Relay system, relay device and program

Abstract

To provide a relay system capable of supporting wider variety of target control devices than conventional ones.SOLUTION: In a vehicle control system 2 which is provided with a vehicle control device 10 and a portable device 40 for mutually performing wireless communication on a predetermined communication specification, and performs control operation for a target control device in which the vehicle control device is arranged when a predetermined signal is communicated between both devices, a relay system 4 for relaying the wireless communication between both devices is capable of relaying the wireless communication among plural kinds of vehicle control systems having different communication specifications, and includes a vehicle relay device 20 and a portable relay device 30 mutually perform wireless communication, the vehicle relay device receives a signal from the vehicle control device and transmits a signal recognizable by the vehicle control device, the portable relay device receives a signal from the portable device, transmits a signal recognizable by the portable device, receives communication signals between both devices, discriminates the predetermined communication specification based on it, and applies the discriminated communication specification for the communication between the vehicle relay device and the vehicle control device and for the communication between the portable relay device and the portable device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, a relay system, a relay device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] As a vehicle security measure, there is a system in which authentication information is exchanged between a vehicle control device and a portable device that is capable of wireless communication with the vehicle control device, and vehicle control is performed with successful authentication between the vehicle control device and the portable device as one of the conditions.

[0003] For example, when starting the engine using a vehicle control device in a vehicle equipped with an immobilizer function, the vehicle control device performs an authentication process via wireless communication with an authorized portable device before starting the engine, and starts the engine if the authentication is successful.

[0004] The distance over which wireless communication is possible between this portable device and the vehicle control device is short, about 1 to 2 meters. Therefore, when starting the engine remotely from outside the vehicle, a system that relays wireless communication between the vehicle control device and the portable device is required, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, by relaying the wireless communication using a vehicle repeater and a portable repeater, it is possible to remotely start the engine in a vehicle equipped with an immobilizer function, even if the portable device is taken outside the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-49770 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when a conventional relay system is used, there are problems as follows: For example, the communication specifications (e.g., the data length of the communication signal transmitted and received) between the vehicle control device and the portable device differ depending on the vehicle model, etc. Therefore, for example, in order to accommodate the different data lengths for each vehicle model, the vehicle repeater constituting the relay system must be set for each vehicle model, such as the timing for receiving a communication signal (e.g., a response request signal) transmitted from the vehicle control device and switching to a state where it relays and transmits to the portable repeater, and the timing for receiving a communication signal (e.g., a response signal) transmitted from the portable repeater and switching to a state where it relays and transmits to the vehicle control device.

[0007] Similarly, for the portable repeaters that make up the relay system, the timing of switching to a state in which a signal (e.g., a response request signal) is received and relayed from the vehicle repeater and sent to the portable unit, and the timing of switching to a state in which a signal (e.g., a response signal) is received and relayed from the portable unit and sent to the vehicle repeater, etc. must be set for each vehicle type. This has led to the problem of having to prepare a relay system for each vehicle type.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a relay system or the like that can accommodate a greater number of vehicle models than ever before.

[0009] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is not limited to this, but is to obtain an effect from the configuration disclosed in the present specification and drawings. For example, the present specification discloses a problem in which the phrase "can be" is read as "the problem is to solve the problem." The present applicant intends to include a part of the configuration described in the present specification in the claims by amending or filing a divisional application. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] (1) For example, in a control system including a first device and a second device which perform wireless communication with each other under a predetermined communication specification, the first device being disposed in a controlled device, and performing a control operation of the controlled device in which the first device is disposed when a predetermined signal is communicated between the first device and the second device, a relay system which relays wireless communication between the first device and the second device, the predetermined communication specification between the first device and the second device being different, can relay wireless communication in a plurality of types of the control system, and includes a first relay device and a second intermediate device which perform wireless communication with each other under a predetermined communication specification. and a repeater, wherein the first repeater receives a signal from the first device and transmits a signal recognizable by the first device, and the second repeater receives a signal from the second device and transmits a signal recognizable by the second device, receives a communication signal for communication between the first device and the second device, determines the specified communication specification based on the received communication signal, and applies the determined specified communication specification to the communication of the first device with the first repeater and the communication of the second device with the second repeater.

[0011] In this way, even if the communication specifications differ for each control system, the communication specifications corresponding to each control system are automatically applied, thereby obtaining a relay system that can perform control operations of the controlled device in which the first device in the control system is placed.

[0012] The communication specifications may include the signal data length, the number of bits, the transmission time, the data frame, and so on.

[0013] The controlled device and the control system may be, for example, a vehicle and a vehicle control system disposed in the vehicle, respectively, and the first device and the second device may be, for example, a vehicle control device and a portable device, respectively. Also, the first repeater may be a vehicle repeater disposed in the vehicle, and the second repeater may be a portable repeater carried by a user.

[0014] In this way, even if the communication specifications differ for each vehicle model, it is possible to obtain a relay system that can automatically apply the communication specifications for each vehicle model and control the vehicle of that vehicle model. This reduces the need to prepare relay systems with communication specifications for each vehicle model, making inventory management at dealerships easier.

[0015] The operation of the controlled device controlled by the control operation of the control system may be any operation, but if the controlled device is a vehicle, it may be the operation of each part constituting the vehicle, such as opening and closing the vehicle door lock, or activating and shutting off the car security. In particular, it may be the starting of the engine or the motor system, which are the power sources of the vehicle, or the starting and stopping of the air conditioner. The relay system may be an engine starter that can remotely start the engine or the motor system, or the air conditioner, and stop them.

[0016] The control of the controlled device by the control system may be started or stopped by detecting a user's operation of an operation unit provided in the second repeater or an operation unit provided in the second device. For example, if the controlled device is a vehicle, the vehicle control system may detect a user's operation of an operation unit (e.g., an operation button) provided in a portable repeater, which is the second repeater, and perform a control operation of the controlled device via a vehicle repeater, which is the first repeater.

[0017] Detection of user operation of an operation unit provided on the second device may be particularly preferably performed based on a signal that the second device wirelessly transmits to the first device in response to the user operation of an operation unit provided on the second device and the received signal.

[0018] In particular, the user's operation of the operation unit provided on the second device may be different from the operation for causing the second device to cause the first device to perform a specified control operation of a specified controlled device from the first device.

[0019] In particular, the operation of the user of the operation unit provided in the second device may include an operation that triggers transmission of a wireless signal from the second device to the first device to cause the first device to perform a predetermined control operation of a predetermined controlled device from the first device, but may be an operation different from the operation. In particular, it may include an operation in which the same operation is not performed consecutively between the first device and the second device within a predetermined time. In particular, when a wireless signal in which the same operation has been performed a predetermined number of times consecutively within a predetermined time is received, the vehicle control system may be configured to perform a predetermined control operation of a predetermined controlled device from the vehicle repeater, which is the first repeater, to the second repeater.

[0020] For example, in a configuration in which the controlled device is a vehicle and the door lock is controlled, and the second device, a portable device, is provided with a button for locking the vehicle doors as an operation unit, the second repeater may detect that the user has pressed the door lock button three times in succession within one second, which is different from the operation for locking the vehicle doors (e.g., pressing the button once), by detecting that the second repeater has received the three door lock radio signals emitted by the second device consecutively within a predetermined time. When such detection is made, a command signal for starting the engine or the like may be wirelessly transmitted to the first repeater.

[0021] For example, if the controlled device is a vehicle and the second device, which is a portable device, is only provided with a button for unlocking and locking the vehicle doors as an operation unit, the user can perform an operation on the button other than the operation for unlocking and locking the vehicle doors, such as pressing the button three times in succession within one second, and the vehicle control system can start the engine or the motor system, or start the air conditioner, or stop these, via the second repeater and the first repeater.

[0022] The relay system may be configured such that the communication distance between the first repeater and the second repeater is longer than the communication distance between the first device and the second device. In this way, the user can remotely control the control system from a greater distance by operating the second repeater or the second device. As a configuration for making the communication distance between the first repeater and the second repeater longer, for example, the transmission power of the radio wave used for communication between the first repeater and the second repeater may be made larger than the transmission power of the radio wave used for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0023] The relay system may be applied to a control system in which communication between a first device and a second device is performed in the following order (hereinafter also referred to as "sequence"). [1] First, in order to start control of a controlled device using the first device, for example, when a start switch provided on the first device is operated, the first device transmits a response request signal as a communication signal. [2] When the second device receives the response request signal, it performs a predetermined process based on the response request signal and transmits a response signal generated as a communication signal. [3] If the received response signal is a predetermined response signal compared to the response request signal transmitted by the first device, the first device initiates control of the controlled device, and if the received response signal is not the predetermined response signal, the first device does not initiate control of the controlled device.

[0024] In a control system in which communication is performed in such a sequence, the relay system may relay communication between a first device and a second device in the control system in the following order: When the first relay receives a response request signal transmitted from the first device, it transmits a wireless response request signal based on the response request signal. When the second relay receives a wireless response request signal, it generates from the wireless response request signal a forwarding response request signal that the second device recognizes as a response request signal, and transmits the generated forwarding response request signal to the second device (hereinafter, the first relay receiving the response request signal and the second relay transmitting the forwarding response request signal are also referred to as "relaying a response request signal").

[0025] Regarding the response signal, when the second repeater receives the response signal transmitted from the second device, it transmits a wireless response signal based on the response signal. When the first repeater receives the wireless response signal, it generates a forwarding response signal from the wireless response signal that the first device recognizes as a response signal, and transmits the generated forwarding response signal to the first device (hereinafter, the second repeater receiving the response signal and the first repeater transmitting the forwarding response signal are also referred to as "relaying the response signal").

[0026] The forwarded response request signal may be exactly the same as the original response request signal, or may be different from the original response request signal, as long as the second device can recognize it as a response request signal.Similarly, the forwarded response signal may be exactly the same as the original response signal, or may be different from the original response signal, as long as the first device can recognize it as a response signal.

[0027] Furthermore, the relay system may be particularly applicable to a control system that performs the above sequence twice (for example, a startup sequence and a subsequent authentication sequence).

[0028] The determination of the communication specifications may be performed each time communication occurs in the control system, but it is particularly preferable to perform the determination when communication occurs for the first time in the control system after the relay system is installed in the control system. Furthermore, the determination result and information related to the determined communication specifications may be recorded in a storage means provided in each of the first and second relays, and the first and second relays may operate based on the recorded information. Furthermore, it is preferable that the control system cannot control the start of the controlled device through the relay system unless the determined communication specifications are applied to the relay system.

[0029] If the communication specifications are to be determined when communication in the control system first occurs after the relay system is installed in the controlled device, then, for example, the control system can be started up using a start-up switch provided in the controlled device for the first time after the relay system is installed, and a communication signal can be sent from the first device. For example, a dip switch can be provided in the first repeater, and the relay system can be placed in setting mode using the dip switch, and then the start-up operation can be performed using the start-up switch provided in the controlled device, causing a communication signal to be sent from the first device.

[0030] The communication specifications may be determined based on, for example, the data length of the communication signal. Consider an example in which the data length of a communication signal of a control system A is shorter than that of a communication signal of another control system B, and a relay system compatible only with the control system A is used for the control system B.

[0031] Between a first repeater and a second repeater which perform wireless communication with each other, a communication signal (e.g., a wireless response request signal) may be transmitted from the first repeater and received by the second repeater, and a communication signal (e.g., a wireless response signal) may be transmitted from the second repeater and received by the first repeater.

[0032] The first repeater may be provided with separate transmitting means and receiving means for communicating with the second repeater, or may be provided with a transmitting / receiving means that can be used for both transmitting and receiving. Similarly, the second repeater may be provided with separate transmitting means and receiving means for communicating with the first repeater, or may be provided with a transmitting / receiving means that can be used for both transmitting and receiving.

[0033] In a second repeater of a repeater system corresponding only to control system A, when a communication signal is transmitted and received with the first repeater using a transmission / reception means for both transmission and reception, it is preferable to switch between the receiving state of the communication signal from the first repeater and the transmitting state of the communication signal to the first repeater at an appropriate timing according to the data length of the communication signal of control system A.

[0034] If the data length of a communication signal from control system A is shorter than that of a communication signal from another control system B, a second repeater that receives a communication signal from a first repeater may switch from a state of receiving a communication signal from the first repeater to a state of transmitting a communication signal to the first repeater before completing reception of the communication signal from the first repeater, which may result in an error.

[0035] However, by applying communication specifications determined based on communication signals, it is possible to obtain a relay system in which, for example, the timing for switching the transmission / reception states of the first relay device and the second relay device is automatically set according to the control system, thereby reducing the occurrence of such errors.

[0036] The communication specification may be determined by only the first repeater, only the second repeater, or both the first and second repeaters. When the communication specification based on the communication signal is determined by only the first repeater, information on the determined communication specification may be transmitted from the first repeater to the second repeater.

[0037] When determining the communication specifications, a distance instruction means may be provided that instructs the first repeater and the second repeater to be at a distance where they can communicate with each other and the first device and the second device to be at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other. The distance instruction means may be written on paper like an instruction manual, or may be a distance notification means that determines the distance or communication state between the first repeater and the second repeater and the distance or communication state between the first device and the second device and notifies whether the first repeater and the second repeater are at a distance where they can communicate with each other and the first device and the second device are at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other. The notification by the distance notification means may be performed by providing a display unit or an audio output unit in the first repeater or the second repeater and outputting the information on the display unit or as audio from the audio output unit.

[0038] In this way, it is possible to prevent the first device and the second device from completing communication without going through the relay system before application of the specific communication specification to the relay system is completed.

[0039] The distance notification means may instruct the first repeater and the second repeater to be at a distance where they can communicate with each other and the first device and the second device to be at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other not only when the communication specifications are determined but also when the relay system is in use. Note that the distance notification means may not instruct the first repeater and the second repeater to be at a distance where they can communicate with each other but only when the relay system is in use.

[0040] The first repeater may be provided with a specification notification means for notifying which communication specification has been applied when the determined communication specification has been applied. The specification notification means may include a storage unit for storing notification contents corresponding to the determined communication specification, and a display unit or a voice output unit. When application of the communication specification is completed, the display unit may display which communication specification has been applied, or the voice output unit may output the communication specification as a voice. The notification contents may be information that can identify which communication specification has been applied, such as the vehicle manufacturer and model, or, in the case where the communication specifications stored in the repeater system are managed by numbers, may be, for example, "Communication specification 1 has been applied." The display unit may display whether the determined communication specification has been applied or not.

[0041] (2) The communication specifications may be determined based on at least one of the number of bits, the transmission time, and the data frame configuration of at least one of the communication signals, which are a response request signal transmitted from the first device and a response signal transmitted from the second device in response to the response request signal.

[0042] In this way, the type of control system can be accurately determined, and more accurate communication specifications can be applied.

[0043] If the control system is, for example, a vehicle control system, the vehicle type can be accurately determined, and the timing for switching the transmission / reception states of the first repeater and the second repeater can be set more accurately.

[0044] When the control system performs two communication signal sequences, a startup sequence and a subsequent authentication sequence, the communication specification may be determined based on the transmission time of a response request signal in the startup sequence, such as a WAKE signal.

[0045] The communication specifications may be determined based on at least two of the number of bits, the transmission time, and the data frame configuration for at least one of the response request signal and the response signal.

[0046] (3) The control system may use, as the communication signals between the first device and the second device, a plurality of sets of a response request signal transmitted from the first device and a response signal transmitted from the second device in response to the response request signal, and may determine the communication specifications based on the response request signal and the response signal of each set.

[0047] In this way, it is possible to more accurately identify the model of the controlled device in which the control system is installed. For example, if the controlled device is a vehicle, the vehicle control system can determine the communication specifications based on the communication signals for both the startup sequence and the authentication sequence using two sets of response request signals and response signals, thereby applying the correct communication specifications and more accurately setting the timing for switching the transmission / reception states of, for example, the first repeater and the second repeater.

[0048] (4) The communication specifications are determined by a determination means provided in the first repeater, and when application of the determined communication specifications to the first repeater and the second repeater is completed, the second repeater is provided with an operation possibility notification means for notifying that a user can start or stop the control operation of the controlled device by the control system via the first repeater and the second repeater.

[0049] In this way, the user can know that it is now possible to operate the controlled device using the relay system, and it is possible to prevent the user from attempting to operate the controlled device when it is not possible to do so.

[0050] The result of the determination of the communication specifications by the determination means provided in the first repeater may be transmitted from the first repeater to the second repeater by a communication other than the relay of the communication signal of the control system.

