Locking / unlocking system

Abstract

To suppress a locking device from being fraudulently unlocked as a result of a password being stolen from a portable device, in a locking / unlocking system capable of unlocking a locking of a door using the portable device.SOLUTION: The locking / unlocking system comprises the locking device, a password issuance device and the portable device. The password issuance device generates a password for making the locking device carry out an unlocking process, and updates the password periodically. The portable device, under a condition in which wireless communication is established with the locking device, acquires the password from the password issuance device, and transmits the same to the locking device. The locking device unlocks the locking of the door by verifying the password received from the portable device. The portable device discards the password acquired from the password issuance device after the unlocking process in the locking device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a locking / unlocking system that allows a user to use a portable device to unlock a door locked by a locking device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a locking / unlocking system that includes a locking device, a host management server, and a mobile device such as a smartphone. In the locking / unlocking system described in Patent Document 1, the host management server generates key information (hereinafter, password) for using the locking device, and the mobile device obtains the password from the host server by general-purpose communication and transmits it to the locking device, thereby unlocking the locking device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6415863 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the locking / unlocking system described in Patent Document 1, a password is generated synchronously between the locking device and the upper management server, so that the mobile device can unlock the locking device by obtaining the password from the upper server.

[0005] However, the locking device can be opened with the old password until a new password is generated, so if the old password remains in the portable device, there is a risk that the password may be stolen from the portable device and the locking device may be unlocked illegally.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to improve the security of a locking / unlocking system in which a door can be locked and unlocked using a portable device, by preventing the locking device from being illegally unlocked by stealing a password from the portable device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A locking / unlocking system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a locking device mounted on a door, a password issuing device, and a portable device that requests the locking device to perform an unlocking process based on the password.

[0008] Among these, the password issuing device generates and stores a password for causing the locking device to perform an unlocking process, and periodically updates the stored password. Also, under conditions where wireless communication with the locking device is established, the portable device communicates with the password issuing device to obtain a password, and transmits the obtained password to the locking device.

[0009] The locking device executes an unlocking process to unlock the door by verifying the password received from the portable device. After the unlocking process is completed by the locking device, the portable device discards the password acquired from the password issuing device.

[0010] Therefore, according to the locking / unlocking system of this first aspect, as with the system described in Patent Document 1 above, when a user opens a locked door, as long as the user has the portable device with them, the user can unlock the locking device without having to perform the operation of unlocking the locking device using an unlocking key.

[0011] In addition, when the locking device is unlocked, the portable device discards the password used for unlocking, which can prevent the password from being stolen from the portable device and the locking device from being unlocked illegally.

[0012] Next, a locking / unlocking system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes a locking device, a password issuing device, and a portable device, as described above. The password issuing device generates and stores a password for causing the locking device to perform an unlocking process, and periodically updates the stored password.

[0013] The portable device also periodically communicates with the password issuing device to obtain a password, stores the obtained password, and transmits the stored password to the locking device under the condition that wireless communication with the locking device is established.

[0014] The locking device then executes an unlocking process to unlock the door by verifying the password received from the portable device. After the unlocking process is completed by the locking device, the portable device discards the password stored therein.

[0015] Therefore, according to the locking / unlocking system of the second aspect, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the locking / unlocking system of the second aspect. That is, the user can unlock the locking device without performing an operation to unlock the locking device using an unlocking key, and it is possible to prevent the password from being stolen from the portable device and the locking device from being illegally unlocked.

[0016] Here, in the locking / unlocking system of the present disclosure, the locking device may include a planar antenna as an antenna for wireless communication with the portable device. The planar antenna may have a directional characteristic capable of radiating electromagnetic waves outward from a first surface, which is one of the front and back surfaces of the door, and not radiating electromagnetic waves outward from a second surface, which is the other of the front and back surfaces of the door. The locking device may be configured to perform wireless communication with the portable device that is present within a predetermined distance range outside the first surface of the door.

[0017] When the locking device is configured in this manner, the user can unlock the locking device only when approaching the first side of the door, and the locking device can be prevented from being unlocked when the portable device is placed in any position on the second side of the door.

[0018] Therefore, for example, when a user carrying the portable device is in a room with the door locked, the locking device can be unlocked, preventing a suspicious person from entering the room.

[0019] In the locking / unlocking system of the present disclosure, the locking device may include a pair of planar antennas, a position determination unit, and a control unit. The pair of planar antennas are arranged on the front and back sides of the door with a shielding plate for blocking electromagnetic waves between them, and have directional characteristics that enable electromagnetic waves to be radiated outward from the front and back sides of the door.

