Control device for lock and control system for lock

Abstract

To provide a control system for lock that can be retrofitted to facilities in a place where stability of communication, confidentiality of communication and / or supply of electric power is restricted, and can control a lock according to reservation.SOLUTION: A control device 6 for lock has: a large-capacity reservation information reception part 612 which can receive large-capacity reservation information including at least reservation time zone information and identification information related to a reservation time zone in which users make reservations from a cloud server (reservation management device 2); a read part 613 which uses a reader 5 capable of reading a two-dimensional code B to read the identification information from the two-dimensional code B; an input part which can input the identification information; a determination part 615 which uses, for the identification information obtained through the read part 613 or input part, corresponding large-capacity reservation information to determine whether current time corresponds to the reservation time zone; and an unlock command part 616 which can command a lock device 4 to switch into an unlock state when the current time corresponds to the reservation time zone.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Services are being offered in rental conference rooms, rental warehouses, hotels, etc., where a user is provided with a key in response to a reservation, allowing the user to use a place managed with a lock corresponding to the key. Examples of such services include room rentals and access management for hideaway stores.

[0003] In such services, it is preferable that keys be disposable after each reservation to prevent unauthorized use of keys that have been lost by the user, etc. However, in the case of physical keys such as dimple keys, electronic keys, card keys, etc., if keys are disposable after each reservation, the effort and / or cost required to prepare disposable physical keys can be significant.

[0004] Regarding keys, keys that use information that can be read by optical means, such as keys that use printed barcodes and / or keys that use barcodes displayed on a terminal, are used. By using such keys as disposable keys, the effort and / or cost required to prepare disposable keys can be reduced compared to when disposable physical keys are used.

[0005] Regarding technology that allows access to locked areas using barcodes issued in response to reservations, Patent Document 1 discloses technology that issues barcode boarding passes with barcode encoding to passengers, reads the barcode boarding pass presented by the passenger and compares it with flight-related data in a central database, and if the data comparison is successful, temporarily releases the locking means of the pass-through area, allowing the passenger who presented the barcode boarding pass to pass through the designated pass-through area. The technology in Patent Document 1 automates boarding pass verification and can prevent the use of counterfeit boarding passes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2010-506316 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] There is a demand for a service that allows users to use the equipment with the lock retrofitted in response to a reservation by retrofitting the existing equipment with a lock that can manage rental according to reservation. When retrofitting a lock to an existing equipment, there may be cases where the location of the equipment has limitations on communication stability, communication confidentiality, and / or power supply.

[0008] The technology of Patent Document 1 reads the barcode boarding pass and checks it against flight-related data in a central database one by one, allowing passengers who present their barcode boarding pass to pass through designated transit points. Therefore, the technology of Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in that it provides a means for controlling locks according to reservations that can be retrofitted to equipment in locations where it is difficult to ensure stable communication with a central database.

[0009] In cases where the confidentiality of communication is limited, such as in the case of wireless communication, if information is transmitted to the lock every time a reservation is made, the transmitted information may be intercepted and used fraudulently. The technology of Patent Document 1 has room for further improvement in terms of reducing the risk that information transmitted to a lock retrofitted to equipment in a location where the confidentiality of communication is limited may be intercepted and used fraudulently.

[0010] When the power supply is limited, the lock is required to be operable by a power source that can provide a small amount of power, such as a battery. By being able to operate the means for controlling the lock with less power, the frequency of power supply maintenance (e.g., battery replacement) can be reduced. This allows the lock to be controlled with almost unattended management, and the manager who manages reservations can reduce the effort and / or burden of lock control.

[0011] The technology of Patent Document 1 may consume power for communication each time a barcode boarding pass is read in communication to match the read barcode boarding pass with flight-related data in a central database. Therefore, there is room for further improvement in the technology of Patent Document 1 in terms of providing a means for controlling locks with less power, which can be retrofitted to facilities in places where power supply is limited, and which can realize lock control according to reservations.

[0012] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims to provide a lock control system that can realize lock control according to reservations, which can be retrofitted to equipment in locations where communication stability, communication confidentiality, and / or power supply are limited. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] As a result of extensive research into solving the above-mentioned problems, the inventors have discovered that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by transmitting large amounts of reservation information, including reservation time slots, etc., collectively at intervals of at least a specified time, and issuing a two-dimensional code containing encrypted small-volume information obtained by encrypting the large-volume reservation information and the corresponding small-volume information with a private key using a public encryption key system, thereby completing the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides the following.

[0014] The invention relating to a first feature provides a lock control device having a large-capacity reservation information receiving unit capable of receiving large-capacity reservation information including at least reservation time slot information and identification information related to a reservation time slot reserved by a user from a cloud server; a reading unit that reads a two-dimensional code including the identification information using a reading device capable of reading two-dimensional codes; an input unit that can input the identification information; a determination unit that can determine whether the current time falls within the reservation time slot using the large-capacity reservation information for the identification information obtained via the reading unit or the input unit; and an unlock command unit that can command the lock device to switch to an unlocked state if the current time falls within the reservation time slot.

[0015] The second aspect of the invention is the first aspect of the invention, and provides a lock control system comprising: a control device according to the first aspect of the invention; and a reservation management device which is a cloud server that communicates with the control device and is capable of issuing a two-dimensional code that allows a managed object to be used during a reserved time slot reserved by a user, wherein the reservation management device has: a large-capacity reservation information generation unit that is capable of generating large-capacity reservation information that includes at least reservation time slot information related to the reserved time slot and identification information having a PIN number; a large-capacity reservation information transmission unit that is capable of transmitting one or more pieces of large-capacity reservation information to the control device; and a two-dimensional code issuance unit that is capable of issuing to the user a two-dimensional code that includes the identification information and small-capacity information that does not include the reserved time slot. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lock control system that can realize lock control according to reservations, which can be retrofitted to equipment in locations where communication stability, communication confidentiality, and / or power supply are limited. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware and software configurations of a control system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an example of the reservation table 221. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an example of the large-volume reservation information table 621. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a main flowchart showing an example of reservation processing executed by the reservation management device 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the large-volume reservation information transmission process executed in step S8 of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a main flowchart showing an example of the control process executed by the control device 6. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the offline control process executed in step S42 of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the online control process executed in step S45 of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the large-volume reservation information receiving process executed in step S69 of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the usage termination process executed in step S44 of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of post-installation of a lock 3 to a managed object M. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] <<Control System S>> 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware and software configurations of a control system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control system S (lock control system) is configured to include at least a user terminal 1, a reservation management device 2 capable of issuing a two-dimensional code B that allows the user to use a managed object M during a reserved time slot, and a lock 3 capable of managing the managed object M. The reservation management device 2 is also configured to be able to communicate with the user terminal 1 and the lock 3 via a network N.

[0020] There is no particular limitation on the number of user terminals 1. There is no particular limitation on the number of locks 3, as long as it is one or more.

[0021] <User terminal 1> The user terminal 1 is not particularly limited as long as it can request a reservation for a reservation time slot from the reservation management device 2 via the network N. The user terminal 1 may be, for example, a mobile terminal exemplified by a smartphone or a tablet terminal, or a computer exemplified by a personal computer or a laptop computer.

[0022] If the user terminal 1 is a mobile terminal, it is preferable that the user terminal 1 is capable of displaying the two-dimensional code issued by the reservation management device 2. This allows a user using the user terminal 1 to use the managed object M managed by the lock 3 during the reserved time period by using the two-dimensional code B displayed on the user terminal 1.

[0023] If the user terminal 1 is a mobile terminal, it is preferable that the user terminal 1 be able to communicate with the reservation management device 2 via a wireless network. As a result, even if the reservation management device 2 is located far from the lock 3, the user terminal 1 can request the reservation management device 2 to issue a two-dimensional code B near the lock 3, display the issued two-dimensional code B, and use the managed object M managed by the lock 3.

[0024] <Reservation management device 2> The reservation management device 2 includes a management device control unit 21, a management device storage unit 22, and a management device communication unit 23. The configuration of the reservation management device 2 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a server device, a cloud server including multiple computers connected via a network N, or the like.

[0025] In particular, it is preferable that the configuration of the reservation management device 2 includes a cloud server. This allows the reservation management device 2 to distribute processing to multiple computers and perform reservation management without delay, even when there are a large number of user terminals 1 and / or locks 3. Furthermore, even if a failure occurs in one of the computers included in the cloud server, another computer can perform reservation management.

[0026] [Management device control unit 21] The management device control unit 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like.

[0027] The management device control unit 21 reads a predetermined program and, as necessary, cooperates with the management device memory unit 22 and / or the management device communication unit 23 to realize the software configuration elements of the reservation management device 2, such as a large-capacity reservation information generation unit 211, a large-capacity reservation information transmission unit 212, a two-dimensional code issuance unit 213, and a usage termination information reception unit 214.

[0028] The flow of the reservation management process executed by the reservation management device 2 will be explained in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0029] [Management device storage unit 22] The management device storage unit 22 is a device in which data and / or files are stored, and has a data storage unit such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, recording medium, and memory card. The management device storage unit 22 may have a mechanism that enables connection to a storage device or storage system such as a NAS (Network Attached Storage), a SAN (Storage Area Network), cloud storage, a file server, and / or a distributed file system via the network N.

[0030] The management device storage unit 22 stores a control program executed by the microcomputer, a reservation table 221, a secret key 222, and the like.

[0031] [Reserved Table 221] 2 is an example of the reservation table 221. The reservation table 221 stores reservation information including a reservation time slot, a lock ID that can identify the lock 3 used to manage the management target M that is the subject of the reservation, a lock device ID that can identify the lock device 4 used to manage the management target M that is the subject of the reservation, etc.

[0032] It is preferable that the reservation table 221 can store reservation information in association with a reservation information ID that can identify a reservation, thereby allowing the reservation management device 2 to store and / or acquire reservation information using the reservation ID.

[0033] Although not a required feature, it is preferable that the reservation information includes identification information that can identify the reservation information at the lock 3 and has a smaller data volume than the reservation information. In this way, the lock 3 that receives the reservation information and acquires the identification information via the two-dimensional code B can identify the reservation information using the identification information and control the lock 3 according to the reservation information.

[0034] The identification information is not particularly limited. It is preferable that the identification information does not include unencrypted information related to the reserved time slot. This prevents a counterfeit two-dimensional code that can unlock the lock 3 outside the reserved time slot from being generated using the identification information if the confidentiality of the identification information is not maintained. An example of the identification information is a personal identification number that corresponds to the reservation information.

[0035] Although not a required feature, it is preferable that the reservation information be stored in association with information as to whether the reservation information has already been transmitted to the lock 3. This can prevent the repeated transmission of already transmitted reservation information.

[0036] Although not essential, it is preferable that the reservation information be stored in association with information indicating whether the use of the reservation information has ended, thereby preventing the repeated transmission of reservation information whose use has ended.

[0037] The reservation table 221 shown in Fig. 2 stores reservation information associated with a reservation information ID. The reservation information stored in the reservation table 221 shown in Fig. 2 includes, for a reservation, a "reservation time slot," a "lock ID," a "lock device ID," and "identification information" that can identify the reservation information, and is associated with information on whether the reservation information has been "sent" and information on whether the use of the managed object M corresponding to the reservation information during the reserved time slot has "ended."

