Control of an infrastructure

1 . A method for controlling an infrastructure by a motor vehicle, comprising:

transmitting, by the motor vehicle to the infrastructure, a request for the infrastructure to perform a predetermined function of the infrastructure;

transmitting a challenge from the infrastructure to the motor vehicle;

creating, at the motor vehicle, a response by signing the transmitted challenge with a private key of the motor vehicle;

transmitting the response from the motor vehicle to the infrastructure;

determining, by the infrastructure and based on a public key of the motor vehicle and the signature of the response, that the response originates from the motor vehicle; and

executing the function by the infrastructure upon the infrastructure determining that the response originates from the motor vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the challenge-response method is performed in the manner of a digital car key.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an indication that the function is executable by the infrastructure is transmitted from the infrastructure to the motor vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an indication that the function is controllable by the motor vehicle is transmitted from the motor vehicle to the infrastructure.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the function to be controlled is supported by both the motor vehicle and the infrastructure.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the function is determined based on a position of the motor vehicle relative to the infrastructure as determined by the motor vehicle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein communication between the motor vehicle and the infrastructure takes place via a wireless personal area network.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the function includes at least one of: opening a driveway, closing the driveway, raising a duplex garage, lowering the duplex garage, granting access to a wireless data node, a lighting function, a defrost function, and an automatic parking function.

9 . A device of an infrastructure, comprising:

a wireless communication unit for communicating with a motor vehicle;

a processing unit configured to:

receive, via the wireless communication unit, a request sent from the motor vehicle to perform a predetermined function of the infrastructure;

transmit, via the wireless communication unit, a challenge to the motor vehicle;

receive, via the wireless communication unit, a response from the motor vehicle in the form of a signed challenge; and

determine, based on the signature of the response and a public key of the motor vehicle, that the signature of the response is associated with the motor vehicle; and

an actuator configured to execute the function upon the determination that the signature of the response is associated with the motor vehicle.

10 . An infrastructure comprising the device of claim 9 .

11 . A device on board a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a wireless communication unit for communicating with an infrastructure;

a processing unit operatively configured to control a predetermined function of the infrastructure via:

transmitting a request to the infrastructure to perform a predetermined function of the infrastructure;

receiving a challenge from the infrastructure;

generating a response in the form of a signed challenge; and

transmitting the response to the infrastructure;

wherein the response is configured to cause the infrastructure to execute the predetermined function.

12 . A motor vehicle comprising the device of claim 11 .