[0051] The operation availability notification means provided in the second repeater may be an audio output means or a display means. The audio output means may output a short signal sound such as "beep" or a voice saying "Available" when it becomes possible to operate the controlled device using the relay system. The display means may be, for example, an LED that changes from a red light state to a blue light state when it becomes possible to operate the controlled device using the relay system, or may be, for example, an LCD screen that displays a character or a mark indicating that the controlled device is available when it becomes possible to operate the controlled device using the relay system. The operation availability notification means may be provided in the first repeater.

[0052] (5) The controlled device may be a vehicle and vehicle components that configure the vehicle, the first device may be a vehicle control device provided in the vehicle, and the second device may be a portable device.

[0053] In this way, the relay system can be used to operate the vehicle or vehicle components. The vehicle components may be any type, such as a door lock mechanism, a car security system, or an air conditioner, and in particular, an engine or a motor that is the power source of the vehicle.

[0054] (6) A storage means for storing information regarding a plurality of types of communication signals, and a comparison means for comparing the communication signal received by the first repeater or the second repeater from the first device or the second device to which of the plurality of types of communication signals stored in the storage means corresponds, and the determination of the specified communication specification may be performed by comparing the communication signal by the comparison means.

[0055] In this way, the communication specifications can be reliably determined, and the first and second repeaters can be accurately set.

[0056] The information regarding the multiple types of communication signals may be information for identifying each type of the multiple types of communication signals, may be information regarding the characteristics of each communication signal, or may be information regarding differences between each communication signal.

[0057] (7) The control system uses, as the communication signal, a response request signal transmitted from the first device and a response signal transmitted from the second device in response to the response request signal, and the second device transmits the response signal at a frequency based on frequency designation information contained in the response request signal, the frequency designation information is included in the predetermined communication specification determined based on the response request signal, and the second repeater receives the response signal transmitted from the second device at a frequency based on the frequency designation information.

[0058] In this way, even if the frequency at which the second device transmits a response signal differs for each control system or each communication, the response signal can be relayed by the same relay system.

[0059] The frequency at which the second device transmits the response signal may be in accordance with the communications specifications.

[0060] (8) The second repeater includes a first transceiver unit that performs wireless communication with the first repeater, and a second transceiver unit that performs wireless communication with the second device and transmits the communication signal between the first transceiver unit and the second device, and transmission of the communication signal from the second transceiver unit to the first transceiver unit is blocked except when the communication signal transmitted from the second device is being received, and when the first transceiver unit has completed receiving the communication signal transmitted from the first repeater, it is switched to a state of transmitting the communication signal transmitted from the second transceiver unit to the first repeater.

[0061] In the second repeater, if the second transceiver unit transmits the communication signal transmitted from the second device to the first transceiver unit, and the first transceiver unit transmits the communication signal transmitted from the second transceiver unit as is, there is a problem that when the second transceiver unit receives noise when it is not receiving a communication signal transmitted from the second device, the noise is transmitted from the first transceiver unit.

[0062] Here, in the second repeater, even if the first transceiver unit transmits the signal transmitted from the second transceiver unit as is, if the transmission of the communication signal from the second transceiver unit to the first transceiver unit is blocked except when the communication signal transmitted from the second device is being received, it is possible to suppress the transmission of noise when relaying the communication signal transmitted from the second device to the first device.

[0063] Furthermore, in the second repeater, when the first transceiver completes receiving the communication signal transmitted from the first repeater, the first transceiver switches to a state of transmitting the communication signal transmitted from the second transceiver to the first repeater, so that there is little delay in time between when the communication signal is transmitted from the first device and when it returns to the first device. Therefore, even if the control system is a vehicle control system and the time between when the vehicle control device transmits a response request signal and when the portable device starts transmitting a response signal is set to a short time by the vehicle manufacturer when starting the engine, the possibility of being unable to start the engine using the relay system can be reduced.

[0064] The communication signal from the second transceiver to the first transceiver may be blocked, for example, by using a control unit that outputs a control signal only when it detects that a communication signal has been transmitted from the second device, and an AND circuit that outputs to the first transceiver the logical product of the control signal output from the control unit and the communication signal output from the second transceiver.

[0065] (9) In the control system, the first device wirelessly communicates the predetermined signal for controlling the controlled device with each of the plurality of second devices, and in response to a first response request signal and a second response request signal transmitted by the first device as the communication signal, each of the second devices transmits a corresponding unique first response signal and a unique second response signal, and the first repeater stores information on the first response signal transmitted from the plurality of second devices. An operation detection means for detecting an operation of at least one of the controlled device, the first device, the first repeater, and the second repeater is connected to the first repeater or the second repeater, and the first repeater that receives the first response request signal transmitted by the first device detects the operation of the stored information. The first device transmits one of the signals that the first device recognizes as one of the unique first response signals based on information about the first response signal, the first device that recognizes the signal as one of the unique first response signals transmits the second response request signal, and one of the second devices that receives a signal that the second device recognizes as the second response request signal, which is transmitted from a second repeater that has received a signal based on the second response request signal transmitted by the first device via the first repeater, transmits the unique second response signal, and then the first repeater sequentially transmits signals that the first device recognizes as one of the unique first response signals based on information about the first response signal stored in the first repeater until the operation detection means detects that at least one of the first device, the controlled device, the first repeater, and the second repeater has operated.

[0066] By having the first repeater perform the operation of sequentially transmitting signals that the first device recognizes as one of the unique first response signals (hereinafter also referred to as the "sequential transmission operation") in this manner, when performing authentication operation between the first device and the second device using the relay system, there is no need to relay the first response signal from the second device to the first device, and the power used by the relay system can be reduced.

[0067] The motion detection means may be connected to the first repeater or the second repeater by wire or wirelessly.

[0068] The operation of the second repeater detected by the operation detection means may be the second repeater receiving the second response signal transmitted by the second device. The operation of the first repeater detected by the operation detection means may be the first repeater receiving a wireless response signal transmitted by the second repeater based on the second response signal. The operation of the first device detected by the operation detection means may be the first device receiving a signal transmitted by the first repeater that is recognized as the second response signal by the first device. The operation of the controlled device detected by the operation detection means may be an operation based on a control operation of a control system performed by the first device when the first device recognizes the second response signal, and in the case where the controlled device is a vehicle, may be, for example, starting an engine or a motor system, or starting an air conditioner.

[0069] The authentication operation between the first device and the second device using the relay system can be performed, for example, in the following steps.

[0070] [1] a step in which a first repeater transmits a wake-up trigger signal to a first device; [2] a step in which the first device receives the wake-up trigger signal and transmits a first response request signal; [3] a step in which the first repeater, having received the first response request signal, transmits one of the signals that the first device recognizes as one of the unique first response signals based on information about the first response signal that it stores; [4] a step in which the first device, having recognized the signal as one of the unique first response signals, transmits a second response request signal; [5] a step in which the first repeater and the second repeater relay the second response request signal; and [6] a step in which the second response request signal is transmitted to the first repeater.

[0023] The method includes a step of one of the second repeaters that recognizes the first response signal transmitting a second response signal, and a step [7] of the second repeater and the first repeater relaying the second response signal, and after these steps, if the first device receives the relayed second response signal and recognizes that the first response signal and the second response signal correspond to each other, the authentication operation is completed, and if the first device does not recognize that the first response signal and the second response signal correspond to each other, the first repeater transmits a signal that the first device recognizes as one of its unique first response signals, other than the signal transmitted in step [3], as a sequential transmission operation.

[0071] (10) The controlled device is a vehicle control system, and the determination of the communication specifications may be performed by determining differences in communication specifications between vehicle manufacturers. In this way, it is possible to simply manufacture the same relay system for vehicles from different manufacturers, reducing the need for inventory management of relay systems for each manufacturer at dealerships. In addition, the burden of work and management can be reduced at the relay system manufacturing site and at the vehicle installation site. (11) It is preferable not to provide a setting means for manually setting the communication specifications of the wireless communication between the first device and the second device. In this way, there is no need to attach an instruction manual for manual setting. Also, the possibility of making a mistake in manual setting can be reduced. For example, it is preferable not to provide a dip switch or the like for manually setting the communication specifications of the vehicle model, etc. (12) It is preferable to provide a switching means to a discrimination mode for discriminating the communication specifications, and in the discrimination mode, the first repeater does not transmit a signal based on the second repeater received to the first device. In this way, it is easier to ensure safety and reliability. It is preferable to provide a switching means to a discrimination mode for discriminating the communication specifications, and in the discrimination mode, the communication specifications are discriminated or set based on a signal received from the second repeater, and the first repeater does not transmit a signal based on the second repeater received to the first device. The switching means may be configured with a switch or the like, but in a vehicle having a button on the second device, it is preferable to set the discrimination mode when the second repeater receives a radio wave transmitted by an operation other than the operation defined as the vehicle operation for the button. The switching from the discrimination mode to the relay mode, which is a state in which relaying is performed, may be performed manually by a switch or the like, but it is preferable to automatically end the discrimination mode and switch to the relay mode after the communication specifications are successfully discriminated in the discrimination mode.

[0072] (13) The reception of the communication signal between the first device and the second device, which is performed to determine the communication specification, may be configured such that at least one of the means for directly receiving the signal from the first device or the second device or the means for receiving the communication signal for relaying is provided in at least one of the first repeater or the second repeater. The phrase "receiving a communication signal for communication between the first device and the second device" in (1) may be, for example, a configuration in which the first repeater and the second repeater are located within the communication range between the first device and the second device and directly receive the communication between the devices, but is not limited to this. For example, the second repeater may be configured to indirectly receive the signal of the first device by receiving the signal of the first device relayed from the first repeater and receiving the radio wave from the first repeater. For example, the first repeater may be configured to indirectly receive the signal of the second device by receiving the signal of the second device relayed from the second repeater and receiving the radio wave from the second repeater. In addition, various configurations for indirect reception may be used. In this way, a means for receiving a relay signal of a signal from a device may be used to indirectly receive a communication signal between the first device and the second device. In this way, the number of receivers for the repeater to directly receive the device's signal can be reduced, and the cost of the repeater can be significantly reduced.

[0073] (14) For example, it may be configured as a first repeater in the repeater system described in any one of (1) to (9) above. (15) For example, it may be configured as a second repeater in the repeater system described in any one of (1) to (9) above. Such a device may be configured, for example, as a device used in the vehicle control system described above. The device used in the vehicle control system may be configured, for example, as a vehicle repeater or a portable repeater provided with an engine start button, as a device for a relay system used as an engine starter.

[0074] (16) It is advisable to have a function for determining whether the engine is running or not, and to process the signal so as not to relay the signal when the engine is running.

[0075] (17) It is preferable to have a means for identifying the current location (e.g., position) and to process so that relaying is not performed at a specific location (e.g., preset). Also, for example, the process may be performed so that relaying is performed at a specific location (e.g., preset) (e.g., relaying at home in an apartment building, but not at a vacation home). For example, it may be possible to set relay-prohibited points (e.g., areas).

[0076] (18) When the temperature (e.g., inside the vehicle) is within a certain range (e.g., a comfortable temperature range), it is advisable to control so as not to relay the signal.

[0077] (19) It is preferable to provide the second repeater with an LF receiving function for receiving LF data transmitted by the first device or the like, and to control the second repeater so as not to relay the LF data when it is being received.

[0078] (20) The second repeater is provided with a function to transmit the same signal (LF data) as the signal from the vehicle such as the first device when there is no signal from the vehicle (for example, a function to transmit when a check button provided on the second repeater is pressed, or at regular time intervals (for example, every minute)), and determines whether a response signal to the signal transmitted by the second repeater is returned from the genuine key, which is the second device (for example, whether the two are within an appropriate distance range). If no response signal is returned, it is preferable to provide a function to notify the user. In this case, it is preferable to control the response signal from the genuine key so that it is not relayed to the first repeater. Signal patterns for each vehicle model may be stored in advance and a signal based on the stored pattern may be sent, but it is particularly preferable to store the signal from the vehicle relayed from the vehicle repeater and send a signal based on that signal.

[0079] (21) The first repeater may have a function for connecting to an in-vehicle LAN and a function for controlling not to relay the signal based on the state of the in-vehicle LAN. For example, when the door opening is detected from the in-vehicle LAN (e.g., CAN), the first repeater may not relay the signal.

[0080] (22) It is preferable to provide a function to limit the relay operation time of the relay device. For example, it is preferable to limit the relay operation time to a predetermined range (for example, a few seconds) after pressing the engine start button. For example, in the conventional portable repeater and the genuine key, they are connected by a ring, but when the two are connected by a ring, they may get caught on other things in a bag, making them inconvenient to use. If it is allowed to be several meters apart, for example, a problem occurs in that the portable repeater (second repeater) relays a signal from a genuine key of another car of the same model. The frequency of occurrence of such a problem can be reduced. It is also preferable to provide a function to check whether a genuine key of another car of the same model is responding, and if so, to issue a notification to that effect. It is also possible to control the relaying of signals to stop when it is determined that the data is not the correct genuine key data.

[0081] (23) If there are buttons on both the second device and the second repeater, there is an issue that it is easy to press the wrong button. The second repeater has an RF receiver for relaying, so it is good to use it for purposes other than relaying. For example, the buttons can be eliminated from the second repeater. The portable repeater is limited to relaying and notification (especially sound notification rather than visual notification is preferable). For example, the operation is to press a specific button on the second device multiple times (such as pressing the lock button twice in succession within one second) to start the engine. When such a specific operation is received and detected by the portable repeater as a signal sent from the genuine key, it is good to send an engine start signal.

[0082] (24) It is preferable that the second device has a function of changing the operation of the second repeater depending on whether the second device is near the second repeater. For example, when it detects that the engine start button of the portable repeater, which is the second repeater, is pressed, before sending the engine start signal to the vehicle repeater, which is the first repeater (or after it is sent, in which case the vehicle repeater may have a delay before sending the engine start signal to the vehicle), it sends a signal (e.g., LF data) to confirm whether the genuine key, which is the second device, is near the portable repeater, and if it is determined that the genuine key is near the portable repeater, it sends the engine start signal to the vehicle repeater. If it is determined that the genuine key is not near the portable repeater, it does not send the engine start signal to the vehicle repeater. If the genuine key is not near the portable repeater, it is preferable that an alert is issued indicating that the genuine key is not near the portable repeater.

[0083] In addition, for example, assuming that the driver forgets the portable repeater at home and is cleaning the car in the parking lot at home while a child at home presses the engine start button on the portable repeater, the vehicle repeater should be equipped with a function to detect whether or not the original key is inside the vehicle (for example, by directly connecting to the ECU, monitoring the in-vehicle LAN, or detecting with an RF receiver), and if the original key is detected to be present in the vehicle but an engine start signal is received from the portable repeater, an alert should be issued to indicate that this is the situation.

[0084] (25) The LF data should be recognized as a regular signal by the portable device (genuine key, second device), but should be different from the LF data emitted by the vehicle (vehicle control device). A device equipped with an LF receiver (for example, a vehicle repeater (first repeater) should be equipped with this function) should have a function to distinguish between these two LF data and record which LF data was received.

[0085] (26) The RF data is recognized by the vehicle as a regular signal, but is different from the RF data emitted by the genuine key (second device). A device equipped with an RF receiver (for example, a portable repeater (second repeater) should have this function) should have a function to distinguish between these two RF signals and record which RF signal was received.

[0086] (27) For example, the functions described in any one of (1) to (26) above may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize the functions. The program may be a program for a first repeater and a program for a second repeater.

[0087] The above-mentioned inventions (1) to (26) can be combined in any way. For example, it may be possible to have at least one of the other configurations (2) to (26) without having all or a part of the configuration (1). However, it is particularly preferable to have all or a part of the configuration (1) in combination with at least one of the configurations (2) to (26). In addition, any component may be extracted from at least one of the configurations (1) to (26) and combined. The applicant of the present application intends to obtain patent rights for such configurations as well.

[0088] The specific aspects of the present invention described above are merely examples, and some aspects may be expanded or limited. Effect of the Invention

[0089] According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to provide a relay system or the like that is compatible with many types of controlled devices (for example, many vehicle models) and many control systems. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0090] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a vehicle remote control system using a relay system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication sequence of only the vehicle control system in the vehicle remote operation system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a communication sequence of each data signal. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a timing chart of LF data and RF data in a vehicle control system. (a) of the figure shows the vehicle control system installed in vehicle A, and (b) of the figure shows the vehicle control system installed in vehicle B. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a portable repeater according to the third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a timing chart of LF data and RF data in the vehicle control system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a timing chart of LF data and RF data in a vehicle control system capable of using multiple portable devices. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a communication sequence of each data signal in the vehicle remote control system according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0091] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments exemplified below, and it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the claims without departing from the teachings and spirit of the present invention.

