Vehicle door unlocking system and method

Abstract

To unlock a vehicle door without using an emergency device and without a key operation for unlocking the vehicle door locked by a door locking device when the original key cannot be used.SOLUTION: A vehicle door unlocking system comprises: an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle; and an external device installed outside the vehicle. The on-vehicle device can acquire unlocking information added to the vehicle from outside to unlock a door without a key operation, and output an unlocking command to a door locking device. The external device acquires the unlocking information defined by the user of the vehicle from the on-vehicle device or the user's portable terminal to store it as emergency unlocking information, and transmits a door unlocking permission signal to the on-vehicle device to output the unlocking command when the unlocking information transmitted from the on-vehicle device and added to the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle door unlocking system and method for unlocking a vehicle door using a door locking device. [Background technology]

[0002] A smart lock authentication system including a key data management server that authenticates wireless communication between a smart lock device and a smartphone that unlocks the smart lock device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this smart lock authentication system, in addition to a smartphone used for unlocking during normal operation, an emergency device (e.g., a contactless IC card) is provided for unlocking in an emergency when the smart device becomes unusable. Authentication data (e.g., a password and an emergency device ID) for identifying the smartphone and the emergency device are registered in the key data management server. Furthermore, when the smartphone becomes unusable due to a dead battery or other reason, the authentication data, i.e., the emergency device ID, is transmitted and received between the smart lock device and the key data management server, and authentication is performed. Once the wireless communication pairing between the emergency device and the smart lock device is authenticated, the smart lock device can be unlocked by the emergency device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-10449 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, users of the conventional smart lock authentication system must carry an emergency device that is rarely used in preparation for emergencies when their smartphones cannot be used. In other words, in the smart lock authentication system, users who do not carry an emergency device will be unable to unlock the smart lock device in emergencies when their smartphones cannot be used.

[0005] Therefore, the main purpose of the present disclosure is to make it possible to unlock a vehicle door without using an emergency device and without operating a key to unlock the door using a door lock device when the original key cannot be used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle door unlocking system of the present disclosure is a vehicle door unlocking system that enables unlocking of a vehicle door locked by a door lock device without a key operation, and includes an on-board device that is mounted on the vehicle and is capable of acquiring unlocking information that is externally provided to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without the key operation, and outputting an unlock command to the door lock device to unlock the door; The external device is installed outside the vehicle, acquires the unlocking information set by the user of the vehicle from the in-vehicle device or the user's mobile terminal, and stores it as emergency unlocking information, and when the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle and transmitted from the in-vehicle device matches the emergency unlocking information, transmits a door unlock permission signal to the in-vehicle device to output the unlock command.

[0007] In addition, the vehicle door unlocking method disclosed herein is a vehicle door unlocking method that enables the door to be unlocked without a key operation for unlocking the vehicle door locked by a door lock device, and includes the steps of requesting a user of the vehicle to register unlocking information that is externally assigned to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without the key operation, registering the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle as emergency unlocking information in an external device installed outside the vehicle, transmitting the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle from the vehicle to the external device, determining on the external device whether the unlocking information from the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information, and transmitting a door unlock permission signal from the external device to the vehicle when the unlocking information from the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information.

[0008] According to the vehicle door unlocking system and method disclosed herein, a vehicle user can unlock the vehicle door without using an emergency device and without operating a key to unlock the vehicle door using a door lock device when the original key, such as a smart key or physical key, is unavailable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a vehicle door unlocking system according to the present disclosure; [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering emergency unlocking information by an external device in the vehicle door unlocking system of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by an in-vehicle device of the vehicle door unlocking system of the present disclosure when registering emergency unlocking information. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by an external device of the vehicle door unlocking system of the present disclosure after emergency unlocking information is registered. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by an in-vehicle device of the vehicle door unlocking system of the present disclosure when unlocking the vehicle doors using emergency unlocking information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Next, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle door unlocking system 10 according to the present disclosure. The vehicle door unlocking system 10 shown in the figure enables unlocking of multiple doors 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d of a vehicle 1 and a rear gate (or trunk lid) 2e without the need for a key operation to unlock the doors 2a, etc. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 includes multiple door handles (movable members) 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e provided for the doors 2a-2d and the rear gate 2e, respectively; multiple door switches (courtesy switches) 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e provided for the doors 2a-2d and the rear gate 2e, respectively; a door locking device 5 corresponding to the driver's door 2a; door locking devices 6 corresponding to the doors 2b-2d other than the driver's door 2a and the rear gate 2e; an in-vehicle communication device (in-vehicle device) 7; and a navigation system 8.

[0012] Each door switch 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e of the vehicle 1 outputs a signal (voltage signal) to a CAN bus (shared communication line) B when a door handle 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, or 3e of the corresponding door 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, or the rear gate 2e is operated. The door lock devices 5 and 6 include a door lock motor (not shown), a controller connected to the CAN bus B and controlling the door lock motor, a short-range wireless communication module, and the like. The door lock device 5 can lock and unlock the driver's door 2a in response to a signal (short-range wireless signal) transmitted to the short-range wireless communication module. The door lock device 6 can collectively lock and unlock the doors 2b, 2c, 2d, and the rear gate 2e in response to a signal transmitted to the short-range wireless communication module, and the like.