[0038] The reservation information associated with reservation information ID "R0001" in Figure 2 includes the following information: A reservation time slot with a start date and time of "July 7th, 16:00" and an end date and time of "July 7th, 18:00". Lock ID "3a" identifies lock 3. A lock device ID "4aa" that can identify a lock device 4 that can be controlled by the lock 3 identified by the lock ID "3a". Identification information "0626..." that is information related to the reserved time slot and does not include unencrypted information, and can identify the reservation information.

[0039] Furthermore, the reservation information associated with the reservation information ID "R0001" in Figure 2 is associated with the following information: Sent information "Yes" indicates that the reservation information has been sent. End of use information "Yes" indicates that the reservation corresponding to the reservation information has ended.

[0040] This allows the reservation management device 2 to transmit to the lock 3 large-volume reservation information relating to a reservation for the use of the managed object M, which is a lock device 4 controlled by the lock 3 identified by the lock ID "3a" and managed by the lock device 4 identified by the lock device ID "4aa", during a reservation time period starting at "July 7th, 16:00" and ending at "July 7th, 18:00". The reservation management device 2 can also issue a two-dimensional code B including the identification information "0626...", which can identify the transmitted large-volume reservation information.

[0041] [Private key 222] The private key 222 is not particularly limited as long as it is a private key of a public encryption key system, and may be, for example, a public encryption key system based on prime factorization (RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) encryption, Paillier encryption, Rabin encryption, etc.), a public encryption key system based on discrete logarithms (Cramer-Shoup encryption, ElGamal encryption, etc.), a public encryption key system based on lattice encryption (NTRU encryption, etc.), a public encryption key system based on probabilistic encryption (MacEllis encryption, EPOC (Efficient Probabilistic Public Key Encryption), etc.).

[0042] In particular, it is preferable that the private key 222 includes a private key of a public encryption key system based on prime factorization. Public encryption key systems based on prime factorization, such as RSA encryption, are known to be relatively easy to encrypt and decrypt. Therefore, if the private key 222 includes a private key of a public encryption key system based on prime factorization, the load of encryption and / or decryption can be reduced.

[0043] By storing the private key 222 in the management device storage unit 22, the reservation management device 2 can encrypt reservation information including the reservation time slot with the private key 222 and generate encrypted reservation information. This allows the reservation management device 2 to issue a two-dimensional code including the encrypted reservation information. Because the two-dimensional code includes the encrypted reservation information encrypted with the private key 222, the control system S can prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device to be unlocked during time slots other than the reservation time slot reserved by the user, even if the key (public key) used for decryption is not secret.

[0044] Furthermore, by storing the private key 222 in the management device storage unit 22, the reservation management device 2 can encrypt information that includes identification information but does not include the reservation time slot with the private key 222, and generate encrypted small-volume information. This makes it possible to prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device to be unlocked during a time slot other than the reservation time slot reserved by the user, even if the key (public key) used for decryption is not secret.

[0045] [Management device communication section 23] The management device communication unit 23 is not particularly limited to any communication unit that connects the reservation management device 2 to the network N and enables communication with the user terminal 1, lock 3, etc., and examples include a wireless device compatible with a mobile phone network, a Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) compatible device compliant with IEEE802.11, and a network card compatible with the Ethernet standard.

[0046] The management device communication unit 23 preferably includes a communication unit that can connect to a wireless network, such as a wireless device compatible with a mobile phone network or a Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) compatible device conforming to IEEE802.11. This allows the reservation management device 2 to communicate with the user terminal 1 and / or the lock 3 even if wired communication is restricted at the location of the user terminal 1 and / or the lock 3.

[0047] <3 tablets> The lock 3 includes a locking device 4 capable of managing the managed object M, a reading device 5 capable of reading the two-dimensional code B, and a control device 6 electrically connected to the locking device 4 and the reading device 5 via wire and / or short-range wireless communication.

[0048] The number of lock devices 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more. When the number of management targets M is two or more, it is preferable that the number of lock devices 4 is equal to or greater than the number of management targets M. This allows the lock 3 to associate each of the two or more management targets M with a lock device 4 and manage usage according to the reservation of each management target M.

[0049] The upper limit of the number of locking devices 4 is not particularly limited.

[0050] [Locking device 4] The locking device 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is a locking device that can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state. The locking device 4 may be, for example, an electric locking device that operates on a commercial power source, such as an electric lock, a magnetic lock, or an automatic door, or an electronic locking device that operates on a power source that can supply less power than that supplied by a commercial power source, such as a smart lock.

[0051] In particular, it is preferable that the lock device 4 includes an electronic lock device that operates with a power supply unit that can supply less power than that which can be supplied by commercial power. This allows the lock 3 to manage the managed object M even in places where the power supply is limited. Therefore, even in places where the power supply is limited, the lock 3 can realize the rental of a room equipped with an electric and / or electronic lock with almost unattended management.

[0052] The lock device 4 is preferably a lock device 4 that can be connected to the control device 6 by short-range wireless communication. This allows the control device 6 to be configured without being connected to the lock device 4 by wire. Since the control device 6 can be configured without being connected to the lock device 4 by wire, it can be made even easier to retrofit the lock 3 to the managed object M.

[0053] The short-range wireless communication is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or the like.

[0054] The short-range wireless communication preferably includes short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE, BLE), a standard of Bluetooth (registered trademark). By including short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth LE, the control device 6 can further reduce the power consumption related to communication with the lock device 4.

[0055] [Power supply section] Although not a required feature, it is preferable that the lock device 4 includes a power supply unit capable of supplying less power than that which can be supplied by commercial power. This allows the lock 3 to manage the managed object M even in places where the supply of power is limited. Therefore, even in places where the supply of power is limited, the lock 3 can realize the rental of a room equipped with an electric and / or electronic lock with almost unattended management.

[0056] The power supply unit is not particularly limited as long as it can supply less power than that supplied by a commercial power source. For example, the power supply unit may be a power supply unit that can supply power using one or more of a battery, an AC adapter, a USB power supply, a wireless power supply, etc.

[0057] The power supply unit preferably includes a power supply unit capable of supplying power using a battery. This allows the manager of the lock device 4 to maintain the power supply unit by relatively simply replacing the battery. This reduces the labor required to maintain the power supply unit.

[0058] [Reading device 5] The reader 5 is not particularly limited as long as it can read the two-dimensional code B.

[0059] Although not an essential aspect, the reading device 5 may include a usage termination reading device that reads the two-dimensional code B when the reserving person who reserved the managed object M ends use of the managed object M. This allows the reserving person to end use of the managed object M by having the usage termination reading device read the two-dimensional code B.

[0060] Although not an essential aspect, it is preferable that the reading device 5 be capable of reading information that allows the control device 6 to perform short-range wireless communication with the locking device 4 included in the lock 3. This allows the administrator who manages the managed object M to easily retrofit the reading device 5 and the control device 6 to an existing locking device 4. It also allows the administrator to easily retrofit the locking device 4 to an existing lock 3.

[0061] [Detection unit] Although not an essential aspect, it is preferable that the reading device 5 includes a detection unit capable of detecting whether a detection target, such as the two-dimensional code B, the user terminal 1, and / or a user using the user terminal 1, is present in the vicinity of the reading device 5. By including a detection unit in the reading device 5, the reading device 5 can reduce power consumption by not reading when a detection target is not detected.

[0062] The detection unit is not particularly limited as long as it can detect whether the user terminal 1 and / or a user using the user terminal 1 is present in the vicinity of the reading device 5. The detection unit may be, for example, a detection unit including a moving object identification sensor capable of detecting a moving object in the vicinity of the reading device 5, a human presence sensor capable of detecting a person in the vicinity of the reading device 5, or the like.

[0063] The detection unit is preferably a detection unit including a moving object identification sensor, which can detect the movement of the reservation holder who has made the reservation presenting the two-dimensional code B to the reading device 5. This makes it possible to both reduce power consumption by not reading the two-dimensional code B when the reservation holder is simply near the reading device 5 but has not presented the two-dimensional code B, and to read the two-dimensional code B when the reservation holder presents it to the reading device 5.

[0064] The detection unit is preferably capable of controlling the reading device 5 and / or the control device 6 to a standby state when the detection target is not detected for a certain period of time, and is capable of ending the standby state of the reading device 5 and the control device 6 when the detection target is detected. This allows the detection unit to put the reading device 5 and / or the control device 6 into a standby state when the detection target is not detected for a certain period of time, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0065] [Power supply section] Although not a required feature, it is preferable that the reading device 5 includes a power supply unit capable of supplying less power than that which can be supplied by a commercial power source. This allows the lock 3 to manage the managed object M even in places where the power supply is limited. Therefore, even in places where the power supply is limited, the lock 3 can realize the rental of a room equipped with an electric and / or electronic lock with almost unattended management.

[0066] The power supply unit is not particularly limited as long as it can supply less power than that supplied by a commercial power source. For example, the power supply unit may be a power supply unit that can supply power using one or more of a battery, an AC adapter, a USB power supply, a wireless power supply, etc.

[0067] The power supply unit preferably includes a power supply unit capable of supplying power using a battery. This allows the administrator who manages the lock 3 to maintain the power supply unit by relatively simply replacing the battery. This reduces the effort required to maintain the power supply unit.

[0068] [Control device 6] The control device 6 includes at least a control device control unit 61, a control device storage unit 62, a control device communication unit 63, and a timer unit 64.

[0069] [Control device control unit 61] The control device control unit 61 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like.

[0070] The control device control unit 61 reads a predetermined program and, as necessary, cooperates with each component included in the control device 6, such as the control device memory unit 62 and / or the control device communication unit 63, to realize the software configuration elements of the control device 6, such as an operation discrimination unit 611, a large-capacity reservation information receiving unit 612, a reading unit 613, a decryption unit 614, a discrimination unit 615, an unlocking command unit 616, a time setting unit 617, and a usage termination information transmitting unit 618.

[0071] The flow of the control process executed by the control device 6 will be explained in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0072] [Control device memory unit 62] The control device storage unit 62 is a device in which data and / or files are stored, and has a data storage unit such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, recording medium, and memory card. The control device storage unit 62 may have a mechanism that enables connection to a storage device or storage system such as a NAS (Network Attached Storage), a SAN (Storage Area Network), cloud storage, a file server, and / or a distributed file system via the network N.

[0073] The control device storage unit 62 stores a control program executed by the microcomputer, a large-capacity reservation information table 621, a public key 622, etc. When the control device 6 executes online control processing that communicates with the outside, it is preferable that the control device storage unit 62 be able to store a sleep time period during which the control device 6 enters a sleep state in which it does not perform control processing, and the reception timing at which the control device 6 receives large-capacity reservation information.

[0074] (Large-capacity reservation information table 621) 3 is an example of the large-capacity reservation information table 621. The large-capacity reservation information table 621 stores large-capacity reservation information including a reserved time slot, a lock device ID capable of identifying the lock device 4 used to manage the managed object M that is the subject of the reservation, and identification information capable of identifying the reservation information and having a smaller data volume than the reservation information.