[0092] [Basic configuration of a vehicle remote control system using a relay system] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a vehicle remote control system using a relay system. Using the diagram, the operation of the communication process will be explained, and the basic configuration that is the premise of this vehicle remote control system will be explained. The vehicle remote control system 1 includes a vehicle control device 10 (first device), a vehicle repeater 20 (first repeater), a portable repeater 30 (second repeater), and a portable device 40 (second device). The vehicle control device 10 and the vehicle repeater 20 are installed in a vehicle 6, and the portable repeater 30 and the portable device 40 are carried by a user. In the vehicle remote control system 1, the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 constitute a vehicle control system 2, and the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 constitute a relay system 4. Here, the vehicle control system 2 is originally equipped in the vehicle when the vehicle is shipped from the vehicle manufacturer's factory, and the relay system 4 is a system that is retrofitted to the vehicle.

[0093] [Vehicle control device] The vehicle control device 10 is a device for controlling a specific device provided in the vehicle 6. The control of this specific device is for starting the vehicle 6 into a state in which it can run in response to a user operation such as pressing a push start button provided in the vehicle 6, and may include turning on a starter motor (engine start) in an automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.

[0094] The vehicle control device 10 that constitutes the vehicle control system 2 performs control of the engine start, etc., prior to controlling the equipment of the vehicle 6 to be controlled, with one of the conditions being successful authentication using the authentication information stored in the portable device 40 and the authentication information stored in the vehicle control device 10.

[0095] In order to perform this process, the vehicle control device 10 is configured to be able to wirelessly exchange communication signals with the portable device 40. The vehicle control device 10 includes a control unit 12, a transmission / reception unit 14, and an authentication information storage unit 16. The vehicle control device 10 is connected to a battery 6a of the vehicle 6 and receives power supply. The vehicle control device 10 communicates with devices of the vehicle 6 to be controlled, for example, by wired communication, and controls the specified devices. The authentication information storage unit 16 is a non-volatile storage means, and stores authentication information of the authorized portable device 40. The authentication information is, for example, an ID code. When there are multiple authorized portable devices 40, the authentication information of each of the multiple portable devices 40 is stored.

[0096] The control unit 12 is configured with, for example, a microcomputer, and realizes the following functions by executing a program stored in a built-in ROM with an internal CPU. The control unit 12 has a function of outputting a control signal for controlling an apparatus of the vehicle 6 to be controlled, and a function of outputting command data (hereinafter also referred to as "LF data") for communicating with other devices, such as a response request signal, which is a communication signal for confirming the presence of the authorized portable device 40, based on the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 16.

[0097] The transceiver 14 performs wireless communication with the transceiver 44 implemented in the portable device 40 and the first vehicle transceiver 24 implemented in the vehicle repeater 20. The transceiver 14 is configured with a transceiver RFIC. The transceiver 14 has a function of wirelessly transmitting LF data such as various command data output from the control unit 12 at a first frequency (hereinafter also referred to as "LF"), a function of receiving command data (hereinafter also referred to as "RF data") wirelessly transmitted from another device at a second frequency (hereinafter also referred to as "RF"), and passing the same to the control unit 12.

[0098] The second frequency is higher than the first frequency, and the communication distance of RF data using the second frequency is longer than the communication distance of LF data using the first frequency. For example, the first frequency (LF) is 134 kHz, and the second frequency (RF) is 314 MHz.

[0099] [Portable device] The portable device 40 is, for example, what is called a smart key or a genuine key. The portable device 40 includes a control unit 42, a transmission / reception unit 44, and an authentication information storage unit 46. The power source for the portable device 40 is a built-in primary battery 40a. If a commercially available dry cell or button cell is used as the primary battery 40a, it is preferable because it can be easily obtained, installed, and handled. In particular, if a button cell is used, it is preferable because the portable device 40 can be made smaller.

[0100] The authentication information storage unit 46 stores a unique ID code as authentication information for the immobilizer function. The control unit 42 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer, and realizes the functions described below by executing a program stored in a built-in ROM by an internal CPU. When the control unit 42 receives a response request signal addressed to itself from the paired vehicle control device 10, it outputs a response signal (hereinafter also referred to as "response data" and included in "RF data"). The transceiver unit 44 performs wireless communication with the transceiver unit 14 mounted on the vehicle control device 10 and the first mobile side transceiver unit 34 mounted on the mobile repeater 30. For example, it is configured by a transceiver RFIC. This transceiver unit 4b has a function of receiving LF data such as command data wirelessly transmitted at a first frequency and passing it to the control unit 42, a function of wirelessly transmitting RF data such as various command data such as a response signal output from the control unit 42 at a second frequency, and the like.

[0101] [Engine start process] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the communication sequence of only the vehicle control system that is originally equipped in the vehicle when it is shipped from the vehicle manufacturer's factory, among the vehicle remote operation systems. The numbers in parentheses in the following explanation correspond to the numbers in parentheses in the figure. The sequence shown in the figure consists of a startup sequence and an authentication sequence.

[0102] (1, 2) When a transmission timing such as receiving a predetermined trigger signal is met, the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 transmits a WAKE signal (a type of LF data) as a response request signal from the transmission / reception unit 14. An example of the predetermined trigger signal is a foot brake signal that is output when the foot brake pedal of the vehicle 6 is depressed.

[0103] (3) When the portable device 40 is within communication distance of the WAKE signal and receives the WAKE signal, the portable device 40 wirelessly transmits an ACK signal (a type of RF data) as a response signal. The transceiver unit 14 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the ACK signal, and the control unit 12 confirms the presence of the portable device 40. This is the startup sequence. (4) When the vehicle control device 10 confirms the presence of the portable device 40 in the startup sequence, the process proceeds to an authentication sequence. In the authentication sequence, the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 accesses the authentication information storage unit 16, acquires an ID code as stored authentication information, and outputs a challenge signal (a type of LF data) that is a response request signal including the ID code.

[0104] (5) When the portable device 40 recognizes that the challenge signal received from the ID code is addressed to itself, the portable device 40 wirelessly transmits a response signal (a type of RF data) that is a response signal including its own authentication information. When the transceiver unit 14 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the response signal, authentication of the portable device 40 is completed.

[0105] As described above, the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 performs the engine start process on one of the conditions that the vehicle control device 10 receives a response signal including valid authentication information within a certain time after outputting a response request signal. In this embodiment, when the vehicle control device 10 receives a challenge signal within a certain time after outputting a WAKE signal and completes authentication, the engine is started by pressing a push start button provided on the vehicle 6 to turn on an engine start request signal in this authentication completion state.

[0106] [Relay system] The communication distance between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 shown in Fig. 2 described above is relatively short because it is sufficient for communication to be possible when, for example, a driver carrying the portable device 40 is sitting in the driver's seat and performing an operation to start the engine. This relatively short distance is about 1 to 2 m when the first frequency for transmitting the LF data is 134 kHz.

[0107] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle control system 2 is provided with a vehicle repeater 20 and a portable repeater 30 which constitute a relay system 4, and the wireless communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 is relayed by these repeaters, thereby increasing the communication distance.

[0108] By increasing the communication distance in this manner, the present system can perform authentication using authentication information between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable unit 40, even if the user carrying the portable repeater 30 and the portable unit 40 is located relatively far from the vehicle 6, and can start the engine by operating the portable repeater 30 or the portable unit 40 from the remote location.

[0109] [Vehicle repeater] The vehicle repeater 20 is placed at a predetermined position in the vehicle 6. The vehicle repeater 20 includes a control unit 22 that controls the vehicle repeater 20, a first vehicle side transceiver 24 for wireless communication with the vehicle control device 10, a second vehicle side transceiver 26 for wireless communication with the portable repeater 30, and a parameter storage unit 28 for storing various parameters of communication signals and communication specifications. The vehicle repeater 20 is connected to the battery 6a of the vehicle 6 and receives power. The control unit 22 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer, and realizes the functions described below by the built-in CPU executing a program stored in the built-in ROM. In addition, the first vehicle side transceiver 24 and the second vehicle side transceiver 26 are each configured by a transceiver RFIC. The vehicle repeater 20 further includes a start-up trigger output unit 20a, a setting switch 20b, and an alarm unit 20c.

[0110] The first vehicle-side transceiver 24 transmits and receives data to and from the transceiver 14 of the vehicle control device 10, receives radio waves wirelessly transmitted at a first frequency (LF) which is the transmission frequency band of the transceiver 14, and wirelessly transmits at a second frequency (RF).Since the communication distance is short, it uses weak radio waves used in a weak radio station, which is one type of radio station.

[0111] The second vehicle-side transmitting / receiving unit 26 uses radio waves of a third frequency (hereinafter also referred to as "SG") included in the frequency band used by specified low-power radio stations. By using this specified low-power radio communication, the communication distance is, for example, about 1 to 2 km in line of sight, and even if there are obstacles, it is, for example, about several hundred meters. Therefore, even if the home is a detached house or an apartment building and the vehicle 6 is parked in a parking lot on the premises, communication with the vehicle control device 10 is possible. As an example, the third frequency (SG) is 922 MHz.

[0112] In this embodiment, the vehicle repeater 20 and the vehicle control device 10 are connected by a communication cable 8 that performs wired communication. The control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 uses this wired communication to transmit a foot brake signal and an engine start request signal from the start trigger output unit 20a to the vehicle control device 10. The foot brake signal is a signal corresponding to a signal output when the foot brake pedal of the vehicle 6 is stepped on. The engine start request signal is a signal corresponding to a signal output when, for example, the push start button of the vehicle 6 is pressed.

[0113] [Mobile repeater] The mobile repeater 30 comprises a control unit 32 which controls the mobile repeater 30, a first mobile side transceiver 34 for communicating with the mobile device 40, a second mobile side transceiver 36 for communicating with the vehicle repeater 20, and a parameter memory unit 38 which stores various parameters, signals, and communication specifications. The mobile repeater 30 further comprises an operation unit 30b and an alarm unit 30c.

[0114] The operation unit 30b is, for example, a push button switch that corresponds to an operation instruction such as a start switch, a stop switch, etc. A user at a location away from the vehicle 6 can operate the vehicle control device 10 mounted on the vehicle 6 by pressing the operation unit 30b, and can start or stop the engine by remote control.

[0115] In order to carry out such processing, when the control unit 32 detects an operation on this operation unit 30b, it transmits an instruction command corresponding to such an operation from the second mobile side transceiver unit 36. The power source for the mobile repeater 30 is a built-in primary battery 30d. If a commercially available dry cell or button cell is used as the primary battery 30d, it is preferable because it can be easily obtained, installed, and handled. In particular, if a button cell is used, it is preferable because it allows the mobile repeater 30 to be made smaller.

[0116] The notification unit 30c notifies the operating status, etc., and for example, notifies the execution result such as engine start success or error based on a signal sent from the vehicle control device 10 via the vehicle repeater 20. The notification unit 30c notifies by visual or auditory means. In the case of a visual notification, the notification unit 30c may, for example, use a display panel to display the execution result with characters, figures, etc., or may use a light-emitting means such as an LED to notify by the lighting state (blinking / off / on) or the light emission color. In the case of an auditory notification, the notification unit 30c may, for example, use a speaker to notify by voice or buzzer. The notification unit 30c may be realized by combining one or more of these, and may combine visual and auditory means.

[0117] The control unit 32 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer, and realizes the functions described below by executing a program stored in the built-in ROM by the built-in CPU. The first mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 34 and the second mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 36 ​​are each configured by a transmitting / receiving RFIC. The first mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 34 wirelessly transmits at the receiving frequency band (first frequency, LF) of the transmitting / receiving unit 44 of the mobile device 40, and wirelessly receives at the transmitting frequency (second frequency, RF) of the transmitting / receiving unit 44. Since the communication distance is short, it uses weak radio waves used in a weak radio station, which is one type of radio station. The second mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 36 ​​uses radio waves of a frequency (third frequency, SG) included in the frequency band used by specific low-power radio stations.

[0118] [Communication sequence] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the communication sequence of each data signal. In this embodiment, the communication in the sequence shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 enables remote starting of the engine using the relay function. The numbers in parentheses in the following explanation correspond to the numbers in parentheses in the figure. The sequence shown in Fig. 3 consists of a start-up sequence and an authentication sequence.

[0119] (1) When the operation unit 30b is pressed, the control unit 32 of the mobile repeater 30 outputs a start signal. The second mobile side transceiver 36 wirelessly transmits the start signal to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0120] (2) The second vehicle side transceiver 26 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the start signal transmitted from the portable repeater 30. When the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the start signal, it outputs a start response signal. The second vehicle side transceiver 26 wirelessly transmits the start response signal to the portable repeater 30.

[0121] (3) Furthermore, when the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the start signal, it uses the wired communication function to transmit a foot brake signal, which is a start trigger, from the start trigger output unit 20a to the vehicle control device 10. The vehicle repeater 20 maintains the foot brake signal ON during the relay and transmission process of each data signal described below.

[0122] (4) When the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the foot brake signal, it outputs a WAKE signal (a type of LF data) which is a response request signal. The transceiver unit 14 transmits the WAKE signal as a wireless signal using a wireless transmission function. Note that the transceiver unit 14 of the vehicle control device 10 and the first vehicle side transceiver unit 24 of the vehicle repeater 20 may be connected by a communication line (not shown), and the WAKE signal may be transmitted from the transceiver unit 14 via a wired connection.

[0123] (5) The first vehicle-side transceiver 24 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the WAKE signal. The vehicle repeater 20 wirelessly transmits a wireless WAKE signal as a wireless response request signal based on the received WAKE signal to the portable repeater 30 at the third frequency (SG) using the transmission function of the second vehicle-side transceiver 26. The wireless WAKE signal is reversible with the WAKE signal.

[0124] (6) The second mobile side transceiver 36 of the mobile repeater 30 receives the wireless WAKE signal. The mobile repeater 30 generates a forwarded WAKE signal from the received wireless WAKE signal as a forwarding response request signal that the mobile device 40 recognizes as a WAKE signal, and transmits the generated forwarded WAKE signal to the mobile device 40 at the first frequency (LF) using the transmission function of the first mobile side transceiver 34. The above-mentioned period "from when the vehicle repeater 20 receives the WAKE signal to when the mobile repeater 30 transmits the forwarded WAKE signal" is also referred to as "relaying the WAKE signal" below.

[0125] (7) The transceiver 44 of the portable device 40 receives the transferred WAKE signal. The transferred WAKE signal transmitted from the portable repeater 30 is recognized by the control unit 42 of the portable device 40 as a WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10. The transceiver 44 that has received the transferred WAKE signal transmits an ACK signal (a type of RF data) that is a response signal, using the transmission function of the transceiver 44.

[0126] (8) The first mobile side transceiver 34 of the mobile repeater 30 receives the ACK signal. The mobile repeater 30 wirelessly transmits the wireless ACK signal as a wireless response signal based on the received ACK signal, using the transmission function of the second mobile side transceiver 36, to the vehicle repeater 20 at the third frequency (SG). The wireless ACK signal is reversible with the ACK signal.

[0127] (9) The second vehicle side transceiver 26 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the wireless ACK signal. The vehicle repeater 20 generates a forwarding ACK signal from the received wireless ACK signal as a forwarding response signal that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as an ACK signal, and transmits the generated forwarding ACK signal at a second frequency (RF) using the transmission function of the first vehicle side transceiver 24. The above period "from when the portable repeater 30 receives the ACK signal to when the vehicle repeater 20 transmits the forwarding ACK signal" is also referred to as "relaying the ACK signal" below.

[0128] The transceiver 14 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the forwarding ACK signal. The forwarding ACK signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 is recognized by the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 as an ACK signal transmitted from the portable device 40, and the presence of the portable device 40 is confirmed. When the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 confirms the presence of the portable device 40 through the above startup sequence, the process proceeds to an authentication sequence.

[0129] (10) When the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 recognizes the ACK signal, it accesses the authentication information storage unit 16, acquires the ID code as the stored authentication information, and outputs a challenge signal (a type of LF data; indicated as a "CH signal" in the figure) which is a response request signal including the ID code and challenge data. The transceiver unit 14 transmits the challenge signal using a wireless transmission function. Note that the transceiver unit 14 of the vehicle control device 10 and the first vehicle side transceiver unit 24 of the vehicle repeater 20 may be connected by a communication line (not shown), and the challenge signal may be transmitted from the transceiver unit 14 via a wired connection.