[0013] The in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 enables high-speed data communication (wireless packet communication) and voice calls with various external devices. As shown in FIG. 1 , the in-vehicle communication device 7 is connected to a CAN bus B and exchanges information with various control devices (ECUs) of the vehicle 1 via the CAN bus B. The in-vehicle communication device 7 can receive signals from the door switches 4a-4e and can send unlock command signals to the door lock devices 5 and 6 to unlock the doors 2a, etc. The navigation system 8 includes, for example, a touch panel monitor or the like installed on an instrument panel (not shown) of the vehicle 1, and exchanges information with the in-vehicle communication device 7 and various control devices of the vehicle 1 via the CAN bus B. In this embodiment, the monitor of the navigation system 8 can display text or images specified by the in-vehicle communication device 7.

[0014] A vehicle door unlocking system 10 for such a vehicle 1 is constructed by an on-board communication device 7 of the vehicle 1, a management server 20 as an external device, and a mobile terminal 30 such as a smartphone owned by the user of the vehicle 1. The management server 20 is a computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output devices, a communication module 21, a storage device 22, etc., and in this embodiment, it is installed and managed by, for example, a car sharing operator. That is, in this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is a so-called shared car owned and managed by the car sharing operator.

[0015] The communication module 21 of the management server 20 can exchange various information with the onboard communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 and the mobile terminal 30 of the user of the vehicle 1 via high-speed data communication (wireless communication). The storage device 22 of the management server 20 stores a database containing vehicle information for multiple shared cars, including the vehicle 1, such as the chassis number, vehicle number, ID of the onboard communication device 7 of the shared car, and maintenance status, as well as a database containing user information for the shared car user (member), such as the ID, name, contact information (address, email address, mobile phone number, etc.), and the usage status of the shared car. Furthermore, the management server 20 includes a management module 25, which is implemented by the cooperation of hardware such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM with pre-installed programs. In addition to managing shared cars and users, the management module 25 also performs verification processing to determine whether to unlock the doors 2a of the vehicle 1.

[0016] The mobile terminal 30 is a smartphone or tablet terminal that includes an SoC including a CPU and a GPU, a ROM, a RAM, an auxiliary storage device (flash memory), a display unit, a microphone, a communication module 31, etc. In addition, a car sharing application (program) provided by the car sharing operator is pre-installed on the mobile terminal 30 before the user starts using the car sharing service. By launching the car sharing application on their own mobile terminal 30, users of the car sharing service can search for and reserve a shared car, and perform various procedures before and after using the shared car, via the Internet, etc.

[0017] Furthermore, in the car sharing service of this embodiment, users are not provided with a smart key (electronic key) or a physical key for the shared car, and the user's mobile terminal 30 (only) is used as a key (smart key) for unlocking door locks, etc. In other words, when the car sharing application is installed on the mobile terminal 30, a smart key module 35 (see FIG. 1 ) that causes the mobile terminal 30 to function as a smart key is constructed through cooperation between the car sharing application (software) and hardware such as an SoC (CPU, GPU), ROM, RAM, and communication module 31.

[0018] If the mobile terminal 30 of a user of a shared vehicle 1 becomes unusable (communication is disabled) outside the vehicle due to a dead battery or water damage, it will be impossible to unlock the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1. To deal with such a situation, it may be possible to lend a separate emergency device such as a contactless IC card to the shared vehicle user. However, preparing and requiring users to carry an emergency device that is likely to be used infrequently is cumbersome for both the operator and the user.

[0019] Based on this, the vehicle door unlocking system 10 is constructed so that the doors 2a, etc. can be unlocked without operating a smart key or a physical key by providing unlocking information to the vehicle 1 from outside. That is, the user of the vehicle 1 registers unlocking information that the user has set as emergency unlocking information in the management server 20 before starting to use the vehicle 1. Then, when the mobile terminal 30 serving as a smart key becomes unusable outside the vehicle, the user can unlock the doors 2a, etc. without operating a smart key or a physical key by providing unlocking information that is the same as the emergency unlocking information that the user has set from outside to the vehicle 1 whose system is stopped.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering emergency unlocking information by the management server 20, which is an external device of the vehicle door unlocking system 10.

[0021] When the time to use vehicle 1 arrives, the user of vehicle 1, which is a shared car, launches the car sharing application at the storage location of vehicle 1 (a parking lot, outside the vehicle in this case) and sends a notification to management server 20 that they will begin using vehicle 1 (a start-of-use notification). When management module 25 of management server 20 receives the start-of-use notification of vehicle 1 from the user, it acquires the location information of vehicle 1 and the location information of the user (step S100). The location information of vehicle 1 was notified to management server 20 by in-vehicle communication device 7 the last time the system of vehicle 1 was stopped (IG off). In addition, the user's location information was acquired by the location information acquisition function (GPS) of mobile terminal 30 in accordance with the user's consent when the start-of-use notification of vehicle 1 was sent, and is sent from mobile terminal 30 to management server 20 together with the start-of-use notification.

[0022] Next, the management module 25 determines whether the user is near the vehicle 1, i.e., within a predetermined range of the parked vehicle 1, based on the location information of the vehicle 1 and the user acquired in step S100 (step S110). If it is determined that the user is not near the vehicle 1 (step S110: NO), the management module 25 transmits a notification to the mobile terminal 30 requesting retransmission of a notification of start of use near the vehicle 1 in order to prevent unauthorized use of the vehicle 1 by a third party (step S115), and ends the routine of FIG.

