Digital key system

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a technology capable of improving the convenience of use of a digital key for a vehicle. The digital key system registers vehicle-side key information in a control device of a vehicle and registers terminal-side key information in a user terminal, thereby enabling the use of a digital key of the vehicle by the user terminal. In a digital key system, a mode of a control device is a registration mode in which vehicle-side key information can be registered by executing an authentication process of a smart key associated with a vehicle in the control device. Furthermore, in the digital key system, the vehicle-side key information received when the mode of the control device is the registration mode is registered in the control device. Furthermore, in the digital key system, when the use contract period of the digital key of the user expires, the vehicle-side key information registered in the control device is not deleted, but the terminal-side key information registered in the user terminal is deleted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a digital key system for vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle system utilizing an electronic key. In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a server device acquires information on the usage of electronic keys issued to two or more portable terminals. If, during a prior period, there is no record of use of the first electronic key issued to a first portable device, the server device invalidates the first electronic key. The server device invalidates the first electronic key by deleting the authentication information corresponding to the first electronic key from the vehicle.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-189849 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a technology that can improve the convenience of using digital keys for vehicles.

[0007] The digital key system disclosed herein registers vehicle-side key information distributed from a server device to the vehicle's control device, and registers terminal-side key information distributed from the server device to the user's terminal. This enables the user's terminal to utilize the vehicle's digital key. By performing authentication processing of the smart key associated with the vehicle in the control device, the control device is set to a registration mode capable of registering the vehicle-side key information. When the control device is in the registration mode, the vehicle-side key information received is registered in the control device. In this digital key system, when the user's digital key utilization contract expires, the vehicle-side key information registered in the control device is not deleted; instead, the terminal-side key information registered in the user's terminal is deleted.

[0008] Invention Effects

[0009] According to this disclosure, the convenience of using digital keys for vehicles can be improved. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the processing in a digital key system at the start of digital key utilization.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the processing in a digital key system at the end of the use of a digital key.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a block diagram that roughly represents the structure of the control device and the user terminal.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process of registering key information in user terminals and control devices.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a sequence diagram representing the process of deleting terminal-side key information registered on the user terminal.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process of re-registering key information in the user terminal and control device.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0017] 1: Digital key system; 10: Vehicle; 100: Control device; 110, 210: Control unit; 120, 220: Storage unit; 130, 230: Communication module; 140, 240: Short-range communication module; 150: Authentication module; 200: User terminal; 300: Smart key; 400: Management server. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To enable users to operate vehicles using user terminals, a digital key system has been developed. In this disclosed digital key system, vehicle-side key information and terminal-side key information are distributed from a server device. Then, the vehicle-side key information is registered to the vehicle's control device, and the terminal-side key information is registered to the user's user terminal, thereby enabling the use of the vehicle's digital key via the user terminal.

[0019] Furthermore, when registering vehicle-side key information in the vehicle's control unit, a smart key associated with the vehicle is required. The smart key functions as a vehicle key by communicating with the associated vehicle. The smart key is used to set the control unit to a registration mode, enabling the registration of vehicle-side key information. Specifically, by performing authentication processing of the smart key associated with the vehicle in the control unit, the control unit enters registration mode. It should be noted that the smart key authentication process is performed through communication between the control unit and the smart key located inside the vehicle. Then, the vehicle-side key information received while the control unit is in registration mode is registered in the control unit.

[0020] Here, when users utilize digital keys, a digital key usage contract is sometimes required. For example, in services like car-sharing where a vehicle is rented to a user for a specified period, the digital key usage contract period is set according to the vehicle's rental period. In such cases, when the digital key usage contract expires, the user can no longer use the digital key through their user terminal. Therefore, if the user wishes to continue using the vehicle, a new digital key usage contract must be signed.

[0021] With the re-registration of digital key usage, in order to reuse the digital key, the vehicle-side key information for re-registration needs to be registered with the vehicle's control unit, and the terminal-side key information for re-registration needs to be registered with the user terminal. At this time, if, similar to the initial registration of the vehicle-side key information with the vehicle's control unit, the control unit is required to be set to registration mode to register the re-registered vehicle-side key information, then the smart key authentication process needs to be performed again in the control unit. In other words, the user needs to possess the smart key to enter the vehicle. Therefore, when the reuse of the digital key requires the same smart key authentication process as the initial use, the convenience of using the vehicle's digital key decreases.

