Wireless key device, door unlocking system, unlocking method

Abstract

To provide a technique to suppress an act of relay attack.SOLUTION: If a communication section 210 is communicating with a vehicle by a second wireless communication method when a receiving section 220 receives an unlocking signal by a first wireless communication method, a transmission section 222 transmits a response signal to respond to the unlocking signal to the vehicle. If the communication section 210 is not communicating with the vehicle by the second wireless communication method when the receiving section 220 receives the unlocking signal by the first wireless communication method, the transmission section 222 transmits an activation signal for activating a crime prevention device mounted on the vehicle to the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to unlocking technology, and more particularly to a wireless key device, a door lock unlocking system, and an unlocking method that use wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0002] A relay attack is a method of illicitly unlocking a vehicle's door lock. In a relay attack, a signal transmitted from the vehicle to unlock the door lock is received by a third party and transmitted to a smart key located at a distance that it would not normally reach. This causes the smart key to transmit a response signal for unlocking the door, and the door lock is unlocked upon receiving the response signal. To prevent such a relay attack, if the received strength of the signal transmitted from the vehicle is high, it is determined that the door lock has been illicitly unlocked (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-67056 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] While it is important to prevent relay attacks, it is also important to deter relay attacks from occurring.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a technique for suppressing relay attacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a wireless key device that includes a receiver that can receive an unlock signal from a vehicle via a first wireless communication method to unlock the vehicle doors, a communication unit that can communicate with the vehicle via a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method, and a transmitter that, when the receiver receives the unlock signal via the first wireless communication method and the communication unit is communicating with the vehicle via the second wireless communication method, transmits a response signal to the vehicle to respond to the unlock signal.When the receiver receives the unlock signal via the first wireless communication method and the communication unit is not communicating with the vehicle via the second wireless communication method, the transmitter transmits an activation signal to the vehicle to activate a security device installed in the vehicle.

[0007] Here, "receiving from a vehicle" includes receiving from a device mounted on a vehicle, "communicating with a vehicle" includes communicating with a device mounted on a vehicle, and "transmitting to a vehicle" includes transmitting to a device mounted on a vehicle.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a door lock unlocking system. The door lock unlocking system includes a vehicle equipped with a door lock and a wireless key device used to unlock the door lock. The vehicle transmits an unlocking signal for unlocking the vehicle door lock using a first wireless communication method. The vehicle and the wireless key device can communicate with each other using a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method. When the wireless key device receives the unlocking signal using the first wireless communication method, it transmits a response signal to the vehicle to respond to the unlocking signal if it is communicating with the vehicle using the second wireless communication method. When the wireless key device receives the unlocking signal using the first wireless communication method, it transmits an activation signal to the vehicle to activate a security device installed in the vehicle if it is not communicating with the vehicle using the second wireless communication method.

[0009] Yet another aspect of the present invention is an unlocking method, which includes the steps of receiving an unlocking signal for unlocking the doors of the vehicle from the vehicle via a first wireless communication system, communicating with the vehicle via a second wireless communication system different from the first wireless communication system, transmitting a response signal to the vehicle for responding to the unlocking signal if the unlocking signal is received via the first wireless communication system and communication with the vehicle is currently being performed via the second wireless communication system, and transmitting an activation signal to the vehicle for activating a security device mounted on the vehicle if communication with the vehicle is currently not being performed via the second wireless communication system and communication with the vehicle is currently being performed via the first wireless communication system.

[0010] Any combination of the above components, and any transformation of the present invention into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc., are also valid aspects of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, relay attacks can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1(a)-(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of a door lock unlocking system to be compared. [Figure 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of a door lock unlocking system according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the wireless key device of FIGS. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing the data structure of a table stored in a storage unit in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission procedure performed by the wireless key device of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Before describing the present invention in detail, an overview will be provided. An embodiment of the present invention relates to a door lock unlocking system that unlocks a door lock installed in a vehicle using a wireless key device. In the door lock unlocking system, the vehicle transmits an unlock signal to unlock the vehicle's doors. Upon receiving the unlock signal, the wireless key device transmits a response signal to respond to the unlock signal. Upon receiving the response signal, the vehicle unlocks the doors. When a user carrying the wireless key device leaves the vehicle, the wireless key device no longer receives the unlock signal and therefore does not transmit the response signal. As a result, the vehicle does not unlock the doors.

