Control device, program, and control system

Abstract

To prevent degradation of usability due to limitations on the number of simultaneous connections.SOLUTION: A control device includes a control unit that controls a connection for wireless communication conforming to a prescribed communication standard between a communication device mounted on a mobile body and a portable device carried by a user of the mobile body, and the control unit controls the communication device such that other portable devices associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device are not connected to the communication device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In recent years, technologies have been developed that perform authentication based on wireless communication that complies with a specified communication standard between devices and perform some kind of control based on the result of the authentication. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that employs Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE) as the specified communication standard. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-012634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the number of simultaneous connections relating to wireless communication between devices is limited, a situation may arise in which a device owned by a user cannot connect to a partner device, resulting in a decrease in usability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a decrease in usability caused by a limit on the number of simultaneous connections. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a control device is provided, which includes a control unit that controls a connection related to wireless communication compliant with a specified communication standard between a communication device mounted on a mobile body and a portable device carried by a user of the mobile body, and the control unit controls the communication device to prevent other portable devices associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device from connecting to the communication device.

[0007] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a program is provided that causes a computer to realize a control function that controls a connection related to wireless communication that complies with a specified communication standard between a communication device mounted on a mobile body and a portable device carried by a user of the mobile body, and causes the control function to control other portable devices that are associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device so that they do not connect to the communication device.

[0008] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a control system is provided, comprising: a communication device mounted on a mobile body; a portable device carried by a user of the mobile body; and a control unit that controls a connection related to wireless communication conforming to a specified communication standard between the communication device and the portable device, wherein the control unit controls the communication device so that other portable devices associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device are not connected to the communication device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in usability due to a limit on the number of simultaneous connections. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the comparison system when the number of portable devices 70 that can communicate with the control device 60 is equal to or less than the maximum number of simultaneous connections. [Figure 3] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a valid key list 635 stored in the comparison system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the comparison system when the number of portable devices 70 that can communicate with the control device 60 exceeds the maximum number of simultaneous connections. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a valid key list 135 stored in a storage unit 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of simultaneous connection control by the control system 1 according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of connection permission determination by the control device 10 according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0012] In addition, in this specification and drawings, when multiple identical components are to be described separately, letters or the like may be added to the end of the reference numerals. On the other hand, when it is not necessary to distinguish between multiple identical components, the letters or the like may be omitted and a description common to all of the multiple identical components may be given.

[0013] <1. Embodiment> <<1.1. System configuration example>> First, a configuration example of a control system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 1 according to this embodiment includes a moving object 40 and a portable device 20.

[0015] (Mobile 40) The moving body 40 according to this embodiment may be a vehicle such as a car, an aircraft, or a ship.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a moving body 40 according to this embodiment is equipped with at least a control device 10 and a controlled device 30.

[0017] (Control device 10) The control device 10 according to this embodiment includes, for example, a wireless communication unit 110, a control unit 120, and a storage unit 130, as shown in FIG.

[0018] (Wireless communication unit 110) The wireless communication unit 110 according to this embodiment is an example of a communication device mounted on the moving object 40.

[0019] The wireless communication unit 110 according to this embodiment performs wireless communication with a plurality of portable devices 20 in accordance with a prescribed communication standard.

[0020] The communication standard defined in this embodiment may be, for example, BLE.

[0021] However, the prescribed communication standard is not limited to the above example, and may be, for example, near field communication (NFC), ultra-wide band (UWB), or the like.

[0022] (control unit 120) The control unit 120 according to this embodiment controls the connection between the wireless communication unit 110 and the portable device 20 for wireless communication that complies with a prescribed communication standard.

[0023] One of the features of the control unit 120 of this embodiment is that it controls so that other portable devices 20 associated with the same group ID as the portable device 20 currently connected to the wireless communication unit 110 are not connected to the wireless communication unit 110.

[0024] According to the above control, it is possible to prevent a decrease in usability due to a limit on the number of simultaneous connections.

[0025] The control of the number of simultaneous connections by the control unit 120 according to this embodiment will be described in detail later.

[0026] In addition, the control unit 120 according to this embodiment may control whether or not a specified operation can be performed by the controlled device 30 mounted on the mobile body 40, based on the result of authentication based on key information (digital key) transmitted from the portable device 20 connected to the wireless communication unit 110.