[0020] The position determination unit also determines whether the portable device is located on the front side or the back side of the door based on the difference in electric field strength of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the portable device and received by the pair of planar antennas.

[0021] When the position of the portable device determined by the position determination unit is either the front side or the back side of a preset door, the control unit executes the unlocking process by verifying the password received from the portable device. When the position of the portable device is on the opposite side different from the one side, the control unit does not execute the verification of the password received from the portable device or the unlocking process.

[0022] Therefore, even if the locking device is configured in this way, the user can only unlock the locking device when approaching one of the front and back sides of the door, and the locking device is prevented from being unlocked when the portable device is placed on the other side of the door. Therefore, as with the above, for example, when a user carrying the portable device is in a room with the door locked, the locking device is unlocked, and it is possible to prevent a suspicious person from entering the room.

[0023] In addition, in the locking / unlocking system disclosed herein, the locking device may be configured to periodically generate a matching password used to compare with the password obtained from the portable device by synchronizing with the password issuing device and the matching password that is the same as that of the password issuing device.

[0024] In this way, the locking device does not need to obtain the same password as that of the password issuing device from an external password generating source, and it is possible to prevent the locking device from being illegally unlocked by stealing the matching password used to match the password on the locking device side. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a locking / unlocking system according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a locking device, a password issuing device, and a portable device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a flowchart showing the operations of the locking device, the password issuing device, and the portable device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a communication antenna provided in a locking device of a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a portable device detection process executed in a locking device of a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart showing a password issuing process and an unlock control process executed by a password issuing device and a portable device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [First embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment is for locking and unlocking a door 2 that is installed at the entrance of a room in a building and can be opened and closed, and includes a locking device 10, a portable device 20, and a password issuing device 30.

[0027] Here, the locking device 10 is a so-called auto-lock device that holds the door 2 in a locked state by rendering inoperable the doorknob 6, which is the operating part for pulling the latch portion 4 that contacts the door frame (not shown) into the door 2.

[0028] When the locking device 10 acquires a password (hereinafter referred to as the unlocking password) from the portable device 20 carried by the user through wireless communication between the locking device 10 and the portable device 20, the locking device 10 compares the acquired unlocking password with a comparison password generated by the locking device 10.

[0029] If it is determined through password verification that the unlock password acquired from the portable device 20 matches the verification password, the door 2 in the locked state is unlocked and the user is allowed to operate the doorknob 6 for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the door 2 is returned to the locked state.

[0030] The locking device 10 may be provided on a door frame instead of on the door 2 and configured to switch the door 2 between a locked state and an unlocked state. Next, the portable device 20 is a so-called electronic key, and under the condition that wireless communication with the locking device 10 is established, communicates with the password issuing device 30 and acquires an unlocking password from the password issuing device 30. Then, the portable device 20 transmits the unlocking password acquired from the password issuing device 30 to the locking device 10, thereby causing the locking device 10 to unlock the door 2.

[0031] The portable device 20 may be an electronic key dedicated to the locking / unlocking system, or may be an information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal carried by the user. Next, the password issuing device 30 is a server accessible from the mobile device 20 via a predetermined communication line 40 such as the Internet, a VPN (Virtual Private Network), or a dedicated line, and is operated by an administrator of the locking / unlocking system.

[0032] When the password issuing device 30 receives a password transmission request from the portable device 20 via the communication line 40, it transmits an unlocking password for unlocking the locking device 10 to the portable device 20. In the password issuing device 30, the unlocking password is generated periodically at predetermined time intervals in synchronization with the generation of the verification password on the locking device 10 side.

[0033] In other words, the password issuing device 30 and the locking device 10 periodically generate an unlocking password and a verification password using a common generation category, respectively. Therefore, the unlocking password generated by the password issuing device 30 and the verification password generated by the locking device 10 match and are updated at the same time.

[0034] Therefore, the portable device 20 can unlock the door 2 that is in a locked state by obtaining an unlocking password from the password issuing device 30 and transmitting it to the locking device 10 until the comparison password is updated on the locking device 10 side.

[0035] Next, the locking device 10, the portable device 20 and the password issuing device 30 are configured as shown in FIG. 2 in order to operate as described above. That is, the locking device 10 includes a lock / unlock switching mechanism 11 for switching the door 2 between a locked state and an unlocked state, a door opening / closing sensor 12 for detecting the open / closed state of the door 2, and a control circuit 15.