[0075] The identification information is not particularly limited, and may be the same as the identification information stored in the reservation table 221. The number of large-capacity reservation information items that can be stored in the large-capacity reservation information table 621 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1000 or less. This reduces the storage area used by the large-capacity reservation information table 621 in the control device storage unit 62 and the storage capacity of the control device storage unit 62, and can reduce the power consumption of the control device storage unit 62.

[0076] The large-volume reservation information table 621 is preferably capable of storing large-volume reservation information in association with a large-volume reservation information ID that can identify the large-volume reservation information. This allows the control device 6 to store and / or acquire the large-volume reservation information using the large-volume reservation information ID.

[0077] Although not a required aspect, it is preferable that the large-volume reservation information is stored in association with information as to whether the managed object M corresponding to the large-volume reservation information is in use. This makes it possible to transmit information as to whether the managed object M is in use to the reservation management device 2.

[0078] Although not an essential aspect, it is preferable that the reservation information be stored in association with information on whether the use of the managed object M corresponding to the large-volume reservation information in the reserved time slot has ended. This makes it possible to prevent the lock device 4 retrofitted to the managed object M from being unlocked when the use in the reserved time slot has ended.

[0079] The large-capacity reservation information table 621 shown in Fig. 3 stores large-capacity reservation information associated with large-capacity reservation information IDs. The large-capacity reservation information stored in the large-capacity reservation information table 621 shown in Fig. 3 includes, for reservations, "reserved time slot," "lock ID," "lock device ID," and "identification information" that can identify the reservation information, and is associated with information on whether the managed object M corresponding to the large-capacity reservation information is "in use," and information on whether use of the managed object M corresponding to the large-capacity reservation information during the reserved time slot has "ended."

[0080] The reservation information associated with the large-volume reservation information ID "M0001" in Figure 3 includes the following information: A reservation time slot with a start date and time of "July 7th, 16:00" and an end date and time of "July 7th, 18:00". Lock device ID "4aa" that can identify lock device 4. Identification information "0626..." that is information related to the reserved time slot and does not include unencrypted information, and can identify the reservation information.

[0081] Furthermore, the reservation information associated with the large-volume reservation information ID "M0001" in Figure 3 is associated with the following information: The in-use information "No" indicates that the managed object M corresponding to the large-volume reservation information is not in use. Usage end information "Yes" indicating that usage of the managed object M corresponding to the large-volume reservation information in the reservation time period has ended.

[0082] As a result, the control device 6 can control the lock device 4 in response to reading the two-dimensional code B containing the identification information "0626..." based on a reservation to use the managed object M managed by the lock device 4 identified by the lock device ID "4aa" indicated by the large-capacity reservation information corresponding to the identification information during a reservation time period starting at "July 7th, 16:00" and ending at "July 7th, 18:00".

[0083] (Public key 622) There are no particular limitations on the public key 622, as long as it is a public key that corresponds to the private key 222. The public key 622 may be a public key of the same public key cryptosystem as the corresponding private key 222.

[0084] Storing the public key 622 in the control device storage unit 62 enables the control device 6 to decrypt the encrypted reservation information encrypted with the private key 222. Also, storing the public key 622 in the control device storage unit 62 enables the control device 6 to decrypt the encrypted small-volume information encrypted with the private key 222.

[0085] Because the public key 622 is a public key of a public key cryptosystem, the secrecy of the private key 222 is maintained even if the secrecy of the public key 622 is lost due to reverse engineering of the lock 3, etc. This prevents the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked outside the reserved time slot reserved by the user, even if the secrecy of the public key 622 is lost.

[0086] [Control device communication unit 63] The control device communication unit 63 is not particularly limited as long as it can electrically connect the control device 6 to the lock device 4 and the reading device 5 via wired and / or near field wireless communication.

[0087] Since the control device communication unit 63 can electrically connect the control device 6 to the lock device 4 and the reading device 5 via wired and / or short-range wireless communication, the reading device 5 and control device 6 can be retrofitted to an existing lock device 4 to form a lock 3 that includes the existing lock device 4, reading device 5, and control device 6.

[0088] It is preferable that the control device communication unit 63 can electrically connect the control device 6 and the lock device 4 by short-range wireless communication. This allows the control device 6 to be configured without being connected to the lock device 4 by wire. Since the control device 6 can be configured without being connected to the lock device 4 by wire, it can be made even easier to retrofit the lock 3 to the managed object M.

[0089] The short-range wireless communication is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or the like.

[0090] The short-range wireless communication preferably includes short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE, BLE), a standard of Bluetooth (registered trademark). By including short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth LE, the control device 6 can further reduce the power consumption related to communication with the lock device 4.

[0091] It is preferable that the control device communication unit 63 connects the control device 6 to the network N and is capable of communicating with the reservation management device 2. This enables the control device 6 to perform online control processing for receiving large amounts of reservation information and the like from the reservation management device 2.

[0092] The components that connect the control device 6 included in the control device communication unit 63 to the network N and enable communication with the reservation management device 2 are not particularly limited, and examples include a wireless device compatible with a mobile phone network, a Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) compatible device compliant with IEEE802.11, and a network card compatible with the Ethernet standard.

[0093] [Timer section 64] The control device 6 includes a timer unit 64 that can measure the current time. This allows the control device 6 to determine whether the current time falls within a reserved time slot without communicating with the outside. This allows the control device 6 to perform offline control processing without communicating with the outside.

[0094] The timer unit 64 is not particularly limited as long as it can measure the current time, and may be a timer unit including various means (such as a quartz clock, a timing circuit, or a radio-controlled clock) that can measure the current time according to conventional technology.

[0095] The control device 6 performs offline control processing without communicating with the outside world, thereby reducing the power consumption of the control device 6 and the lock 3. Therefore, the control device 6 can control the lock 3 even in places where the power supply is limited.

[0096] Furthermore, by performing offline control processing in which the control device 6 does not communicate with the outside, the risk of reservation information and the like being intercepted during communication with the outside can be reduced. This allows the control system S to prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code using intercepted reservation information that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked during a time period other than the reserved time period reserved by the user.

[0097] [Control device power supply unit 65] Although not a required feature, it is preferable that the control device 6 includes a control device power supply unit 65 that can supply less power than that which can be supplied by commercial power. This allows the lock 3 to manage the managed object M even in places where the power supply is limited. Therefore, even in places where the power supply is limited, the lock 3 can realize the rental of a room equipped with an electric and / or electronic lock with almost unattended management.

[0098] The control device power supply unit 65 is not particularly limited as long as it can supply less power than that which can be supplied from a commercial power source. The control device power supply unit 65 may be a power supply unit that can supply power using, for example, one or more of a battery, an AC adapter, a USB power supply, a wireless power supply, etc.

[0099] It is preferable that the control device power supply unit 65 includes a power supply unit that can supply power using a battery. This allows the administrator who manages the lock 3 to maintain the control device power supply unit 65 by relatively simply replacing the battery. This reduces the effort required to maintain the control device power supply unit 65.

[0100] It is preferable that the control device power supply unit 65 be able to supply power to the reading device 5. This allows both the reading device 5 and the control device 6 to be supplied with power without providing a power supply unit for both the reading device 5 and the control device 6. This reduces the effort required for maintaining the lock 3.

[0101] [Action specification section 66] Although not a required aspect, it is preferable that the control device 6 includes an operation designation unit 66 that can designate the operation of the control device 6 from two or more operations, including at least an operation that performs offline control processing and an operation that performs online control processing. This allows the control device 6 to switch between an operation that performs offline control processing that does not communicate with the outside world and an operation that performs online control processing that does communicate with the outside world, based on the designation of the administrator who manages the locks 3. This allows the administrator to switch the operation of the control device 6 without having to change multiple locks 3 and / or control devices 6 that operate differently.

[0102] There are no particular limitations on the operation designation unit 66. The operation designation unit 66 may be, for example, an operation designation unit that designates an operation for performing offline control processing when the reading device 5 reads a two-dimensional code that designates an operation for performing offline control processing, or that designates an operation for performing online control processing when the reading device 5 reads a two-dimensional code that designates an operation for performing online control processing.

[0103] It is preferable that the operation designation unit 66 is capable of designating a usage termination operation for the control device 6 to perform usage termination processing. This allows the control device 6 to execute usage termination processing for terminating the use of the managed object M based on the designation.

[0104] [Device Identification Mark 67] Although not an essential aspect, it is preferable that the control device 6 includes a device identification mark 67 that can identify the control device 6. This allows the user terminal 1 to read the device identification mark 67 and transmit the information contained in the read device identification mark 67 to the reservation management device 2, thereby making a request to obtain a two-dimensional code related to the managed object M managed by the lock 3 including the control device 6, a reservation request, and / or a request to cancel a reservation, without manually inputting information related to the control device 6 and / or the managed object M.

[0105] The device identification mark 67 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a two-dimensional code containing information that allows the control device 6 to be identified.

[0106] [Input section] When the control device 6 performs online control processing that communicates with the outside, it is preferable that the control device 6 includes an input unit (not shown) that can input identification information that can identify reservation information. This makes it possible to realize hybrid control that controls the lock 3 not only by the two-dimensional code but also by input from the person who made the reservation. The input unit is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a keypad that can input identification information.

[0107] <Network N> The type of network N is not particularly limited as long as it is a network that enables communication between the reservation management device 2, the user terminal 1, and the lock 3, and examples include a personal area network, a local area network, an intranet, an extranet, the Internet, a Wi-Fi network, a mobile phone network, or a network that combines multiple of these networks.

[0108] The network N preferably includes a wireless network such as a mobile phone network, a Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) network conforming to IEEE802.11, etc. This allows the reservation management device 2 to communicate with the user terminal 1 and / or the lock 3 even if wired communication is restricted at the location of the user terminal 1 and / or the lock 3.

[0109] <Managed Person M> The managed object M is not particularly limited as long as it can be managed by the lock 3. The managed object M may be a managed object including, for example, a room with a door or the like that can be locked by the lock 3 (for example, a rental conference room, a rental office, a hotel room, etc.), a building with a door or the like that can be locked by the lock 3 (for example, a store such as a hideaway store), or a storage device with a door or the like that can be locked by the lock 3 (for example, a safe deposit box, a rental locker, a rental bicycle garage, etc.).

[0110] The number of management targets M is not particularly limited.

[0111] [Main Flowchart of Reservation Processing Executed by the Reservation Management Device 2] 4 is a main flowchart showing an example of reservation processing executed by the reservation management device 2. Below, an example of a preferable flow of reservation processing executed by the reservation management device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0112] [Step S1: Determine if a reservation has been requested] The management device control unit 21 executes the large-capacity reservation information generation unit 211 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22 and the management device communication unit 23, and performs processing to determine whether a reservation for using the managed object M during the reserved time period has been requested by the user terminal 1 (step S1). If a reservation has been requested, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S2. If a reservation has not been requested, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S4.

[0113] [Step S2: Generate large-volume reservation information] The management device control unit 21 cooperates with the management device storage unit 22 to execute the large-capacity reservation information generation unit 211, and performs processing to generate large-capacity reservation information (reservation information) regarding reservations for using the managed object M during the reserved time period (step S2). The management device control unit 21 then proceeds to step S3.

[0114] The process of generating large-volume reservation information (reservation information) executed in step S2 preferably includes a process of storing the generated reservation information in the reservation table 221. This allows the reservation management device 2 to transmit large-volume reservation information using the reservation information stored in the reservation table 221.