[0130] (11) The first vehicle-side transceiver 24 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the challenge signal. The vehicle repeater 20 wirelessly transmits a wireless challenge signal (referred to as a "wireless CH signal" in the figure) as a wireless response request signal based on the received challenge signal to the portable repeater 30 at a third frequency (SG) using the transmission function of the second vehicle-side transceiver 26. The wireless challenge signal is reversible with the challenge signal.

[0131] (12) The second mobile side transceiver 36 of the mobile repeater 30 receives the wireless challenge signal. The mobile repeater 30 generates a forwarding challenge signal (referred to as a "forwarding CH signal" in the figure) from the received wireless challenge signal as a forwarding response request signal that the mobile device 40 recognizes as a challenge signal, and transmits the generated forwarding challenge signal to the mobile device 40 at the first frequency (LF) using the transmission function of the first mobile side transceiver 34.

[0132] (13) The transceiver 44 of the portable device 40 receives the forwarding challenge signal. The forwarding challenge signal transmitted from the portable repeater 30 is recognized by the control unit 42 of the portable device 40 as a challenge signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10. The control unit 42 judges whether the received forwarding challenge signal is addressed to itself. Specifically, it judges whether the ID code included in the challenge signal matches its own ID code stored in the authentication information storage unit 46. Then, if the ID codes match, a response signal (a type of RF data; in the figure, this is referred to as an "RE signal") is transmitted using the transmission function of the transceiver 44. If the ID codes do not match, nothing is transmitted from the portable device 40.

[0133] (14) The first mobile side transceiver 34 of the mobile repeater 30 receives the response signal. The mobile repeater 30 wirelessly transmits a wireless response signal (referred to as a "wireless RE signal" in the figure) as a wireless response signal based on the received response signal, using the transmission function of the second mobile side transceiver 36 to the vehicle repeater 20 at the third frequency (SG). The wireless response signal is reversible with the response signal.

[0134] (15, 16) The second vehicle side transceiver 26 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the wireless response signal. The vehicle repeater 20 generates a forwarding response signal (referred to as a "forwarding RE signal" in the figure) from the received wireless response signal as a forwarding response signal that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as a response signal, and transmits the generated forwarding response signal at a second frequency (RF) using the transmission function of the first vehicle side transceiver 24. In addition, prior to transmission of the forwarding response signal from the first vehicle side transceiver 24, the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 transmits an engine start request signal to the vehicle control device 10 using the wired communication function. The vehicle repeater 20 wirelessly transmits the forwarding response signal while keeping the engine start request signal ON.

[0135] The transceiver 14 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the forwarding response signal. The forwarding response signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 is recognized as a response signal transmitted from the portable device 40 in the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10. The control unit 12 authenticates whether the received forwarding response signal is a response signal transmitted from a legitimate portable device 40.

[0136] If the response signal is authenticated as being transmitted from the regular portable device 40 and both the engine start request signal and the foot brake signal are ON, control is performed to start the engine. After a certain time has elapsed since the engine started, the control unit 12 controls to stop the engine. By continuing the engine operation, the engine is warmed up and the temperature inside the vehicle 6 is adjusted to an appropriate temperature by the air conditioner installed in the vehicle 6.

[0137] Furthermore, when stopping the engine during warm-up operation, the user operates the operation unit 30b of the portable repeater 30. When the portable repeater 30 receives an operation stop command associated with the operation of the operation unit 30b, it transmits the operation stop command. The transmitted operation stop command reaches the vehicle control device 10 via the vehicle repeater 20. When the control unit 12 receives the operation stop command, it performs control to stop the engine that is in operation. Furthermore, the control unit 12 relays and transmits the execution result of the received operation command in the same manner as LF data, and notifies the portable repeater 30 of the result when it reaches the portable repeater 30.

[0138] In the above description, the control of a specific device installed in the vehicle 6 by the vehicle control device 10 is described as starting the engine by turning on the starter motor, but it may also be to turn on the power supply to an electric motor in an electric vehicle that uses an electric motor as a power source.

[0139] [First embodiment] In the first embodiment, the relay system 4 in the vehicle remote control system 1 having the basic configuration described above can relay wireless communications even in multiple types of vehicle control systems 2 in which the communication specifications between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 are different.

[0140] 4 is a timing chart of LF data and RF data in a vehicle control system, in which FIG. 4(a) shows a vehicle control system mounted on vehicle A, and FIG. 4(b) shows a vehicle control system mounted on vehicle B. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication specifications of the vehicle control system 2 are different between vehicle A and vehicle B. Specifically, the data lengths of the WAKE signal and challenge signal, which are LF data, and the ACK signal and response signal, which are RF data, used for communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 are different. Therefore, the data lengths of the wireless WAKE signal, the forwarded ACK signal, the wireless challenge signal, and the forwarded response signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 constituting the relay system 4, and the forwarded WAKE signal, the wireless ACK signal, the forwarded challenge signal, and the wireless response signal transmitted from the portable repeater 30 are also different between vehicle A and vehicle B.

[0141] Here, in the relay system 4 corresponding to the vehicle control system 2 mounted on the vehicle A, the mobile repeater 30 that receives the wireless WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 knows in advance the data length of the signal that is scheduled to be received. Therefore, when the time required to receive the wireless WAKE signal has elapsed, the second mobile side transceiver 36 automatically switches from a state of receiving a signal from the vehicle repeater 20 to a state of transmitting to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0142] The same switching of the transmission / reception state is performed for the wireless challenge signal in the portable repeater 30. Also, in the second vehicle side transceiver 26 of the vehicle repeater 20, the same switching of the transmission / reception state is performed for the wireless ACK signal and the wireless response signal.

[0143] Therefore, in the case where the relay system 4 is only compatible with the vehicle control system 2 mounted on vehicle A, applying this relay system 4 to the vehicle control system 2 mounted on vehicle B will cause the following problem: When the mobile repeater 30 receives a wireless WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20, the second mobile side transceiver 36 will switch from a state of receiving a signal from the vehicle repeater 20 to a state of transmitting to the vehicle repeater 20 before completing reception of the wireless WAKE signal, causing a communication error. Even if the transmission and reception of the wireless WAKE signal is successful, there is a very high possibility that errors will occur when transmitting and receiving other signals.

[0144] Therefore, in the first embodiment, after the vehicle repeater 20 constituting the relay system 4 is installed in the vehicle 6, when communication first occurs between the vehicle control device 10 constituting the vehicle control system 2 and the portable device 40, the communication specifications are determined using the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30. As for the specific timing, after the vehicle repeater 20 constituting the relay system 4 is installed in the vehicle 6, the foot brake pedal provided on the vehicle 6 is first depressed to generate a foot brake signal, which is a start-up trigger, and this is automatically done when a WAKE signal is sent from the vehicle control device 10.

[0145] The communication specifications are determined by the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30. The parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the parameter memory unit 38 of the portable repeater 30 store information about communication signals such as LF data and RF data used for communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40. The control units 22 and 32 both operate as a comparison means, and the vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30 compares whether the communication signal received from the vehicle control device 10 or the portable device 40 corresponds to any of the communication signals stored in the parameter memory unit 28 or the parameter memory unit 38. In this manner, the communication specifications are determined.

[0146] In this embodiment, the communication specifications are determined based on the data lengths of the WAKE signal and challenge signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10, the wireless WAKE signal and wireless challenge signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 based on these signals, the ACK signal and response signal transmitted from the portable device 40, and the wireless ACK signal and wireless response signal transmitted from the portable repeater 30 based on these signals. Based on the data length of at least one of these signals, it is determined which communication specifications of which vehicle model the communication specifications of the vehicle control system 2 correspond to.

[0147] The determination results are then recorded in a parameter memory unit 28 provided in the vehicle repeater 20 and a parameter memory unit 38 provided in the portable repeater 30, and the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 operate based on the recorded information.

[0148] When the determination of the communication specification is completed and the determined communication specification is recorded in the parameter memory unit 28 provided in the vehicle repeater 20 and the parameter memory unit 38 provided in the mobile repeater 30, the notification unit 20c provided in the vehicle repeater 20 and the notification unit 30c provided in the mobile repeater 30 notify which communication specification has been applied. The notification unit 20c and the notification unit 30c each have a memory unit that stores notification content corresponding to the determined communication specification and an audio output unit, and the audio output unit notifies by voice, "The communication specification of vehicle model Y of company X has been applied." Furthermore, when the communication specification is applied and the user is able to operate the start or stop of the control operation of the vehicle 6 by the vehicle control system 2, the audio output unit notifies by voice, "It can be used."

[0149] When determining the communication specifications, the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 are at a distance where they can communicate with each other, and the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 are at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other. Therefore, when determining the communication specifications, if the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 or the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30 determines that the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 are at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other, or that the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 are at a distance where they can communicate with each other, the notification unit 20c of the vehicle repeater 20 and the notification unit 30c of the portable repeater 30 will notify by voice from the audio output unit, "Please move the portable device away from the vehicle," indicating that the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 will be moved away from each other to a distance where they cannot communicate with each other.

[0150] The communication specifications may be determined each time communication occurs in the vehicle control system 2. Alternatively, the relay system 4 may be set to the setting mode by the setting switch 20b of the vehicle repeater 20, and in this state, the foot brake pedal provided on the vehicle 6 may be depressed to generate a foot brake signal, which is a start-up trigger, and the vehicle control device 10 may transmit a WAKE signal. The setting switch 20b may be a DIP switch.

[0151] The communication specifications may be determined using either the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 or the control unit 32 of the mobile repeater 30. In this case, the vehicle repeater 20 or the mobile repeater 30 that has determined the communication specifications transmits data of the determined communication specifications to the other that has not determined the communication specifications. The control unit 22 may determine the communication specifications based on a WAKE signal received by the vehicle repeater 20, and a wireless WAKE signal based on the WAKE signal may be transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 to the mobile repeater 30, and the control unit 32 may determine the communication specifications based on the wireless WAKE signal received by the mobile repeater 30.

[0152] The notification unit 20c of the vehicle repeater 20 may also be provided with a display unit instead of or in addition to the audio output unit. The display unit may be, for example, an LCD screen or the like, and displays the content to be notified by the audio output unit as text. The notification unit 30c of the portable repeater 30 may also be provided with a display unit instead of or in addition to the audio output unit. The display unit may be, for example, an LED, and displays the content to be notified by the audio output unit by a specified color or blinking pattern.

[0153] Furthermore, the communication specifications may be determined based on the number of bits, the transmission time, or the data frame configuration, or a combination of two or more of these, in addition to the data length.

[0154] [Second embodiment] In the second embodiment, in a vehicle remote control system 1 having the basic configuration described above, even if the frequency of the response signal transmitted from the portable device 40 differs for each vehicle control system 2 or each communication, the communication signal can be relayed by the same relay system 4.

[0155] In this embodiment, the first frequency (LF) of the communication signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 described in the basic configuration above is constant at 134.2 kHz, and the third frequency (SG) used for communication between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 is constant at 922 MHz, but the second frequency (RF) of the communication signal transmitted from the portable device 40 is 312 MHz or 314 MHz, and changes to either frequency for each vehicle control system 2, each time the engine is started, or each individual communication. These second frequencies are set by the manufacturer of the vehicle 6, and the fact that they change in this manner was discovered by the inventors, who are third parties, by analyzing the radio waves transmitted from the portable device 40.

[0156] According to research by the inventors, this change in the second frequency is performed based on frequency designation information included in the communication specifications of the WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10. The portable device 40 that receives the WAKE signal recognizes the frequency designation information in the control unit 42, and sets the second frequency for transmitting RF data to be transmitted from the transceiver unit 44 after the recognition to the frequency (312 MHz or 314 MHz) designated by the frequency designation information. Furthermore, in the vehicle control device 10, at the time of transmitting the WAKE signal including the frequency designation information, the second frequency for receiving the communication signal in the transceiver unit 14 is set to the frequency designated by the frequency designation information.

[0157] Here, if the second frequency used to receive the communication signal by the first mobile side transceiver 34 of the mobile repeater 30 and the second frequency used to transmit the communication signal by the first vehicle side transceiver 24 of the vehicle repeater 20 are not the frequencies specified in the frequency designation information, the communication signal cannot be relayed by the relay system 4. However, in this embodiment, these second frequencies can be set to the frequencies specified in the frequency designation information by the following method.

[0158] In this embodiment, the WAKE signal is investigated in advance for the vehicle control system 2 to which the relay system 4 is applied, and frequency designation information and the frequency to be used as the second frequency are stored in the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30. The investigation of the WAKE signal may be performed using the relay system 4, or may be performed using a separate investigation device different from the relay system 4.

[0159] Specifically, the investigation of the WAKE signal is performed by detecting the WAKE signal, storing the data pattern of the WAKE signal, and then detecting the frequency of the RF data, and matching the stored data pattern of the WAKE signal with the second frequency of the detected RF data.

[0160] Then, the vehicle repeater 20 is installed in the vehicle 6, and the relay system 4 is made available for use in the vehicle remote control system 1. In this state, when the portable repeater 30 is operated to transmit a start signal, a WAKE signal is transmitted from the vehicle control device 10, as described with reference to Fig. 3. The vehicle repeater 20 that has received the WAKE signal, and the portable repeater 30 that has received the wireless WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 based on the WAKE signal, determine the communication specifications for the WAKE signal or the wireless WAKE signal, and set the frequency used for receiving the communication signal by the first portable side transceiver 34 of the portable repeater 30, and the second frequency used for transmitting the communication signal by the first vehicle side transceiver 24 of the vehicle repeater 20, based on the frequency designation information obtained as a result of the determination.

[0161] This allows the relay system 4 to relay the communication signal even if the second frequency changes for each vehicle control system 2, for each start of the engine, or for each individual communication.

[0162] Instead of determining the communication specifications for each individual communication and deciding the above-mentioned frequency, after the vehicle repeater 20 constituting the relay system 4 is installed in the vehicle 6, when communication first occurs between the vehicle control device 10 constituting the vehicle control system 2 and the portable device 40, the communication specifications can be determined using the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30, and the WAKE signal can be automatically investigated at that time. In this way, the time required to determine the communication specifications is not required for each communication, the possibility of meeting the time conditions required for relaying can be increased, and the engine can be started more reliably.

[0163] After the vehicle repeater 20 constituting the relay system 4 is installed in the vehicle 6, when communication first occurs between the vehicle control device 10 constituting the vehicle control system 2 and the portable device 40, if an investigation of a WAKE signal is to be automatically performed using the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30, the following procedure may be performed. The control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30 stores a correspondence between the frequency designation information contained in the wireless WAKE signal received from the vehicle repeater 20 and the second frequency of the response signal (RF data) transmitted from the portable device 40 in response to the WAKE signal. Thereafter, when the portable repeater 30 receives the response signal transmitted from the portable device 40, the portable repeater 30 receives it at the second frequency stored in the control unit 32 that corresponds to the frequency designation information contained in the wireless WAKE signal received from the vehicle repeater 20.

[0164] In this case, the vehicle repeater 20 may receive from the portable repeater 30 information on the correspondence between the frequency designation information and the second frequency stored in the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30, and based on the correspondence, transmit RF data to the vehicle control device 10 at the second frequency corresponding to the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal received from the vehicle control device 10. The vehicle repeater 20 may store the information on the correspondence received from the portable repeater 30 in the control unit 22.

[0165] The vehicle repeater 20 may also be capable of receiving a response signal (RF data) transmitted from the portable device 40 at a second frequency. In this case, the control unit 22 may store a correspondence between the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal received from the vehicle control device 10 and the result of detection by the vehicle repeater 20 of the second frequency of the response signal (RF data) transmitted from the portable device 40 in response to the WAKE signal. Thereafter, for example, if the vehicle repeater 30 receives and relays a WAKE signal from the vehicle control device 10 but is unable to receive a response signal from the portable device 40, it may transmit RF data to the vehicle control device 10 at a second frequency corresponding to the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal received from the vehicle control device 10 based on the stored correspondence.

[0166] In addition, the information on the correspondence may be stored in the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30, but it may also be stored in the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the parameter memory unit 38 of the portable repeater 30.

[0167] Furthermore, the relationship between the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 and the second frequency of the response signal transmitted from the portable device 40 in response to the WAKE signal may be investigated by the following method 1 or 2.