[0036] The control circuit 15 compares the unlocking password acquired through wireless communication with the portable device 20 with its own comparison password. If these passwords match, the control circuit 15 executes an unlocking process for switching the lock / unlock switching mechanism 11 from the normal locked state to the unlocked state.

[0037] For this reason, the control circuit 15 is provided with a communication unit 16 that performs wireless communication with the mobile device 20 via a communication antenna 13 provided on the first surface, which is one of the front and back surfaces of the door 2 and is located outside the room.

[0038] The communication antenna 13 is for performing wireless communication using an ultra-wideband frequency bandwidth, namely UWB (Ultra Wide Band), and is configured as a planar antenna, for example a patch antenna, capable of radiating electromagnetic waves only outward from the first surface of the door 2.

[0039] Then, the communication unit 16 detects a portable device 20 that is present outside the first surface of the door 2 and within a predetermined distance range by performing UWB wireless communication via the communication antenna 13, and obtains a password from the portable device 20 by performing wireless communication with the detected portable device 20.

[0040] The control circuit 15 also includes a drive unit 17 that drives the lock / unlock switching mechanism 11, and a switching control unit 18 that switches between the locked and unlocked states of the door 2 by driving the lock / unlock switching mechanism 11 via the drive unit 17.

[0041] The switching control unit 18 generates a matching password in synchronization with the password issuing device 30, and switches the door 2 to an unlocked state (i.e., unlocked state) when the unlocking password acquired from the portable device 20 by the communication unit 16 matches the matching password.

[0042] Furthermore, after the door 2 is set to the unlocked state, the switching control unit 18 switches the door 2 to the locked state (that is, the locked state) when the door 2 is opened or closed or when a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0043] The control circuit 15 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The functions of the communication unit 16, the drive unit 17, and the switching control unit 18 are realized by the microcomputer executing a program as a lock / unlock switching process described later.

[0044] Next, the portable device 20 has functions as a UWB communication unit 21, a network communication unit 22, a locking device approach detection unit 23, a password acquisition unit 24, and a password transmission unit 25. These functions are realized by a computer incorporated in the portable device 20 executing a program as an unlock control process described below.

[0045] Here, the UWB communication unit 21 is for performing UWB wireless communication with the locking device 10, and the network communication unit 22 is wirelessly connected to the communication line 40 and for communicating with the password issuing device 30 via the communication line 40.

[0046] Next, the locking device approach detection unit 23 detects that the portable device 20 has approached the locking device 10 and that wireless communication with the locking device 10 has been established via the wireless communication UWB communication unit 21 (in other words, that wireless communication with the locking device 10 has become possible).

[0047] In addition, when the locking device approach detection unit 23 detects that wireless communication with the locking device 10 has been established, the password acquisition unit 24 acquires an unlocking password from the password issuing device 30 via the network communication unit 22.

[0048] Then, the password transmitting unit 25 transmits the unlocking password acquired by the password acquiring unit 24 from the password issuing device 30 to the locking device 10, thereby causing the locking device 10 to unlock the door 2. After transmitting the unlocking password to the locking device 10 to unlock the door 2, the password transmitting unit 25 discards the transmitted unlocking password.

[0049] Specifically, the unlocking password obtained from the password issuing device 30 is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) that constitutes the computer of the portable device 20, and the password stored in that memory is transmitted to the locking device 10.

[0050] Therefore, when the password transmission unit 25 transmits the unlocking password to the locking device 10 and unlocks the door 2, it deletes the unlocking password from the memory, thereby discarding the password.

[0051] Therefore, after the locking device 10 unlocks the door 2 using the unlocking password transmitted from the portable device 20, a third party cannot obtain the unlocking password from the portable device 20.

[0052] Next, the password issuing device 30 includes a network communication unit 31, a password request receiving unit 32, a password generating unit 33, and a password transmitting unit . Of these, the network communication unit 31 is connected to a communication line 40 and serves to communicate with an external information terminal such as the mobile device 20 via the communication line 40 .

[0053] Moreover, the password request receiving unit 32 receives a request signal for an unlocking password transmitted from the portable device 20 or the like via the communication line 40 . The password generating unit 33 also generates an unlocking password periodically at a predetermined time interval as a so-called one-time password in synchronization with the generation of the verification password on the locking device 10 side. The password generating unit 33 then stores and updates the generated unlocking password in a memory (not shown) of a computer constituting the password issuing device 30.