[0023] Furthermore, if it is determined that the user who sent the notification of start of use of the vehicle 1 is near the vehicle 1 (step S110: YES), the management module 25 sends a registration request notification of unlocking information to the user's mobile terminal 30 and the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 in order to unlock the doors 2a, etc. without using the mobile terminal 30 as a smart key (step S120). The registration request notification of unlocking information requests that unlocking information be set and sent to the management server 20 within a relatively short predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) after the transmission of the registration request notification. After sending the registration request notification of unlocking information, the management module 25 waits for the predetermined time (step S130).

[0024] In this embodiment, the unlocking information indicates a user-defined operation method (series of actions) for the multiple door handles 3a-3e, which are movable members of the vehicle 1 that can be operated from the outside. In this embodiment, the registration request notification transmitted in step S120 requests the user to actually operate (pull), for example, two or more of the multiple door handles 3a-3e multiple times (for example, four or five times). In response to the registration request notification, the user then actually operates, for example, two or more of the multiple door handles 3a-3e multiple times in an order defined by the user (for example, door handles 3a → 3b → 3d → 3c).

[0025] Furthermore, the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 returns from the sleep state in response to a registration request notification from the management server 20, and executes the routine shown in Fig. 3. That is, the in-vehicle communication device 7 acquires signals from, for example, two or more of the plurality of door switches 4a-4e via the CAN bus B (step S200). Furthermore, the in-vehicle communication device 7 acquires the operation sequence of the plurality of doors 2a, etc., performed by the user based on the signals acquired in step S200 (step S210). Then, the in-vehicle communication device 7 transmits the operation sequence acquired in step S210 to the management server 20 as unlocking information (step S220), and ends the routine shown in Fig. 3. Note that the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 may be constantly activated while the system of the vehicle 1 is stopped (while the IG is off), and in this case, transmission of the registration request notification from the management server 20 to the in-vehicle communication device 7 may be omitted.

[0026] On the other hand, after waiting in step S130, i.e., when the predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the registration request notification, the management module 25 of the management server 20 determines whether or not unlocking information has been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 (step S140). If it is determined that unlocking information has not been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S140: NO), the management module 25 retransmits the registration request notification to the user's mobile terminal 30 and the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S120), and waits for the predetermined time (step S130).

[0027] Furthermore, if it is determined that unlocking information has been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S140: YES), the management module 25 stores the unlocking information received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 as emergency unlocking information in a predetermined storage area of the storage device 22 (step S150). In step S150, the management module 25 associates the emergency unlocking information with the vehicle 1, the in-vehicle communication device 7, and the user's ID, etc. (vehicle information and user information), and stores the emergency unlocking information in the storage device 22. Furthermore, the management module 25 transmits the contents of the emergency unlocking information, i.e., the operation sequence of the door handle 3a, etc., to the user's mobile terminal 30 for reminder purposes (step S160), and ends the routine of FIG. 2.

[0028] After registering the emergency unlocking information, the user operates the mobile terminal 30 as a smart key or operates multiple door handles 3a, etc. to provide the vehicle 1 with unlocking information identical to the emergency unlocking information the user has set, thereby unlocking the doors 2a, etc., and starting to use the vehicle 1. The smart key function (smart key module 35) of the mobile terminal 30 may be enabled by a predetermined procedure before registering the emergency unlocking information, or may be enabled after registering the unlocking information. Furthermore, if the smart key function of the mobile terminal 30 is enabled before registering the unlocking information, a notification that the user has started using the vehicle 1 may be sent to the management server 20 from either the mobile terminal 30 or the in-vehicle communication device 7 by the user while inside the vehicle 1 (inside the vehicle compartment). Furthermore, if the user sends a notification that the user has started using the vehicle 1 to the management server 20 from the in-vehicle communication device 7 while inside the vehicle 1, the location of the vehicle 1 may be acquired as the user's location in step S100.

[0029] Next, a procedure for unlocking the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 using the emergency unlocking information will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by the management server 20, which is an external device of the vehicle door unlocking system 10, after the emergency unlocking information has been registered. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by the in-vehicle communication device 7, which is an in-vehicle device of the vehicle door unlocking system 10, when unlocking the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 using the emergency unlocking information.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, after registering the emergency unlocking information, the management module 25 of the management server 20 transmits a keep-alive signal to the car sharing application installed on the user's mobile device 30 at predetermined time intervals (step S300). Furthermore, the management module 25 determines whether the user's mobile device 30 is in a communication-disabled state due to a dead battery or the like, based on whether or not there is a response (signal) from the car sharing application of the mobile device 30 (step S310). If there is no response from the car sharing application to the keep-alive signal and it is determined that the user's mobile device 30 is in a communication-disabled state due to a dead battery or the like (step S310: YES), the management module 25 permits unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 using the previously registered emergency unlocking information (step S320). Furthermore, in step S320, the management module 25 notifies the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 that unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. using the emergency unlocking information is permitted.