[0027] The control unit 120 according to this embodiment may, for example, recognize the authenticity of the portable device 20 and cause the controlled device 30 to perform a specified operation if the key information transmitted from the portable device 20 matches the key information previously stored (registered) in the memory unit 130.

[0028] However, the above authentication method is merely an example, and the authentication method according to this embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0029] The key information may be any type of information that can prove the authenticity of the portable device 20 based on the information registered in the memory unit 130, and the information registered in the memory unit 130 does not necessarily have to be the same information as the key information.

[0030] The authentication method of the present invention may be designed as appropriate.

[0031] The control unit 120 according to this embodiment may be, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

[0032] (Storage unit 130) The storage unit 130 according to this embodiment stores various types of information used in the control device 10.

[0033] The storage unit 130 according to this embodiment stores, for example, a valid key list 135 (see FIG. 5) described later.

[0034] (Controlled device 30) The controlled device 30 according to this embodiment may be any of various devices that perform a specified operation under the control of the control device 10.

[0035] The controlled device 30 according to this embodiment may be, for example, a locking device that locks and unlocks a door provided in the moving body 15 as a prescribed operation.

[0036] However, the controlled device 30 and the prescribed operation according to this embodiment are not limited to the above example.

[0037] For example, the controlled device 30 according to this embodiment may be an engine. In this case, the specified operation may be permission or restriction of engine start.

[0038] Furthermore, for example, the controlled device 30 according to the present embodiment may be a lighting device. In this case, the specified operation may be turning on or off the light.

[0039] (Portable Device 20) The portable device 20 according to this embodiment is carried by a user of the mobile object 40 (for example, the owner of the mobile object 40, or a person authorized by the owner to use the mobile object 40, etc.).

[0040] The portable device 20 according to this embodiment may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device, or a dedicated terminal manufactured for the control system 1.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the portable device 20 according to this embodiment includes a wireless communication unit 210, a control unit 220, and a storage unit 230.

[0042] (wireless communication unit 210) The wireless communication unit 210 according to this embodiment performs wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 110 mounted on the moving object 40 in accordance with a prescribed communication standard.

[0043] For example, when a connection between the wireless communication unit 210 according to this embodiment and the wireless communication unit 110 is established, the wireless communication unit 210 transmits key information and the like to the wireless communication unit 110.

[0044] (control unit 220) The control unit 220 according to this embodiment controls the operation of each component included in the portable device 20.

[0045] The control unit 220 according to this embodiment controls, for example, wireless communication between the wireless communication unit 210 and the wireless communication unit 110 in accordance with a prescribed communication standard.

[0046] The functions of the control unit 220 according to this embodiment are realized by the cooperation of various processors and memories.

[0047] (Storage unit 230) The storage unit 230 according to this embodiment stores various types of information used in the portable device 20.

[0048] The storage unit 230 according to this embodiment stores, for example, the above-mentioned key information.

[0049] The above has described an example of the configuration of the control system 1 according to this embodiment. Note that the configuration described above using Fig. 1 is merely an example, and the configuration of the control system 1 according to this embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0050] For example, in the above description, the control device 10 is provided with the wireless communication unit 110, but the communication device mounted on the mobile object 40 may be configured independent of the control device 10.

[0051] Furthermore, for example, although the above describes a case where the control unit 120 of the control device 10 controls the operation of the controlled device 30, the operation control of the controlled device 30 may be performed by a configuration separate from the control unit 120.

[0052] The configuration of the control system 1 according to this embodiment can be flexibly modified according to specifications, operation, and the like.

[0053] <<1.2.Function Details>> Next, the functions of the control system 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0054] As described above, the control system 1 of this embodiment controls whether or not a specified operation can be performed by the controlled device 30 mounted on the mobile body 40 based on wireless communication that complies with a specified communication standard between the wireless communication unit 110 mounted on the mobile body 40 and the portable device 20 carried by the user of the mobile body 40.

[0055] However, the above-mentioned prescribed communication standards may include a communication standard such as Bluetooth that has a limit on the number of simultaneous connections.

[0056] Furthermore, even if the communication standard adopted does not limit the number of simultaneous connections (or if the number of simultaneous connections is sufficiently large), processing may be performed such as limiting the number of simultaneous connections to the number of passengers that can board the vehicle 40.

[0057] In the above case, usability may be reduced due to the limit on the number of simultaneous connections.