[0115] [Step S3: Issue a two-dimensional code] The management device control unit 21, in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22, executes the two-dimensional code issuing unit 213, and performs processing to issue a two-dimensional code B including at least a part of the reservation information generated in step S2 to the user who uses the user terminal 1 that requested the reservation in step S1 (step S3). The management device control unit 21 then proceeds to step S4.

[0116] There are no particular limitations on the process of issuing the two-dimensional code B. The process of issuing the two-dimensional code B may be a process including one or more of the following: a method of transmitting information capable of displaying the two-dimensional code B to the user terminal 1 that requested the reservation in step S1; a method of transmitting information capable of printing the two-dimensional code B to the user terminal 1 that requested the reservation in step S1; and a method of sending a printout of the two-dimensional code B to the user who uses the user terminal 1 that requested the reservation in step S1.

[0117] Although not a required aspect, it is preferable that the processing executed in step S3 includes processing for associating information capable of identifying the reservation (for example, a reservation information ID, identification information, information capable of identifying the reservation time slot and the managed object M, information including information capable of identifying the user using the user terminal 1 and the reservation time slot) with information capable of issuing a two-dimensional code and registering the information in an external database (for example, a database of a service that provides a calendar capable of managing schedules). This enables the user terminal 1 to obtain information capable of issuing a two-dimensional code from the external database using the information capable of identifying the reservation, and issue the two-dimensional code.

[0118] (2D code B) The two-dimensional code B is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a two-dimensional code exemplified by a QR code (registered trademark) or the like. It is preferable that the two-dimensional code B can be displayed on the user terminal 1. This allows the user terminal 1 to display the issued two-dimensional code B and use the managed object M managed by the lock 3.

[0119] The offline reservation information included in the two-dimensional code B corresponding to a reservation managed by the lock device 4 controlled by the control device 6 that performs offline control processing for the managed object M described below preferably includes specific information that can identify the managed object M (for example, a lock device ID that can identify the lock device 4) and reservation time slot information regarding the reservation time slot. This allows the control device 6 to unlock the lock device 4 corresponding to the managed object M identified using the specific information offline during the reserved time slot without communicating with the outside.

[0120] Although not an essential aspect, it is preferable that the offline reservation information includes the serial number of the issued two-dimensional code B. This makes it possible to identify forged two-dimensional codes using the serial number.

[0121] Although not a required aspect, it is preferable that at least the reservation time period information included in the offline reservation information is encrypted with the private key 222. This makes it possible to prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked during a time period other than the reserved time period reserved by the user, even if the public key 622 is not private.

[0122] Although not a required aspect, it is preferable that the offline reservation information is encrypted reservation information encrypted with the private key 222. This makes it possible to prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked during a time period other than the reserved time period reserved by the user, even if the public key 622 is not secret.

[0123] The online reservation information (small-volume information) included in the two-dimensional code B corresponding to a reservation managed by the lock device 4 controlled by the control device 6 that performs the online control process described below for the managed object M preferably includes identification information corresponding to the large-volume reservation information, but does not include reservation time slot information. This makes it possible to prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked during a time slot other than the reserved time slot reserved by the user using the two-dimensional code B.

[0124] Although not an essential aspect, it is preferable that the small-volume information is encrypted small-volume information that has been encrypted with the secret key 222 .

[0125] Since the small-capacity information is encrypted with the secret key 222, even if the public key 622 is not secret, it is possible to prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that enables the lock device 4 to be in an unlocked state during a time period other than the reserved time period reserved by the user.

[0126] However, it is known that while the public encryption key system has higher encryption strength than the common key system, the load on the encryption and decryption processes is greater than that of the common key system. As a result, when using the public encryption key system, the power consumption of the control device 6 may be higher than that of the common key system.

[0127] Furthermore, since the encrypted small-capacity information includes identification information corresponding to the large-capacity reservation information and is small-capacity information that does not include reservation time zone information, encrypted with the private key 222, the control device 6 can limit the information to be decrypted to the encrypted small-capacity information only, thereby reducing the load on the decryption process of the public encryption key method and preventing the generation of counterfeit two-dimensional codes.

[0128] Although not an essential aspect, the reservation process preferably includes the two-dimensional code issuing process executed in steps S4 and S5.

[0129] [Step S4: Determine whether a request for issuing a two-dimensional code has been made] The management device control unit 21 executes the two-dimensional code issuing unit 213 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22, and performs processing to determine whether the issuance of a two-dimensional code has been requested by the user terminal 1 (step S4). If the issuance of a two-dimensional code has been requested, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S5. If the issuance of a two-dimensional code has not been requested, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S6.

[0130] [Step S5: Issue a two-dimensional code] The management device control unit 21 executes the two-dimensional code issuing unit 213 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22, and performs processing to issue a two-dimensional code B to the user who uses the user terminal 1 that requested the issuance of a two-dimensional code in step S4 (step S5). The management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S6.

[0131] If the two-dimensional code B issued in step S5 is a two-dimensional code B corresponding to a reservation managed by a lock device 4 controlled by a control device 6 that performs offline control processing, which will be described later, where the managed object M is managed by the lock device 4, it is preferable that the two-dimensional code B issued in step S5 is an issued time-attached two-dimensional code that includes at least a portion of the reservation information generated in step S2 and further includes issue time information regarding the time at which the issued time-attached two-dimensional code is issued.

[0132] This allows the control device 6 to use the issued time-attached two-dimensional code to set the time on the timer unit 64. Setting the time on the timer unit 64 using the issued time-attached two-dimensional code will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG.

[0133] Since the reservation process includes a two-dimensional code issuance process executed in steps S4-S5, a user using the user terminal 1 can request the issuance of two-dimensional code B and use the issued two-dimensional code B even if the user loses the two-dimensional code B.

[0134] Furthermore, since the reservation process includes a two-dimensional code issuance process executed in steps S4-S5, a user terminal 1 that can connect to a wireless network can request the reservation management device 2 to issue a two-dimensional code B near the lock 3, even if the reservation management device 2 is located far from the lock 3, and can display the issued two-dimensional code B to use the managed object M managed by the lock 3.

[0135] Although not essential, it is preferable that the reservation management device 2 be able to execute the reservation termination process from steps S6 to S7. The reservation termination process may be executed as a separate process from the reservation process from steps S1 to S5.

[0136] [Step S6: Determine whether usage termination information has been received] The management device control unit 21 executes the usage end information receiving unit 214 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22, and performs processing to determine whether usage end information has been received from the control device 6 (step S6). If usage end information has been received, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S7. If usage end information has not been received, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S8.

[0137] [Step S7: End reservation] The management device control unit 21, in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22, executes the usage end information receiving unit 214, and performs processing to end the reservation corresponding to the usage end information received in step S6 (step S7). The management device control unit 21 then proceeds to step S8.

[0138] The process of terminating a reservation is not particularly limited. The process of terminating a reservation preferably includes a process of associating the reservation information corresponding to the usage end information received in step S6 with information on terminating the usage of the managed object M in the reservation time slot corresponding to the reservation information in the reservation table 221. This can prevent the repeated transmission of reservation information related to the managed object M in the reservation time slot whose usage has ended.

[0139] The process of ending the reservation preferably includes a process of transmitting information for ending the use of the reservation corresponding to the use end information received in step S6 to a control device 6 other than the control device 6 that transmitted the use end information in step S6. This can prevent the lock 3 from being unlocked using the two-dimensional code B corresponding to the reservation information whose use has been ended.

[0140] When the lock 3 includes a lock 3 that performs online control processing, which will be described later, the reservation processing preferably includes a large-volume reservation information transmission processing executed in step S8.

[0141] [Step S8: Large-volume reservation information transmission process] The management device control unit 21 executes the large-volume reservation information transmission unit 212 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22 and the management device communication unit 23, and performs large-volume reservation information transmission processing to transmit the large-volume reservation information generated in step S2 (step S8). The management device control unit 21 ends the reservation processing and moves the processing to step S1.

[0142] The large-volume reservation information transmission process executed in step S8 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0143] [Flowchart of large-volume reservation information transmission process] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the large-volume reservation information transmission process executed in step S8 of Fig. 4. Hereinafter, an example of a preferable flow of the large-volume reservation information transmission process executed in step S8 will be described with reference to Fig. 5.

[0144] [Step S11: Determine whether it is time to transmit large-volume reservation information] The management device control unit 21 executes the large-capacity reservation information transmission unit 212 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22 and management device communication unit 23, and performs processing to determine whether it is time to transmit large-capacity reservation information (step S11). If it is time to transmit large-capacity reservation information, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S12. If it is not time to transmit large-capacity reservation information, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to step S13.

[0145] There is no particular limitation on the method for determining whether it is time to transmit large-volume reservation information.

[0146] The method of determining whether it is the timing to send large-volume reservation information may be, for example, a method of determining that it is the timing to send large-volume reservation information when an interval of more than a specified time has elapsed since the timing immediately before the large-volume reservation information was sent in step S12, or a method of determining that it is the timing to send large-volume reservation information when the control device 6 is instructed to send large-volume reservation information.

[0147] The specified time is not particularly limited. The lower limit of the specified time is preferably 0.5 hours or more, and more preferably 1 hour or more. By setting the lower limit of the specified time as described above, the reservation management device 2 can transmit large amounts of reservation information less frequently than if large amounts of reservation information were transmitted each time a reservation was made. Therefore, the control system S can reduce the risk of large amounts of reservation information being intercepted and used fraudulently, even in places where communication confidentiality is restricted. Furthermore, by reducing the frequency with which large amounts of reservation information are transmitted, the control device 6 can reduce the increase in power consumption required for long-distance communication.

[0148] The upper limit of the specified time is preferably 168 hours or less, more preferably 72 hours or less, and more preferably 24 hours or less. By setting the upper limit of the specified time as described above, it is possible to reduce the frequency with which the control device 6 does not receive large-volume reservation information for a reserved time slot that includes the current time.

[0149] [Step S12: Send large-volume reservation information] The management device control unit 21 executes the large-capacity reservation information transmission unit 212 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22 and the management device communication unit 23, and performs processing to transmit large-capacity reservation information collectively to the control device 6 (step S12). The management device control unit 21 moves the processing to step S13.

[0150] The process of collectively transmitting large amounts of reservation information to the control device 6 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a process including a process of collectively transmitting unsent reservation information. When the process of collectively transmitting large amounts of reservation information to the control device 6 includes a process of collectively transmitting unsent reservation information, the process of step S12 preferably includes a process of associating information indicating that the large amount of reservation information transmitted in step S12 has been transmitted with the reservation information corresponding to the large amount of reservation information transmitted in step S12, among the reservation information stored in the reservation table 221. This allows the reservation management device 2 to determine in step S12 whether the reservation information has not been transmitted, using the reservation information stored in the reservation table 221.

[0151] The process of transmitting large-volume reservation information to the control device 6 in a lump preferably includes a process of notifying the control device 6 that all of the large-volume reservation information to be transmitted has been transmitted when all of the large-volume reservation information to be transmitted in a lump has been transmitted. This allows the control device 6 to terminate its connection with the network N when it has received all of the large-volume reservation information to be transmitted, thereby reducing the power consumption consumed by connecting to the network N.