[0168] (Method 1) The vehicle repeater 20 has a function of transmitting an ACK signal at any frequency including 312MHz and 314MHz. When the vehicle repeater 20 receives a WAKE signal from the vehicle control device 10, it first transmits an ACK signal at 312MHz to the vehicle control device 10, then relays the challenge signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 to the portable device 40 via the relay system 4, and if the response signal transmitted from the portable device 40 can be relayed to the vehicle control device 10 via the relay system 4, the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal is associated with 312MHz and stored in the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20. If the response signal is not transmitted from the portable device 40 and cannot be relayed by the relay system 4, the vehicle repeater 20 switches to 314MHz and transmits an ACK signal, similarly relays the challenge signal via the relay system 4, and if the response signal transmitted from the portable device 40 can be relayed to the vehicle control device 10, the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal is associated with 314MHz and stored in the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20. If no response signal is transmitted from the portable device 40 even at 314 MHz, an ACK signal may be transmitted at another frequency, or the WAKE signal may be stored in the control unit 22 as a non-standard signal.

[0169] (Method 2) The mobile repeater 30 is assumed to have a function of receiving radio waves at any frequency including 312MHz and 314MHz. The mobile repeater 30 first sets the receiving frequency to 312MHz. The WAKE signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 is relayed to the mobile device 40 by the relay system 4, and if the ACK signal transmitted from the mobile device 40 can be received by the mobile repeater 30 with the receiving frequency set to 312MHz and relayed to the vehicle control device 10 by the relay system 4, the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal is associated with 312MHz and stored in the control unit 32 of the mobile repeater 30. If the mobile repeater 30 cannot receive the ACK signal, the receiving frequency is switched to 314MHz and the WAKE signal is relayed. If the ACK signal transmitted from the mobile device 40 can be received by the mobile repeater 30 and relayed to the vehicle control device 10 by the relay system 4, the frequency designation information included in the WAKE signal is associated with 314MHz and stored in the control unit 32 of the mobile repeater 30. If the ACK signal cannot be received even at 314 MHz, reception may be attempted at another frequency, or the WAKE signal may be stored in the control unit 22 as a non-standard signal.

[0170] Also, instead of investigating the WAKE signal, a setting item of the relay system 4 may be provided to select the frequency used for receiving communication signals by the first mobile side transceiver 34 of the mobile repeater 30, and the frequency used for transmitting communication signals by the first vehicle side transceiver 24 of the vehicle repeater 20. With this setting item, the user may select which frequency to use, and the frequency may be determined by trial and error until the engine can be started.

[0171] [Third embodiment] In the third embodiment, the relay system 4 in the vehicle remote control system 1 having the basic configuration described above does not transmit noise when relaying a communication signal, and does not cause a delay in communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40.

[0172] 5 is a block diagram of a portable repeater according to the third embodiment. In the vehicle remote system according to the third embodiment, the portable repeater 30 in the vehicle remote system of the basic configuration described above further includes an AND circuit 50. In this figure, the operation unit 30b etc. described in the basic configuration described above are omitted.

[0173] As shown in Fig. 5, the first mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 34 of the mobile repeater 30 includes a transmission-only RFIC 34a and a reception-only RFIC 34b. The transmission-only RFIC 34a transmits radio waves of a first frequency (LF), and the reception-only RFIC 34b receives radio waves of a second frequency (RF). The second mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 36 ​​is an RFIC that transmits and receives radio waves of a third frequency (SG). The second mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 36 ​​is in either a transmission state or a reception state depending on the mode switching. The second mobile side transmitting / receiving unit 36 ​​includes an input terminal 36a, and when in the transmission state, a communication signal based on a signal input from the input terminal 36a is transmitted.

[0174] Furthermore, the control unit 32 and the second mobile side transceiver 36, and the control unit 32 and the receive-only RFIC 34b are connected by carrier sense wiring shown by dashed lines in the figure, and are also connected by data wiring shown by solid lines in the figure. The control unit 32 and the transmit-only RFIC 34a are connected by data wiring shown by solid lines in the figure.

[0175] From an output terminal 34c provided on the receive-only RFIC 34b of the first mobile-side transceiver 34, RF data transmitted from the mobile device 40 and received by the receive-only RFIC 34b is output.

[0176] In addition, the control unit 32 performs carrier sensing on the second frequency (RF) and the third frequency (SG), and determines whether the frequency to be used for transmission is in use before transmitting a communication signal from the second mobile side transceiver unit 36, and whether RF data is being transmitted from the mobile device 40.

[0177] A control signal is output from the output terminal 32a of the control unit 32 only when it is determined by carrier sense that RF data is being transmitted from the portable device 40.

[0178] Among these carrier sense determinations, the determination as to whether the frequency to be used for transmission is in use before transmitting a communication signal from the second mobile phone side transmitting / receiving unit 36 ​​is made in accordance with the law.

[0179] In this embodiment, the AND circuit 50 provided in the mobile repeater 30 has two input terminals 50a and 50b and one output terminal 50c. The input terminal 50a is connected to the output terminal 34c of the transmission-only RFIC 34a, the input terminal 50b is connected to the output terminal 32a of the control unit 32, and the output terminal 50c is connected to the input terminal 36a of the second mobile side transceiver unit 36.

[0180] The logical product of the signals input to the input terminals 50a, 50b is output from the output terminal 50c of the AND circuit 50. Therefore, RF data consisting of a combination of Hi and Lo transmitted from the portable device 40 is output from the output terminal 50c of the AND circuit 50 only when the control unit 32 detects that RF data is being transmitted from the portable device 40, and the output is Lo at other times.

[0181] 6 is a timing chart of LF data and RF data in the vehicle control system according to the third embodiment. When the ACK signal and the response signal, which are RF data, are not transmitted from the portable device 40, no data exists and noise occurs. In the figure, noise is shown immediately before the ACK signal and the response signal.

[0182] The time that the vehicle control device 10 must receive the RF data transmitted from the portable device 40 after transmitting the LF data from the vehicle control device 10 is set very short (for example, 2 ms or 6.5 ms) by the vehicle manufacturer. Therefore, the relay system 4 must also relay these signals in time, and in the portable repeater 30, the second portable side transceiver 36 switches the mode from a receiving state to a transmitting state immediately after completing reception of the LF data.

[0183] If RF data is not being transmitted from portable device 40 at the time the mode is switched, noise will be transmitted at the third frequency from second portable transceiver unit 36 ​​in the transmitting state, which may result in non-compliance with the Radio Law.

[0184] In addition, the first mobile side transceiver 34 of the mobile repeater 30 is provided with a transmission-only RFIC 34a and a reception-only RFIC 34b, but these dedicated RFICs may be configured by circuits instead of ICs.

[0185] However, in this embodiment, when no RF data is being transmitted from the portable device 40, the AND circuit 50 blocks noise from the receive-only RFIC 34b of the first portable side transceiver unit 34 to the second portable side transceiver unit 36, and a Lo signal at the third frequency is transmitted from the second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​in the transmitting state, so that no problems under the Radio Law arise.

[0186] [Fourth embodiment] The fourth embodiment can be used even when the relay system 4 in the vehicle remote control system 1 having the above-mentioned basic configuration can use multiple portable devices 40 for the vehicle control device 10 installed in one vehicle 6. In addition, the power consumption of the portable relay device 30 can be reduced, and the frequency of replacing the primary battery 30d can be reduced.

[0187] 7 is a timing chart of LF data and RF data in a vehicle control system capable of using multiple portable devices. This figure shows a case in which four portable devices 40 can be used with one vehicle control device 10.

[0188] The four portable devices 40 each have a different timing from when they receive a WAKE signal until when they transmit an ACK signal. In Fig. 7, the ACK signals transmitted from each portable device 40 are shown as ACK signals 1 to 4 in order of the earliest transmission timing. Furthermore, when multiple portable devices 40 are usable, the authentication information storage unit 16 of the vehicle control device 10 stores the ID code of each portable device 40. The engine start process in this case will be described with reference to Fig. 2.

[0189] (1, 2) Upon receiving a predetermined trigger signal, the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 transmits a WAKE signal from the transmission / reception unit 14. (3) Upon receiving the WAKE signal, the portable device 40 that is within communication distance of the WAKE signal transmits an ACK signal at a specific timing.

[0190] (4) When the vehicle control device 10 receives the ACK signal and confirms the presence of a portable device 40 within the communication distance, it accesses the authentication information storage unit 16, acquires the ID code as the stored authentication information, and outputs a challenge signal including the ID code. If multiple portable devices 40 have transmitted ACK signals, the vehicle control device 10 outputs a challenge signal including the ID code of the portable device 40 that transmitted the ACK signal earliest.

[0191] (5) When the portable device 40 recognizes that the challenge signal received from the ID code is addressed to itself, the portable device 40 wirelessly transmits a response signal including its own authentication information. When the transceiver unit 14 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the response signal, authentication of the portable device 40 is completed.

[0192] When applying the relay system 4 to such a vehicle control system 2, the following two methods are possible.

[0193] (Method 1) As shown in Figure 3, a WAKE signal transmitted from a vehicle control device 10 is relayed to a portable device 40 by a vehicle repeater 20 and a portable repeater 30, and an ACK signal transmitted from the portable device 40 that recognizes the WAKE signal is relayed to the vehicle control device 10 by a portable repeater 30 and a vehicle repeater 20.

[0194] (Method 2) After the vehicle repeater 20 receives a WAKE signal, it transmits an ACK signal to the vehicle control device 10 at a second frequency (RF) at a timing previously stored in the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20.

[0195] These methods each have the following advantages and disadvantages.

[0196] Method 1 has the advantage that it is not necessary to store the ACK signal of each portable device 40 in advance in the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20. However, it has the disadvantage that the number of transmission / reception switching times is greater for both the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 than in method 2, making the design more complex, and the operating time and power consumption higher. In particular, the size of the primary battery 30d in the portable repeater 30 is limited to improve portability, and high power consumption increases the effort required for battery replacement.

[0197] In the case of method 2, since the ACK signal is not relayed, the power consumption of the portable repeater 30 and the portable device 40 can be reduced. However, it is necessary to know which of the four portable devices 40 will perform authentication before starting to use the relay system 4 in the vehicle 6, and to investigate and store in the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20 the timing for transmitting the ACK signal of the portable device 40 carried together with the portable repeater 30. In addition, when changing the portable device 40 carried together with the portable repeater 30, it is necessary to investigate and store the timing again.

[0198] The present embodiment overcomes the drawbacks of these methods and will be described below.

[0199] First, before the vehicle repeater 20 is installed in the vehicle 6, or before the use of the relay system 4 is started after installation, the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20 stores the timing at which the ACK signals of the four portable devices 40 that can be authenticated by the vehicle control device 10 are transmitted. Then, communication is performed in the sequence shown in FIG.

[0200] 8 is a diagram showing a communication sequence of each data signal in the vehicle remote control system according to the fourth embodiment. The numbers in parentheses in the following description correspond to the numbers in parentheses in the figure. The description of the parts common to the above basic configuration will be simplified.

[0201] (1) When the operation unit 30b is pressed, the portable repeater 30 wirelessly transmits a start-up signal to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0202] (2) When the vehicle repeater 20 receives the start signal, it wirelessly transmits a start response signal to the portable repeater 30.

[0203] (3) Furthermore, when the vehicle repeater 20 receives the start signal, it transmits a foot brake signal, which is a start trigger, to the vehicle control device 10 using the wired communication function.

[0204] (4) Upon receiving the foot brake signal, the vehicle control device 10 transmits a WAKE signal.

[0205] (5) The first vehicle side transceiver 24 of the vehicle repeater 20 receives the WAKE signal. The vehicle repeater 20 transmits an ACK signal at one of the four timings stored in the parameter memory 28. The ACK signal transmitted by the vehicle repeater 20 is also referred to as a "pseudo ACK signal" below.

[0206] (6) In addition, the vehicle repeater 20 wirelessly transmits a wireless WAKE signal to the portable repeater 30.

[0207] (7) The portable repeater 30 that receives the wireless WAKE signal transmits a forwarded WAKE signal to the portable device 40.

[0208] (8) Having received the forwarded WAKE signal, the portable device 40 transmits an ACK signal. However, the portable repeater 30 does not receive the ACK signal. Therefore, the portable repeater 30 does not transmit the wireless ACK signal described in the basic configuration.

[0209] (9) The transceiver 14 of the vehicle control device 10 receives the pseudo ACK signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20. The ACK signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 is recognized by the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 as an ACK signal transmitted from a portable device 40 (hereinafter referred to as a "virtual portable device") corresponding to the transmission timing of the pseudo ACK signal, and the presence of the virtual portable device is confirmed. When the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 confirms the presence of the virtual portable device through the above startup sequence, the authentication sequence is started.

[0210] When the control unit 12 of the vehicle control device 10 recognizes the ACK signal, it accesses the authentication information storage unit 16, acquires the ID code corresponding to the virtual portable device as the stored authentication information, and outputs a challenge signal including the ID code and challenge data. The transmission / reception unit 14 transmits the challenge signal using a wireless transmission function.

[0211] (10) The vehicle repeater 20 that receives the challenge signal transmits a wireless challenge signal to the portable repeater 30.

[0212] (11) The portable repeater 30 that receives the wireless challenge signal transmits a forwarding challenge signal to the portable device 40.

[0213] (12) The transceiver 44 of the portable device 40 receives the forwarding challenge signal. The forwarding challenge signal transmitted from the portable repeater 30 is recognized by the control unit 42 of the portable device 40 as a challenge signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10. The control unit 42 judges whether the received forwarding challenge signal is addressed to itself. Specifically, the control unit 42 judges whether the ID code included in the challenge signal matches its own ID code stored in the authentication information storage unit 46. Then, if the ID code of the portable device 40 that received the forwarding challenge signal is the same as the ID code of the virtual portable device, the ID codes match, and the control unit 42 transmits a response signal using the transmission function of the transceiver 44.

[0214] On the other hand, if the ID codes do not match, nothing is transmitted from the portable device 40, and the engine cannot be started.

[0215] In this embodiment, if the engine does not start after a certain period of time has elapsed since the vehicle repeater 20 transmitted the foot brake signal, which is the start trigger, in the above (3) due to a mismatch of the ID code or a communication problem, the process returns to (3) again, where the vehicle repeater 20 transmits the foot brake signal, and (4) the vehicle control device 10, having received the foot brake signal, transmits a WAKE signal. Then, in the second (5), an ACK signal is transmitted at a timing different from the previous timing. The operation of transmitting the foot brake signal again from the vehicle repeater 20 and transmitting the ACK signal with a different transmission timing is referred to below as a "sequential transmission operation." This sequential transmission operation is performed until the ID code of the portable device 40 that received the transfer challenge signal matches the ID code of the virtual portable device. When the ID codes match, a response signal is transmitted.

[0216] (13) The portable repeater 30 that receives the response signal transmits a wireless response signal to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0217] (14, 15) Upon receiving the wireless response signal, the vehicle repeater 20 transmits a forwarding response signal. Prior to transmitting the forwarding response signal, the vehicle repeater 20 transmits an engine start request signal to the vehicle control device 10. The vehicle repeater 20 wirelessly transmits the forwarding response signal while keeping the engine start request signal ON.

[0218] Thereafter, the vehicle control device 10 receives the transfer response signal and authenticates whether or not the received transfer response signal is a response signal transmitted from a legitimate portable device 40. If the response signal is authenticated as being transmitted from a legitimate portable device 40 and both the engine start request signal and the foot brake signal are ON, the vehicle control device 10 performs control to start the engine.

[0219] According to this embodiment, the disadvantages of the above-mentioned methods 1 and 2 are eliminated, and since the ACK signal is not relayed, the power consumption of the portable repeater 30 can be reduced, and there is no need to investigate the timing of transmitting the ACK signal of the portable unit 40 carried together with the portable repeater 30 and store it in the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20.

[0220] In this embodiment, the timing of the pseudo ACK signal to be transmitted in (5) above is selected from four timings at will, and the timing for the sequential transmission operation may also be selected from the remaining timings at will. However, for example, ACK signal 1, which has the earliest timing, may be transmitted first, and then ACK signal 2 and ACK signal 3 may be transmitted in that order in the subsequent sequential transmission operation.

[0221] Also, after the engine start is successful, the timing of the last success may be stored in the parameter storage unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20, and the ACK signal may be transmitted at the stored timing during the next engine start operation, and in the subsequent sequential transmission operation, the remaining timings may be transmitted in order from the earliest one. Also, in the sequential transmission operation, the most recent successes before the last success may be transmitted in order.

[0222] In addition, the timing order of the pseudo ACK signals transmitted in the above (5) may be set by the user using the setting switch 20b of the vehicle repeater 20 as desired.

[0223] [Modification of relay system] The relay system 4 having the basic configuration and described in each embodiment above may be modified as follows.