[0058] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a situation in which usability is reduced due to a limit on the number of simultaneous connections in the comparative system will be described.

[0059] The comparison system may be a system having a configuration equivalent to that of the control system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the comparison system may include a mobile object 90 corresponding to the mobile object 40 according to this embodiment, a control device 60 corresponding to the control device 10 according to this embodiment, and a portable device 20 corresponding to the portable device 70 according to this embodiment.

[0060] However, the comparative system differs from the control system 1 according to this embodiment in that it does not control the number of simultaneous connections.

[0061] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the comparison system when the number of portable devices 70 that can communicate with the control device 60 is equal to or less than the maximum number of simultaneous connections.

[0062] In this example, it is assumed that the maximum number of simultaneous connections is four, and four portable devices 70A to 70D are present within a communicable range with the control device 60. It is also assumed that the portable devices 70A to 70D are carried by the users 50A to 50D, respectively.

[0063] In this case, each of the portable devices 70A to 70D can be connected to the control device 60 in the order that they enter a range where they can communicate with the control device 60.

[0064] The control device 60 receives key information from each of the portable devices 70A to 70D with which a connection has been established, and authenticates each of the portable devices 70A to 70D based on the received key information and the valid key list 635 stored therein.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the valid key list 635 stored in the comparison system.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 3, the valid key list 635 stores, for example, a device ID and key information (valid key) in association with each other.

[0067] The device ID is an example of an identifier that is uniquely assigned to each portable device 70.

[0068] The control device 60 may recognize the authenticity of the portable device 70 if the key information from the portable device 70 with which a connection has been established is stored in the valid key list 635 .

[0069] In this example, it is assumed that the portable devices 70A to 70D are associated with the following device IDs and key information, respectively.

[0070] Portable device 70A: Device ID = "0000", key information "AAAA" Portable device 70B: Device ID = "0001", key information "BBBB" Portable device 70C: Device ID = "0002", key information "CCCC" Portable device 70D: Device ID = "0003", key information "DDDD"

[0071] In this case, the control device 60 may recognize the authenticity of each of the portable devices 70A to 70D based on the fact that the key information "AAAA", "BBBB", "CCCC" and "DDDD" received from each of the portable devices 70A to 70D is stored in the valid key list 635.

[0072] Furthermore, since the control device 60 has recognized the authenticity of each of the portable devices 70A to 70D, the control device 60 may cause the controlled device to execute a prescribed operation based on the connection with each of the portable devices 70A to 70D.

[0073] That is, users 50A to 50D may be able to lock and unlock the doors of moving body 90, start the engine, and so on by carrying portable devices 70A to 70D, respectively.

[0074] On the other hand, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the comparison system when the number of portable devices 70 that can communicate with the control device 60 exceeds the maximum number of simultaneous connections.

[0075] The maximum number of simultaneous connections in the example shown in FIG. 4 is assumed to be four, the same as in the example shown in FIG.

[0076] On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 4, unlike the example shown in FIG. 2, a user 50A carries a portable device 70A1 that is a smartphone and a portable device 70A2 that is a watch-type wearable device.

[0077] In the example shown in FIG. 4, unlike the example shown in FIG. 2, user 50B carries portable device 70B1, which is a smartphone, and portable device 70B2, which is a watch-type wearable device.

[0078] In the example shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that each portable device 70 is associated with the following device ID and key information.

[0079] Portable device 70A1: Device ID = "0000", key information "AAAA" Portable device 70A2: Device ID = "0001", key information "BBBB" Portable device 70B1: Device ID = "0002", key information "CCCC" Portable device 70B2: Device ID = "0003", key information "DDDD" Portable device 70C: Device ID = "0005", key information "FFFF" Portable device 70D: Device ID = "0006", key information "GGGG"

[0080] That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the key information associated with each of the portable devices 70 is all stored in the valid key list 635, and each of the portable devices 70 is a device whose authenticity should be recognized.

[0081] However, in this case, it is assumed that users 50A and 50B approach moving object 90 earlier than users 50C and 50D. That is, it is assumed that portable devices 70A1, 70A2, 70B1, and 70B2 enter an area where they can communicate with control device 60 earlier than portable devices 70C and 70D.

[0082] In this case, portable devices 70A1, 70A2, 70B1, and 70B2 are connected to control device 60 first, and the maximum number of simultaneous connections reaches the upper limit, so portable devices 70C and 70D cannot connect to control device 60.

