers are in the vehicle. Current vehicles today have seat occupancy detection (a safety requirement anyway and therefore available in a motor vehicle as a seat occupancy detector). All current vehicles today generally have seat occupancy detection, so this implementation is possible without additional hardware/sensors. The WLAN access data should preferably be updated whenever the last seat is no longer occupied. When the access data is updated, the QR code and the NFC tag(s) are also updated at the same time.

The access data is updated automatically whenever there are no passengers in the vehicle. This happens as early as possible and as late as necessary.

The detection of whether there are passengers in the vehicle can be done additionally or alternatively by means of an interior camera or other sensors such as UWB (Ultra Wide Band) and/or ultrasound and/or radar.

There can also be several (virtually) separate WLAN networks (one per seat), each with individual access data. Each seat would then have its own display to show the QR code or its own NFC tag. One advantage of individual WLAN networks per user could be that the security of the connection for the end customer increases. Even today, "Layer2 Client Isolation" allows different clients / end devices to be treated separately from one another in terms of communication technology and thus have no access to one another. However, this is not immediately comprehensible to the user. However, if the user is offered their own "disposable" WLAN (automatically updating access data), then - if not the actual security - then at least the perceived security for the user increases.

The access data could be updated even if no end device is currently connected to the WLAN network (which should happen relatively soon after the passenger gets off).

List of reference symbols

10

Motor vehicle

11

Passenger compartment

12

Lounge

13

WiFi router

14

Network access

15

Data network

16

user

17

End device

18

Network connection

19

Access data

20

Output device

21

Absence condition

22

seat

23

Monitoring circuit

24

Updated login details

Claims (10)

Method for operating a WLAN router (13), wherein the WLAN router (13) provides radio-based network access (14) to a data network (15) in a predetermined common room (12) and the network access (14) is only released for at least one mobile terminal (17) of a respective user (16) if the respective terminal (17) successfully logs on to the WLAN router (13) using current access data (19), wherein the access data (19) are provided by means of an output device (20) for contactless transmission to the terminal (17), characterized in that a monitoring circuit (23) monitors a predetermined absence condition (21) which is fulfilled if the respective user (16) and/or the at least one terminal (17) has been absent again since the last login in the common room (12), and in the event that the monitoring circuit (23) detects that the Absence condition (21) is met for at least a predetermined minimum period of time, the access data (19) of the WLAN router (13) are replaced by modified, updated access data (24) by the monitoring circuit (23) and are made available by means of the output device (20). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the monitoring circuit (23) receives a sensor signal from at least one sensor which generates a sensor signal which is correlated with a presence of at least one person in a predetermined spatial area in the lounge (12), and the absence condition (21) comprises that the sensor signal has a sensor value and/or a time profile which signals an absence of any person in the spatial area. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring circuit (23) receives an occupancy signal from a seat occupancy detector of at least one seat of the lounge (12) and the absence condition (21) comprises a predetermined seat or group of seats changing from an occupied status to an unoccupied status. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring circuit (23) receives a status signal from a transceiver unit of an ultra-wideband communication unit, UWB communication unit, which signalizes a connection status of a UWB connection with the terminal (17), and the absence condition (21) comprises that the UWB connection has been terminated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring circuit (23) receives detection data from an interior camera and/or an ultrasonic sensor and/or a radar and the absence condition (21) comprises detecting, based on the detection data, that any person is absent in a predetermined location area in the living room (12) and/or around the living room (12). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring circuit (23) receives a user ID from a locking system of the common room (12), which is associated with a radio key and/or a digital access key and/or a predetermined identification feature by means of which the common room (12) was last unlocked, and the absence condition (21) comprises that a different user ID is signaled thereafter. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring circuit (23) monitors a data transmission taking place via the network access (14) and/or a connection status of a network connection (18) operated via the network access (14) and the absence condition (21) comprises that the data transmission is inactive and/or the network connection (18) is reset to the connection status "disconnected" or "not connected". Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in addition to the network access (14) at least one further network access (14) is provided, wherein different access data (24) are provided for each network access (14) and the output device (20) outputs the different access data (24) at different seats of the lounge (12) and/or the network accesses (14) are kept separate from one another by means of different subnetworks. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the access data (24) of a network access (14) are checked when establishing a network connection (18) of the terminal device (17) to the WLAN router (13) and several times during operation of the network connection (18). Motor vehicle (10) with a passenger compartment (11) as a lounge (12) and with a WLAN router (13) for a data network (15) and with an output device (20) for contactless transmission of access data (24) of a network access (14) of the data network (15) to a terminal (17) of a user (16), characterized in that a monitoring circuit (23) is provided for monitoring a predetermined absence condition (21), which signals that the user (16) and/or his terminal (17) has been absent from the motor vehicle (10) since the last login, wherein the motor vehicle (10) is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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