[0031] When the management module 25 has permitted the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. using the emergency unlocking information in step S320, the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 returns from the sleep state in response to the operation of any one of the door handles 3a-3e while the system of the vehicle 1 is stopped (while the IG is off). Furthermore, similar to steps S200-S220 of Fig. 3, the in-vehicle communication device 7 acquires the operation sequence of the multiple doors 2a, etc. based on signals from the multiple door switches 4a, etc., and transmits the acquired operation sequence as unlocking information to the management server 20. Note that the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 may be in an activated state when the management module 25 has permitted the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. using the emergency unlocking information and the system of the vehicle 1 is stopped.

[0032] After the processing of step S320, the management module 25 of the management server 20 determines whether or not unlocking information has been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 (step S330). If it is determined that unlocking information has not been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 after the processing of step S320 (step S330: NO), the management module 25 temporarily ends the routine of Fig. 4 at that point, and executes the processing from step S300 onwards when the next execution timing arrives.

[0033] Furthermore, if it is determined that unlocking information has been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 after the processing of step S320 (step S330: YES), the management module 25 determines whether the unlocking information from the in-vehicle communication device 7 matches emergency unlocking information predetermined by the user (authorized user) of the vehicle 1 (step S340). In step S340, the management module 25 identifies the ID, etc. (user information) of the user using the vehicle 1 from the IDs (vehicle information) of the in-vehicle communication device 7 and the vehicle 1, reads the emergency unlocking information predetermined by the user from the storage device 22, and compares it with the unlocking information from the in-vehicle communication device 7. Then, if it is determined that the unlocking information from the in-vehicle communication device 7 matches the emergency unlocking information (step S340: YES), the management module 25 transmits an unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle communication device 7 to permit unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. (step S350), and waits for a predetermined time (e.g., several minutes) (step S360).

[0034] 5, the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 acquires and transmits unlocking information to the management server 20, waits for a predetermined time (steps S400 and S410), and then determines whether the management server 20 (management module 25) has permitted unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. (step S420). If the in-vehicle communication device 7 receives an unlocking permission signal from the management server 20 and determines that unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. is permitted (step S420: YES), the in-vehicle communication device 7 transmits (outputs) an unlock command signal to the door lock devices 5, 6 to unlock the doors 2a, etc. (step S430). This causes the door lock devices 5, 6 to unlock the doors 2a, etc., allowing the user to enter the vehicle 1. Note that only the driver's door 2a of the vehicle 1 may be unlocked in response to receiving the unlocking permission signal from the management server 20.

[0035] Furthermore, when a user in the vehicle 1 turns on the start switch, the in-vehicle communication device 7 displays a password entry screen on the monitor of the navigation system 8 and requests the user to enter a password (step S440). The password requested in step S440 may be, for example, a one-time password based on a time synchronization method, or may be a password determined by the user at the same time as the emergency unlocking information is registered. Furthermore, the in-vehicle communication device 7 determines whether a password has been entered by the user via the monitor (step S450). If it is determined that a password has been entered by the user (step S450: YES), the in-vehicle communication device 7 transmits the entered password to the management server 20 (step S460) and waits for a predetermined short time (e.g., approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute) (step S470). Note that in this embodiment, when a user in the vehicle 1 turns on the start switch, the vehicle 1 enters the accessory-on state.

[0036] 4, the management module 25 of the management server 20 transmits an unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle communication device 7, waits for a predetermined time, and then determines whether or not a password entered by the user has been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S370). If it is determined that a password has been received from the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S370: YES), the management module 25 determines whether or not the password from the in-vehicle communication device 7 is valid (e.g., a valid one-time password or a password previously set by the user) (step S380). If it is determined that the password from the in-vehicle communication device 7 is valid (step S390: YES), the management module 25 transmits a power-on permission signal (travel permission signal) to the in-vehicle communication device 7 to enable the vehicle 1 to travel (step S390), and ends the routine of FIG. 4.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5, the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 transmits the password entered by the user to the management server 20 and waits a predetermined time (steps S460 and S470), and then determines whether the management server 20 (management module 25) has permitted the vehicle 1 to travel (step S480). If the in-vehicle communication device 7 has received a power-on permission signal from the management server 20 and determined that the vehicle 1 is permitted to travel (step S480: YES), the in-vehicle communication device 7 transmits (outputs) a power-on command signal to the corresponding control device of the corresponding vehicle 1 via the CAN bus B (step S490), and ends the routine of Fig. 5. This causes the vehicle 1 to transition from the accessory-on state to a ready-to-travel state (system-activated state), allowing the user to start traveling the vehicle 1.

[0038] 4, when the management module 25 of the management server 20 receives a response from the car sharing application in response to the keep-alive signal and determines that the user's mobile terminal 30 is available for communication (step S310: NO), it prohibits unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 using the previously registered emergency unlocking information (step S315). Furthermore, in step S315, the management module 25 notifies the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 that unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. using the emergency unlocking information has been prohibited. In this case, even if the door handle 3a, etc. of the vehicle 1 is operated multiple times, the in-vehicle communication device 7 does not accept the operation and does not acquire the unlocking information. Furthermore, even if unlocking information is erroneously transmitted from the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1, the management module 25 does not permit unlocking of the doors 2a, etc.