[0022] Therefore, in the digital key system disclosed herein, when the user's digital key usage contract expires, the vehicle-side key information registered in the control device is not deleted; instead, the terminal-side key information registered in the user's terminal is deleted. In other words, even after the user's digital key usage contract expires, the registered vehicle-side key information remains in the control device; only the terminal-side key information registered in the user's terminal is deleted.

[0023] Even if vehicle-side key information remains in the control device, once the terminal-side key information is deleted from the user terminal, the user can no longer use the vehicle's digital key through the user terminal. Furthermore, when the vehicle-side key information for re-registration is registered to the vehicle's control device during a re-signing process for digital key use, the vehicle-side key information remaining in the control device is updated to the re-registered vehicle-side key information. In other words, even without performing the smart key authentication process used to set the control device to registration mode, the re-registered vehicle-side key information can still be registered to the control device.

[0024] As described above, according to the digital key system of this disclosure, when the digital key usage contract is renewed after its expiration, the user can resume using the vehicle's digital key through the user terminal without using the smart key. Therefore, the convenience of using the vehicle's digital key is improved.

[0025] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the constituent components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] <Implementation Method>

[0027] (System Overview)

[0028] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This diagram illustrates an overview of the digital key system of this embodiment. The digital key system is a system for enabling the use of a digital key for a vehicle implemented by a user terminal. Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the processing in a digital key system at the start of digital key utilization. Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the processing in a digital key system at the end of the use of a digital key.

[0029] The digital key system 1 includes a control device 100, a user terminal 200, and a management server 400. The digital key system 1 is, for example, a system for services such as shared services, where a vehicle is rented to a user for a specified period. In this embodiment, vehicle 10 is a vehicle that has been rented to a user for a specified period. The user is a signatory who has signed a digital key usage contract for vehicle 10 to use vehicle 10. The usage contract period for the digital key is set according to the rental period of vehicle 10. The control device 100 is a device mounted on vehicle 10. The user terminal 200 is a terminal held by the user using vehicle 10.

[0030] The control device 100, user terminal 200, and management server 400 are interconnected via a network. Here, the network can be, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network) or a telephone communication network such as a portable telephone. Furthermore, the network may also include wireless communication networks such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0031] Management server 400 is a server device that manages information related to the digital key. Management server 400 manages the vehicle-side key information Kv and terminal-side key information Kt related to the digital key of vehicle 10. Both vehicle-side key information Kv and terminal-side key information Kt are information corresponding to vehicle 10. At the start of digital key usage, management server 400 distributes vehicle-side key information Kv and terminal-side key information Kt. Figure 1 As shown, when the management server 400 distributes vehicle-side key information Kv and terminal-side key information Kt, the management server 400 sends a dataset containing this information to the user terminal 200. When the user terminal 200 receives the dataset from the management server 400, it temporarily stores the received dataset.

[0032] Here, in order to utilize the digital key in vehicle 10, the vehicle-side key information Kv needs to be registered in the control device 100 of vehicle 10. Furthermore, in order to register the vehicle-side key information Kv with the control device 100 of vehicle 10, the control device 100 needs to be switched to a registration mode. In the digital key system 1, as a mode-switching process to switch the control device 100 to the registration mode, the control device 100 is required to perform authentication processing for the smart key 300. The smart key 300 is a device associated with vehicle 10, and functions as a key to vehicle 10 by communicating with vehicle 10. That is, if a user possesses the smart key 300, the user can use vehicle 10 using the smart key 300. On the other hand, if the digital key can be utilized in vehicle 10 by the user terminal 200, then even if the user does not possess the smart key 300, if the user possesses the user terminal 200, the user can still use vehicle 10 using the digital key. However, when the digital key is first used, a smart key 300 is required in order to register the vehicle side key information Kv with the control device 100.

[0033] In order to perform authentication processing of the smart key 300 in the control device 100, the user enters the vehicle 10 while holding the smart key. Then, the control device 100 communicates with the smart key 300 located inside the vehicle 10, thereby performing authentication processing of the smart key 300. At this time, the communication between the control device 100 and the smart key 300 can be a short-range wireless communication achieved by the user placing the smart key 300 on the start switch inside the vehicle 10.