[0152] [Step S13: Determine whether a command to transmit specific large-volume reservation information has been issued] The management device control unit 21 executes the large-capacity reservation information transmission unit 212 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22 and the management device communication unit 23, and performs processing to determine whether a command to transmit specific large-capacity reservation information has been issued (step S13). If a command to transmit specific large-capacity reservation information has been issued, the management device control unit 21 proceeds to processing at step S14. If a command to transmit specific large-capacity reservation information has not been issued, the management device control unit 21 ends the reservation processing and proceeds to processing at step S1.

[0153] [Step S14: Transmit specific large-volume reservation information] The management device control unit 21 executes the large-capacity reservation information transmission unit 212 in cooperation with the management device storage unit 22 and the management device communication unit 23, and performs processing to transmit the specific large-capacity reservation information to the user terminal 1 that instructed the transmission of the specific large-capacity information in step S13 (step S14). The management device control unit 21 ends the reservation processing and moves the processing to step S1.

[0154] By performing the large-volume reservation information transmission process of steps S11-S14, the reservation management device 2 transmits large-volume reservation information collectively at intervals of at least the specified time. This allows the reservation management device 2 to transmit large-volume reservation information less frequently than if large-volume reservation information were transmitted each time a reservation was made. Therefore, the control system S can reduce the risk that large-volume reservation information will be intercepted and used fraudulently, even in places where communication confidentiality is restricted. Furthermore, by reducing the frequency with which large-volume reservation information is transmitted, the control device 6 can reduce the increase in power consumption required for long-distance communication.

[0155] By performing the large-capacity reservation information transmission process of steps S11-S14, when the corresponding large-capacity reservation information is not included in the received large-capacity reservation information, the control device 6 can receive specific large-capacity reservation information equivalent to the corresponding large-capacity reservation information from the reservation management device 2. Therefore, the control system S can simultaneously reduce the risk of interception and power consumption caused by the control device 6 transmitting reservation information one by one each time a reservation is made, and enable the control device 6 on the lock 3 side to reliably receive the corresponding large-capacity reservation information that corresponds to the small-capacity information after decryption, thereby enabling the validity of the reserved time slot to be quickly determined.

[0156] [Main flowchart of control processing executed by the control device 6] 6 is a main flowchart showing an example of the control processing executed by the control device 6. Hereinafter, an example of a preferable flow of the control processing executed by the control device 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0157] [Step S41: Determine whether to perform offline operation] The control device control unit 61 executes the operation determination unit 611 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the operation designation unit 66, and performs processing to determine whether to perform offline operation (step S41). If offline operation is to be performed, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S42. If offline operation is not to be performed, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S43.

[0158] The process of determining whether to perform offline operation is not particularly limited. The process of determining whether to perform offline operation preferably includes a process of determining to perform offline operation when the operation designation unit 66 designates an operation to perform offline control processing and / or a process of determining not to perform offline operation when the operation designation unit 66 designates an operation to perform online control processing. This allows the administrator who manages the control device 6 to designate the operation of the control device 6 using the operation designation unit 66.

[0159] [Step S42: Offline control processing] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62, control device communication unit 63, and / or timer unit 64 as necessary to execute the reading unit 613, decryption unit 614, discrimination unit 615, unlock command unit 616, time setting unit 617, etc., and performs offline control processing to control the lock device 4 without communicating with the outside (step S42). The control device control unit 61 ends the control processing and moves the processing to step S41.

[0160] The offline control process executed in step S42 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0161] [Step S43: Determine whether to perform an operation to end use] The control device control unit 61 executes the operation determination unit 611 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the operation designation unit 66 to determine whether to perform a usage termination operation (step S43). If a usage termination operation is to be performed, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S44. If a usage termination operation is not to be performed, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S45.

[0162] [Step S44: End of Use Processing] The control device control unit 61 executes the usage termination information transmission unit 618 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62, the control device communication unit 63, and / or the timer unit 64 as necessary, and performs usage termination processing to terminate the usage of the reserved managed object M (step S44). The control device control unit 61 ends the control processing and moves the processing to step S41.

[0163] The usage termination process executed in step S44 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0164] [Step S45: Online control processing] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62, control device communication unit 63, and / or timer unit 64 as necessary to execute the large-capacity reservation information receiving unit 612, reading unit 613, decoding unit 614, discrimination unit 615, unlock command unit 616, etc., and performs online control processing to control the lock device 4 (step S45). The control device control unit 61 ends the control processing and moves the processing to step S41.

[0165] The online control process executed in step S45 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0166] Although not an essential aspect, the control processing preferably includes a sleep processing that enters a sleep state in which no control processing is performed when the current time is included in the sleep time zone stored in the control device storage unit 62, and a sleep cancellation processing that cancels the sleep state in which no control processing is performed when the current time is not included in the sleep time zone stored in the control device storage unit 62. By including these processes in the control processing, it is possible to perform the control processing during the time zone in which the control system S is used and further reduce the power consumption of the control device 6, for example, by including part or all of the time zone in which the control system S is not used in the sleep time zone.

[0167] [Flowchart of Offline Control Processing] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the offline control process executed in step S42 of Fig. 6. Hereinafter, an example of a preferable flow of the offline control process executed in step S42 will be described with reference to Fig. 7.

[0168] If the reading device 5 has a detection unit, the offline control process preferably includes a readability determination process in step S51.

[0169] [Step S51: Determine whether the two-dimensional code can be read] The control device control unit 61 executes the reading unit 613 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to determine whether the two-dimensional code can be read (step S51). If the two-dimensional code can be read, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S52. If the two-dimensional code cannot be read, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S51.

[0170] The method for determining whether the two-dimensional code can be read is not particularly limited, and for example, it may be a method for determining that the two-dimensional code can be read when the detection unit of the reading device 5 detects that two-dimensional code B, user terminal 1, and / or a user using user terminal 1 are present in the vicinity of the reading device 5.

[0171] If the detection unit of the reading device 5 is a detection unit that includes a motion identification sensor, the method of determining whether the two-dimensional code can be read preferably includes a method of determining that the two-dimensional code can be read when the detection unit detects the movement of the person who made the reservation presenting two-dimensional code B to the reading device 5. This makes it possible to both reduce power consumption by not reading when the person who made the reservation is simply near the reading device 5 but does not present two-dimensional code B, and to read two-dimensional code B when the person who made the reservation presents it to the reading device 5.

[0172] By including the readability determination process in step S51 in the offline control process, it is possible to prevent the reading device 5 from attempting to read the two-dimensional code when the two-dimensional code cannot be read, which would increase power consumption.

[0173] [Step S52: Read the two-dimensional code] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the reading unit 613, and performs processing to read the two-dimensional code B using the reading device 5 (step S52). The control device control unit 61 moves the processing to step S53.

[0174] If two-dimensional code B includes encrypted reservation information encrypted with private key 222 and / or reservation time zone information encrypted with private key 222, it is preferable that the offline control process includes reservation information decryption processing in step S53.

[0175] [Step S53: Decrypt reservation information] The control device control unit 61 executes the decryption unit 614 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62, and performs a process of decrypting the information contained in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52, which information is encrypted with the private key 222, using the public key 622 (step S53). The control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S54.

[0176] If the reservation time slot information contained in the offline reservation information included in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 is encrypted with the private key 222, the process of decrypting the information encrypted with the private key 222 in step S53 preferably includes a process of decrypting the encrypted reservation time slot information to obtain decrypted reservation time slot information. This allows the control device 6 to use the decrypted reservation time slot information to determine whether the current time falls within the reservation time slot.

[0177] If the offline reservation information contained in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 is encrypted reservation information encrypted with the private key 222, the process of decrypting the information encrypted with the private key 222 in step S53 preferably includes a process of decrypting the encrypted reservation information to obtain decrypted reservation information. This allows the control device 6 to use the decrypted reservation information to determine whether the current time falls within the reserved time slot.

[0178] When the reservation process executed by the reservation management device 2 includes a two-dimensional code issuing process capable of issuing a two-dimensional code with an issued time, the offline control process preferably includes a time adjustment process from step S54 to step S56.

[0179] [Step S54: Determine whether two-dimensional code B contains issuance time information] The control device control unit 61 executes the time setting unit 617 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the timer unit 64, and performs processing to determine whether the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 contains issue time information (step S54). If the two-dimensional code B contains issue time information, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S55. If the two-dimensional code B does not contain issue time information, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S57.

[0180] [Step S55: Determine whether the elapsed time is less than or equal to a predetermined time] The control device control unit 61, in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the timer unit 64, executes the time setting unit 617 and performs a process of determining whether the time elapsed since the issue time indicated by the issue time information included in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 is less than a predetermined time (step S55). If it is less than the predetermined time, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S56. If it is not less than the predetermined time, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S57.

[0181] The lower limit of the predetermined time is not particularly limited. The lower limit of the predetermined time is preferably 0.5 minutes or more, and more preferably 1 minute or more. By setting the lower limit of the predetermined time as described above, the control device 6 can increase the opportunities to set the time.

[0182] The upper limit of the predetermined time is not particularly limited. The upper limit of the predetermined time is preferably 3 minutes or less, more preferably 2 minutes or less, and even more preferably 1 minute or less. By setting the upper limit of the predetermined time as described above, the control device 6 can prevent the difference between the current time measured by the timer unit 64 and the current time in standard time from increasing due to time adjustment.

[0183] [Step S56: Set the time] The control device control unit 61 executes the time setting unit 617 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the timer unit 64, and performs processing to set the time of the timer unit 64 using the issue time indicated by the issue time information included in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 (step S56). The control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S57.

[0184] The process of adjusting the time on the timer unit 64 using the issue time indicated by the issue time information is not particularly limited. The process of adjusting the time on the timer unit 64 using the issue time indicated by the issue time information preferably includes adjusting the current time indicated by the timer unit 64 to the issue time plus a specific time. By adjusting the time to the issue time plus a specific time, the time can be adjusted taking into account the time from when the two-dimensional code B is issued until the reader 5 reads the two-dimensional code B.

[0185] The lower limit of the specific time is not particularly limited. The lower limit of the specific time is preferably 5 seconds or more, and more preferably 10 seconds or more. By setting the lower limit of the specific time as described above, the control device 6 can prevent the time measured by the timer unit 64 from being delayed.

[0186] The upper limit of the specific time is not particularly limited. The upper limit of the specific time is preferably 30 seconds or less, more preferably 20 seconds or less, and even more preferably 10 seconds or less. By setting the upper limit of the specific time as described above, the control device 6 can prevent the time measured by the timer unit 64 from being too fast.

[0187] The process of adjusting the time on the timer unit 64 using the issue time indicated by the issue time information preferably stores the two-dimensional code B used to adjust the time, and does not adjust the time again using the two-dimensional code B that has already been used to adjust the time. This can prevent the time measured by the timer unit 64 from being delayed due to adjustment again.

[0188] The timer unit 64 can continue to keep accurate timekeeping by adjusting the time based on the accurate current time provided from an external source. However, in places where communication means and / or power supply are limited, it may be difficult to use external means that provide the accurate current time, such as a public NTP (Network Time Protocol) service. If the timer unit 64 keeps inaccurate time due to an inability to adjust the time, there is a risk that the lock will not be controlled according to the reservation.