[0039] Furthermore, if the management module 25 determines that the unlocking information from the in-vehicle communication device 7 does not match the emergency unlocking information (step S340: NO), it transmits an unlocking prohibition signal to the in-vehicle communication device 7 to prohibit the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. (step S345), and ends the routine of Fig. 4. In this case, the in-vehicle communication device 7 determines that the management server 20 (management module 25) has not permitted the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. (step S420: NO), and does not transmit an unlocking command signal to the door lock devices 5, 6, and the doors 2a, etc. are not unlocked.

[0040] Furthermore, if the management module 25 determines that it has not received a password from the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S370: NO), it transmits a power-on prohibition signal (travel prohibition signal) to the in-vehicle communication device 7 to prohibit the vehicle 1 from traveling (step S375), and ends the routine of Fig. 4. Furthermore, if the management module 25 determines that the password from the in-vehicle communication device 7 is not valid (step S380: NO), it also transmits a power-on prohibition signal (travel prohibition signal) to the in-vehicle communication device 7 (step S375), and ends the routine of Fig. 4.

[0041] In these cases, the in-vehicle communication device 7 of the vehicle 1 determines that the management server 20 (management module 25) has not permitted the vehicle 1 to travel (step S480: NO), and terminates the routine of FIG. 5 without outputting (transmitting) a power-on command signal. As a result, even if the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. is permitted, the vehicle 1 will be unable to travel. Furthermore, if the in-vehicle communication device 7 determines that a password has not been entered in response to the input request in step S440 (step S450: NO), it terminates the routine of FIG. 5 at that point. In this case, too, even if the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. is permitted, the vehicle 1 will be unable to travel.

[0042] As described above, in the vehicle door unlocking system 10, unlocking information that is externally given to the vehicle 1 by operating the multiple door handles 3a, etc. to unlock the doors 2a-2d and the tailgate 2e by the door lock devices 5, 6 without operating a key, i.e., a smart key (electronic key) or a physical key, and that is set by the user of the vehicle 1, is stored (registered) as emergency unlocking information in the storage device 22 of the management server 20, which is an external device (steps S100-S150). Also, the in-vehicle communication device (in-vehicle device) 7 of the vehicle 1 acquires the unlocking information that is externally given to the vehicle 1 by operating the multiple door handles 3a, etc., and transmits the acquired unlocking information to the management server 20 (S400). Furthermore, when the unlocking information from the vehicle communication device 7 matches the emergency unlocking information (step S340: YES), the management server 20 sends an unlocking permission signal to the vehicle communication device 7 to output an unlocking command to unlock the doors 2a, etc. by the door lock devices 5, 6 (steps S350, S430).

[0043] This allows the user (authorized user) of the vehicle 1 to operate the door handles 3a, etc. to externally provide the vehicle 1 with unlocking information identical to the emergency unlocking information that the user has set, thereby unlocking the doors 2a, etc. locked by the door lock devices 5, 6. As a result, when the mobile terminal 30 as a smart key, i.e., the original key, is unavailable, the user of the vehicle 1 can unlock the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 locked by the door lock devices 5, 6 without using an emergency device and without operating a key.

[0044] Furthermore, the management module 25 of the management server 20 acquires user location information from the user's mobile terminal 30, and when it determines that the user is near the vehicle 1 (S110: YES), it transmits a registration request notice to the mobile terminal 30 and requests the user to register emergency unlocking information via the mobile terminal 30 (step S120). This allows legitimate users who actually use the vehicle 1 to register emergency unlocking information in the management server 20, while preventing third parties from illegally registering emergency unlocking information in the management server 20, thereby effectively preventing the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 from being illegally unlocked. Note that if the user transmits a notification that they have started using the vehicle 1 from the in-vehicle communication device 7 to the management server 20 while inside the vehicle 1, the registration request notice may be transmitted to at least one of the in-vehicle communication device 7 and the mobile terminal 30 in step S120. That is, in step S120, the user may be requested to register emergency unlocking information via at least one of the in-vehicle communication device 7 and the mobile terminal 30.

[0045] Furthermore, in the vehicle door unlocking system 10, the management module 25 of the management server 20 requests the user to register emergency unlocking information within a predetermined time (for example, within five minutes) (step S120). In response to the request for registration of unlocking information from the management server 20, the in-vehicle communication device 7 acquires unlocking information actually assigned to the vehicle 1 by the user operating multiple door handles 3a, etc. (steps S200-S210). Furthermore, the in-vehicle communication device 7 transmits the acquired unlocking information to the management server 20 as emergency unlocking information (S220). This substantially eliminates the opportunity for a third party to learn the emergency unlocking information through hacking, etc., and therefore makes it possible to extremely effectively prevent the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1 from being illegally unlocked.

[0046] However, when registering emergency unlocking information, the unlocking information determined by the user does not necessarily have to be actually (physically) assigned to the vehicle 1 by the user operating multiple door handles 3a, etc. In other words, in response to transmission of a registration request notification from the management server 20, a setting screen for emergency unlocking information may be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 30 or the monitor of the navigation system 8, allowing the user to select and set, for example, the doors 2a, etc. to be operated and the operation sequence, and the user may set the unlocking information on the setting screen. In this case, the unlocking information determined by the user will be transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 or the in-vehicle communication device 7 to the management server 20 as emergency unlocking information.