[0083] As a result, even though each of users 50C and 50D is carrying portable device 70C or 70D, which should be authenticated, they will not be able to lock or unlock the doors of mobile body 90, start the engine, etc., thereby reducing usability.

[0084] The technical concept of one embodiment of the present invention was conceived with the above points in mind, and makes it possible to prevent a decline in usability due to a limit on the number of simultaneous connections.

[0085] For this reason, one of the features of the control unit 120 provided in the control device 10 of this embodiment is that it controls other portable devices 20 associated with the same group ID as the portable device 20 currently connected to the wireless communication unit 110 so that they are not connected to the wireless communication unit 110.

[0086] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the valid key list 135 stored in the storage unit 130 according to this embodiment.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 5, the valid key list 135 according to this embodiment is associated with at least a group ID in addition to a device ID and key information (valid key).

[0088] The device ID is an example of an identifier that is uniquely assigned to each portable device 20 .

[0089] Furthermore, the group ID may be, for example, an identifier that is uniquely determined for each user.

[0090] That is, the portable devices 20 owned by the same user may be associated with the same group ID.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 5, the valid key list 135 according to this embodiment may further be associated with, for example, a device type.

[0092] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of simultaneous connection control by the control system 1 according to this embodiment.

[0093] 6, it is assumed that the maximum number of simultaneous connections is four, and six portable devices 20A1, 20A2, 20B1, 20B2, 20C, and 20D are present within a communicable range with control device 10 (wireless communication unit 110 included in control device 10). It is also assumed that portable devices 20A1 and 20A2 are carried by user 50A, portable devices 20B1 and 20B2 are carried by user 50B, portable device 20C is carried by user 50C, and portable device 20D is carried by user 50D.

[0094] 6, it is assumed that users 50A and 50B approach moving object 40 earlier than users 50C and 50D. That is, it is assumed that portable devices 20A1, 20A2, 20B1, and 20B2 enter an area where they can communicate with control device 10 earlier than portable devices 20C and 20D.

[0095] In the example shown in FIG. 6, each portable device 20 is associated with the following device ID, key information, and group ID.

[0096] Portable device 20A1: Device ID = "0000", key information "AAAA", Group ID "aaa1" Portable device 20A2: Device ID = "0001", key information "BBBB", Group ID "aaa1" Portable device 20B1: Device ID = "0002", key information "CCCC", Group ID "ccc1" Portable device 20B2: Device ID = "0003", key information "DDDD", Group ID "ccc1" Portable device 20C: Device ID = "0005", key information "FFFF", Group ID "eee1" Portable device 20D: Device ID = "0006", key information "GGGG", Group ID "ggg1"

[0097] As described above, the group ID according to this embodiment is an identifier that is uniquely determined for each user, and the portable devices 20 owned by the same user may be associated with the same group ID.

[0098] Therefore, the two portable devices 20A1 and 20A2 owned (carried) by the user 50A are associated with the same group ID "aaa1."

[0099] Similarly, two portable devices 20B1 and 20B2 owned (carried) by user 50B are associated with the same group ID "ccc1."

[0100] Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the control device 10 connects to the portable device 20A1, the control device 10 controls the portable device 10 not to connect to the portable device 20A2 that is associated with the same group ID "aaa1" as the portable device 20A1.

[0101] Similarly, when the control device 10 connects to the portable device 20B1, the control device 10 controls not to connect to the portable device 20B2 that is associated with the same group ID "ccc1" as the portable device 20B1.

[0102] That is, the control device 10 may perform control so that each user 50 is connected to only one portable device 20 .

[0103] According to this control, unlike the example shown in Fig. 4, the control device 10 can be connected to the portable device 20C carried by the user 50C and the portable device 20D carried by the user 50D. This allows each of the users 50C and 50D to lock and unlock the doors of the moving object 90, start the engine, and so on, thereby preventing the degradation of usability as described with reference to Fig. 4.

[0104] An example of simultaneous connection control by the control system 1 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of connection permission determination by the control device 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0105] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of connection permission determination by the control device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0106] FIG. 7 shows an example in which BLE is adopted as the prescribed communication standard, the control device 10 operates as a peripheral, and the portable device 20 operates as a central.

[0107] In the example shown in FIG. 7, first, the control device 10 receives an advertisement broadcast by the portable device 20 (S101).