[0034] When the control device 100 switches to the registration mode by performing authentication processing of the smart key 300 in the control device 100, the vehicle-side key information Kv can be processed in the control device 100. Then, as... Figure 1As shown, the user terminal 200 sends the vehicle-side key information Kv contained in the temporarily stored dataset to the control device 100, which is now in a state where it can accept vehicle-side key information Kv. As a result, the terminal-side key information Kt is registered in the user terminal 200, and the vehicle-side key information Kv is registered in the control device 100. Thus, the user can use the digital key of the vehicle 10 through the user terminal 200.

[0035] On the other hand, in digital key system 1, when the user's digital key usage contract expires, a process is executed to terminate the use of the digital key. Specifically, as follows: Figure 2 As shown, a key information deletion command is sent from the management server 400 to the user terminal 200. Upon receiving the key information deletion command, the user terminal 200 deletes the registered terminal-side key information Kt. However, in the digital key system 1, even if the user's digital key usage contract expires, a key information deletion command is not sent to the control device 100. Therefore, even after the user's digital key usage contract expires, the control device 100 maintains the state where the vehicle-side key information Kv is registered. Thus, even if the vehicle-side key information Kv is registered in the control device 100, when the terminal-side key information Kt is deleted from the user terminal 200, the user can no longer use the digital key through the user terminal 200.

[0036] Here, after the temporary expiration of the digital key usage contract, sometimes the user wishes to continue using vehicle 10 and re-signs up the digital key usage contract. At this time, as mentioned above, the terminal-side key information Kt has been deleted from the user terminal 200. Therefore, in order to use the digital key of vehicle 10 again through user terminal 200, it is necessary to register the re-registered terminal-side key information with user terminal 200 and the re-registered vehicle-side key information with control device 100. Therefore, when the digital key usage contract is re-signed up, management server 400 distributes the re-registered vehicle-side key information and the re-registered terminal-side key information. At this time, management server 400 sends a dataset containing the re-registered vehicle-side key information and the re-registered terminal-side key information to user terminal 200. Then, the re-registered vehicle-side key information is sent from user terminal 200 to control device 100. Then, the re-registered vehicle-side key information is registered with control device 100, and the re-registered terminal-side key information is registered with user terminal 200. Details regarding the processing of key information for re-registration at this time will be described later.

[0037] (Hardware Components)

[0038] Next, based on Figure 3 The configuration of the control device 100 and the user terminal 200 in the digital key system 1 will be described. Figure 3 This is a block diagram that roughly represents the configuration of the control device 100 and the user terminal 200.

[0039] The control device 100 is a device for controlling the vehicle 10 via a digital key. Control of the vehicle 10 by the control device 100 includes, for example, locking or unlocking the electronic lock of the vehicle 10. The control device 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a communication module 130, a short-range communication module 140, and an authentication module 150.

[0040] The control unit 110 has the function of performing arithmetic processing for controlling the control device 100. The control unit 110 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), main storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory), and auxiliary storage devices such as ROM (Read Only Memory). It should be noted that a CPU is an example of a processor resource. Furthermore, RAM and ROM are examples of memory resources. The control unit 110 can perform arbitrary information processing based on various programs and various data. However, some or all of the functions of the control unit 110 can also be implemented using hardware circuits such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0041] The storage unit 120 is composed of any storage device such as RAM, ROM, hard disk drive, or flash memory. The storage unit 120 may also include a removable medium (removable recording medium). Here, the removable medium is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an SD (Secure Digital) card, or a disc recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or Blu-ray disc. The storage unit 120 stores programs for execution by the control unit 110 and various data for program execution. Furthermore, in the control device 100, vehicle-side key information is registered by storing vehicle-side key information in the storage unit 120.

[0042] Communication module 130 is a communication interface for connecting control device 100 to a network. Communication module 130 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board or a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication. Control device 100 communicates with management server 400 via communication module 130. Short-range communication module 140 is an interface for control device 100 to communicate directly with user terminal 200 using a specified short-range wireless communication standard. Examples of specified short-range wireless communication standards include Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Low Energy) or WiFi (Wi-Fi). Authentication module 150 has the function of authenticating smart key 300. Authentication module 150 receives signals from smart key 300 to authenticate smart key 300. It should be noted that in this embodiment, control device 100 does not necessarily need to be implemented through a single physical component.

[0043] User terminal 200 is, for example, a smartphone, tablet computer, mobile computer, or wearable computer. User terminal 200 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, a communication module 230, and a near-field communication module 240.

[0044] The control unit 210 has the function of performing arithmetic processing for controlling the user terminal 200. Similar to the control unit 110 of the control device 100, the control unit 210 includes a processor such as a CPU (central processing unit), a main storage device such as RAM (random access memory), and an auxiliary storage device such as ROM (read-only memory).

