Method for activating a function of a motor vehicle

1. A method for activating a function of a motor vehicle following detection of the presence of user equipment in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, said method comprising:

determining, by the user equipment in real time, a position of the user equipment relative to the body of the user, where the user equipment includes:

at least one inertial sensor, such that the determining of the position of the equipment relative to the body of the user is performed using a signature of the position of the user equipment in three dimensions of space, and/or,

at least one gyroscope, such that the determining of the position of the equipment relative to the body of the user is performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

receiving, by the user equipment, a signal containing an advertising message sent by the vehicle,

calculating, by the user equipment, a compensated strength value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment, the compensated strength value compensating for a reduction in received strength of the signal caused by the position of the user equipment relative to the body of the user,

estimating, by the user equipment, a distance separating the user equipment from the vehicle, from the calculated compensated strength value, and

activating, by the vehicle, at least one function by the vehicle when the estimated distance is below a predetermined threshold.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the user equipment, its position with respect to the body of the user, in real time and periodically,

with the user equipment including at least one inertial sensor, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space, and/or,

with the user equipment including at least one gyroscope, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

receiving, by the user equipment, a signal containing an advertising message, sent by the vehicle

calculating, by the user equipment, a compensated value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment

estimating, by the user equipment, the distance separating it from the vehicle, from the calculated compensated strength value,

sending, by the user equipment, this estimated distance value to the vehicle,

determining, by the vehicle, whether the user equipment is located in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the distance value sent by the user equipment, and

activating, by the vehicle at least one function when the user equipment is determined to be located in the predetermined detection zone around said vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the user equipment, a signal containing an advertising message, sent by the vehicle,

determining, by the user equipment, its position with respect to the body of the user, in real time,

with the user equipment including at least one inertial sensor, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space, and/or,

with the user equipment including at least one gyroscope, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

calculating, by the user equipment, a compensated value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment,

estimating, by the user equipment, the distance separating it from the vehicle, from the calculated compensated strength value,

sending, by the user equipment, this estimated distance value to the vehicle,

determining, by the vehicle, whether the user equipment is located in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the distance value sent by the user equipment, and

activating, by the vehicle at least one function when the user equipment is determined to be located in the predetermined detection zone around said vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the user equipment, its position with respect to the body of the user, in real time and periodically,

with the user equipment including at least one inertial sensor, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space, and/or,

with the user equipment including at least one gyroscope, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

receiving, by the user equipment, a signal containing an advertising message, sent by the vehicle

calculating, by the user equipment, a compensated value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment,

estimating, by the user equipment, the distance separating it from the vehicle, from the calculated compensated strength value,

determining, by the user equipment, whether it is located in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the estimated distance value,

sending, by the user equipment, a command message to the vehicle, and activate at least one function following receipt of said command message when the user equipment is determined to be located in the predetermined detection zone around said vehicle.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the user equipment, a signal containing an advertising message, sent by the vehicle,

determining, by the user equipment, its position with respect to the body of the user, in real time,

with the user equipment including at least one inertial sensor, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space, and/or,

with the user equipment including at least one gyroscope, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

calculating, by the user equipment, a compensated value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment,

estimating, by the user equipment, the distance separating it from the vehicle, from the calculated compensated strength value,

determining, by the user equipment, whether it is located in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the estimated distance value,

sending, by the user equipment, a command message to the vehicle, and activate at least one function following receipt of said command message when the user equipment is determined to be located in the predetermined detection zone around said vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the user equipment, a signal containing an advertising message, sent by the vehicle,

sending, by the user equipment, a confirmation message to the vehicle, indicating that it has correctly received the advertising message, said confirmation message containing information regarding the strength of the signal received from the vehicle by the user equipment and gyroscopic angle and/or acceleration data collected by the user equipment,

determining, by the user equipment in real time, the position of the user equipment with respect to the user from the gyroscopic angle and/or acceleration data received, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space, and/or, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user is performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

calculating, by the user equipment, a compensated value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment, and from the information regarding the strength of the signal received from the vehicle by the equipment,

estimating, by the user equipment, the distance separating it from the user equipment, from the calculated compensated strength value,

determining, by the vehicle, whether the user equipment is located in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the estimated distance value, and

activating, by the vehicle, at least one of its functions when the user equipment is determined to be located in the predetermined detection zone around said vehicle.

7. User equipment allowing activation of at least one function of a motor vehicle following detection of the presence of said user equipment in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, said user equipment comprising:

a processor for determining a position of the user equipment with respect to the body of the user,

at least one inertial sensor, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user being performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space,

at least one gyroscope, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user being performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a signal containing an advertising message, sent by the vehicle

calculate a compensated strength value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment, the compensated strength value compensating for a reduction in received strength of the signal caused by the position of the user equipment relative to the body of the user, and

estimate the distance separating it from the vehicle, from the calculated compensated strength value.

8. A motor vehicle comprising equipment defining functions, said vehicle being able to activate at least one of its functions following detection of the presence of user equipment as claimed in claim 7 in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a distance value sent by the user equipment,

determine the presence of the user equipment in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the distance value received, and

activate at least one function of the vehicle.

9. A motor vehicle comprising equipment defining functions, said vehicle being able to activate at least one of its functions following detection of the presence of user equipment in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

a processor configured to:

send a signal containing an advertising message,

receive a confirmation message, sent by the user equipment, said confirmation message containing a value for the strength measured by the user equipment and gyroscopic angle and/or acceleration measurements collected by the user equipment,

determine the position of the user equipment from the gyroscopic angle and/or acceleration measurements received, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user being performed using the signature of the position of the user equipment in the three dimensions of space, and/or, the determining of the position of the equipment with respect to the body of the user being performed from an analysis of data from one axis of the gyroscope, which is perpendicular to an axis of the inertial sensor that is predominantly affected by gravity,

calculate a compensated strength value for the strength of the signal received, from the determined position of the user equipment, and from the information regarding the strength of the signal received from the vehicle by the equipment, the compensated strength value compensating for a reduction in received strength of the signal caused by the position of the user equipment relative to the body of the user,

estimate the distance separating the vehicle from the user equipment, from the calculated compensated strength value,

determine the presence of the user equipment in a predetermined detection zone around said vehicle, from the estimated distance value, and

activate at least one function of the vehicle.