MANAGEMENT DEVICE, MANAGEMENT METHOD AND NON-VOLATILE STORAGE MEDIUM

Abstract

A management device (50) manages a digital key. The digital key is registered in a mobile information terminal (40) for operating a vehicle (10). This management device (50) includes a processor (52) configured to perform a process for issuing a password under the condition that an owner key, which is a digital key registered in the mobile information terminal (40) of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal (40), wherein the password is required to re-register the owner key.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to a management device, a management method, and a nonvolatile storage medium.2. Description of Related ArtAs described in JP 2023 - 98 289 A and JP 2023 - 131 424 A, a digital key technology is known with which a vehicle is locked and unlocked and an engine is started in accordance with operation signals transmitted from a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn owner key is a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner. In registering the owner key in the mobile information terminal, it is preferable to request input of a password that is output from a management device that manages the digital key.Here, for example, when the mobile information terminal is exchanged, a new password is required to re-register the owner key in the mobile information terminal. Therefore, it is desirable to improve convenience by reducing the time and labor required for releasing the password.A management device of the present disclosure is configured to manage a digital key, and the digital key is registered in a mobile information terminal to operate a vehicle. This management device includes a processor configured to perform a process of outputting a password on condition that an owner key, which is a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.The processor may be configured to execute a process of transmitting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.The digital key application may include a first application and a second application. The processor may be configured to transmit the issued password to the first application, and the issued password may be automatically input from the first application to the second application.The processor may be configured to execute a process of transmitting an address of a home page to a mail account of the vehicle owner, and the home page is for automatically inputting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.The digital key application may include the first application and the second application. The processor may be configured to transmit the issued password to the first application in response to receiving data from the mobile information terminal to which the address has been transmitted, and the issued password may be automatically input from the first application to the second application.The processor may be configured to execute a process for transferring the issued password to the mail account of the vehicle owner.A management method of the present disclosure is a method of managing a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal to operate a vehicle. This management method includes outputting a password on condition that an owner key, which is a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.A program of the present disclosure is a program to be executed by a management device for managing a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal to operate a vehicle. This program causes the management device to execute a password on a condition that an owner key, which is a digital key of a vehicle owner registered in a mobile information terminal, is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.A non-transitory storage medium of the present disclosure stores instructions executable by one or more processors and that cause the one or more processors to perform functions including: managing an owner key, which is a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner, for operating a vehicle; and outputting a password on condition that the owner key registered in the mobile information terminal is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.The management device, the management method, the program, and the nonvolatile storage medium cause the amount of re-issuing the password required to re-register the owner key in the mobile information terminal to be reduced.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFeatures, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configurations of a management device, a vehicle, a mobile information terminal, and a device server of an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a sequential view showing the flow of a password re-output process of the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a sequential view showing the flow of a re-registration process of the owner key embodiment; FIG. 4 is a sequential view showing the flow of a re-registration process of the embodiment for the owner key; and FIG. 5 is a sequential view showing the flow of a re-registration process of the owner key embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSHereinafter, an embodiment of a management device, a management method, a program, and a nonvolatile storage medium will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.Configurations of Control Device and VehicleThe configurations of the management device, the vehicle, the mobile information terminal, and the device server of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.As shown in FIG. 1, a management server 50 that is the management device includes a storage device 51 and a processor 52. the storage device 51 includes various programs 51 p, and a database 51 din which various kinds of information are recorded. The management server 50 performs various processes by causing the processor 52 to execute the program 51 p.The management server 50 manages information on a digital key that locks and unlocks a vehicle 10 and starts an engine according to operation signals transmitted from a mobile information terminal 40 such as a smartphone. Hereinafter, a digital key registered in the mobile information terminal 40 of a vehicle owner is referred to as an owner key. The management server 50 outputs a password required to register the digital key in the mobile information terminal 40 and a check value for verifying the password. The management server 50 manages account information of a user who is the vehicle owner. The user's account information includes information about the vehicle belonging to the user, a mail address of the user, etc.The vehicle 10 includes an electronic control unit (ECU) with digital key 11, a human machine interface (HMI) 13, a low energy Bluetooth (registered trademark) module (BLE) 14, an ultra wide band (UWB) module 15, a near field communication (NFC) module 16, and a communication module 17.The digital key ECU 11 is a control device that manages and uses the digital key. The digital key ECU 11 has a storage device 11 m, and a processor 11 p. The digital key ECU 11 executes various processes by causing the processor 11 pto execute programs stored in the storage device 11 m.The HMI 13 is a human-machine interface. The human-machine interface device 13 includes an input device and a display device. The input device accepts an operation of the user on the vehicle 10. The display device displays information in the form of images and speech to the user.The BLE module 14 is a module that performs near field communication with the mobile information terminal 40 to perform authentication for enabling digital key pairing between the mobile information terminal 40 and the vehicle 10 and vehicle operation with the mobile information terminal 40.Vehicle functions include locking and unlocking the vehicle 10 and starting the engine.The UWB module 15 is a module that measures the distance between the mobile information terminal 40 and the vehicle 10.The NFC module 16 is a module that performs near field communication with the mobile information terminal 40 to perform authentication for enabling digital key pairing between the mobile information terminal 40 and the vehicle 10, and vehicle operations with the mobile