[0045] The storage unit 220 is composed of any storage device such as RAM, ROM, or flash memory. The storage unit 220 may also include a removable medium (removable recording medium). The storage unit 220 stores programs executed by the control unit 210 and various data used for program execution. Furthermore, in the user terminal 200, terminal-side key information is registered by storing terminal-side key information in the storage unit 220.

[0046] Communication module 230 is a communication interface for connecting user terminal 200 to a network. Communication module 230 is, for example, a wireless communication circuit for mobile communication. User terminal 200 communicates with management server 400 via communication module 230. Short-range communication module 240 is an interface for user terminal 200 to communicate directly with control device 100 using the same short-range wireless communication standard as short-range communication module 140 of control device 100.

[0047] It should be noted that the management server 400 is composed of a computer with a control unit, a storage unit, and a communication module. The management server 400 communicates with the control device 100 and the user terminal 200 via the communication module.

[0048] (Registration and processing of key information)

[0049] Next, based on Figure 4 The process of registering key information in the user terminal 200 and the control device 100 in the digital key system 1 so that the user can use the digital key of the vehicle 10 through the user terminal 200 is described. Figure 4 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process of registering key information in the user terminal 200 and the control device 100. It should be noted that... Figure 4 The process shown is performed while the user has signed a contract to use the digital key of vehicle 10.

[0050] During key information registration, in the digital key system 1, the user operates the user terminal 200, and the user terminal 200 sends a key information distribution request corresponding to the vehicle 10 to the management server 400 (S101). At this time, the distribution request sent from the user terminal 200 may include a user ID for identifying the user and a vehicle ID for identifying the vehicle 10.

[0051] When the management server 400 receives a distribution request from the user terminal 200, an authentication process (S102) is then performed between the management server 400 and the user terminal 200. This authentication process verifies that the user who requested the distribution of key information to operate the user terminal 200 is a legitimate user who has signed a digital key usage contract for the vehicle 10. This authentication process can be performed, for example, through biometric authentication or password input on the user terminal 200.

[0052] When the authentication process between the management server 400 and the user terminal 200 is completed, the key information corresponding to the vehicle 10 is distributed from the management server 400. Specifically, the management server 400 sends a dataset containing terminal-side key information Kt and vehicle-side key information Kv corresponding to the vehicle 10 to the user terminal 200 (S103). At this time, the management server 400 can determine the user terminal 200 as the target of sending the dataset based on the user ID contained in the distribution request. When the user terminal 200 receives the dataset sent from the management server 400, it stores the dataset in the storage unit 220 of the user terminal 200.

[0053] Next, a mode transfer process is performed in the digital key system 1. This mode transfer process is used to transfer the control device 100's mode to the registration mode. Specifically, firstly, the user operates the user terminal 200, sending a registration start instruction from the user terminal 200 to the management server 400 (S104). This registration start instruction is an instruction to begin registration of the vehicle-side key information Kv with the control device 100. At this time, similar to the distribution request, the registration start instruction sent from the user terminal 200 may include a user ID for identifying the user and a vehicle ID for identifying the vehicle 10. Furthermore, when the management server 400 receives the registration start instruction from the user terminal 200, authentication processing is then performed again between the management server 400 and the user terminal 200 (S105).

[0054] When the authentication process between the management server 400 and the user terminal 200 is completed, a mode transfer instruction (S105) is sent from the management server 400 to the control device 100. This mode transfer instruction is an instruction for the control device 100 to transfer to the registration mode. At this time, the management server 400 can determine the control device 100 as the target of sending the mode transfer instruction based on the vehicle ID contained in the registration start instruction.

[0055] Next, the authentication process for the smart key 300 is performed in the control device 100 (S106). Here, for the smart key 300 to be authenticated, it must be present inside the vehicle 10. That is, the user must be holding the smart key 300 when entering the vehicle 10. It should be noted that if the smart key 300 needs to be placed on the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 for communication between the control device 100 and the smart key 300, the user terminal 200 can display a message notifying the user of this purpose. Furthermore, when the authentication process for the smart key 300 is completed in the control device 100, the control device 100 switches to the registration mode (S107). In other words, in the digital key system 1, if the smart key 300 is not present inside the vehicle 10, the authentication process for the smart key 300 is not performed in the control device 100, and therefore the mode transfer process for switching the control device 100 to the registration mode cannot be completed.