[0054] Furthermore, when the password request receiving unit 32 receives a request signal for an unlocking password, the password transmitting unit 34 obtains from the memory the latest unlocking password generated by the password generating unit 33. Then, the password transmitting unit 34 transmits the obtained unlocking password via the network communication unit 31 to the portable device 20 that has transmitted the request signal.

[0055] As a result, the portable device 20 that sent the request signal for the unlocking password can obtain the latest unlocking password from the password issuing device 30 and send it to the locking device 10, thereby causing the locking device 10 to unlock the door 2.

[0056] In addition, in the password issuing device 30, the functions of the password request receiving unit 32, the password generation unit 33, and the password transmission unit 34 are realized by the computer constituting the password issuing device 30 executing a program as the password issuing process described below.

[0057] Next, a lock / unlock switching process, an unlock control process, and a password issuing process executed in the locking device 10, the portable device 20, and the password issuing device 30 configured as above, respectively, will be described.

[0058] 3, in the lock / unlock switching process of the locking device 10, a portable device detection process in S110 is executed when the door 2 is normally in a locked state.

[0059] In this mobile device detection process, UWB wireless communication is performed via the communication antenna 13, and the mobile device 20 that exists outside the door 2 within a predetermined distance range is detected based on the reception power of the UWB wireless signal by the communication antenna 13.

[0060] For example, in S110, when the received power of the UWB wireless signal reaches or exceeds a predetermined judgment level, the received data is decoded to determine whether the sender is a portable device capable of communicating with the locking device 10, thereby detecting a portable device 20 that is present within a predetermined distance range outside the door 2.

[0061] In the portable device detection process in S110, the distance to the portable device 20 and the direction of the portable device 20 may be detected by distance measurement using a so-called UWB radar. In this way, the portable device 20 existing within a predetermined distance range outside the door 2 can be detected more accurately.

[0062] In S110, when the portable device 20 is detected, the locking device 10 transmits a response signal including information about the locking device 10 itself to the portable device 20. Then, in S120, the locking device 10 waits for the unlocking password to be transmitted from the portable device 20 for a predetermined time required for the portable device 20 to transmit the unlocking password.

[0063] On the other hand, in the unlock control process executed by the portable device 20, a locking device detection process as the locking device approach detection unit 23 for detecting approach to the locking device 10 is executed in S210.

[0064] In this locking device detection process, predetermined data is transmitted to the surroundings by UWB wireless communication using the UWB communication unit 21, and a response signal is obtained from an external device that responds to the data transmission. Then, from information contained in the response signal, it is determined whether the sender of the response signal is the locking device 10 or not, and if the sender is the locking device 10, it is detected that the portable device 20 has approached the locking device 10 and is now able to communicate with it.

[0065] When the locking device 10 is detected in this manner in S210, the process proceeds to S220, where a request signal for an unlocking password is transmitted to the password issuing device 30 via the network communication unit 22.

[0066] In the password issuing process executed by the password issuing device 30, in S310, a new unlocking password is generated at regular time intervals, and the unlocking password in the memory is updated to the latest generated password, thereby executing the process as the password generating unit 33.

[0067] Furthermore, when an unlocking password is generated / updated in S310, the process proceeds to S320, where the network communication unit 31 determines whether or not an unlocking password request signal transmitted from the locking device 10 has been received. If it is determined in S320 that an unlocking password request signal has not been received, the process proceeds to S310, where an unlocking password is generated / updated at regular time intervals.

[0068] If it is determined in S320 that a request signal for an unlocking password has been received, the process proceeds to S330, where the latest unlocking password is read from memory and the unlocking password is transmitted to the portable device 20 that transmitted the request signal. Furthermore, if the unlocking password is transmitted to the portable device 20 in S330, the process proceeds to S340, where the transmitted latest unlocking password is deleted from memory, and the process proceeds to S310.

[0069] In this manner, when a request signal for an unlocking password is transmitted from the portable device 20 approaching the locking device 10 to the password issuing device 30 , the password issuing device 30 transmits the unlocking password to the portable device 20 .

[0070] Therefore, on the portable device 20 side, after sending a request signal in S220, the process proceeds to S230 and waits for the network communication unit 22 to receive the unlocking password for a specified period of time required to obtain the unlocking password from the password issuing device 30.