[0047] Furthermore, the management module 25 of the management server 20 transmits an unlock permission signal to the in-vehicle communication device 7 to permit unlocking of the doors 2a, etc., and then acquires the password entered by the user from the in-vehicle communication device 7 (steps S350-S370). Furthermore, when the password acquired from the in-vehicle communication device 7 is valid, the management module 25 transmits a power-on permission signal (travel permission signal) to the in-vehicle communication device 7 to permit the vehicle 1 to travel (S380-S390). Furthermore, when the in-vehicle communication device 7 receives the power-on permission signal from the management server 20, it outputs a power-on command signal to transition the vehicle 1 to a travel-enabled state (S480, S490).

[0048] This makes it possible to prohibit the vehicle 1 from traveling even if a third party who has knowledge of the emergency unlocking information fraudulently unlocks the doors 2a, etc. of the vehicle 1. In the vehicle door unlocking system 10, the management server 20 may transmit a password input request to the mobile terminal 30 of the user outside the vehicle after transmitting the unlocking permission signal. In other words, the password for transitioning the vehicle 1 to a drivable state may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 to the management server 20 in response to a request from the management server 20.

[0049] Furthermore, in the vehicle door unlocking system 10, the user's mobile terminal 30 functions as a smart key that unlocks the doors 2a, etc., locked by the door lock devices 5, 6. Furthermore, when the management server 20 can communicate with the user's mobile terminal 30, it prohibits the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc., using the emergency unlocking information (S310: NO, S315). Furthermore, when the management server 20 cannot communicate with the user's mobile terminal 30, it permits the unlocking of the doors 2a, etc., using the emergency unlocking information (S310: YES, S320).

[0050] This minimizes the opportunities for unlocking the doors 2a, etc. using the emergency unlocking information, thereby effectively preventing unauthorized unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. by a third party. Furthermore, the vehicle door unlocking system 10 allows unlocking of the doors 2a, etc. using the emergency unlocking information even when the user and the vehicle 1 are out of communication range and communication between the management server 20 and the mobile terminal 30 is disabled. This allows the user to unlock the doors 2a, etc. by externally providing the vehicle 1 with unlocking information identical to the emergency unlocking information that the user has set himself / herself, even if the battery of the mobile terminal 30 runs out while the user and the vehicle 1 are out of communication range.

[0051] In the vehicle door unlocking system 10, the unlocking information indicates a user-defined method of operation (operation sequence) for the multiple doors 2a, which are movable members of the vehicle 1 that can be operated from the outside, but the movable members for providing the unlocking information to the vehicle are not limited to the doors 2a-2d and the rear gate 2e. In other words, the movable members for providing the unlocking information to the vehicle may be any member whose operation can be detected by the in-vehicle communication device 7 or another control device of the vehicle 1, and may be, for example, the front wiper 9f or the rear wiper 9r of the vehicle 1.

[0052] Furthermore, the unlocking information is not limited to information indicating how to operate the movable members of the vehicle 1, as long as it can be provided to the vehicle 1 from the outside. That is, the unlocking information may be biometric information such as the user's facial information or fingerprint information acquired (imaged) by either the front camera Cf or the rear camera Cr (see FIG. 1) of the drive recorder mounted on the vehicle 1 (external image capturing device), or the user's mobile terminal 30.

[0053] Furthermore, the on-board device in the vehicle door unlocking system 10 is not limited to the on-board communication device 7, but may be, for example, a combination of a communication module installed in the vehicle and any control device of the vehicle (e.g., a power supply ECU or a door lock device controller). Furthermore, the vehicle 1 to which the vehicle door unlocking system 10 is applied is not limited to a shared car owned and managed by a car sharing service provider. That is, the vehicle 1 to which the vehicle door unlocking system 10 is applied may be a rental car owned and managed by a rental car service provider, and the management server 20 may be installed and managed by the rental car service provider. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 to which the vehicle door unlocking system 10 is applied may be a private vehicle, and the management server 20 may be installed and managed by the manufacturer of the vehicle 1. When the vehicle door unlocking system 10 is applied to a private vehicle, the routine of FIG. 3, i.e., the emergency unlocking information registration procedure, does not need to be executed every time the vehicle 1 is used, but may be executed at a predetermined interval (e.g., approximately once a month). Furthermore, the vehicle door unlocking system 10 may be applied to a vehicle that uses only a physical key.

[0054] As described above, the vehicle door unlocking system of the present disclosure is a vehicle door unlocking system (10) that enables the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) of a vehicle (1) to be unlocked by door lock devices (5, 6) without a key operation, and is mounted on the vehicle (1), acquires unlocking information that is externally provided to the vehicle (1) in order to unlock the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) without the key operation (S400), and causes the door lock devices (5, 6) to unlock the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e). and an external device (20, 25, S350) that is installed outside the vehicle (1) and acquires the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle (1) from the in-vehicle device (7) or the user's mobile terminal (30) and stores it as emergency unlocking information (S150), and when the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle (1) transmitted from the in-vehicle device (7) matches the emergency unlocking information (S340: YES), transmits a signal to the in-vehicle device (7) to allow the vehicle to unlock the door and output the unlocking command.