[0056] When the control device 100 switches to the registration mode, pairing between the user terminal 200 and the control device 100 is then performed (S108). It should be noted that pairing between the user terminal 200 and the control device 100 can also be performed after the user has requested pairing on the user terminal 200. Furthermore, when pairing between the user terminal 200 and the control device 100 is complete, the vehicle-side key information Kv contained in the temporarily stored data set is sent from the user terminal 200 to the control device 100 (S109). Next, in the user terminal 200, the terminal-side key information Kt is registered by storing it in the storage unit 220 (S110). Furthermore, in the control device 100, the vehicle-side key information Kv is registered by storing it in the storage unit 120 (S111).

[0057] It should be noted that the terminal-side key information Kt and vehicle-side key information Kv included in the dataset sent from the management server 400 can also be encrypted. In this case, the user terminal 200 decrypts the terminal-side key information Kt and stores the decrypted terminal-side key information Kt in the storage unit 220. Furthermore, the user terminal 200 sends the vehicle-side key information Kv, which remains encrypted, to the control device 100. Then, the control device 100 decrypts the vehicle-side key information Kv and stores the decrypted vehicle-side key information Kv in the storage unit 120.

[0058] (Deletion of key information)

[0059] Next, based on Figure 5 The procedure for deleting key information in the digital key system 1 so that the user cannot use the digital key of the vehicle 10 through the user terminal 200 is explained. Figure 5 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process of deleting terminal-side key information registered on user terminal 200. It should be noted that... Figure 5 The process shown is performed after the expiration of the usage contract period for the user associated with the digital key of vehicle 10.

[0060] When deleting key information, in the digital key system 1, the management server 400 sends a deletion command for the registered terminal-side key information Kt to the user terminal 200 (S201). When the user terminal 200 receives the deletion command from the management server 400, it then deletes the terminal-side key information Kt stored in the storage unit 220 (S202). As a result, the user can no longer use the digital key of the vehicle 10 through the user terminal 200. Furthermore, when the deletion of the terminal-side key information Kt is completed in the user terminal 200, a deletion result is sent from the user terminal 200 to the management server 400 (S203). This deletion result is a notification from the user terminal 200 that the deletion of the terminal-side key information Kt has been completed.

[0061] Here, in digital key system 1, such as Figure 5 As shown, even if the user's contract period associated with the digital key of vehicle 10 expires, no deletion command for the vehicle-side key information Kv is sent to the control device 100. Therefore, even after the user's digital key contract period expires, the control device 100 maintains the state in which the vehicle-side key information Kv is stored in the storage unit 120.

[0062] (Re-registration of key information)

[0063] Next, based on Figure 6 The process of re-registering key information in the user terminal 200 and control device 100 in the digital key system 1 is explained. Figure 6 This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process of re-registering key information in the user terminal 200 and the control device 100. It should be noted that... Figure 6 The process shown is performed when the user re-signs up for the use of the same digital key for vehicle 10 after the temporary expiration of the usage contract related to the digital key of vehicle 10.

[0064] During the re-registration of key information, in digital key system 1, the process is the same as S101 during the initial registration of key information. Figure 4 Similarly, in S101, the user operates the user terminal 200, and a request to distribute key information corresponding to the vehicle 10 is sent from the user terminal 200 to the management server 400 (S301). Then, following S102 (the initial registration of the key information),... Figure 4 Similarly, in S102, authentication is performed between the management server 400 and the user terminal 200 (S302).

[0065] When the authentication process between the management server 400 and the user terminal 200 is completed, the management server 400 distributes the key information for re-registration corresponding to the vehicle 10. Specifically, the management server 400 sends a re-registration dataset containing terminal-side key information Kt1 and vehicle-side key information Kv1 corresponding to the vehicle 10 to the user terminal 200 (S303). At this time, the management server 400 can determine the user terminal 200 as the target of sending the dataset based on the user ID contained in the distribution request. When the user terminal 200 receives the re-registration dataset sent from the management server 400, it stores the re-registration dataset in the storage unit 220 of the user terminal 200.

[0066] At this time, in the control device 100, the vehicle-side key information Kv registered during the initial registration of key information is still stored in the storage unit 120. In this state, even if no operation is performed in the key system 1... Figure 4 The mode transfer process shown also allows the control device 100 to accept vehicle-side key information Kv1 for re-registration. In other words, after the vehicle-side key information Kv is registered during the initial registration of key information, the control device 100 maintains the registration mode.