[0189] Since the offline control process includes the time setting process from step S54 to step S56, the control device 6 can set the time in the timer unit 64 using the issue time indicated by the issue time information included in the two-dimensional code B issued when a request signal is sent from the user terminal 1 (when the user terminal 1 requests the issuance of a two-dimensional code). This allows the control device 6 to set the time in the timer unit 64 and continue to provide control of the lock 3 according to the reservation even in a location where an external means for providing time setting is not available.

[0190] Since the offline control processing includes the time adjustment processing of steps S54 to S56, the time is adjusted when the time elapsed from the issue time to the current time measured by the timer unit 64 is less than a predetermined time, so the control device 6 can adjust the time when the time elapsed from the issue time is short and the issue time can be considered to be substantially the accurate current time.

[0191] [Step S57: Determine whether it corresponds to the reserved time slot] The control device control unit 61 executes the determination unit 615 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the timer unit 64, and performs processing to determine whether the current time measured by the timer unit 64 corresponds to the reserved time slot included in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 (step S57). If it corresponds to the reserved time slot, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to processing in step S58. If it does not correspond to the reserved time slot, the control device control unit 61 ends the offline control processing and proceeds to processing in step S41.

[0192] [Step S58: Command to unlock] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the unlock command unit 616, and performs processing to command the lock device 4 corresponding to the reservation information included in the two-dimensional code B read in step S52 to unlock (step S58). The control device control unit 61 ends the offline control processing, and proceeds to step S41.

[0193] Since the offline control process includes the processes of steps S57 to S58, the control device 6 can determine whether the reservation time slot recorded in the reservation information included in the two-dimensional code B falls within the reservation time slot recorded in the reservation information included in the two-dimensional code B without communicating with the outside by referring to the built-in timer unit 64. This allows the control device 6 to unlock the lock device 4 offline without communicating with the outside.

[0194] Therefore, even in places where communication means are limited, the lock 3 can realize the rental of a room equipped with an electric and / or electronic lock 3 with almost unattended management. Furthermore, the lock 3 can reduce its power consumption because the discrimination unit 615 does not communicate with the outside. Therefore, the control device 6 can control the lock 3 even in places where the power supply is limited.

[0195] [Online control processing flowchart] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the online control process executed in step S45 of Fig. 6. Below, an example of a preferable flow of the online control process executed in step S45 will be described with reference to Fig. 7.

[0196] [Step S61: Determine whether the two-dimensional code can be read] The control device control unit 61 executes the reading unit 613 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to determine whether the two-dimensional code B can be read (step S61). If the two-dimensional code B can be read, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S62. If the two-dimensional code B cannot be read, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S69.

[0197] The method for determining whether two-dimensional code B can be read is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a method in which it is determined that two-dimensional code B can be read when the detection unit of reading device 5 detects that two-dimensional code B, user terminal 1, and / or a user using user terminal 1 are present in the vicinity of reading device 5.

[0198] If the detection unit of the reading device 5 is a detection unit that includes a motion identification sensor, the method of determining whether two-dimensional code B can be read preferably includes a method of determining that two-dimensional code B can be read when the detection unit detects the movement of the reservation holder who has made the reservation presenting two-dimensional code B to the reading device 5. This makes it possible to both reduce power consumption by not reading when the reservation holder is simply near the reading device 5 but has not presented two-dimensional code B, and to read two-dimensional code B when the reservation holder presents it to the reading device 5.

[0199] By including the readability determination process in step S61 in the online control process, it is possible to prevent the reader 5 from attempting to read two-dimensional code B when it is not possible to read the two-dimensional code, which would increase power consumption.

[0200] [Step S62: Read the two-dimensional code] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the reading unit 613, and performs processing to read the two-dimensional code B using the reading device 5 (step S62). The control device control unit 61 moves the processing to step S63.

[0201] If the control device 6 includes an input unit, the process of reading the two-dimensional code B in steps S61 to S62 preferably includes a process of acquiring information corresponding to the encrypted small-volume information included in the two-dimensional code B when the information is input via the input unit. This makes it possible to realize hybrid control in which the lock 3 is controlled not only by the two-dimensional code but also by input from the reserver.

[0202] When the two-dimensional code B includes encrypted small-volume information encrypted with the private key 222, the online control process preferably includes encrypted small-volume information decryption processing in step S63.

[0203] [Step S63: Decrypt the encrypted small-volume information] The control device control unit 61 executes the decryption unit 614 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62, and performs processing to decrypt the encrypted small-capacity information included in the two-dimensional code B read in step S62 using the public key 622 and obtain the decrypted small-capacity information (step S63). The control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S64.

[0204] [Step S64: Determine whether specific large-capacity information is being received] The control device control unit 61 executes the determination unit 615 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62, and performs processing to determine whether specific large capacity information (corresponding large capacity reservation information) corresponding to the decoded small capacity information obtained in step S63 has been received, using the large capacity reservation information table 621 (step S64). If specific large capacity information has been received, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to processing at step S67. If specific large capacity information has not been received, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to processing at step S65.

[0205] The process of using the large-capacity reservation information table 621 to determine whether specific large-capacity information (corresponding large-capacity reservation information) corresponding to the decoded small-capacity information obtained in step S63 has been received is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a process of determining that corresponding large-capacity information has been received if large-capacity reservation information corresponding to identification information included in the decoded small-capacity information can be obtained from the large-capacity reservation information table 621.

[0206] [Step S65: Command to transmit specific large-volume information] The control device control unit 61 executes the large-capacity reservation information receiving unit 612 in cooperation with the control device memory unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to instruct the reservation management device 2 to transmit specific large-capacity information (corresponding large-capacity reservation information) corresponding to the decoded small-capacity information obtained in step S63 (step S65).The control device control unit 61 then transfers processing to step S66.

[0207] [Step S66: Receive specific large-volume information] The control device control unit 61 executes the large-capacity reservation information receiving unit 612 in cooperation with the control device memory unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to receive the specific large-capacity information (corresponding large-capacity reservation information) that was instructed to be sent in step S65 (step S66).The control device control unit 61 then transfers processing to step S67.

[0208] [Step S67: Determine whether it corresponds to the reserved time slot] The control device control unit 61 executes the determination unit 615 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the timer unit 64, and performs processing to determine whether the current time measured by the timer unit 64 corresponds to the reserved time slot included in the specific large-capacity information (corresponding large-capacity reservation information) (step S67). If it corresponds to the reserved time slot, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S68. If it does not correspond to the reserved time slot, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S69.

[0209] [Step S68: Command to unlock] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the unlock command unit 616, and performs processing to command the lock device 4 corresponding to the specific large-capacity information (corresponding large-capacity reservation information) to unlock (step S68). The control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S69.

[0210] Although not essential, the process of issuing an unlock command in step S68 is preferably a process of issuing an unlock command to the lock device 4 when the specific large-volume information is not associated with information for ending a reservation in the large-volume reservation information table 621. This allows the control device 6 to issue an unlock command to the lock device 4 only for reservations that have not yet ended.

[0211] Since the online control process includes the processes of steps S64 to S68, when the corresponding large-capacity reservation information is not included in the received large-capacity reservation information, the control device 6 can receive specific large-capacity reservation information equivalent to the corresponding large-capacity reservation information from the reservation management device 2. Therefore, the control system S can simultaneously reduce the risk of interception and power consumption caused by the control device 6 transmitting reservation information one by one each time a reservation is made, and enable the control device 6 on the lock 3 side to reliably receive the corresponding large-capacity reservation information that corresponds to the small-capacity information after decryption, thereby enabling the validity of the reserved time slot to be quickly determined.

[0212] In the common key method, if the key (common key) used for decryption is not secret, forged small-volume information that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked outside the reserved time slot reserved by the user can be encrypted using the common key. This can generate a forged two-dimensional code that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked outside the reserved time slot reserved by the user.

[0213] By including the processing of step S63 in the online control processing, the control system S can prevent the generation of a counterfeit two-dimensional code that allows the lock device 4 to be unlocked at times other than the reserved time period reserved by the user, even if the key (public key) used for decryption is not secret.

[0214] However, it is known that while the public encryption key system has higher encryption strength than the common key system, the load on the encryption and decryption processes is greater than that of the common key system. As a result, when using the public encryption key system, the power consumption of the control device 6 may be higher than that of the common key system.

[0215] Since the online control process includes steps S63 to S68, the control device 6 can decrypt the encrypted small-capacity information using the decryption unit 614 and determine whether the current time falls within the reserved time slot using the corresponding large-capacity reservation information that corresponds to the decrypted small-capacity information. This allows the control device 6 to limit the information to be decrypted to the encrypted small-capacity information, thereby reducing the load on the decryption process of the public encryption key method and preventing the generation of counterfeit two-dimensional codes.

[0216] [Step S69: Large-volume reservation information reception process] The control device control unit 61 executes the large-volume reservation information receiving unit 612 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and / or the control device communication unit 63 as necessary, and performs large-volume reservation information receiving processing to receive large-volume reservation information (step S69). The control device control unit 61 ends the online control processing, and proceeds to step S41.

[0217] The large-volume reservation information receiving process executed in step S69 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0218] [Flowchart of large-volume reservation information reception processing] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the large-volume reservation information reception process executed in step S69 of Fig. 8. Hereinafter, an example of a preferable flow of the large-volume reservation information reception process executed in step S69 will be described with reference to Fig. 9.

[0219] [Step S71: Determine if it is time to receive large-volume reservation information] (No → Return) The control device control unit 61 executes the large-volume reservation information receiving unit 612 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to determine whether it is time to receive large-volume reservation information (step S71). If it is time to receive large-volume reservation information, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S72. If it is not time to transmit large-volume reservation information, the control device control unit 61 ends the large-volume reservation information receiving processing and proceeds to step S41.

[0220] There is no particular limitation on the method for determining whether it is time to receive large-volume reservation information.

[0221] A method for determining whether it is the time to receive large-volume reservation information may be, for example, a method for determining that it is the time to receive large-volume reservation information if the timing is equal to or longer than a specified time from the timing immediately before the start of receiving large-volume reservation information in step S72.

[0222] The specified time is not particularly limited. The lower limit of the specified time is preferably 0.5 hours or more, and more preferably 1 hour or more. By setting the lower limit of the specified time as described above, the control device 6 can receive large-volume reservation information less frequently than if large-volume reservation information were received each time a reservation was made. Therefore, the control system S can reduce the risk of large-volume reservation information being intercepted and used fraudulently, even in places where communication confidentiality is restricted. Furthermore, by reducing the frequency with which large-volume reservation information is received, the control device 6 can reduce the increase in power consumption required for long-distance communication.

[0223] The upper limit of the specified time is preferably 168 hours or less, more preferably 72 hours or less, and more preferably 24 hours or less. By setting the upper limit of the specified time as described above, it is possible to reduce the frequency with which the control device 6 does not receive large-volume reservation information for a reserved time slot that includes the current time.

[0224] The method for determining whether it is the right time to receive large-volume reservation information preferably includes a method for determining whether it is the right time to receive large-volume reservation information if it is one or more specified dates and times that are specified at intervals of at least a specified time. The one or more specified dates and times are not particularly limited, and may be, for example, dates and times that specify 6:00, 12:00, and 18:00 every day. This makes it possible to determine whether it is the right time to receive large-volume reservation information without having to remember the timing when the last large-volume reservation information was received.