information terminal 40. Vehicle operations include locking and unlocking the vehicle 10 and starting the engine.The communication module 17 is a module that performs the inelecommunication with the management server 50 via a mobile communication network.The mobile information terminal 40 includes a storage device 41, a processor 42, an HMI 43, a BLE module 44, a UWB module 45, an NFC module 46, and a communication module 47.The mobile information terminal 40 performs various processes by causing the processor 42 to execute programs stored in the storage device 41.A first application 41 aand a second application 41 bare stored in the storage device 41. The first application and the second application are hereinafter referred to as first app and second app, respectively.The first app 41 ais a program provided as a digital key application from a manufacturer of the vehicle 10. The first app 41 aprovide various user interfaces (UIs) associated with the digital key, such as creating, deleting, activating and deactivating the digital key. The first app 41 aacquires the account information of the user and the like by performing interoperability with the management server 50 via the mobile communication network.The second app 41 bis a program provided as a digital key application from a manufacturer and the like of the mobile information terminal 40. The second app 41 b provides user interfaces (UIs) related to the digital key, such as creating, deleting, activating and deactivating the digital key. The second app 41 bperforms the intermediate communication with the device server 30 via the mobile communication network.The HMI 43 is a human machine interface. The human-machine interface device 43 includes an input device and a display device. The input device receives an operation of the user. The display device displays information in the form of images and speech to the user.The BLE module 44 is a module that performs near field communication with the vehicle 10 to perform authentication for enabling digital key pairing between the mobile information terminal 40 and the vehicle 10, and vehicle operation with the mobile information terminal 40.The UWB (Ultra-Wide Band) module 45 is a module that measures the distance between the mobile information terminal 40 and the vehicle 10.The near field communication (NFC) module 46 is a module that performs the near field communication with the vehicle 10 to perform the authentication for enabling the digital key pairing between the mobile information terminal 40 and the vehicle 10, and the vehicle operation with the mobile information terminal 40.The communication module 47 is a module that performs the inelecommunication with the management server 50 and the device server 30 via the mobile communication network.The device server 30 includes a storage device 31 and a processor 32. the storage device 31 includes various programs 31 p, and a database 31 din which various kinds of information are recorded. The device server 30 performs various processes by causing the processor 32 to execute the program 31 p. The device server 30 communicates with the management server 50 via a communication network.The device server 30 manages the mobile information terminal 40, and supplies the second app 41 bwith data necessary for the mobile information terminal 40. The device server 30 supplies necessary data to the management server 50.Re-issuing the passwordWhen the user performs an operation to delete the owner key registered in the mobile information terminal 40 from the mobile information terminal 40, the management server 50 performs a process of outputting a password required to re-register the owner key. An example of a case where the owner key is to be deleted from the mobile information terminal 40 is when the user changes the model of the mobile information terminal 40.FIG. 2 shows a flow of password re-issuing process.When the user deletes the owner key by operating the first app 41 aor the second app 41 bof the mobile information terminal 40 (S 10), the mobile information terminal 40 transmits data to the management server 50 (S 11). The data transmitted at this time includes data indicating that the owner key has been deleted.When the management server 50 receives the data transmitted from the mobile information terminal 40, the management server 50 plays back from a password to register the owner key, and stores the password in the database 51d (S12).Re-registration of Owner KeysIn the present embodiment, as methods for re-registering the owner key, when the owner key is deleted from the mobile information terminal 40 after the first registration of the owner key in the mobile information terminal 40, a first method, a second method, and a third method are prepared. An example of a case where the owner key is to be re-registered is when the user has changed the model of the mobile information terminal 40.First Re-registration MethodFIG. 3 shows a flow of the process of the first method for re-registering the owner key using the password issued from the management server 50.When the user logs in by activating the first app 41 aof the mobile information terminal 40 and inputting an account (S 20), the mobile information terminal 40 transmits data to the management server 50 (S 21). The data transmitted at this time includes data indicating that the user has logged on to the first app 41 aof the mobile information terminal 40, and data indicating the vehicle for which the owner key is to be re-logged.When the management server 50 receives the data transmitted from the mobile information terminal 40, the management server 50 transmits the re-output password stored in the database 51 dto the first app 41 aof the mobile information terminal 40 to which the user has logged in (S 22).When the mobile information terminal 40 receives the password transmitted from the management server 50, the first app 41 aacquires the password (S 23).Subsequently, the mobile information terminal 40 activates the second app 41 band automatically inserts the password obtained from the first app 41 ainto the second app 41 b(S 24).When the password is automatically input to the second app 41b, authentication is performed and registration of the owner key in the mobile information terminal 40 is completed (S25).Second Re-Registration MethodFIG. 4 shows a flow of the process of the second method for re-registering the owner key using the password issued from the management server 50.When the management server 50 issues the password in the process of S 12, the management server 50 transmits an e-mail to the user's e-mail account (S 30). This e-mail contains a description of a uniform resource locator (URL) indicating an address of a home page for automatically inputting the password to the second app 41b, which is a digital key application having the mobile information terminal 40.Next, the user activates the mail software in the mobile information terminal 40, and opens the e-mail (S31).Subsequently, when the user clicks the URL (S32) described in the e-mail displayed by the mail software in the mobile information terminal 40, data is transmitted from the mobile information terminal 40 to the management server 50 (S33). The data transmitted at this time includes data indicating that the user has clicked on the URL.When the management server 50 receives the data transmitted from the mobile information terminal 40, the management server 50 transmits data to the mobile information terminal 40 (S34). The data transmitted at this time includes the re-issued password stored in the database 51d.When the mobile information terminal 40 receives the password transmitted from the management server 50, the mobile information terminal 40 activates the second app 41 band automatically inputs the received password to the second app 41 b(S 35).When the password is automatically input to the second app 41 b, authentication is performed and registration of the owner key in the mobile information terminal 40 is completed (S 36).Third Re-registration MethodFIG. 