[0067] Therefore, when the user terminal 200 receives the re-registration dataset, it does not perform mode transition processing, but instead performs pairing between the user terminal 200 and the control device 100 (S304). This pairing process is similar to S108 during the initial registration of the key information. Figure 4 The process is the same as in S108. Furthermore, when pairing between the user terminal 200 and the control device 100 is completed, the user terminal 200 sends vehicle-side key information Kv1 for re-registration to the control device 100 (S305). Next, in the user terminal 200, the terminal-side key information Kt1 for re-registration is registered by storing the terminal-side key information Kt for re-registration in the storage unit 220 (S306). Furthermore, in the control device 100, the vehicle-side key information Kv1 is registered by updating the vehicle-side key information Kv stored in the storage unit 120 at the time of initial registration to the vehicle-side key information Kv1 for re-registration (S307).

[0068] As described above, in the digital key system 1 of this embodiment, when the user's digital key usage contract expires, the vehicle-side key information Kv registered in the control device 100 is not deleted; instead, only the terminal-side key information Kt registered in the user terminal 200 is deleted. Therefore, even without performing the authentication process of the smart key 300 for setting the control device 100 to registration mode, the vehicle-side key information Kv1 for re-registration can be registered in the control device 100. Thus, if a new contract for digital key usage is signed after the expiration of the digital key usage contract, the user can resume using the vehicle 10's digital key through the user terminal 200 without using the smart key 300. Therefore, the convenience of using the vehicle 10's digital key is improved.

[0069] It should be noted that in the above embodiment, when distributing key information corresponding to vehicle 10 from management server 400, a dataset containing terminal-side key information and vehicle-side key information is sent from pipeline server 400 to user terminal 200. Then, vehicle-side key information is sent from user terminal 200 to control device 100. However, it is also possible that terminal-side key information is sent from management server 400 to user terminal 200, and vehicle-side key information is sent directly from management server 400 to control device 100.

[0070] <Other Implementation Methods>

[0071] The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and this disclosure can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, the processing and elements described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradictions arise.

[0072] Furthermore, processes described as being performed by a single device can also be performed by multiple devices. Alternatively, processes described as being performed by different devices can also be performed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) used to implement each function can be flexibly changed.

[0073] This disclosure can also be implemented by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, which then reads and executes the program using one or more processors. Such a computer program can be provided to the computer either through a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the computer's system bus or via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include, for example, any type of disk such as a hard disk (floppy disk, hard disk drive, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a magnetic card, flash memory, or an optical card—any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.

Claims

1. A digital key system that registers vehicle-side key information distributed from a server device in a control device of a vehicle, and registers terminal-side key information distributed from the server device in a user terminal of a user of the vehicle, whereby utilization of a digital key of the vehicle by the user terminal is enabled, the mode of the control device becomes a registration mode in which the vehicle-side key information can be registered by performing authentication processing of a smart key that has established association with the vehicle in the control device, the vehicle-side key information received while the mode of the control device is the registration mode is registered in the control device, when a contract period for utilization of the digital key of the user expires, the terminal-side key information registered in the user terminal is deleted, but the vehicle-side key information registered in the control device is not deleted.

2. The digital key system according to claim 1, wherein, when re-subscription of utilization of the digital key of the user is performed, vehicle-side key information for re-registration and terminal-side key information for re-registration are distributed from the server device, in the user terminal, when the terminal-side key information for re-registration is received, the terminal-side key information for re-registration is registered, in the control device, when the vehicle-side key information for re-registration is received in a state in which the vehicle-side key information is registered, the registered vehicle-side key information is updated to the vehicle-side key information for re-registration.

3. The digital key system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in a case where the vehicle-side key information and the terminal-side key information are distributed from the server device, a data set containing the vehicle-side key information and the terminal-side key information is transmitted from the server device to the user terminal, the vehicle-side key information contained in the data set is transmitted from the user terminal to the control device. wherein 4. The digital key system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the vehicle-side key information and the terminal-side key information are distributed from the server device in an encrypted state, in the control device, the vehicle-side key information is decrypted and registered, in the user terminal, the terminal-side key information is decrypted and registered.

5. The digital key system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when a key information deletion command is transmitted from the server device to the user terminal due to expiration of a contract period for utilization of the digital key of the user, in the user terminal, the registered terminal-side key information is deleted. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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