[0071] Then, when it is determined in S230 that the unlocking password has been acquired by the network communication unit 22, the process proceeds to S240, where the acquired unlocking password is temporarily stored in memory and then transmitted to the locking device 10 via the UWB communication unit 21.

[0072] If it is determined in S230 that the network communication unit 22 has not acquired the unlocking password within a predetermined time period since the request signal was sent, the process proceeds to S220 and a request signal for the unlocking password is sent. As a result, the password issuing device 30 sends the latest unlocking password, and the network communication unit 22 becomes able to acquire the latest unlocking password.

[0073] In this way, when the unlocking password is transmitted to the locking device 10 in S240, the locking device 10 receives the unlocking password and determines in S120 that the unlocking password has been transmitted from the portable device 20.

[0074] When the locking device 10 determines in S120 that the unlocking password has been transmitted, it proceeds to S130 and compares the received unlocking password with a comparison password generated by the locking device 10.

[0075] In addition, in S120, if the unlocking password is not received within a predetermined time after the response signal is transmitted, the process proceeds to S110, and the detection process of the portable device 20 is executed again.

[0076] Next, in the locking device 10, when a password verification process is executed in S130, the process proceeds to S140 to determine whether or not the passwords have been verified, that is, whether or not the unlocking password and the verification password match.

[0077] If it is determined in S140 that the passwords have not been verified, the process proceeds to S110, and if it is determined in S140 that the passwords have been verified, the process proceeds to S150. In S150, the lock / unlock switching mechanism 11 is driven to execute an unlocking process in which the locking device 10 is switched to the unlocked state (unlocked state). In this unlocking process, the portable device 20 that transmitted the unlocking password is notified that the locking device 10 has been switched to the unlocked state (i.e., the unlocking result).

[0078] After executing the unlocking process in S150, the locking device 10 proceeds to S160 and determines whether the door 2 has been opened or closed based on a detection signal from the door opening / closing sensor 12. If it is determined that the door 2 has been opened or closed, it is determined that the owner of the portable device 20 has entered the room from outside the door 2, and the process proceeds to S160.

[0079] If it is determined in S160 that the door 2 is neither opened nor closed, the process proceeds to S170, in which it is determined whether or not a preset time has elapsed since the notification of the unlocking result in S150.

[0080] If it is determined in S170 that the set time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to S160 to wait for the set time to elapse, and if it is determined in S170 that the set time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S180.

[0081] In S180, a locking process is executed to switch the locking device 10 from an unlocked state (unlocked state) to a locked state (locked state) by driving the lock / unlock switching mechanism 11. After the locking process in S180 is executed, the process proceeds to S110, and a detection process for the portable device 20 is executed.

[0082] Next, in the portable device 20, in S240, the unlocking password is sent to the locking device 10, and then the process proceeds to S250, in which it is determined whether or not the unlocking result has been notified from the locking device 10 after the unlocking password has been sent, thereby determining whether or not the locking device 10 has been unlocked.

[0083] The determination process of S250 is executed until a predetermined time required for the locking device 10 to switch the door 2 to the unlocked state after the transmission of the unlocking password and to notify the result of the unlocking has elapsed. Then, if it is determined in S250 that the result of the unlocking cannot be obtained within the elapse of the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S210.

[0084] If it is determined in S250 that the locking device 10 is unlocked, the process proceeds to S260, in which the unlocking password transmitted to the locking device 10 in S240 is deleted from the memory, and the process proceeds to S210.

[0085] As described above, in the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment, the locking device 10 attached to the door 2 detects the portable device 20 present within a predetermined range from outside the door 2 via UWB wireless communication and transmits a response signal.

[0086] The portable device 20 then obtains an unlocking password, which is generated and updated at regular intervals, from a password issuing device 30 that can be accessed via the Internet, a VPN, or a dedicated line, and transmits the password to the locking device 10 via UWB wireless communication.

[0087] Furthermore, when the locking device 10 acquires an unlocking password from the portable device 20, it collates it with a verification password, and if the unlocking password matches the verification password, it switches the door 2 from a locked state to an unlocked state.

[0088] Furthermore, the locking device 10 transmits the unlocking result of the door 2 to the portable device 20, and upon receiving the unlocking result, the portable device 20 deletes the authentication password transmitted to the locking device 10 from the memory.

[0089] Therefore, according to the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment, when a user opens a locked door 2 and enters a room behind the door 2, the user can unlock the locking device 10 as long as the user is carrying the portable device 20.