[0014] A relay attack is carried out when a repeater used by a suspicious individual is positioned between a vehicle and a wireless key device when the vehicle and the wireless key device are far enough away that the unlock signal from the vehicle cannot be received by the wireless key device. The repeater receives the unlock signal from the vehicle, amplifies it, and transmits it. In other words, the unlock signal is relayed by the repeater. When the wireless key device receives the unlock signal from the repeater, it transmits a response signal. Since the response signal generally has a longer transmission distance than the unlock signal, the response signal is received by the vehicle and the vehicle unlocks the doors.

[0015] To prevent such relay attacks, the door lock / unlock system according to this embodiment enables short-range communication between the vehicle and the wireless key device using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like. When the vehicle and the wireless key device are close to each other, they communicate via short-range communication. On the other hand, when the vehicle and the wireless key device are far from each other, they cannot communicate via short-range communication. Therefore, when the user is near the vehicle and a relay attack is unlikely to occur, the wireless key device receives an unlock signal and performs short-range communication with the vehicle. On the other hand, when the user is far from the vehicle and a relay attack is likely to occur, the wireless key device receives the unlock signal but does not perform short-range communication with the vehicle. The wireless key device according to this embodiment transmits a response signal in the former case and an activation signal in the latter case. Upon receiving the activation signal, the vehicle activates a security device. The security device, for example, captures an image of the vehicle's surroundings. By retaining the captured image of the vehicle's surroundings, relay attacks are prevented.

[0016] First, the operation of unlocking a door lock and the operation of causing a relay attack in the conventional door lock unlocking system 2000 will be described. FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show the configuration of a door lock unlocking system 2000 for comparison. FIG. 1(a) explains the operation of unlocking a door lock in the door lock unlocking system 2000. The door lock unlocking system 2000 includes a vehicle 2100, a wireless key device 2200, and a control device 2300. The vehicle 2100 is an automobile equipped with a door lock (not shown). The wireless key device 2200 is a wireless communication device carried by the user or driver of the vehicle 2100. The wireless key device 2200 is used to unlock the door lock.

[0017] The control device 2300 is mounted on the vehicle 2100 and controls the locking and unlocking of the doors. The control device 2300 has, for example, a transmission function using LF (Low Frequency) communication 10 and a reception function using UHF (Ultra High Frequency) communication 12. When a user touches the door handle of the vehicle 2100, the control device 2300 transmits an unlock signal using the LF communication 10.

[0018] The wireless key device 2200 has, for example, a receiving function via LF communication 10 and a transmitting function via UHF communication 12. The wireless key device 2200 receives an unlocking signal from the control device 2300 via the LF communication 10. When the wireless key device 2200 receives the unlocking signal, it transmits a response signal via the UHF communication 12. The control device 2300 receives the response signal via the UHF communication 12 from the wireless key device 2200. When the control device 2300 receives the response signal, it unlocks the doors of the vehicle 2100.

[0019] Fig. 1(b) shows the operation of a relay attack in the door lock unlocking system 2000. In Fig. 1(b), the distance between the vehicle 2100 and the wireless key device 2200 is greater than in Fig. 1(a), and LF communication 10 between the control device 2300 and the wireless key device 2200 is normally impossible. Therefore, unless a relay attack is performed, the doors of the vehicle 2100 will not be unlocked.

[0020] The suspicious person places a repeater 2500 between the vehicle 2100 and the wireless key device 2200. The repeater 2500 has a receiving function and a transmitting function via LF communication 10. When the suspicious person touches the door handle of the vehicle 2100, the control device 2300 transmits an unlock signal via LF communication 10. The repeater 2500 receives the unlock signal via LF communication 10 and transmits the unlock signal via LF communication 10. At that time, the repeater 2500 amplifies the unlock signal.

[0021] The wireless key device 2200 receives an unlock signal from the repeater 2500 via LF communication 10. Upon receiving the unlock signal, the wireless key device 2200 transmits a response signal via UHF communication 12. The distance over which the UHF communication 12 is possible is set longer than the distance over which the LF communication 10 is possible. The control device 2300 receives the response signal via UHF communication 12 from the wireless key device 2200. Upon receiving the response signal, the control device 2300 unlocks the doors of the vehicle 2100.

[0022] 2(a)-(b) show the configuration of the door lock unlocking system 1000. FIG. 2(a) explains the operation of unlocking a door in the door lock unlocking system 1000. The door lock unlocking system 1000 includes a vehicle 100, a wireless key device 200, a control device 300, and a security device 400. The vehicle 100 is an automobile equipped with a door lock (not shown). The wireless key device 200 is a wireless communication device carried by the user or driver of the vehicle 100. Like the wireless key device 2200, the wireless key device 200 is used to unlock the door lock.