[0055] In the vehicle door unlocking system disclosed herein, unlocking information externally provided to a vehicle to unlock doors locked by a door locking device without key operation, i.e., without operating a smart key (electronic key) or a physical key, and set by the user of the vehicle, is stored (registered) as emergency unlocking information in an external device. An on-board device of the vehicle acquires the unlocking information externally provided to the vehicle and transmits the acquired unlocking information to the external device. Furthermore, when the unlocking information from the on-board device matches the emergency unlocking information, the external device transmits a door unlock permission signal to the on-board device, causing the door locking device to output an unlock command to unlock the doors. This allows a legitimate user of the vehicle to unlock the doors locked by the door locking device by providing the vehicle with the same emergency unlocking information as the user-defined externally. As a result, when the vehicle's original key, such as a smart key or physical key, is unavailable, the vehicle user can unlock the doors without using an emergency device and without operating a key to unlock the vehicle doors locked by the door locking device.

[0056] The external device (20, 25) may also acquire location information of the user from the user's mobile terminal (30) or the in-vehicle device (7) (S100), and when it determines that the user is near the vehicle (1) (S110: YES), request the user to register the emergency unlocking information via at least one of the mobile terminal (30) and the in-vehicle device (7) (S120).

[0057] This allows a legitimate user who actually uses the vehicle to register emergency unlocking information in the external device, while preventing a third party from illegally registering emergency unlocking information in the external device, thereby effectively preventing the vehicle doors from being illegally unlocked.

[0058] Furthermore, the external device (20, 25) may request the user to register the emergency unlocking information within a predetermined time (S120), and the in-vehicle device (7) may acquire the unlocking information actually assigned to the vehicle (1) by the user in response to a request for registration of the emergency unlocking information from the external device (20, 25), and transmit the acquired unlocking information to the external device (20, 25) as the emergency unlocking information (S200-S220).

[0059] This effectively eliminates the chance that a third party will learn the emergency unlocking information through hacking or the like, thereby effectively preventing the vehicle doors from being unlocked illegally.

[0060] Furthermore, the external device (20, 25) may be configured to, after transmitting the unlock permission signal to the in-vehicle device (7), acquire a password input by the user from the in-vehicle device (7) or the user's mobile terminal (30), and, if the acquired password is valid, transmit a travel permission signal to the in-vehicle device (7) to permit the vehicle (1) to travel (S350-S390), and the in-vehicle device (7) may be configured to transition the vehicle (1) to a travel-enabled state (S480, S490) when receiving the travel permission signal from the external device (20, 25).

[0061] This makes it possible to prohibit the vehicle from traveling even if a third party who has access to the emergency unlocking information fraudulently unlocks the vehicle doors.

[0062] Furthermore, the user's mobile terminal (30, 35) may function as a smart key that unlocks the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) locked by the door lock devices (5, 6), and the external device (20, 25) may prohibit the unlocking of the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) using the emergency unlocking information when it is able to communicate with the user's mobile terminal (30) (S310: NO, S315), and may permit the unlocking of the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) using the emergency unlocking information when it is unable to communicate with the user's mobile terminal (30) (S310: YES, S320).

[0063] This makes it possible to limit the opportunities for unlocking the door using the emergency unlocking information to the minimum necessary, thereby effectively preventing a third party from unlocking the door illegally.

[0064] The unlocking information may also indicate a method of operating at least one movable member (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 9f, 9r) of the vehicle (1) that can be operated from the outside, determined by the user. In this case, the movable member of the vehicle may be a door handle or a wiper, and the method of operation may be, for example, the order of operating a plurality of door handles.

[0065] Furthermore, the unlocking information may be biometric information of the user acquired by an external imaging device (Cf, Cr) mounted on the vehicle (1) or the mobile terminal (30).

[0066] The vehicle door unlocking method disclosed herein is a vehicle door unlocking method that enables unlocking of doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) of a vehicle (1) by a door lock device (5, 6) without a key operation for unlocking the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e), and includes the steps of: requesting a user of the vehicle (1) to register unlocking information that is externally assigned to the vehicle (1) in order to unlock the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) without the key operation (S120); and registering the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle (1) in an external device installed outside the vehicle (1). The unlocking information is registered as emergency unlocking information in the external device (20, 22) (S150), the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle (1) is transmitted from the vehicle (1) to the external device (20, 25), the external device (20, 25) determines whether or not the unlocking information from the vehicle (1) matches the emergency unlocking information (S340), and when the unlocking information from the vehicle (1) matches the emergency unlocking information (S340: YES), the external device (20, 25) transmits an unlock permission signal for the doors (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) to the vehicle (1) (S350).

[0067] According to this method, when the vehicle user's original key, such as a smart key or a physical key, is unavailable, the vehicle user can unlock the door without using an emergency device and without operating the key to unlock the vehicle door using the door lock device.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] The invention of the present disclosure can be used in car sharing businesses, rental car businesses, vehicle manufacturing industries, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1 vehicle, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d doors, 2e rear gate, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e door handles, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e door switches, 5, 6 door lock device, 7 in-vehicle communication device, 8 navigation system, 9f front wiper, 9r rear wiper, 10 vehicle door unlocking system, 20 management server, 21 communication module, 22 storage device, 25 management module, 30 mobile terminal, 31 communication module, 35 smart key module, Cf front camera, Cr rear camera.