[0090] In addition, when the door 2 is unlocked by the locking device 10, the portable device 20 deletes from the memory the unlocking password used for unlocking and discards it, thereby preventing the unlocking password from being stolen from the portable device 20 and the locking device 10 from being illegally unlocked.

[0091] In addition, when the password issuing device 30 transmits an unlocking password to the portable device 20 that has transmitted a request signal, the password is deleted from the memory, so that it is possible to prevent the password from being stolen from the password issuing device 30 and the locking device 10 from being illegally unlocked.

[0092] In addition, the communication antenna 13 provided in the locking device 10 is configured as a patch antenna having a ground pattern on the back side opposite to the front side on which the patch is provided as a radiating element, and having a unidirectional directivity that can radiate electromagnetic waves only from the front side. Therefore, the locking device 10 cannot basically perform wireless communication with the portable device 20 placed inside the door 2.

[0093] Therefore, according to the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the locking device 10 from being unlocked by the portable device 20 of a user who is inside the door 2, thereby improving crime prevention. [Second embodiment] The locking / unlocking system of this embodiment is basically configured in the same manner as the first embodiment described above, and differs from the first embodiment in that the communication antenna 13 provided in the locking device 10 has two antennas, a first antenna 13a and a second antenna 13b.

[0094] 4, the first antenna 13a and the second antenna 13b are planar antennas formed of patch antennas or the like, similar to the communication antenna 13 described in the first embodiment. The first antenna 13a is attached to the first surface 2a of the door 2 so that its direction of orientation is toward the outside of the door 2, and the second antenna 13b is attached to the second surface 2b of the door 2 so that its direction of orientation is toward the inside of the door 2 (in other words, the inside of the room).

[0095] The first antenna 13a and the second antenna 13b are provided on the respective faces 2a, 2b of the door 2 so that the ground patterns on the back faces face each other. In addition, a shielding plate 14 having an area larger than that of the ground pattern and capable of shielding electromagnetic waves is provided inside the door 2 between the first antenna 13a and the second antenna 13b. The shielding plate 14 may be made of a conductive metal or synthetic resin capable of reflecting electromagnetic waves. Alternatively, it may be made of an electromagnetic wave absorber capable of absorbing electromagnetic waves.

[0096] In other words, as in the first embodiment, by simply constructing the communication antenna 13 as a single planar antenna and positioning it so that its direction of orientation faces outwardly toward the first surface 2a of the door 2, it is possible to point the electromagnetic waves emitted from the communication antenna 13 toward the outside of the door 2.

[0097] However, in this case, if the portable device 20 is placed inside the door 2 and close to the door 2, electromagnetic waves may be reflected by the surrounding walls and objects, and so-called electromagnetic wave reflection may make wireless communication possible between the portable device 20 and the communication unit 16 of the locking device 10.

[0098] Therefore, in this embodiment, to prevent the locking device 10 from erroneously detecting the portable device 20 inside the door 2 as being outside the door 2 due to the leakage of such electromagnetic waves, the communication antenna 13 is configured with two antennas with different orientation directions.

[0099] In the lock / unlock switching process executed by the locking device 10, the portable device detection process in S110 is executed according to the procedure shown in FIG. That is, in the mobile device detection process of S110 shown in FIG. 3, first, in S111, it is determined whether or not the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the mobile device 20 have been received by the first antenna 13a, thereby waiting for the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the mobile device 20 to be received.

[0100] Then, when it is determined in S111 that the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the mobile device 20 have been received, the process proceeds to S112, and the reception strength (in other words, the reception power) V1 of the electromagnetic waves by the first antenna 13a and the reception strength V2 of the electromagnetic waves by the second antenna 13b are respectively obtained.

[0101] Next, in S113, the difference ΔV (=V1-V2) between the reception strength V1 and the reception strength V2 acquired in S112 is calculated. Then, in the following S114, it is determined whether the difference ΔV in the reception strength calculated in S113 is equal to or greater than a preset determination value ΔVth.

[0102] This determination value ΔVth is used to determine whether or not the reception strength V1 is greater than the reception strength V2 by a predetermined value or more, and is set to a positive value. Then, when it is determined in S114 that the difference ΔV is equal to or greater than the determination value ΔVth, it is determined that the portable device 20 is outside the door 2, and the process proceeds to S115, where it is determined whether or not the portable device 20 is outside the door 2 and within a predetermined distance range.