[0023] The control device 300 is mounted on the vehicle 100 and controls the unlocking or locking of the doors. The control device 300 has, for example, a transmission function using LF communication 10, a receiving function using UHF communication 12, and a transmission / reception function for short-range communication 14. The transmission function using LF communication 10, the receiving function using UHF communication 12, and the transmission / reception function for short-range communication 14 in the control device 300 may also be referred to as the transmission function using LF communication 10, the receiving function using UHF communication 12, and the transmission / reception function for short-range communication 14 in the vehicle 100.

[0024] The short-range communication 14 is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), but may also be a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). When the vehicle 100 and the wireless key device 200 are close to each other, for example, within several tens of meters, the control device 300 communicates with the wireless key device 200 via the short-range communication 14. When the user touches the door handle of the vehicle 100, the control device 300 transmits an unlock signal via the LF communication 10. The unlock signal is a signal for unlocking the doors of the vehicle 100.

[0025] Here, FIG. 3 will also be used to explain the wireless key apparatus 200. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the wireless key apparatus 200. The wireless key apparatus 200 includes a communication unit 210, a receiving unit 220, a transmitting unit 222, a control unit 230, and a storage unit 240. The communication unit 210 has a communication function using short-range communication 14 and can communicate with the control device 300 (vehicle 100) via short-range communication 14. The receiving unit 220 has a reception function using LF communication 10 and can receive an unlocking signal from the control device 300 (vehicle 100) via LF communication 10. In the situation shown in FIG. 2(a), the communication unit 210 communicates with the control device 300 via short-range communication 14, and the receiving unit 220 receives the unlocking signal via LF communication 10.

[0026] The control unit 230 controls the transmission unit 222 depending on whether the receiving unit 220 has received an unlock signal and whether the communication unit 210 is performing short-range communication 14. To this end, the control unit 230 references a table stored in the storage unit 240 based on whether the receiving unit 220 has received an unlock signal and whether the communication unit 210 is performing short-range communication 14. FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the table stored in the storage unit 240. When the receiving unit 220 receives an unlock signal via LF communication 10, if the communication unit 210 is communicating with the control device 300 via short-range communication 14, the control unit 230 determines to transmit a response signal to respond to the unlock signal. When the receiving unit 220 receives an unlock signal via LF communication 10, if the communication unit 210 is not communicating with the control device 300 via short-range communication 14, the control unit 230 determines to transmit an activation signal to activate the security device 400 installed in the vehicle 10. The control unit 230 determines not to transmit either a response signal or an activation signal if the receiving unit 220 does not receive an unlock signal through the LF communication 10. Return to FIG.

[0027] 2(a), the control unit 230 decides to transmit a response signal. The transmitting unit 222 transmits the response signal via UHF communication 12 in accordance with the decision of the control unit 230. If the LF communication 10 is called the first wireless communication method and the short-range communication 14 is called the second wireless communication method, the UHF communication 12 is called the third wireless communication method. When the control device 300 receives the response signal, it unlocks the doors of the vehicle 100.

[0028] Figure 2(b) shows the operation of an attempted relay attack on the door lock unlocking system 1000. In Figure 2(b), the distance between the vehicle 100 and the wireless key device 200 is greater than in Figure 2(a), and LF communication 10 between the control device 300 and the wireless key device 200 is normally impossible. In addition, the distance over which short-range communication 14 is possible is shorter than the distance over which LF communication 10 is possible, so short-range communication 14 between the control device 300 and the wireless key device 200 is impossible.

[0029] A suspicious person places a repeater 500 between the vehicle 100 and the wireless key device 200. The repeater 500 has a receiving function and a transmitting function via LF communication 10. When the suspicious person touches the door handle of the vehicle 100, the control device 300 transmits an unlock signal via LF communication 10. The repeater 500 receives the unlock signal via LF communication 10 and transmits the unlock signal via LF communication 10. At that time, the repeater 500 amplifies the unlock signal.

[0030] The receiver 220 of the wireless key device 200 receives an unlock signal from the repeater 500 via LF communication 10. Meanwhile, the communication unit 210 is not communicating with the control device 300 via short-range communication 14. In this situation, the control unit 230 refers to the table in the storage unit 240 and determines whether to transmit an activation signal. The transmitter 222 transmits the activation signal via UHF communication 12 in accordance with the determination made by the control unit 230.