[0224] [Variation 1. A relay system that "does not relay communication signals" under certain conditions] (1) At least one of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 is provided with a function to determine whether the engine of the vehicle 6 is running, and if the function determines that the engine is running, communication signals are not relayed.

[0225] (2) At least one of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 is provided with a means for determining the current location (hereinafter also referred to as the ``current location determination means''), and if the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 or the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30 determines that the location determined by the current location determination means is located in a specified location, the communication signal is not relayed, or relaying is performed only when it is determined that the location is located in the specified location.

[0226] The "predetermined location" may be stored in advance in the parameter memory unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20 or the parameter memory unit 38 of the portable repeater 30. The "predetermined location" may be, for example, the "user's home apartment" as a location where relaying is performed, and, for example, the "vacation home used by the user" as a location where relaying is not performed. Conversely, the location where relaying is performed may be, for example, the "vacation home used by the user" and, for example, the "user's home apartment" as a location where relaying is not performed. This makes it possible to automatically switch between relaying or not relaying communication signals depending on the user's location of activity, thereby reducing power consumption of the primary battery 30d of the portable repeater 30.

[0227] In addition, the place where relaying is not performed may be a place that is an airtight space. The airtight place may be, for example, an indoor multi-storey car park. By not performing relaying in an airtight place, it is possible to prevent the engine from being left running in an airtight place, which may lead to a state of oxygen deficiency or carbon monoxide generation, and thus prevent the occurrence of unnecessary accidents.

[0228] Also, when the current location cannot be identified by the current location identifying means, the location is likely to be indoors, so relaying should not be performed.

[0229] The current location specifying means may be, for example, a means having a GPS function.

[0230] (3) A temperature sensor that measures the temperature inside the vehicle cabin is connected to the vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30 via wired or wireless connection, and when the measured temperature is within a specified temperature range, the communication signal is not relayed.

[0231] The "predetermined temperature range" may be, for example, a temperature range that people generally find comfortable. In this way, if the temperature inside the vehicle is such that the user feels hot or cold, the communication signal is relayed to start the engine before the user gets into the vehicle, making the temperature inside the vehicle comfortable, and if the temperature is such that the user feels comfortable, there is no need to start the engine, so the communication signal is not relayed.

[0232] (4) The portable repeater 30 has a function of receiving radio waves of a first frequency (LF), and when the portable repeater 30 is receiving radio waves of the first frequency due to this function, the control unit 32 controls the portable repeater 30 not to relay the radio waves.

[0233] The radio waves of the first frequency transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 have a short communication distance, and usually, a user carries both the portable repeater 30 and the portable device 40. Therefore, when the portable repeater 30 receives the radio waves of the first frequency transmitted from the vehicle control device 10, the portable repeater 30 is located very close to the vehicle 6, for example, inside the vehicle. In that case, the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 can communicate directly, so there is no need to relay the communication signal by the relay system 4. This can reduce unnecessary relaying of the communication signal, and can save power consumption of the primary battery 30d of the portable repeater 30.

[0234] The function of receiving radio waves of the first frequency of the portable repeater 30 may be provided by providing an RFIC for receiving the first frequency in the portable repeater 30 and connecting it to the control unit 32.

[0235] (5) The portable repeater 30 has a function of transmitting a communication signal (hereinafter also referred to as "pseudo LF data") at a first frequency (LF) that is the same as the signal (LF data) transmitted by the vehicle control device 10 when no communication signal is transmitted from the vehicle control device 10, and also has a function of determining, when the pseudo LF data is transmitted, whether RF data has been transmitted from the portable device 40 that received the LF data. This makes it possible to determine whether the portable repeater 30 and the portable device 40 are within an appropriate distance range.

[0236] In addition, the RF data transmitted from the portable device 40 in response to the pseudo LF data is not relayed from the portable repeater 30 to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0237] The pseudo LF data may be stored in the parameter memory unit 38 of the portable repeater 30.

[0238] When portable repeater 30 transmits pseudo LF data and it is not determined that RF data has been transmitted from portable device 40 in response, portable repeater 30 may be provided with an alarm function for notifying the same. The alarm function may be implemented by alarm unit 30c of portable repeater 30 using sound, display, light emission, or the like.

[0239] The pseudo LF data may be transmitted by the first mobile side transceiver unit 34 of the mobile repeater 30, and the determination of whether RF data has been transmitted from the mobile device 40 that received the LF data may be made by the control unit 32 by checking whether RF data has been received by the first mobile side transceiver unit 34.

[0240] The pseudo LF data may be transmitted when the user presses a check button provided on the portable repeater 30, or at regular time intervals. The regular time interval may be, for example, every minute. The check button may be provided on the operation unit 30b.

[0241] It is preferable to store signal patterns for each vehicle model in the parameter storage unit 38 of the portable repeater 30, and transmit a signal based on the stored pattern as pseudo LF data. In particular, it is preferable to store a signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 relayed from the vehicle repeater 20, and transmit a signal based on that signal as pseudo LF data.

[0242] (6) The vehicle repeater 20 has a function of connecting to an in-vehicle LAN installed in the vehicle 6, and takes into account the state of the signals flowing through the in-vehicle LAN, and does not relay communication signals through the relay system 4.

[0243] The in-vehicle LAN may be, for example, a CAN, and when a signal indicating, for example, that a door is open is detected from the CAN, the relay system 4 may not relay the communication signal.

[0244] The vehicle repeater 20 can be connected to the in-vehicle LAN by providing an OBD2 adapter connected to the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20, and the OBD2 adapter can be connected to an OBD2 connector connected to the in-vehicle LAN.

[0245] [Variation 2: Limiting the relay operation time of a relay system] After pressing the operation unit 30b, which is a push button switch of the portable repeater 30, the time during which the relay system 4 performs the relay operation is limited to a predetermined time range.

[0246] For example, currently, in many cases, the portable repeater 30 and the portable device 40, also called the genuine key, are specified to be used together with a ring. However, if the two are connected with a ring in this way, for example, when they are placed in a bag, they can get caught on other items in the bag, making it inconvenient to use.

[0247] If this problem were to be solved by making it possible to use the portable repeater 30 and the portable unit 40 even if they were several meters apart, another problem would arise, for example, in that there would be an increased possibility that the portable repeater 30 would relay a signal from a key for another vehicle of the same model.

[0248] Therefore, by limiting the time for which the relay operation is performed as in this modified example, the frequency of occurrence of such problems can be reduced. In addition, the portable repeater 30 may be provided with a function for checking whether other keys of the same model of car are responding, and when a response is detected, the notification unit 30c may issue a notification indicating that fact. When the control unit 32 determines that the data received by the portable repeater 30 is not data of a correct genuine key, the control unit 32 may control the portable repeater 30 to stop relaying signals thereafter.

[0249] [Modification 3. Suppressing erroneous operation of genuine keys and mobile repeaters] Some portable devices 40 have operation buttons, and portable repeater 30 also has operation section 30b, so there is a problem that users may easily press the wrong buttons.

[0250] To solve this problem, the operation unit 30b is eliminated from the mobile repeater 30. The mobile repeater 30 is then limited to relaying communication signals and notifying. It is preferable that the notification by the notification unit 30c be by sound rather than by screen.

[0251] The operation performed using the operation unit 30b of the portable repeater 30 described in the above basic configuration is performed by pressing a specific operation button of the portable device 40 multiple times within a predetermined time. For example, an engine start operation of such a portable device 40 may be to press the lock button twice in succession within one second. The communication signal transmitted from the portable device 40 by such a specific operation is received by the portable repeater 30, and when detected by the control unit 32, an engine start signal is transmitted.

[0252] [Variation 4. Change operation depending on whether the original key is near the mobile repeater or not] When the control unit 32 detects that the operation unit 30b of the portable repeater 30 has been pressed, a signal is transmitted at the first frequency (LF) to confirm whether the portable device 40, which is an original key, is near the portable repeater 30 before transmitting an engine start signal to the vehicle repeater 20. When the control unit 32 determines from this confirmation signal that the portable device 40 is near the portable repeater 30, it transmits an engine start signal to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0253] On the other hand, if it is determined that the portable device 40 is not near the portable repeater 30, the engine start signal is not transmitted to the vehicle repeater 20. In this case, the notification unit 30c may notify the user that the portable device 40 is not near the portable repeater 30.

[0254] In addition, when a confirmation signal is sent from the portable repeater 30 after sending an engine start signal to the vehicle repeater 20, a certain delay is set before the engine start signal is sent from the vehicle repeater 20 to the vehicle control device 10.

[0255] Also, for example, suppose that a user leaves the portable repeater 30 at home and is cleaning the interior of the vehicle 6 in a parking lot at the home, and a child at home presses the operation unit 30b of the portable repeater 30 to start the engine.

[0256] In such a case, it is desirable not to start the engine in order to avoid unnecessary trouble. Therefore, the vehicle repeater 20 is provided with a function to detect whether or not the portable device 40 is present inside the vehicle. If the vehicle repeater 20 detects that the portable device 40 is present inside the vehicle but receives an engine start signal from the portable repeater 30, it is preferable for the notification unit 20c of the vehicle repeater 20 and the notification unit 30c of the portable repeater 30 to notify the user of such a situation.

[0257] [Variation 5. Variation of LF data] Although the portable device 40 recognizes the LF data transmitted by the portable repeater 30 at the first frequency (LF) as regular LF data, it is different from the LF data transmitted by the vehicle control device 10. The range that the portable device 40 recognizes as regular LF data includes the range of LF data transmitted by the vehicle control device 10, and also includes the range of LF data transmitted by the portable repeater 30 in this modified example.

[0258] The relay system 4 includes a device having a function of receiving LF data, and the device has a function of discriminating between these two types of LF data and recording which LF data has been received. The device having a function of receiving LF data may be, for example, a vehicle repeater 20, and the LF data may be received by the first vehicle side transceiver 24, or may be received by a receiving RFIC or the like provided separately from the first vehicle side transceiver 24. The reception and recording of the LF data may be performed by providing a recording device in the vehicle repeater 20.

[0259] [Modification 6. Modification of RF data] The RF data transmitted by the vehicle repeater 20 at the second frequency (RF) is recognized as regular RF data by the vehicle control device 10, but is different from the RF data transmitted by the portable device 40. The range of data that the vehicle repeater 20 recognizes as regular RF data includes the range of RF data transmitted by the portable device 40, and also includes the range of RF data transmitted by the vehicle repeater 20 in this modified example.

[0260] The relay system 4 includes a device having a function of receiving RF data, and the device has a function of discriminating between these two types of RF data and recording which RF data has been received. The device having a function of receiving RF data may be, for example, a vehicle repeater 20, and RF data may be received by providing an RFIC or the like for reception. The reception and recording of RF data may be performed by providing a recording device in the vehicle repeater 20.

[0261] [Modification 7. Modification regarding additional functions of portable repeater] The portable repeater 30 is a box that extracts information about the vehicle 6. For example, the portable repeater 30 is added with a function for acquiring information from the vehicle 6, a function for communicating with a smartphone, etc. The communication function with a smartphone, etc. may be a Bluetooth function, an NFC function, etc., and for example, a Bluetooth transmitting / receiving module may be connected to the control unit 32. Examples of the added functions are described below in (1) to (3).

[0262] (1) Various information regarding the vehicle 6 is transferred from the vehicle repeater 20 to the portable repeater 30 and stored in a memory unit provided in the portable repeater 30, so that the stored information can be transferred to a smartphone, etc.

[0263] While it is difficult to operate a smartphone or the like inside a vehicle and difficult to obtain information about the vehicle 6, the operation is easy outside the vehicle at home, in a restaurant, etc. On the other hand, at home, in a restaurant, etc., the distance between the vehicle 6 and the smartphone or the like operated by the user is large, and there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain information directly from the vehicle 6 using the smartphone or the like.

[0264] Since the user carries both the smartphone and the portable repeater 30 nearby, this modified example allows the user to easily obtain information about the vehicle 6, thereby solving the above problem.

[0265] Furthermore, according to this modification, the portable repeater 30 can be used not simply as an operation button for an engine starter, but as a tool to be used in pairs with a smartphone or the like, providing an incentive for users to carry the portable repeater 30. Generally, engine starters are used exclusively in the winter, and so the portable repeater 30 is seldom carried by users outside of the winter, particularly in the summer, but according to this modification, the possibility of carrying it outside of the winter increases.

[0266] (2) The information stored in (1) above may be, for example, the operation of the vehicle 6 (engine on / off), the location (for example, the location where the vehicle 6 is parked detected by the on-board GPS), the temperature inside the vehicle, etc. This information can be displayed on a smartphone or on a map, and further, the information or the map on which the information is displayed can be shared with others. Using this information, the user can easily look back on past actions.

[0267] GPS and other devices consume a lot of power, so if they are installed in the portable repeater 30, the primary battery 30d will need to be replaced more frequently. Therefore, if these devices are installed in the vehicle repeater 20 instead of the portable repeater 30, the user can obtain rich information even though the portable repeater 30 can be powered by the primary battery 30d using a button battery. Since the portable repeater 30 only receives this information, its power consumption remains small.

[0268] (3) The mobile repeater 30 should have a function to store the detection history of devices having wireless communication functions such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). In particular, it is recommended to store the detection history in association with the detection time. It may be possible to store the history at a predetermined time interval (for example, one-minute intervals), but it is recommended to store only the time when a change occurs.

[0269] The device having a wireless communication function such as Bluetooth may be, for example, a headphone, a keyboard or mouse for a computer, a smartphone, etc.

[0270] Detection of devices having a wireless communication function such as Bluetooth may be performed by transmitting a scan signal via the wireless communication function such as Bluetooth provided in the mobile repeater 30.

[0271] Table 1 shows an example of data acquired and stored by portable repeater 30. The stored data in Table 1 includes the Bluetooth (indicated as "BT" in the table) ID of the detected device, the level of electric field strength as the communication state, and the date and time of detection.

[0272] [Table 1]

[0273] By using such detection history data, for example, it is possible to know when and how close a user carrying a portable repeater 30 was to a device, and to easily review his / her own behavior. In this modification, the behavioral status may be obtained from differences in the SSID of Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth.

[0274] [Modification 8. Modification of the vehicle repeater] While the above-mentioned variant 7 was a variant regarding the portable repeater 30, variant 8 adds a function to acquire information from the vehicle 6 and a communication function with a smartphone, etc., to the vehicle repeater 20 in a similar manner. The communication function with a smartphone, etc. may be a Bluetooth function, an NFC function, etc., and for example, a Bluetooth transmission / reception module may be connected to the control unit 22.

[0275] Table 2 shows an example of data acquired and stored by vehicle repeater 20. As with Table 1, the stored data shown in Table 2 includes the Bluetooth (shown as "BT" in the table) ID of the detected device, the level of electric field strength as the communication state, and the date and time of detection. An ID shown as "None" in Table 2 means, for example, that a weak signal was received but the ID could not be identified.

[0276] [Table 2]

[0277] By using such detection history data, for example, a user riding in a vehicle 6 equipped with a vehicle repeater 20 can know what device the user was near at what time and how close the user was, and can easily look back on his / her own behavior. In this modification, the behavioral status may be obtained from differences in the SSID of Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth.

[0278] Furthermore, by combining variants 7 and 8, for example, by comparing the data in the first row of Table 1 with the data in the first row of Table 2, it is possible to determine that a device with ID 00001 (e.g., a smartphone) was detected at the same time by both mobile repeater 30 and vehicle repeater 20 and was in the vicinity of both mobile repeater 30 and vehicle 6, and furthermore, from the level of electric field strength, it is possible to determine that the device was more likely to have been closer to mobile repeater 30 than to vehicle 6, which can be used as an aid in searching for the device. Furthermore, it can also be applied to searching for the location of an original key when it has been lost, for example.

[0279] [Variation 9. Identifying the location of a portable repeater] By using radio waves of a frequency (third frequency (SG), e.g., 922 MHz) used to relay communication signals between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 in the relay system 4 in combination with the radio waves of the Bluetooth function used in variant example 8, it is possible to use the vehicle repeater 20 to identify where the portable repeater 30 is located.

[0280] A function for receiving Bluetooth radio waves is added to the vehicle repeater 20. In the vehicle repeater 20, for example, a Bluetooth transceiver module may be connected to the control unit 22. This allows the second vehicle side transceiver 26 to receive radio waves of the third frequency, and the Bluetooth transceiver module to receive Bluetooth radio waves.