[0103] That is, in S115, as in the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the mobile device 20 is present within a predetermined distance range outside the door 2 by measuring the received power at the first antenna 13a or distance measurement by UWB radar using the first antenna 13a.

[0104] Then, when it is determined in S115 that the portable device 20 is present outside the door 2 within a predetermined distance range, the process proceeds to S116, where a response signal including information about the locking device 10 itself is transmitted to the portable device 20, and the process proceeds to S120 shown in Fig. 3. Note that, when a negative determination is made in S114 or S115, the process proceeds to S111.

[0105] In this manner, in this embodiment, the portable device detection process of S110 shown in FIG. 3 is executed in the procedure shown in FIG. 5, so that the portable device 20 that is present outside the door 2 within a predetermined distance range can be detected more accurately.

[0106] Therefore, according to the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the locking device 10 can be more reliably prevented from being unlocked by the portable device 20 of a user inside the door 2, thereby improving crime prevention.

[0107] In this embodiment, a shielding plate 14 capable of blocking electromagnetic waves is provided between the first antenna 13a and the second antenna 13b arranged on the front and back sides of the door 2 to suppress leakage of electromagnetic waves. However, the shielding plate 14 is not necessarily required and may be omitted.

[0108] This is because the first antenna 13a and the second antenna 13b have ground patterns arranged on the opposite side to the radiation direction of the electromagnetic waves, and this ground pattern can suppress leakage of the electromagnetic waves.

[0109] Furthermore, the communication antenna 13 of this embodiment, which includes the first antenna 13a and the second antenna 13b, can selectively detect the portable device 20 located on one side of the door 2 in the locking device 10. Therefore, this communication antenna 13 can be applied even to a locking / unlocking system in which the locking device 10 is configured to simply receive a transmission signal from the portable device 20 to unlock the door 2.

[0110] In other words, the communication antenna 13 of this embodiment can be applied even when the locking device 20 is configured to detect the presence of the portable device 20 outside the door 2 by a signal transmitted from the portable device 20, and to unlock the door 2. [Third embodiment] The locking / unlocking system of this embodiment is basically configured in the same manner as the first embodiment described above, and differs from the first embodiment in that the portable device 20 repeatedly obtains the latest unlock password from the password issuing device 30 during the unlock control process.

[0111] That is, as shown in FIG. 6, in the unlock control process, the portable device 20 of this embodiment first transmits a request signal for an unlock password to the password issuing device 30 via the network communication unit 22 in S410.

[0112] Then, in the next S420, it is determined whether or not the unlocking password has been acquired by the network communication unit 22, and if the unlocking password has not been received, the process proceeds again to S410, waiting for the network communication unit 22 to receive the unlocking password.

[0113] If it is determined in S420 that the release password has been acquired, the acquired unlock password is stored in memory, and the process proceeds to S440. In S440, the password issuing device 30 determines whether a waiting time corresponding to the time interval for generating an unlocking password has elapsed, and if the waiting time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to S450, where it determines whether the locking device 10 has been detected based on a response signal from the locking device 10.

[0114] If it is determined in S450 that the locking device 10 has not been detected, the process proceeds to S440, and if it is determined in S450 that the locking device 10 has been detected, the process proceeds to S460. If it is determined in S440 that the standby time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S410.

[0115] Next, in S460, the latest unlocking password obtained from the password issuing device 30 is read from the memory and transmitted to the locking device 10, and the process proceeds to S470. In S470, similarly to S250 in the first embodiment, after the transmission of the unlocking password, it is determined whether or not the locking device 10 has notified the unlocking result, thereby determining whether or not the locking device 10 has been unlocked.

[0116] Then, if it is determined in S470 that the unlocking result cannot be obtained, the process proceeds to S410, and if it is determined in S470 that the locking device 10 is unlocked, the process proceeds to S480, in which the unlocking password transmitted to the locking device 10 is deleted from the memory, and the process proceeds to S410.

[0117] As described above, in the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment, the portable device 20 periodically transmits an unlocking password request signal to the password issuing device 30, thereby obtaining the latest unlocking password from the password issuing device 30. Then, when the portable device 20 detects approach to the locking device 10 based on a response signal transmitted from the locking device 10, the portable device 20 transmits the unlocking password to the locking device 10, thereby unlocking the locking device 10. Then, when the door 2 is unlocked by the locking device 10, the unlocking password used for unlocking is deleted from the memory and discarded.