[0031] When the control device 300 receives the activation signal via UHF communication 12, it notifies the security device 400 of the content of the activation signal. The content of the activation signal is an instruction to operate the security device 400. The security device 400 includes, for example, a surveillance camera and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) mounted on the vehicle 100. When the security device 400 receives an instruction to operate the security device 400 from the control device 300 as the content of the activation signal, it causes the DVR to record the video captured by the surveillance camera. The security device 400 is also capable of outputting an alarm, and may output an alarm when it receives an instruction to operate the security device 400 from the control device 300 as the content of the activation signal.

[0032] This configuration can be realized in hardware terms by the CPU, memory, and other LSIs of any computer, and in software terms by programs loaded into memory, but here we depict functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms using only hardware, only software, or a combination of both.

[0033] The operation of the wireless key apparatus 200 configured as described above will now be described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the transmission procedure by the wireless key apparatus 200. If the receiving unit 220 receives an unlock signal (Y in S10), and if the communication unit 210 is performing short-range communication 14 (Y in S12), the transmitting unit 222 transmits a response signal (S14). If the communication unit 210 is not performing short-range communication 14 (N in S12), the transmitting unit 222 transmits an activation signal (S16). If the receiving unit 220 does not receive an unlock signal (N in S10), the transmitting unit 222 does not transmit the response signal or activation signal (S18).

[0034] According to this embodiment, when an unlock signal is received via LF communication, if communication with the vehicle is established via short-range communication, a response signal is transmitted; if communication with the vehicle is not established via short-range communication, an activation signal is transmitted to the vehicle, thereby activating the security device in the event of a possible relay attack. Furthermore, since the security device is activated in the event of a possible relay attack, the actions of a suspicious person can be recorded. Furthermore, since the actions of a suspicious person are recorded, relay attacks can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the response signal and activation signal are transmitted via UHF communication, communication can be standardized regardless of the type of signal. Furthermore, if an unlock signal is not received via LF communication, neither the response signal nor the activation signal is transmitted, thereby preventing erroneous transmission.

[0035] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of the components and treatment processes, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 100 vehicle, 200 wireless key device, 210 communication unit, 220 receiving unit, 222 transmitting unit, 230 control unit, 240 memory unit, 300 control device, 400 security device, 500 repeater, 1000 door lock unlocking system.

Claims

1. a receiving unit capable of receiving an unlocking signal for unlocking a door lock of a vehicle from the vehicle by a first wireless communication method; a communication unit capable of communicating with the vehicle by a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a response signal to the vehicle in response to the unlocking signal if the receiving unit receives the unlocking signal by the first wireless communication method and the communication unit is communicating with the vehicle by the second wireless communication method; The transmitter is a wireless key device that, when the receiver receives the unlocking signal via the first wireless communication method, transmits an activation signal to the vehicle to activate a security device installed in the vehicle if the communication unit is not communicating with the vehicle via the second wireless communication method.

2. The wireless key device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter transmits the response signal and the activation signal in accordance with a third wireless communication method.

3. The wireless key device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter does not transmit either the response signal or the activation signal when the receiver does not receive the unlock signal via the first wireless communication method.

4. a vehicle equipped with a door lock; a wireless key device used to unlock the door lock, the vehicle transmits an unlock signal for unlocking a door lock of the vehicle by a first wireless communication system; the vehicle and the wireless key device are capable of communicating with each other by a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method; When the wireless key device receives the unlock signal via the first wireless communication method, if the wireless key device is communicating with the vehicle via the second wireless communication method, the wireless key device transmits a response signal to the vehicle in response to the unlock signal; When the wireless key device receives the unlock signal via the first wireless communication method, if it is not communicating with the vehicle via the second wireless communication method, it sends an activation signal to the vehicle to activate a security device installed in the vehicle.

5. receiving an unlock signal for unlocking a door lock of a vehicle from the vehicle by a first wireless communication method; a step of being able to communicate with the vehicle by a second wireless communication system different from the first wireless communication system; When the unlocking signal is received by the first wireless communication method, if communication with the vehicle is being performed by the second wireless communication method, transmitting a response signal to the vehicle for responding to the unlocking signal; a step of transmitting an activation signal to the vehicle for activating a security device mounted on the vehicle when the unlocking signal is received by the first wireless communication method and communication with the vehicle is not being performed by the second wireless communication method; An unlocking method comprising:

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