[0108] Next, the control device 10 refers to the valid key list 135 based on the information included in the advertisement received in step S101, and acquires the group ID (S102).

[0109] For example, when a BluetoothAddress is used as the device ID, the control device 10 can acquire the group ID, key information, and the like from the valid key list 135 using the BluetoothAddress included in the received advertisement as a key.

[0110] Next, the control device 10 determines whether the portable device 20 associated with the group ID acquired in step S102 is currently connected (S103).

[0111] If the control device 10 determines that the portable device 20 associated with the group ID acquired in step S102 is not currently connected (S103: NO), it transmits a connection request (CONNECT_IND) to the portable device 20 that broadcast the advertisement (S104).

[0112] On the other hand, if the control device 10 determines that the portable device 20 associated with the group ID acquired in step S102 is currently connected (S103: YES), the control device 10 ends the process without transmitting a connection request.

[0113] According to the flow of connection permission determination as described above, it is possible to limit connections with portable devices 20 associated with the same group ID to one device.

[0114] However, the flow of connection availability determination shown in FIG. 7 is merely an example, and the connection availability determination by the control system 1 is not limited to this example.

[0115] For example, the connection permission determination may be performed by each of the portable devices 20. Each of the portable devices 20 can perform the connection permission determination by receiving information on the group ID related to the currently connected portable device 20 from the control device 10.

[0116] Depending on the communication standard adopted, it may be necessary for portable device 20 to temporarily connect to control device 10 in order to receive information about the group ID of the currently connected portable device 20 from control device 10. In this case, if portable device 20 further determines that connection is not possible, portable device 20 may execute processing such as disconnecting from control device 10 and not reconnecting for a predetermined time.

[0117] However, the above does not apply if the portable device 20 is capable of receiving information regarding the group ID of the portable device 20 currently connected to the control device 10 via wireless communication that complies with a communication standard different from the prescribed communication standard used to authenticate the key information.

[0118] Also, for example, if a portable device 20 can communicate with another portable device 20 associated with the same group ID, information on whether the other portable device 20 is connected to the control device 10 may be received from the other portable device 20, and a determination may be made as to whether connection is possible.

[0119] In addition, although the above example illustrates a case where the valid key list 135 is stored in the storage unit 130 of the control device 10, the valid key list 135 may be stored in a server or in the storage unit 230 of the portable device 20. In this case, the control device 10 can execute each of the above-described processes by acquiring the valid key list 135 via a network.

[0120] <2. Supplementary Information> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0121] Furthermore, the series of processes performed by each device described in this specification may be realized by a program stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Each program is, for example, loaded into RAM when executed by a computer and executed by a processor such as a CPU. The storage medium may be, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. The program may also be distributed, for example, via a network, without using a storage medium. [Explanation of symbols]

[0122] 1: control system, 10: control device, 110: wireless communication unit, 120: control unit, 130: storage unit, 135: valid key list, 20: portable device, 210: wireless communication unit, 220: control unit, 230: storage unit, 30: controlled device, 40: mobile object

Claims

1. a control unit that controls a connection for wireless communication conforming to a prescribed communication standard between a communication device mounted on a mobile body and a portable device carried by a user of the mobile body; Equipped with the control unit controls the portable device so that another portable device associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device is not connected to the communication device. Control device.

2. The group ID is uniquely determined for each user. The control device according to claim 1 .

3. Mounted on the moving body, The control device according to claim 1 .

4. the control unit controls whether or not a specified operation can be performed by a controlled device mounted on the mobile body based on a result of authentication based on key information transmitted from the portable device connected to the communication device. The control device according to claim 3 .

5. The specified operation includes locking and unlocking a door provided in the moving body. The control device according to claim 4.

6. the specified operation includes starting an engine provided in the vehicle; The control device according to claim 4.

7. On the computer, A control function for controlling a connection related to wireless communication conforming to a prescribed communication standard between a communication device mounted on a mobile body and a portable device carried by a user of the mobile body; To achieve this, causing the control function to control the portable device so that another portable device associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device is not connected to the communication device; program.

8. a communication device mounted on the moving object; a portable device carried by a user of the mobile object; a control unit that controls a connection between the communication device and the portable device regarding wireless communication that complies with a specified communication standard; Equipped with the control unit controls the portable device so that another portable device associated with the same group ID as the portable device currently connected to the communication device is not connected to the communication device. Control system.

Images