[0281] The communication distance using the third frequency is several hundred meters, and that using Bluetooth radio waves is approximately 10 meters. Therefore, if the vehicle repeater 20 receives both radio waves, it can be inferred that the portable repeater 30 is located within 10 meters of the vehicle 6, if it receives only radio waves of the third frequency, it is located more than 10 meters but within several hundred meters, and if it receives neither radio waves, it is not located within several hundred meters.

[0282] According to the relay system 4 as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle control system 2 (control system) includes a vehicle control device 10 (first device) and a portable device 40 (second device) which perform wireless communication with each other according to a predetermined communication specification, the vehicle control device 10 is disposed in a vehicle 6 (controlled device), and when a predetermined signal is communicated between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40, the vehicle control system 2 performs a control operation of the vehicle 6 in which the vehicle control device 10 is disposed. The relay system 4 relays wireless communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 in a plurality of types of vehicle control systems 2 in which the predetermined communication specifications between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 are different. The vehicle repeater 20 (first repeater) and portable repeater 30 (second repeater) can relay signals between the vehicle control device 10 and transmit signals that can be recognized by the vehicle control device 10, and the portable repeater 30 receives signals from the portable device 40 and transmits signals that can be recognized by the portable device 40, receives communication signals through which communication is carried out between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40, determines the specified communication specifications based on the received communication signals, and applies the determined specified communication specifications to the communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the vehicle repeater 20 and the communication between the portable device 40 and the portable repeater 30.

[0283] In this way, even if the communication specifications differ for each vehicle control system 2, the communication specifications corresponding to each vehicle control system 2 are automatically applied, so that a relay system 4 can be obtained that can perform control operations for a vehicle 6 in which a vehicle control device 10 in the vehicle control system 2 is installed.

[0284] The communication specifications may include the signal data length, the number of bits, the transmission time, the data frame, and so on.

[0285] In the above embodiment, the vehicle repeater 20 is arranged in the vehicle 6, and the portable repeater 30 is carried by the user.

[0286] In this way, even if the communication specifications differ for each vehicle model, the communication specifications for each vehicle model are automatically applied, and a relay system 4 that can control the vehicle of that vehicle model can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the need to prepare relay systems 4 with communication specifications for each vehicle model, and inventory management at the dealership becomes easier.

[0287] The operation of the vehicle 6 controlled by the control operation of the vehicle control system 2 may be any operation, but may be, for example, the operation of each part constituting the vehicle 6, such as the locking and unlocking of the doors of the vehicle 6, or the activation and shutdown of the car security. In particular, it may be, for example, the starting of the engine or the motor system, which are the power sources of the vehicle 6, or the starting and stopping of the air conditioner. The relay system 4 may be an engine starter that can remotely start the engine or the motor system, or the air conditioner, and stop them.

[0288] The control of vehicle 6 by vehicle control system 2 may be configured to start or stop, for example, by detecting a user's operation of an operation unit provided in portable repeater 30 or an operation unit provided in portable device 40. For example, the vehicle control system 2 may be configured to detect a user's operation on an operation button of portable repeater 30, and perform control operations of each part constituting the vehicle via vehicle repeater 20.

[0289] Detection of the user's operation of the operating unit provided on the portable device 40 may be particularly preferably performed based on a signal that the portable device 40 wirelessly transmits to the vehicle control device 10 in response to the user's operation of the operating unit provided on the portable device 40.

[0290] In particular, the user's operation of the operating unit provided on the portable device 40 may be an operation different from the operation performed from the portable device 40 to the vehicle control device 10 for causing the vehicle control device 10 to perform a specified control operation of the vehicle 6.

[0291] In particular, the user's operation of the operation unit provided on the portable device 40 may include an operation performed from the portable device 40 to the vehicle control device 10 that triggers the transmission of a wireless signal to cause the vehicle control device 10 to perform a predetermined control operation of the vehicle 6, but may be an operation different from the operation. In particular, it may include an operation between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 in which the same operation is not performed consecutively within a predetermined time. In particular, it may be configured such that when a wireless signal is received in which the same operation has been performed a predetermined number of times consecutively within a predetermined time, the vehicle control system 2 performs a predetermined control operation of the vehicle 6 from the vehicle repeater 20 to the portable repeater 30.

[0292] For example, in a configuration for controlling the door lock of vehicle 6, in which portable device 40 is provided with a button for locking the door of vehicle 6 as an operation unit, the user may perform an operation other than the operation for locking the door of the vehicle (pressing the button once), such as pressing the door lock button three times in succession within one second, by detecting that portable repeater 30 has received the three door lock radio signals emitted by portable device 40 consecutively within a predetermined time. When such detection is made, a command signal for starting the engine, etc. may be wirelessly transmitted to vehicle repeater 20.

[0293] For example, if the portable device 40 installed in the vehicle 6 only has a button for unlocking and locking the door of the vehicle 6 as an operating unit, the user can perform an operation other than the operation for unlocking and locking the door of the vehicle 6 by pressing the button three times in succession within one second, for example, so that the vehicle control system 2 can start the engine, start the motor, or start the air conditioner, or stop these, via the portable repeater 30 and the vehicle repeater 20.

[0294] The relay system 4 is preferably configured such that the communication distance between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 is longer than the communication distance between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40. In this way, the user can remotely control the vehicle control system 2 from a greater distance by operating the portable repeater 30 or the portable device 40. As a configuration for making the communication distance between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 longer, for example, the transmission power of the radio waves used for communication between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 may be greater than the transmission power of the radio waves used for communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40.

[0295] The relay system 4 may be applied to a vehicle control system 2 in which communication between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 is performed in the following order (hereinafter also referred to as "sequence"). [1] First, in order to start control of the vehicle 6 using the vehicle control device 10, when a start switch provided on the vehicle control device 10 is operated, the vehicle control device 10 transmits a response request signal as a communication signal. [2] When the portable device 40 receives the response request signal, it transmits a response signal generated by performing a predetermined process based on the response request signal as a communication signal. [3] The vehicle control device 10 starts control of the vehicle 6 if the received response signal is a predetermined response signal compared to the response request signal transmitted by the vehicle control device 10 itself, and does not start control of the vehicle 6 if the received response signal is not the predetermined response signal.

[0296] In a vehicle control system 2 in which communication is performed in such a sequence, the relay system 4 may relay communication between the vehicle control device 10 of the vehicle control system 2 and the portable device 40 in the following order: When the vehicle repeater 20 receives a response request signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10, it transmits a wireless response request signal based on the response request signal. When the portable repeater 30 receives a wireless response request signal, it generates a forwarding response request signal from the wireless response request signal that the portable device 40 recognizes as a response request signal, and transmits the generated forwarding response request signal to the portable device 40 (hereinafter, the vehicle repeater 20 receiving the response request signal and the portable repeater 30 transmitting the forwarding response request signal are also referred to as "relaying the response request signal").

[0297] Regarding the response signal, when the portable repeater 30 receives a response signal transmitted from the portable device 40, it transmits a wireless response signal based on the response signal. When the vehicle repeater 20 receives a wireless response signal, it generates from the wireless response signal a forwarding response signal that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as a response signal, and transmits the generated forwarding response signal to the vehicle control device 10 (hereinafter, the mobile repeater 30 receiving the response signal and the vehicle repeater 20 transmitting the forwarding response signal are also referred to as "relaying the response signal").

[0298] The forwarded response request signal may be exactly the same as the original response request signal, or may be different from the original response request signal as long as the portable device 40 can recognize it as a response request signal. Similarly, the forwarded response signal may be exactly the same as the original response signal, or may be different from the original response signal as long as the vehicle control device 10 can recognize it as a response signal.

[0299] Furthermore, the relay system 4 may be particularly applied to the vehicle control system 2 that performs the above sequence twice (for example, the startup sequence and the subsequent authentication sequence).

[0300] The communication specifications may be determined each time communication occurs in the vehicle control system 2, but it is particularly preferable to determine the communication specifications the first time communication occurs in the vehicle control system 2 after the relay system 4 is installed in the vehicle 6 equipped with the vehicle control system 2. Furthermore, the determination result may be recorded in a memory means provided in each of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30, and the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 may operate based on the recorded information. It is also preferable that the vehicle control system 2 cannot control the start of the engine of the vehicle 6 via the relay system 4 unless the determined communication specifications are applied to the relay system 4.

[0301] If the communication specifications are to be determined when communication in the vehicle control system 2 occurs for the first time after the relay system 4 is installed in the vehicle 6, this can be done, for example, when the vehicle control system 2 is started up using the start switch provided in the vehicle 6 for the first time after the relay system 4 is installed, and a communication signal is sent from the vehicle control device 10.For example, a dip switch can be provided in the vehicle repeater 20, and the relay system 4 can be placed in setting mode using the dip switch, and then the start operation can be performed using the start switch provided in the vehicle 6, causing the vehicle control device 10 to send a communication signal.

[0302] The communication specifications may be determined based on, for example, the data length of the communication signal. Here, consider an example in which the data length of the communication signal of the vehicle control system 2A is shorter than that of another vehicle control system 2B, and a relay system 4 compatible only with the vehicle control system 2A is used for the vehicle control system 2B.

[0303] Between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30, which perform wireless communication with each other, it is preferable that a communication signal (e.g., a wireless response request signal) be transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 and received by the portable repeater 30, and that a communication signal (e.g., a wireless response signal) be transmitted from the portable repeater 30 and received by the vehicle repeater 20.

[0304] The vehicle repeater 20 may be provided with separate transmitting means and receiving means for communicating with the portable repeater 30, or may be provided with a transmitting / receiving means that can be used for both transmitting and receiving. Similarly, the portable repeater 30 may be provided with separate transmitting means and receiving means for communicating with the vehicle repeater 20, or may be provided with a transmitting / receiving means that can be used for both transmitting and receiving.

[0305] In a portable repeater 30 of a relay system 4 that is only compatible with a vehicle control system 2A, when communication signals with the vehicle repeater 20 are transmitted and received using a transmission / reception means that is suitable for both transmission and reception, it is preferable to switch between the receiving state of the communication signal from the vehicle repeater 20 and the transmitting state of the communication signal to the vehicle repeater 20 at an appropriate timing according to the data length of the communication signal of the vehicle control system 2A.

[0306] If the data length of a communication signal from a vehicle control system 2A is shorter than that of a communication signal from another vehicle control system 2B, the portable repeater 30 that receives a communication signal from the vehicle repeater 20 may switch from a state of receiving a communication signal from the vehicle repeater 20 to a state of transmitting a communication signal to the vehicle repeater 20 before completing reception of the communication signal from the vehicle repeater 20, which may result in an error.

[0307] However, by applying communication specifications determined based on the communication signal, it is possible to obtain a relay system 4 in which the timing for switching the transmission / reception states of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 is automatically set in both the vehicle control system 2A and the vehicle control system 2B, thereby reducing the occurrence of such errors.

[0308] The communication specifications may be determined by only the vehicle repeater 20, only the mobile repeater 30, or both the vehicle repeater 20 and the mobile repeater 30. In cases where the communication specifications based on the communication signal are determined only by the vehicle repeater 20, information regarding the determined communication specifications may be transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 to the mobile repeater 30.

[0309] When determining the communication specifications, it is preferable to provide a distance instruction means for instructing the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 to be at a distance where they can communicate with each other and the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 to be at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other. The distance instruction means may be written on paper like an instruction manual, or may be a distance notification means for determining the distance or communication state between the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 and the distance or communication state between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40, and notifying whether the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 are at a distance where they can communicate with each other and whether the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 are at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other. The distance notification means may utilize the notification unit 20c provided in the vehicle repeater 20 or the notification unit 30c provided in the portable repeater 30. The notification by the distance notification means may be performed by providing a display unit or an audio output unit in the vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30, and displaying on the display unit or outputting as audio from the audio output unit.

[0310] In this way, it is possible to prevent the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 from completing communication without going through the relay system 4 before application of the specific communication specification to the relay system 4 is completed.

[0311] The distance notification means may instruct the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 to be at a distance where they can communicate with each other, and the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 to be at a distance where they cannot communicate with each other, not only when determining the communication specifications, but also when using the relay system 4. Note that the distance notification means may not provide instructions when determining the communication specifications, but only when the relay system 4 is in use.

[0312] The vehicle repeater 20 may be provided with a specification notification means for notifying which communication specification has been applied when the determined communication specification has been applied. The specification notification means may include a storage unit for storing notification contents corresponding to the determined communication specification, and a display unit or a voice output unit. When the application of the communication specification is completed, the display unit may display which communication specification has been applied, or the voice output unit may output the communication specification as a voice. The specification notification means may use the notification unit 20c provided in the vehicle repeater 20 or the notification unit 30c provided in the mobile repeater 30. The notification contents may be information that can identify which communication specification has been applied, such as the vehicle manufacturer and model, and in the case where the communication specifications stored in the relay system 4 are managed by numbers, such as "Communication specification 1 has been applied." The display unit may also display whether the determined communication specification has been applied or not.

[0313] In this embodiment, the communication specifications are determined based on at least one of the number of bits, the transmission time, and the data frame configuration for at least one of the communication signals, namely, the response request signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 and the response signal transmitted from the portable device 40 in response to the response request signal.

[0314] In this way, the type of the vehicle control system 2 can be accurately determined, and more accurate communication specifications can be applied.

[0315] The vehicle type of the vehicle 6 equipped with the vehicle control system 2 can be accurately determined, and the timing for switching the transmission and reception states of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 can be set more accurately.

[0316] When the vehicle control system 2 performs two communication signal sequences, a startup sequence and a subsequent authentication sequence, the communication specification may be determined based on the transmission time of a WAKE signal, which is a response request signal for the startup sequence.

[0317] The communication specifications may be determined based on at least two of the number of bits, the transmission time, and the data frame configuration for at least one of the response request signal and the response signal.

[0318] In this embodiment, the vehicle control system 2 uses multiple sets of response request signals transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 and response signals transmitted from the portable device 40 in response to the response request signals as communication signals between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40, and determines the communication specifications based on each set of response request signals and response signals.

[0319] In this way, it is possible to more accurately identify the type of vehicle 6 in which the vehicle control system 2 is installed. In the vehicle control system 2 equipped in the vehicle 6, the communication specifications can be determined based on the communication signals for both the startup sequence and the authentication sequence that use two sets of response request signals and response signals, thereby applying accurate communication specifications and more accurately setting the switching timing of the transmission / reception states of, for example, the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30.

[0320] In this embodiment, the communication specifications are determined by a determination means provided in the vehicle repeater 20, and when application of the determined communication specifications to the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 is completed, the portable repeater 30 is provided with an operation possibility notification means for notifying that the user can operate to start or stop the control operation of the vehicle 6 by the vehicle control system 2 via the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30. The operation possibility notification means can utilize the notification unit 20c provided in the vehicle repeater 20 or the notification unit 30c provided in the portable repeater 30.

[0321] In this way, the user can know that it is now possible to operate the vehicle 6 using the relay system 4, and it is possible to prevent the user from attempting to operate the vehicle 6 when he or she is not able to do so.

[0322] The result of the communication specification determination by the determination means provided in the vehicle repeater 20 may be transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20 to the mobile repeater 30 via communication other than relaying the communication signal of the vehicle control system 2.

[0323] The operation availability notification means provided in the portable repeater 30 may be an audio output means or a display means. The audio output means may output a short signal sound such as "beep" or a voice saying "Can be used" when it becomes possible to operate the vehicle 6 using the relay system 4, for example. The display means may be, for example, an LED that changes from a red light state to a blue light state when it becomes possible to operate the vehicle 6 using the relay system 4, or may be, for example, an LCD screen that displays letters or marks indicating that it is usable when it becomes possible to operate the vehicle 6 using the relay system 4. The operation availability notification means may be provided in the vehicle repeater 20.

[0324] In this embodiment, the vehicle control device 10 controls the vehicle 6 and vehicle components that configure the vehicle 6, and the portable device 40 is mounted on the vehicle 6.

[0325] In this way, the vehicle 6 or vehicle components can be operated using the relay system 4. The vehicle components may be anything, but may be, for example, a door lock mechanism, car security, or an air conditioner, and in particular, an engine or motor that is the power source of the vehicle.

[0326] In this embodiment, a storage means for storing information regarding multiple types of communication signals and a comparison means for comparing a communication signal received by the vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30 from the vehicle control device 10 or the portable device 40 to which of the multiple types of communication signals stored in the storage means corresponds, and a predetermined communication specification is determined by comparing the communication signal by the comparison means. The storage means can utilize the parameter storage unit 28 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the parameter storage unit 38 of the portable repeater 30, and the comparison means can utilize the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 and the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30.