[0225] The method for determining whether it is the right time to receive large-volume reservation information preferably includes a method for determining whether it is the right time to receive large-volume reservation information during a time period other than the designated time period, which can prevent attempts at long-distance communication during times when large-volume reservation information cannot be received, such as when maintenance is being performed on the reservation management device 2.

[0226] [Step S72: Start receiving large-volume reservation information] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and / or the control device communication unit 63 to execute the large-volume reservation information receiving unit 612, and performs processing to start receiving large-volume reservation information (step S72). The control device control unit 61 then proceeds to step S73.

[0227] The process of starting to receive the large-volume reservation information preferably includes a process of connecting the control device 6 to the network N. This allows the control device 6 to communicate with the reservation management device 2 via the network N while receiving the large-volume reservation information.

[0228] The process of starting reception of large-volume reservation information preferably includes a process of requesting transmission of large-volume reservation information from the reservation management device 2. This further reduces the time difference between when the control device 6 starts receiving large-volume reservation information and when the reservation management device 2 starts transmitting the large-volume reservation information. This prevents the control device 6 from being connected to the network N during the aforementioned time difference, reducing the increase in power consumption required for long-distance communication.

[0229] [Step S73: Determine whether all large-volume reservation information has been received] The control device control unit 61 executes the large-volume reservation information receiving unit 612 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to determine whether all large-volume reservation information has been received (step S73). If all large-volume reservation information has been received, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S76. If all large-volume reservation information has not been received, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S74.

[0230] The process of determining whether all large-volume reservation information has been received is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a process of determining that all large-volume reservation information has been received when information notifying that all large-volume reservation information has been received from the reservation management device 2.

[0231] [Step S74: Determine whether large-volume reservation information has been received] The control device control unit 61 executes the large-capacity reservation information receiving unit 612 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to determine whether large-capacity reservation information has been received (step S74). If large-capacity reservation information has been received, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S75. If large-capacity reservation information has not been received, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S73.

[0232] [Step S75: Store large volume reservation information] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the large-volume reservation information receiving unit 612, and performs processing to store the large-volume reservation information received in step S74 (step S75). The control device control unit 61 then proceeds to step S73.

[0233] [Step S76: End of reception of large-volume reservation information] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the large-volume reservation information receiving unit 612, and performs processing to end reception of large-volume reservation information (step S76). The control device control unit 61 ends the large-volume reservation information receiving processing, and proceeds to step S44.

[0234] When connected to the network N, the control device 6 consumes power for processes such as determining whether data has been received via the network N. In particular, when the control device communication unit 63 is connected to a network N that includes a wireless network, such power consumption increases compared to when the control device communication unit 63 is connected to a network N that includes only a wired network.

[0235] The process of terminating reception of large-volume reservation information preferably includes a process of terminating the connection between the control device 6 and the network N. This allows the control device 6 to reduce the power consumption consumed by connecting to the network N at a timing when large-volume reservation information is not being received.

[0236] By performing the large-volume reservation information reception process, the control device 6 can receive one or more large-volume reservation information pieces that are transmitted collectively at intervals of at least a specified time. This allows the control device 6 to receive large-volume reservation information pieces when communication is stable, even in a location where communication stability is limited.

[0237] By performing the large-volume reservation information reception process, the control device 6 can receive large-volume reservation information less frequently than if large-volume reservation information were transmitted each time a reservation was made. Therefore, the control system S can reduce the risk of large-volume reservation information being intercepted and used fraudulently, even in places where confidentiality of communications is restricted. Furthermore, by reducing the frequency with which large-volume reservation information is received, the control device 6 can reduce the increase in power consumption required for long-distance communications.

[0238] By performing the large-capacity reservation information reception process, when the corresponding large-capacity reservation information is not included in the received large-capacity reservation information, the control device 6 can receive specific large-capacity reservation information equivalent to the corresponding large-capacity reservation information from the reservation management device 2. Therefore, the control system S can simultaneously reduce the risk of interception and power consumption caused by the control device 6 transmitting reservation information one by one each time a reservation is made, and enable the control device 6 to reliably receive the corresponding large-capacity reservation information that corresponds to the small-capacity information after decryption, thereby enabling the control device 6 to quickly determine the validity of the reserved time slot.

[0239] [Flowchart of usage termination process] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the usage termination process executed in step S44 in Fig. 6. Below, an example of a preferable flow of the usage termination process executed in step S44 will be described with reference to Fig. 10.

[0240] [Step S81: Determine whether the two-dimensional code can be read] The control device control unit 61 executes the usage end information transmission unit 618 in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, and performs processing to determine whether the two-dimensional code related to the usage end of the managed object M can be read (step S81). If it can be read, the control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S52. If it cannot be read, the control device control unit 61 ends the usage end processing and proceeds to step S41.

[0241] When the reading device 5 includes a usage termination reading device that reads the two-dimensional code B that terminates the use of the managed object M, the process of determining whether the two-dimensional code B can be read in step S81 preferably includes a process of determining that the two-dimensional code B can be read if the usage termination reading device can read the two-dimensional code B. This allows the reserving person who made the reservation to terminate the use of the reserved managed object M by having the usage termination reading device read the two-dimensional code B.

[0242] [Step S82: Read the two-dimensional code] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the usage end information transmission unit 618, and performs processing to read the two-dimensional code B using the reading device 5 (step S82). The control device control unit 61 moves the processing to step S83.

[0243] [Step S83: End reservation] The control device control unit 61 cooperates with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63 to execute the usage end information transmission unit 618, and performs processing to end the reservation corresponding to the two-dimensional code B read in step S82 (step S83). The control device control unit 61 proceeds to step S84.

[0244] The process for terminating a reservation is not particularly limited. The process for terminating a reservation preferably includes a process for associating information for terminating a reservation with the large-volume reservation information stored in the large-volume reservation information table 621 and corresponding to the two-dimensional code B read in step S82. This allows the control device 6 to control the lock device 4 to be in an unlocked state when the two-dimensional code B corresponding to the large-volume reservation information that is not associated with information for terminating a reservation is read.

[0245] [Step S84: Send usage termination information] The control device control unit 61, in cooperation with the control device storage unit 62 and the control device communication unit 63, executes the usage end information sending unit 618, and performs processing to send usage end information regarding the end of usage during the reserved time slot of the managed object M corresponding to the two-dimensional code B read in step S82 to the reservation management device 2 (step S84). The control device control unit 61 ends the usage end processing, and proceeds to step S41.

[0246] By the control device 6 executing the usage termination process, the reserving person who reserved the managed object M can terminate the use of the managed object M without waiting for the end date and time of the reserved time slot. This allows the administrator who manages the managed object M to allow another reserving person to use the managed object M without waiting for the end date and time of the reserved time slot.

[0247] <<Examples of using the Control System S>> Next, an example of how the control system S of this embodiment is used will be described.

[0248] <Adding Lock 3 to Managed Object M> 11 is a diagram showing an example of retrofitting a lock 3 to a management target M. An administrator who manages the management target M (a room to be rented out) installs a lock device 4 that can control entry and exit to the management target M in the management target M. Then, the administrator retrofits a reading device 5 and a control device 6 around the management target M to configure the lock 3.

[0249] 11, the control device 6, which is attached to the outside of the managed object M, is electrically connected to the lock device 4 provided inside the managed object M by short-range wireless communication performed by the control device communication unit 63. Since the control device 6 can be electrically connected to the lock device 4 by short-range wireless communication, the administrator can configure the lock 3 without providing the lock device 4 outside the managed object M. This allows the administrator to prevent the lock device 4 from being destroyed by a person outside the managed object M.

[0250] 11, the control device 6 includes a control device power supply unit 65 (a power supply unit capable of supplying power from a battery). This allows the administrator to manage the use of the managed object M using the lock 3 even when the supply of power is limited in the vicinity of the managed object M. In addition, the administrator can maintain the control device power supply unit 65 by the relatively simple procedure of replacing the battery.

[0251] <Lending of managed object M managed by lock 3 with offline control> Next, the lending of the managed object M managed by the lock 3 that performs offline control without communicating with the outside will be explained.

[0252] [Reserve use of managed M] A reserving user who reserves the use of a managed object M requests the reservation management device 2 to reserve the use of the managed object M during a reserved time period via a user terminal 1. The reservation management device 2 generates large-capacity reservation information (reservation information) including information that can identify the reserved time period and the managed object M.

[0253] [Issue a two-dimensional code] The reservation management device 2 transmits to the user terminal 1 offline two-dimensional code display information capable of displaying a two-dimensional code B for offline control, which includes encrypted reservation information obtained by encrypting reservation information including information capable of identifying the reservation time slot and the management target M with a private key 222. The user terminal 1 receives the offline two-dimensional code display information.

[0254] [Reading two-dimensional codes] The reservation person uses the offline two-dimensional code display information to display the two-dimensional code B for offline control on the user terminal 1, and has the displayed two-dimensional code B for offline control read by the reading device 5 of the lock 3 installed in the vicinity of the managed object M. The reading device 5, which is equipped with a motion identification sensor, detects the movement of the reservation person to read the two-dimensional code B, and reads the two-dimensional code B.

[0255] [Determine whether it is within the reserved time slot] The control device 6 decrypts the encrypted reservation information with the public key 622 to obtain the decrypted reservation information. The control device 6 determines whether the current time measured by the timer unit 64 is included in the reservation time slot included in the decrypted reservation information, without communicating with the outside.

[0256] [Controlling the locking device 4 to the unlocked state] If the current time is included in the reserved time period, the control device 6 controls the lock device 4, which can control entry and exit to the managed object M, to an unlocked state. This allows the person who made the reservation to use the managed object M during the reserved time period.

[0257] [Keep the locking device 4 in the locked state] If the current time is not included in the reserved time period, the control device 6 keeps the lock device 4, which can control entry and exit to the managed object M, in a locked state. This prevents the person who made the reservation from using the managed object M outside the reserved time period.

[0258] <Time setting for Lock 3, which performs offline control> The following describes how to set the time for the lock 3, which is controlled offline and does not communicate with the outside world.

[0259] [Issuing a two-dimensional code with the time of generation] A reserving person requests the reservation management device 2 to issue a two-dimensional code B via a user terminal 1 in the vicinity of the managed object M. The reservation management device 2 transmits to the user terminal 1 generated time-attached offline two-dimensional code display information capable of displaying a generated time-attached two-dimensional code B for offline control, which includes encrypted generated time-attached reservation information obtained by encrypting generated time-attached reservation information including generation time information when the two-dimensional code B was generated, reservation time slot, and information capable of identifying the managed object M, with a private key 222. The user terminal 1 receives the generated time-attached two-dimensional code display information.

[0260] [Reading two-dimensional codes] The reservation person uses the offline two-dimensional code display information to display the two-dimensional code B for offline control on the user terminal 1, and has the displayed two-dimensional code B for offline control read by the reading device 5 of the lock 3 installed in the vicinity of the managed object M. The reading device 5, which is equipped with a motion identification sensor, detects the movement of the reservation person to read the two-dimensional code B, and reads the two-dimensional code B.