5 shows a flow of the process of the third method for re-registering the owner key using the password issued from the management server 50.When the management server 50 issues the password in the process of S 12, the management server 50 transmits an e-mail to the user's e-mail account (S 41). The password issued from the management server 50 is described in this e-mail.Next, the user activates the mail software in the mobile information terminal 40 and opens the e-mail (S42).Then, the user requests digital key pairing by operating the HMI 13 of the vehicle 10 (S 43).Next, the user brings the mobile information terminal 40 to the NFC module 16 of the vehicle 10 to perform communication between the NFC modules (S 44).When communication is performed between the NFC modules, the mobile information terminal 40 transmits data to the digital keys ECU 11 in the vehicle 10 (S 45). The data transmitted at this time includes data indicating that there is a request for digital key pairing.When the digital key ECU 11 in the vehicle 10 receives the data transmitted from the mobile information terminal 40, the digital key ECU 11 transmits an instruction to activate the second app 41 bto the mobile information terminal 40 (S 46).When the mobile information terminal 40 is instructed to activate the second app 41 b, the mobile information terminal 40 activates the second app 41 b(S 47).When the second app 41 bis activating, the user inputs the password described in the e-mail to the second app 41 b(S 48).Then, the user brings the mobile information terminal 40 to the NFC module 16 of the vehicle 10 to perform communication between the NFC modules (S 49).When communication is performed between the NFC modules, the mobile information terminal 40 transmits data to the digital key ECU 11 in the vehicle 10 (S 50). The data transmitted at this time includes data indicating that there is a request for permission to register the digital key.When the digital key ECU 11 in the vehicle 10 receives the data transmitted from the mobile information terminal 40, the digital key ECU 11 transmits a registration instruction to the mobile information terminal 40 (S 51).When the mobile information terminal 40 receives the registration instruction, the mobile information terminal 40 performs the authentication and completes registration of the owner key (S52).Functions and Effects of the Present EmbodimentAs shown in FIG. 2, the management server 50 executes the process of outputting a password required to re-register the owner key when the owner key, which is the digital key, is deleted from the mobile information terminal 40. Thus, the deletion of the owner key for outputting the password results in requiring to re-register the owner key. Thus, it is possible to reduce the trouble for re-issuing the password.In the first re-registration method shown in FIG. 3, the management server 50 executes the process of transmitting the issued password to the first app 41 a, which is a digital key application having the mobile information terminal 40 of the vehicle owner (S 22). Thus, it is possible to save the user time and effort to input the password.In the second re-registration method illustrated in FIG. 4, the management server 50 executes the following process. Specifically, the management server 50 executes the process of transmitting, to the user's mail account, the address of the home page for automatically inputting the issued password to the second app 41 b, which is a digital key application having the vehicle owner's mobile information terminal 40 (S 30). Thus, it is possible to save the user time and effort to input the password.In the third re-registration method shown in FIG. 5, the management server 50 executes the process of transmitting the issued password to the mail account of the vehicle owner (S41). As compared with a case where the issued password is notified to the user by mail or the like, the user can promptly know the issued password. Thus, for example, the owner key can be quickly re-registered.ChangesThe embodiment may be modified and implemented as follows. The embodiment and the following modifications may be realized in combination with each other within a range where no technical contradiction exists.Although the first re-registration method, the second re-registration method, and the third re-registration method are prepared as the method for re-registering the owner key, at least one of these re-registration methods may be prepared.Although the mobile information terminal 40 has the first app 41 aand the second app 41 b, the first app 41 amay be omitted when the first re-registration method is not used.The management device may be configured to include a circuit having one or more processors operated according to a computer program, one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as dedicated hardware that executes at least some of the various processes, or a combination of these processors and hardware circuits. An example of the dedicated hardware is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, e.g., a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), and the memory stores program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute the processes. The memory, i.e., storage medium, includes any available medium that can be accessed by general purpose or special purpose computers.Supplementary ElementsTechnical ideas that can be derived from the embodiment and the modifications will be described.[Supplement 1] A management device for managing a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal to operate a vehicle, wherein the management device performs a process of outputting a password when an owner key, which is a digital key registered in the mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.[Supplement 2] The management device according to Supplement 1, wherein the management device executes a process of transmitting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 3] The management apparatus according to Supplement 1 or 2, wherein the management apparatus performs a process of transmitting, to a mail account of the vehicle owner, an address of a home page for automatically inputting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 4] The management device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 3, wherein the management device performs a process of transferring the issued password to a mail account of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 5] A management method for managing a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal to operate a vehicle, the management method being composed of a password when an owner key, which is a digital key registered in the mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.[Supplement 6] The management method according to Supplement 5, wherein the management method transmits the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 7] The management method according to Supplements 5 or 6, wherein the management method transmits, to a mail account of the vehicle owner, an address of a home page for automatically inputting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 8] The management method according to any one of Supplements 5 to 7, wherein the management method transfers the issued password to a mail account of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 9] A program to be executed by a management device for managing a digital key stored in a mobile information terminalA method of operating a vehicle, wherein the program causes the management device to output a password when an owner key, which is a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal, the password being required to re-register the owner key.[Supplement 10] The program according to Supplement 9, wherein the program causes the management device to execute a process of transmitting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 11] The program according to Supplement 9 or 10, wherein the program causes the management device to execute a process of transmitting, to a mail account of the vehicle owner, an address of a home page for automatically inputting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal of the vehicle owner.[Supplement 12] The program according to any one of Supplements 9 to 11, wherein the program causes the management device to perform a process of transferring the issued password to a mail account of the vehicle owner.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedJP 2023-98 289 A