[0327] In this way, the communication specifications can be reliably determined, and the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 can be accurately configured.

[0328] The information regarding the multiple types of communication signals may be information for identifying each type of the multiple types of communication signals, may be information regarding the characteristics of each communication signal, or may be information regarding differences between each communication signal.

[0329] In this embodiment, the vehicle control system 2 uses a response request signal transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 and a response signal transmitted from the portable unit 40 in response to the response request signal as communication signals, and the portable unit 40 transmits the response signal at a frequency based on frequency designation information contained in the response request signal, the frequency designation information is included in a predetermined communication specification determined based on the response request signal, and the portable repeater 30 receives the response signal transmitted from the portable unit 40 at a frequency based on the frequency designation information.

[0330] In this way, even if the frequency at which the portable device 40 transmits the response signal differs for each vehicle control system 2 or for each communication, the response signal can be relayed by the same relay system 4.

[0331] The frequency at which the portable device 40 transmits the response signal may be in accordance with the communication specifications.

[0332] In this embodiment, the portable repeater 30 is equipped with a second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​(first transceiver unit) that performs wireless communication with the vehicle repeater 20, and a first portable side transceiver unit 34 (second transceiver unit) that performs wireless communication with the portable device 40 and transmits communication signals between the second portable side transceiver unit 36, and transmission of communication signals from the first portable side transceiver unit 34 to the second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​is blocked except when receiving a communication signal transmitted from the portable device 40, and when the second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​has completed receiving the communication signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20, it switches to a state of transmitting the communication signal transmitted from the first portable side transceiver unit 34 to the vehicle repeater 20.

[0333] In the portable repeater 30, if the first portable side transceiver unit 34 transmits a communication signal sent from the portable device 40 to the second portable side transceiver unit 36, and the second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​transmits the communication signal transmitted from the first portable side transceiver unit 34 as is, there is a problem that when the first portable side transceiver unit 34 receives noise when it is not receiving a communication signal transmitted from the portable device 40, the noise is transmitted from the second portable side transceiver unit 36.

[0334] Here, in the portable repeater 30, even if the second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​transmits the signal transmitted from the first portable side transceiver unit 34 as is, if the transmission of the communication signal from the first portable side transceiver unit 34 to the second portable side transceiver unit 36 ​​is blocked except when the communication signal transmitted from the portable device 40 is being received, it is possible to suppress the transmission of noise when relaying the communication signal transmitted from the portable device 40 to the vehicle control device 10.

[0335] Furthermore, in the portable repeater 30, when the second portable side transceiver 36 completes receiving the communication signal transmitted from the vehicle repeater 20, it switches to a state in which it transmits the communication signal transmitted from the first portable side transceiver 34 to the vehicle repeater 20, so that there is less of a delay in the time between the communication signal being transmitted from the vehicle control device 10 and the time it returns to the vehicle control device 10. Therefore, for example, in the vehicle control system 2, even if the time between the transmission of a response request signal from the vehicle control device when starting the engine and the start of transmission of a response signal from the portable device is set to a short time by the vehicle manufacturer, the possibility of not being able to start the engine using the relay system 4 can be reduced.

[0336] The communication signal from the first mobile side transceiver unit 34 to the second mobile side transceiver unit 36 ​​can be blocked, for example, by using a control unit that outputs a control signal only when it detects that a communication signal has been transmitted from the mobile device 40, and an AND circuit 50 that outputs the logical product of the control signal output from the control unit and the communication signal output from the first mobile side transceiver unit 34 to the second mobile side transceiver unit 36.

[0337] In this embodiment, in the vehicle control system 2, the vehicle control device 10 wirelessly communicates a predetermined signal for performing a control operation of the vehicle 6 with each of the multiple portable devices 40, and in response to each of the WAKE signal (first response request signal) and challenge signal (second response request signal) transmitted by the vehicle control device 10 as a communication signal, each portable device 40 transmits either a corresponding unique ACK signal (first response signal) or a unique response signal (second response signal) as a communication signal, the vehicle repeater 20 stores information regarding the ACK signals transmitted from the multiple portable devices 40, and an operation detection means for detecting the operation of at least one of the vehicle 6, the vehicle control device 10, the vehicle repeater 20, and the portable repeater 30 is connected to the vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30, and detects the WAKE signal transmitted by the vehicle control device 10. When the vehicle repeater 20 receives the signal, it transmits one of the signals (pseudo ACK signals) that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as one of the unique ACK signals based on information about the ACK signal stored, and the vehicle control device 10 that recognizes the signal as one of the unique ACK signals transmits a challenge signal, and one of the portable devices 40 that received the signal that the portable device 40 recognizes as a challenge signal, which was sent from the portable repeater 30 that received a signal based on the challenge signal sent by the vehicle control device 10 via the vehicle repeater 20, transmits a unique response signal, and then the vehicle control device 10 sequentially transmits signals that it recognizes as one of the unique ACK signals based on information about the ACK signal stored in the vehicle repeater 20 until the operation detection means detects that at least one of the vehicle 6, the vehicle control device 10, the vehicle repeater 20, and the portable repeater 30 has operated.

[0338] By the vehicle repeater 20 performing the operation of sequentially transmitting signals that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as one of the unique ACK signals (hereinafter also referred to as the "sequential transmission operation") in this manner, when performing authentication operation between the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 using the relay system 4, there is no need to relay the ACK signal from the portable device 40 to the vehicle control device 10, and the power used by the relay system 4 can be reduced.

[0339] The motion detection means may be connected by wire or wirelessly to the vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30. The motion detection means may utilize the control unit 22 of the vehicle repeater 20 or the control unit 32 of the portable repeater 30.

[0340] The operation of the portable repeater 30 detected by the operation detection means may be the portable repeater 30 receiving a response signal transmitted by the portable device 40. The operation of the vehicle repeater 20 detected by the operation detection means may be the vehicle repeater 20 receiving a wireless response signal transmitted by the portable repeater 30 based on the response signal. The operation of the vehicle control device 10 detected by the operation detection means may be the vehicle control device 10 receiving a signal transmitted by the vehicle repeater 20 and recognized as a response signal by the vehicle repeater 20. The operation of the vehicle 6 detected by the operation detection means may be an operation based on the control operation of the vehicle control system 2 performed by the vehicle control device 10 recognizing the response signal, for example, starting the engine or motor system, or starting the air conditioner.

[0341] The authentication operation of the vehicle control device 10 and the portable device 40 using the relay system 4 can be performed, for example, through the following steps.

[0342] [1] A step in which the vehicle repeater 20 transmits a start-up trigger signal to the vehicle control device 10; [2] A step in which the vehicle control device 10 receives the start-up trigger signal and transmits a WAKE signal; [3] A step in which the vehicle repeater 20 that has received the WAKE signal transmits one of the signals (pseudo ACK signals) that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as one of the unique ACK signals based on information about the ACK signal stored in the vehicle repeater 20; [4] A step in which the vehicle control device 10 that has recognized the signal as one of the unique ACK signals transmits a challenge signal; [5] A step in which the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 relay the challenge signal; and [6] A step in which the vehicle repeater 20 transmits a challenge signal. The method includes the steps of:

[0025] one of the portable repeaters 30 that recognizes the ACK signal transmits a response signal; and [7] the portable repeater 30 and the vehicle repeater 20 relaying the response signal. After these steps, if the vehicle control device 10 receives the relayed response signal and recognizes that the ACK signal and the response signal correspond, the authentication operation is completed. If the vehicle control device 10 does not recognize that the ACK signal and the response signal correspond, the vehicle repeater 20 transmits a signal that the vehicle control device 10 recognizes as one of its unique ACK signals, other than the signal transmitted in step [3], as a sequential transmission operation.

[0343] (10) For example, it may be configured as a vehicle repeater 20 in a repeater system 4 described in any one of (1) to (9) above.

[0344] (11) For example, it may be configured as a portable repeater 30 in a relay system 4 described in any one of (1) to (9) above.

[0345] Such devices are configured as devices used in the vehicle control system 2. For example, as a device for the relay system 4 used as an engine starter, it is preferable to configure it as a vehicle repeater 20 or a portable repeater 30 provided with an engine start button.

[0346] (12) The vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30 should have a function for determining whether the engine is running, and should process the signal so as not to relay when the engine is running.

[0347] (13) The vehicle repeater 20 or the mobile repeater 30 may be provided with a means for identifying the current location (e.g., position) and may be processed so as not to relay at a specific location (e.g., preset). Also, for example, the relay may be processed so as to relay at a specific location (e.g., preset) (e.g., relay at home in an apartment building, but not at a vacation home). For example, it may be possible to set relay-prohibited points (e.g., areas).

[0348] (14) The vehicle repeater 20 or the portable repeater 30 may be equipped with a temperature sensor that measures the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, and may be controlled not to relay when the temperature (e.g., inside the vehicle cabin) is within a certain range (e.g., a comfortable temperature range).

[0349] (15) The portable repeater 30 is equipped with a first vehicle side transceiver 24 and has an LF receiving function for receiving LF data transmitted by the vehicle control device 10, etc., but it is preferable to control it so that it does not relay when receiving LF data.

[0350] (16) The portable repeater 30 has a function of transmitting the same signal (LF data) as the signal sent from the vehicle control device 10 to the vehicle 6 when there is no signal from the vehicle 6 (for example, a function of transmitting when a check button provided on the portable repeater 30 is pressed, or at regular time intervals (for example, every minute)), and determines whether a response signal to the signal sent by the portable repeater 30 is returned from the portable device 40 (for example, whether the two are within an appropriate distance range). It is preferable to have a function of notifying the user that a response signal has not been returned. At this time, it is preferable to control the response signal from the portable device 40 so that it is not relayed to the vehicle repeater 20 side. It is possible to store signal patterns for each vehicle type in advance and send out a signal based on the stored pattern, but it is particularly preferable to store the signal from the vehicle control device 10 relayed from the vehicle repeater 20 and send out a signal based on that signal.

[0351] (17) The vehicle repeater 20 may be provided with a function for connecting to an in-vehicle LAN and a function for controlling not to relay signals based on the state of signals passing through the in-vehicle LAN. For example, when a door opening is detected from the in-vehicle LAN (e.g., CAN), the relay function may be configured not to relay signals.

[0352] (18) It is preferable to provide a function to limit the relay operation time of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30 that constitute the relay system 4. For example, it is preferable to limit the relay operation time to a predetermined range (for example, a few seconds) after the engine start button is pressed. For example, the conventional portable repeater and the portable device 40 are connected by a ring, but when the two are connected by a ring, they may get caught on other things in a bag, making them inconvenient to use. If it is allowed to be several meters apart, a problem may arise, for example, that the portable repeater 30 may relay a signal from a genuine key of another vehicle of the same model. By limiting the relay operation time of the vehicle repeater 20 and the portable repeater 30, the frequency of occurrence of such a problem can be reduced. It is also preferable to provide a function to check whether the portable device 40 (genuine key) of another vehicle of the same model is responding, and in such a case, it is preferable to issue a notification indicating that fact. It is also possible to control the relaying of signals to stop when it is determined that the data is not correct data from the portable device 40.

[0353] (19) There is an issue that if there are buttons on both the portable device 40 and the portable repeater 30, it is easy to press the wrong button. The portable repeater 30 has an RF receiver for relaying, so it is good to use it for purposes other than relaying. For example, the buttons can be eliminated from the portable repeater 30. The portable repeater 30 is limited to relaying and notification (it is especially desirable to notify by sound rather than by screen). For example, the operation is to press a specific button on the portable device 40 multiple times (such as pressing the lock button twice in succession within one second) as an engine start operation. When the portable repeater 30 receives and detects such a specific operation by receiving a signal sent from the portable device 40, it is good to send an engine start signal.

[0354] (20) It is preferable to provide a function that changes the operation of the portable repeater 30 depending on whether the portable device 40 is near the portable repeater 30 or not. For example, when it is detected that the engine start button of the portable repeater 30 has been pressed, before sending an engine start signal to the vehicle repeater 20 (or after sending it, in which case the vehicle repeater 20 may have a delay before sending the engine start signal to the vehicle), it sends a signal (e.g., LF data) to confirm whether the portable device 40 is near the portable repeater 30, and if it is determined that the portable device 40 is near the portable repeater 30, it sends an engine start signal to the vehicle repeater 20. If it is determined that the portable device 40 is not near the portable repeater 30, it does not send the engine start signal to the vehicle repeater 20. If the genuine key is not near the portable repeater 30, it is preferable to issue an alert indicating that the genuine key is not near the portable repeater 30.

[0355] In addition, for example, assuming that the driver has left the portable repeater 30 at home and is cleaning the car in the parking lot at home while a child at home presses the engine start button on the portable repeater 30, the vehicle repeater 20 should be equipped with a function to detect whether or not the original key is present in the vehicle (for example, by directly connecting to the ECU, monitoring the in-vehicle LAN, or detecting via an RF receiver), and if it detects that the original key is present in the vehicle but receives an engine start signal from the portable repeater 30, it should issue an alert to indicate that such a situation has occurred.

[0356] (21) The LF data should be recognized as a regular signal by the portable device (genuine key, portable device 40), but should be different from the LF data emitted by the vehicle. A device equipped with an LF receiver (for example, the vehicle repeater 20 should be equipped with this function) should have a function to distinguish between these two LF data and record which LF data was received.

[0357] (22) The RF data is recognized by the vehicle as a regular signal, but is different from the RF data emitted by the genuine key (portable device 40). A device equipped with an RF receiver (for example, the portable repeater 30 should have this function) should have a function to discriminate between these two RF signals and record which RF signal was received.

[0358] (23) For example, the functions described in any of (1) to (22) above may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize the functions. The program may be a program for the vehicle repeater 20 and a program for the portable repeater 30.

[0359] The above-mentioned inventions (1) to (22) can be combined in any way. For example, it may be possible to have at least one of the other configurations (2) to (22) without having all or a part of the configuration (1). However, it is particularly preferable to have all or a part of the configuration (1) in combination with at least one of the configurations (2) to (22). In addition, any component may be extracted from at least one of the configurations (1) to (22) and combined. The applicant of the present application intends to obtain patent rights for such configurations as well.

[0360] Various aspects of the present invention have been described above using embodiments and modified examples, but it should be noted that these embodiments and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are provided to aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed in this specification. The configurations of the present invention that are to be patented are specified in the attached claims, but even if a configuration is not currently specified in the claims, it is intended that the configurations disclosed in this specification will be included in the claims in the future.

[0361] The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above-mentioned embodiments. The components of each of the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Any component of each of the embodiments and modifications may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the Summary for Solving the Problems of the Invention or any component that embodies any component described in the Summary for Solving the Problems of the Invention. We intend to obtain rights to these as well through amendments to this application or divisional applications, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0362] 1. Vehicle remote control system 2. Vehicle Control System 4. Relay System 6 Vehicles 6a battery 8 Communication Cable 10 Vehicle control device 12 Control section 14 Transmitter / receiver 16 Authentication information storage section 20 Vehicle repeater 20a Start trigger output section 20b Setting switch 20c Notification Department 22 Control section 24 First vehicle side transmitter / receiver 26 Second vehicle side transmitter / receiver 28 Parameter storage section 30 Mobile repeater 30a Setting switch 30b Operation section 30c Notification Department 30d primary battery 32 Control section 32a Output terminal 34 First mobile phone side transceiver unit 34a Transmit-only RFIC 34b Receive-only RFIC 34c Output terminal 36 Second mobile phone side transceiver unit 36a Input terminal 38 Parameter storage section 40 Portable Device 40a primary battery 42 Control section 44 Transmitter / receiver 46 Authentication information storage unit 50 AND Circuit 50a input terminal 50b Input terminal 50c output terminal

Claims

1. A relay system for relaying wireless communication between a vehicle and a portable device carried by a user, A portable repeater carried by a user, The vehicle information acquisition device includes a function of acquiring information about the vehicle via a vehicle repeater and a function of communicating with a smartphone. The mobile repeater is provided with a function of storing the information in a memory unit and transferring the information stored in the memory unit to a smartphone. A portable repeater characterized by the following.

2. The information to be stored in a memory unit provided in the portable repeater and transferred to a smartphone from the memory unit includes at least one of the following: an operation to turn on / off the engine of the vehicle; a location where the vehicle is parked detected by a GPS on the vehicle; and an interior temperature of the vehicle.

2. The portable repeater according to claim 1 .

3. The portable repeater has a function to store the detection history of devices with Bluetooth wireless communication function and to store the detection time in association with the history.

3. A portable repeater as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

4. A program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the portable repeater according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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