[0261] [Time setting] The control device 6 determines whether the time elapsed from the generation time corresponding to the generation time information to the current time measured by the timer unit 64 is less than or equal to a predetermined time. If it is less than or equal to the predetermined time, the control device 6 sets the current time to a time obtained by adding a specific time to the generation time. This allows the control device 6 to set the time on the timer unit 64 without using an external means for providing the time used for time setting via the network N.

[0262] <Lending of managed object M managed by lock 3 that performs online control> The lending of the managed object M managed by the lock 3 that performs online control and communicates with the reservation management device 2 will be described.

[0263] [Reserve use of managed M] A reserving user who reserves the use of a managed object M requests the reservation management device 2 to reserve the use of the managed object M during a reserved time period via a user terminal 1. The reservation management device 2 generates large-capacity reservation information (reservation information) including information that can identify the reserved time period and the managed object M.

[0264] [Issue a two-dimensional code] The reservation management device 2 transmits to the user terminal 1 online two-dimensional code display information capable of displaying a two-dimensional code B for online control, which includes identification information corresponding to the large-capacity reservation information and encrypted small-capacity information obtained by encrypting small-capacity information not including the reservation time slot with the private key 222. The user terminal 1 receives the online two-dimensional code display information.

[0265] [Sending large volume reservation information] The reservation management device 2 collectively transmits one or more large-volume reservation information items that can identify the reservation time slot, identification information, and management target M at intervals of at least a specified time. The control device 6 receives the one or more large-volume reservation information items that have been collectively transmitted.

[0266] [Reading two-dimensional codes] The reserving person uses the online two-dimensional code display information to display the two-dimensional code B for online control on the user terminal 1, and has the displayed two-dimensional code B for online control read by the reading device 5 of the lock 3 installed in the vicinity of the managed object M. The reading device 5, which is equipped with a motion identification sensor, detects the movement of the reserving person to read the two-dimensional code B, and reads the two-dimensional code B.

[0267] [Determine whether corresponding large-volume reservation information has been received] The control device 6 obtains the decrypted small-capacity information by decrypting the encrypted small-capacity information with the public key 622. The control device 6 determines whether or not it has received corresponding large-capacity reservation information that corresponds to the decrypted small-capacity information.

[0268] [Receive specific large-volume reservation information] If the corresponding large-volume reservation information has not been received, the control device 6 instructs the reservation management device 2 to transmit specific large-volume reservation information equivalent to the corresponding large-volume reservation information, and receives the specific large-volume reservation information.

[0269] [Determine whether it is within the reserved time slot] The control device 6 determines whether the current time falls within the reservation time slot included in the corresponding large-volume reservation information.

[0270] [Controlling the locking device 4 to the unlocked state] If the current time is included in the reserved time period, the control device 6 controls the lock device 4, which can control entry and exit to the managed object M, to an unlocked state. This allows the person who made the reservation to use the managed object M during the reserved time period.

[0271] [Keep the locking device 4 in the locked state] If the current time is not included in the reserved time period, the control device 6 keeps the lock device 4, which can control entry and exit to the managed object M, in a locked state. This prevents the person who made the reservation from using the managed object M outside the reserved time period.

[0272] <Ending the loan of managed item M managed by lock 3, which performs online control> The end of lending of the managed object M managed by the lock 3 that performs online control and communicates with the reservation management device 2 will be described.

[0273] [Reading two-dimensional codes] The reservation person uses the online two-dimensional code display information to display the two-dimensional code B for online control on the user terminal 1, and has the displayed two-dimensional code B for online control read by a usage termination reading device related to the end of use, among the reading devices 5 of the locks 3 installed around the managed object M. The usage termination reading device, which is equipped with a motion identification sensor, detects the movement of the reservation person that causes the two-dimensional code B to be read, and reads the two-dimensional code B.

[0274] [End of reservation] The control device 6 associates information indicating the end of use with the large-volume reservation information corresponding to the read two-dimensional code B. The control device 6 transmits usage end information regarding the end of the reservation corresponding to the read two-dimensional code B to the reservation management device 2. The reservation management device 2 receives the usage end information and associates the information indicating the end of use with the large-volume reservation information regarding the reservation. As a result, it becomes impossible to unlock the lock 3 using the two-dimensional code B even at a time that falls within the reserved time slot. The reservation management device 2 also terminates transmission of the large-volume reservation information regarding the reservation. [Example]

[0275] The present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. There is no.

[0276] <Construction of control system S according to examples and comparative examples> [Example 1] Control system S for lock 3 that operates offline First, a reservation management device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention was prepared. Then, a reading device 5 and a control device 6 were retrofitted to an electronic locking device 4 capable of managing the use of the managed object M and electrically connecting to the control device 6 via BLE to configure a lock 3 according to the embodiment. The lock 3 was specified to operate offline without communicating with the outside world, and to be in a sleep state in which no control processing is performed between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, thereby configuring a control system S of Example 1.

[0277] The reading device 5 and the control device 6 in Example 1 have an operating voltage of 3.3 [V]. The control device power supply unit 65 in this example is capable of converting power supplied by a battery with a nominal voltage of 5 [V] and a capacity of 2200 [mA] into an output voltage of 3.3 [V] with a conversion efficiency of 0.9 and supplying it to the reading device 5 and the control device 6.

[0278] [Example 2] Control system S for lock 3 that operates online The control system S of Example 2 was configured in the same manner as Example 1, except that the control device communication unit 63 specified that the lock 3, which is capable of connecting to a Wi-Fi network, should perform online operation to communicate with the outside world via the Wi-Fi network.

[0279] [Comparative Example] Control system for lock 3 that receives large volume reservation information one by one For comparison, a reservation management device 2 identical to that of Example 2 was prepared, and a lock 3 consisting of the same lock device 4, reading device 5, control device 6, and control device power supply unit 65 as in Example 2 was instructed to receive large amounts of reservation information one by one, thereby constructing a control system S for the comparative example.

[0280] <Exam Contents> [Current consumption] For each of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example, a commercially available ammeter was used to measure the standby state current consumption, which is the total current consumption by the reader 5 and the control device 6 in a standby state in which neither reading of two-dimensional code B, reception of large-volume reservation information, nor control of lock device 4 is performed; the reading current consumption by the reader 5 in a reading state in which the two-dimensional code is read; the receiving current consumption by the control device communication unit 63 in a receiving state in which large-volume reservation information is received; and the control current consumption by the control device communication unit 63 in a control state in which lock device 4 is controlled. The results are shown in Table 1. [Table 1]

[0281] [Operation test] A test was conducted in which the control systems S of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example were operated for one day from 6:00 to 6:00 the next day. In this test, the control systems S of Example 1 and Example 2 were in a sleep state from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM based on a specification regarding the sleep state. In this test, the control system S of Example 2 transmitted large-volume reservation information at 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM based on a specification of the timing for transmitting large-volume reservation information.

[0282] [Average operating time] For each reading state that occurred during the operational test, the reading time during which the reading state continued was measured, and the average reading time was calculated as the average of these.In addition, for each receiving state that occurred during the operational test, the receiving time during which the receiving state continued was measured, and the average receiving time was calculated as the average of these.In addition, for each control state that occurred during the operational test, the control time during which the control state continued was measured, and the average control time was calculated as the average of these.The results are shown in Table 2. [Table 2]

[0283] [Power consumption] During the one-day operation test, the power consumption of the lock 3 in the reading device 5 and the control device 6 was measured for each of Example 1, Example 2, and the comparative example. The results are shown in Table 3. [Table 3]

[0284] <Discussion and consideration of test results> The current consumption in the standby state, reading state, and control state was the same in Example 1, Example 2, and the comparative example. In addition, the average reading time and average control time were the same in Example 1, Example 2, and the comparative example.

[0285] Example 1, which does not communicate with the outside world and is not in a receiving state, consumed less power than Example 2 and the comparative example. Although Example 2, which does communicate with the outside world, and the comparative example had the same current consumption, average reading time, and average control time in the standby state, reading state, receiving state, and control state, there was a large difference in power consumption over the one day of testing. The difference in power consumption between Example 2 and the comparative example is thought to be due to the fact that Example 2 did not enter a receiving state, which occurred three times during the operation test, while the comparative example was in a receiving state at all times. It is also thought that Example 1 and Example 2 reduced power consumption by entering a sleep state during specified time periods.

[0286] As described above, the control device power supply unit 65 used in Example 1, Example 2, and the comparative example is a power supply unit that can convert the power supplied by a battery with a nominal voltage of 5 [V] and a capacity of 2200 [mA] into an output voltage of 3.3 [V] with a conversion efficiency of 0.9 and supply it to the reading device 5 and the control device 6.

[0287] Therefore, it is believed that the lock 3 of Example 1 can maintain the same control as during the test for 324 days (approximately 10 months) or more without changing the battery. Also, it is believed that the lock 3 of Example 2 can maintain the same control as during the test for 275 days (approximately 9 months) or more without changing the battery. On the other hand, it is believed that the lock 3 of the comparative example can only maintain the same control as during the test for about 9-10 days if the battery is not changed.

[0288] That is, the locks 3 of Examples 1 and 2 are expected to require battery replacement approximately 1-2 times per year, whereas the lock 3 of the comparative example is expected to require battery replacement approximately 36-41 times per year.

[0289] Therefore, both the lock 3 of Example 1, which performs offline control, and the lock 3 of Example 2, which performs online control, can reduce power consumption compared to the comparative example. Therefore, it was confirmed that the control systems S of Examples 1 and 2 can significantly reduce the frequency of maintenance of the power supply unit.

[0290] It should be noted that within the scope of the concept of the present invention, a person skilled in the art may conceive of various modifications and alterations, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, even if a person skilled in the art appropriately adds, deletes, or modifies the design of the above-described embodiment, or adds, omits, or modifies the conditions of a process, these modifications and alterations are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they maintain the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0291] S Control System 1. User terminal 2. Reservation management device 21 Management device control section 211 Large-capacity reservation information generation unit 212 Large-capacity reservation information transmission unit 213 2D Code Issuance Department 214 Usage termination information receiving unit 22 Management device storage section 221 Reserved Table 222 private key 23 Management device communication department 3 tablets 4 Locking device 5 Reading device 6. Control device 61 Control device control section 611 Motion discrimination unit 612 Large-capacity reservation information receiving unit 613 Reading unit 614 Decoding Unit 615 Discrimination part 616 Unlocking Command Center 617 Time setting section 618 Termination of Use Information Transmission Unit 62 Control device memory unit 621 Large-capacity reservation information table 622 Public Key 63 Control device communication unit 64 Timer section 65 Control device power supply unit 66 Operation specification section 67 Equipment Identification Mark B 2D code M Managed N Network

Claims

[Claim 1] a large-volume reservation information receiving unit capable of receiving large-volume reservation information including at least reservation time slot information and identification information relating to a reservation time slot reserved by a user from a cloud server; a reading unit that reads the two-dimensional code including the identification information using a reading device that can read two-dimensional codes; an input unit capable of inputting the identification information; a determination unit that can determine whether a current time falls within the reserved time slot by using the large-volume reservation information for the identification information obtained via the reading unit or the input unit; an unlock command unit that can command the lock device to switch to an unlocked state when the current time falls within the reserved time period; A lock control device having:

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