[0002] JP 2023-131 424 A

[0002]

Claims

A management device (50) configured to manage a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal (40) to operate a vehicle (10), the management device (50) comprising a processor (52) configured to execute a process of outputting a password on a condition that an owner key, which is a digital key registered in the mobile information terminal (40) of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal (40), the password being required to re-register the owner key.The management device (50) according to claim 1, wherein the processor (52) is configured to execute a process of transmitting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal (40) of the vehicle owner.The management device (50) according to claim 2, wherein the digital key application includes a first application (41a) and a second application (41b), the processor (52) is configured to transmit the issued password to the first application (41a), and the issued password is automatically input from the first application (41a) to the second application (41b).The management device (50) according to claim 1, wherein the processor (52) is configured to execute a process of transmitting an address of a home page to a mail account of the vehicle owner, and the home page is for automatically inputting the issued password to a digital key application having the mobile information terminal (40) of the vehicle owner.The management device (50) according to claim 4, wherein the digital key application includes a first application (41a) and a second application (41b), the processor (52) is configured to, in response to receiving data from the mobile information terminal (40) to which the address has been transmitted, transmit the output password to the first application (41a), and the output password is automatically input from the first application (41a) to the second application (41b).The management device (50) according to claim 1, wherein the processor (52) is configured to execute a process for transmitting the issued password to a mail account of the vehicle owner.A method for managing a digital key registered in a mobile information terminal (40) to operate a vehicle (10), the method comprising outputting a password on a condition that an owner key, which is a digital key registered in the mobile information terminal (40) of a vehicle owner, is deleted from the mobile information terminal (40), the password being required to re-register the owner key.A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by one or more processors and causing the one or more processors to perform functions comprising: managing an owner key, which is a digital key, registered in a mobile information terminal (40) of a vehicle owner for operating a vehicle (10); and outputting a password on a condition that the owner key registered in the mobile information terminal (40) is deleted from the mobile information terminal (40), the password being required to re-register the owner key.

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