Claims

1. A vehicle door unlocking system that enables unlocking of a vehicle door by a door lock device without operating a key, an in-vehicle device that is mounted on the vehicle and that is capable of acquiring unlocking information that is externally provided to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without the key operation, and outputting an unlocking command to the door lock device to unlock the door; an external device that is installed outside the vehicle, acquires the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle from the in-vehicle device or the user's mobile terminal, stores the acquired information as emergency unlocking information, and, when the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle and transmitted from the in-vehicle device matches the emergency unlocking information, transmits an unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle device to output the unlock command; Equipped with A vehicle door unlocking system in which the external device acquires the user's location information from the user's mobile terminal or the in-vehicle device, and when it determines that the user is near the vehicle, requests the user to register the emergency unlocking information via at least one of the mobile terminal and the in-vehicle device.

2. The vehicle door unlocking system according to claim 1, the external device requests the user to register the emergency unlocking information within a predetermined time; The vehicle door unlocking system includes an in-vehicle device that acquires the unlocking information actually assigned to the vehicle by the user in response to a request from the external device to register the emergency unlocking information, and transmits the acquired unlocking information to the external device as the emergency unlocking information.

3. A vehicle door unlocking system that enables unlocking of a vehicle door by a door lock device without operating a key, The door lock device is equipped with a door unlocking device that acquires unlocking information externally given to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without operating the key. an in-vehicle device capable of outputting an unlock command to release the lock; an external device that is installed outside the vehicle, acquires the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle from the in-vehicle device or the user's mobile terminal, stores the acquired information as emergency unlocking information, and, when the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle and transmitted from the in-vehicle device matches the emergency unlocking information, transmits an unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle device to output the unlock command; Equipped with the external device, after transmitting the unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle device, acquires a password input by the user from the in-vehicle device or the user's mobile terminal, and, if the acquired password is valid, transmits a driving permission signal to the in-vehicle device to permit the vehicle to drive; The vehicle door unlocking system is configured to transition the vehicle to a driveable state when the in-vehicle device receives the drive permission signal from the external device.

4. A vehicle door unlocking system that enables unlocking of a vehicle door by a door lock device without operating a key, an in-vehicle device that is mounted on the vehicle and that is capable of acquiring unlocking information that is externally provided to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without the key operation, and outputting an unlocking command to the door lock device to unlock the door; an external device that is installed outside the vehicle, acquires the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle from the in-vehicle device or the user's mobile terminal, stores the acquired information as emergency unlocking information, and, when the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle and transmitted from the in-vehicle device matches the emergency unlocking information, transmits an unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle device to output the unlock command; Equipped with the mobile terminal of the user functions as a smart key that unlocks the door by the door lock device, A vehicle door unlocking system in which the external device prohibits unlocking of the door using the emergency unlocking information when it is able to communicate with the user's mobile terminal, and allows unlocking of the door using the emergency unlocking information when it is unable to communicate with the user's mobile terminal.

5. A vehicle door unlocking system that enables unlocking of a vehicle door by a door lock device without operating a key, an in-vehicle device that is mounted on the vehicle and that is capable of acquiring unlocking information that is externally provided to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without the key operation, and outputting an unlocking command to the door lock device to unlock the door; an external device that is installed outside the vehicle, acquires the unlocking information determined by the user of the vehicle from the in-vehicle device or the user's mobile terminal, stores the acquired information as emergency unlocking information, and, when the unlocking information assigned to the vehicle and transmitted from the in-vehicle device matches the emergency unlocking information, transmits an unlocking permission signal to the in-vehicle device to output the unlock command; Equipped with The unlocking information indicates a manner of operation of at least one movable member of the vehicle that can be operated from the outside, the manner of operation being determined by the user.

6. The vehicle door unlocking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The vehicle door unlocking system, wherein the unlocking information is biometric information of the user acquired by an external imaging device mounted on the vehicle or the mobile terminal.

7. A vehicle door unlocking method that enables unlocking of a vehicle door by a door lock device without operating a key, comprising: requesting a user of the vehicle to register unlocking information that is externally assigned to the vehicle in order to unlock the door without operating the key; registering the unlocking information determined by a user of the vehicle as emergency unlocking information in an external device installed outside the vehicle; The unlocking information assigned to the vehicle is transmitted from the vehicle to the external device; The external device determines whether the unlocking information from the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information; When the unlocking information from the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information, the external device transmits a door unlocking permission signal to the vehicle; the external device transmits the unlocking permission signal to the vehicle, and then acquires the password input by the user from the vehicle or the user's mobile terminal; If the acquired password is valid, a travel permission signal for permitting the vehicle to travel is transmitted from the external device to the vehicle; transitioning the vehicle to a travel-enabled state when the vehicle receives the travel permission signal from the external device; How to unlock a vehicle door.

8. A vehicle door unlocking method that enables unlocking of a vehicle door by a door lock device without operating a key, comprising: a request for registration of unlocking information given to the vehicle from an external source in order to unlock the door without operating the key, the unlocking information indicating a method of operating at least one movable member of the vehicle that can be operated from an external source, determined by the user; registering the unlocking information determined by a user of the vehicle as emergency unlocking information in an external device installed outside the vehicle; The unlocking information assigned to the vehicle is transmitted from the vehicle to the external device; The external device determines whether the unlocking information from the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information; When the unlocking information from the vehicle matches the emergency unlocking information, the external device transmits a door unlocking permission signal to the vehicle. How to unlock a vehicle door.

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