[0118] Therefore, in the locking / unlocking system of this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the unlocking password from being stolen from the portable device 20 and the locking device 10 from being illegally unlocked. [Other embodiments] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms.

[0119] For example, in the above embodiment, the locking device 10 and the password issuing device 30 have been described as generating the verification password and the unlocking password synchronously at a preset cycle and timing, respectively.

[0120] However, the locking device 10 and the password issuing device 30 may be configured to periodically obtain random numbers for generating a password or the password itself from an external one-time password issuing system or the like, and set a verification password and an unlocking password.

[0121] In addition, in the above embodiment, UWB wireless communication is described as being adopted for wireless communication between the locking device 10 and the portable device 20, but other short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may also be adopted.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the functions of the locking device 10, the portable device 20, and the password issuing device 30 shown in Fig. 2 have been described as being realized by a computer executing the processes, i.e., the programs, shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5, or Fig. 6. However, some or all of the functions of the locking device 10, the portable device 20, and the password issuing device 30 may be realized by a hardware logic circuit, or may be realized by multiple computers.

[0123] In addition, multiple functions possessed by one component in the above embodiments may be realized by multiple components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions possessed by multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Also, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments.

[0124] In addition to the locking / unlocking system, the present disclosure may be configured as a management system for multiple locking devices that include the locking / unlocking system as a component, or the present disclosure can be realized in various forms, such as a computer program that realizes each function of the locking / unlocking system, a non-transient physical recording medium such as a semiconductor memory on which this program is recorded, or a method for unlocking a locking device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0125] 2...door, 10...locking device, 13...communication antenna, 13a...first antenna, 13b...second antenna, 14...shielding plate, 20...portable device, 30...password issuing device.

Claims

1. A locking and unlocking system including a locking device installed in a door, a password issuing device, and a portable device that requests the locking device to perform an unlocking process based on the password, the password issuing device is configured to generate and store the password for causing the locking device to perform the unlocking process, and to periodically update the stored password; the portable device is configured to communicate with the password issuing device to obtain the password under a condition in which wireless communication with the locking device is established, and to transmit the obtained password to the locking device; the locking device is configured to execute the unlocking process of unlocking the door by collating the password received from the portable device, Furthermore, the portable device is configured to discard the password obtained from the password issuing device after the unlocking process in the locking device.

2. A locking and unlocking system including a locking device installed in a door, a password issuing device, and a portable device that requests the locking device to perform an unlocking process based on the password, the password issuing device is configured to generate and store the password for causing the locking device to perform the unlocking process, and to periodically update the stored password; the portable device is configured to periodically communicate with the password issuing device to acquire the password, store the acquired password, and transmit the stored password to the locking device under a condition that wireless communication with the locking device is established; the locking device is configured to execute the unlocking process of unlocking the door by collating the password received from the portable device, Furthermore, in the locking / unlocking system, the portable device discards the password stored therein after the unlocking process in the locking device.

3. The locking / unlocking system according to claim 1 or 2, The locking device is a planar antenna having directional characteristics capable of radiating electromagnetic waves outward from a first surface, which is one of the front and back surfaces of the door, and not radiating electromagnetic waves outward from a second surface, which is the other of the front and back surfaces of the door, as an antenna for wireless communication with the mobile device; A locking / unlocking system configured to perform the wireless communication with the portable device that approaches within a predetermined distance range outside the first surface of the door.

4. The locking / unlocking system according to claim 1 or 2, The locking device is a pair of planar antennas that are disposed on the front and back sides of the door, respectively, with a shielding plate between them that blocks electromagnetic waves, and have directional characteristics that enable electromagnetic waves to be radiated outward from the front and back sides of the door; a position determination unit that determines whether the portable device is located on the front side or the back side of the door based on a difference in electric field strength of electromagnetic waves transmitted from the portable device and received by the pair of planar antennas; a control unit configured to, when the position of the portable device determined by the position determination unit is either the front side or the back side of the door that is set in advance, verify the password received from the portable device and execute the unlocking process, and, when the position of the portable device is on the opposite side different from the one side, not verify the password received from the portable device and not execute the unlocking process; Equipped with a locking and unlocking system.

5. The locking / unlocking system according to claim 1 or 2, A locking and unlocking system in which the locking device is configured to periodically generate a matching password used to compare the password obtained from the portable device by synchronizing with the password issuing device, the matching password being the same as the password obtained from the portable device.

Images