Information processing device, server, information processing method, and program

Abstract

An information processing device is provided that enables a general-purpose terminal device to be used as a smart key. [Solution] An information processing device 1 that performs processing in an automobile comprises a terminal receiving unit 11 that receives radio waves transmitted from a terminal device, an acceptance unit 12 that accepts automobile-related operations from the user, an authentication unit 13 that performs authentication using the authentication radio waves transmitted from the terminal device, a processing unit 15 that, when an operation is accepted, determines that it is legitimate based on the authentication of the received authentication radio waves and if the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value corresponding to the accepted operation, and a setting unit 16 that sets the threshold value using the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the automobile and received by the terminal receiving unit 11.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device or the like that performs processing in an automobile. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, smart keys have been used to lock and unlock automobiles and to start driving means such as the engine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using such smart keys, users can perform operations such as locking the automobile without touching the key. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-083129 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In situations where a single vehicle is used by an unspecified number of people, such as in car sharing, it would be convenient for users if a general-purpose terminal device such as a user's smartphone could be used as a smart key. However, because the strength of radio waves transmitted by such general-purpose terminal devices varies depending on the manufacturer and model, it is difficult to determine whether the terminal device is inside or outside the vehicle using the radio wave strength. For example, there is a possibility that the terminal device may be mistakenly determined to be inside the vehicle even when it is actually outside the vehicle. In such a case, there is a problem in that the terminal device may perform inappropriate processing, such as starting the engine when the engine start button is pressed, even though the terminal device is outside the vehicle. As such, it has been difficult to use a general-purpose terminal device as a smart key.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an information processing device or the like that enables a general-purpose terminal device to be used as a smart key for an automobile. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that performs processing in an automobile, and includes: a terminal receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted from a terminal device; a reception unit that receives automobile-related operations from a user; an authentication unit that performs authentication using authentication radio waves transmitted from the terminal device and received by the terminal receiving unit; a processing unit that, when an operation is accepted by the reception unit, determines that the operation is legitimate based on authentication by the authentication unit regarding the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit, and if the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value corresponding to the operation accepted by the reception unit; and a setting unit that sets the threshold value using the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the automobile and received by the terminal receiving unit.

[0007] With this configuration, by setting a threshold using the reception strength of the reference radio wave transmitted from the general-purpose terminal device, it becomes possible to perform appropriate processing in the vehicle using the radio wave transmitted from the terminal device. More specifically, it becomes possible to appropriately determine whether the terminal device is inside or outside the vehicle using the strength of the radio wave. As a result, it becomes possible to determine whether to perform processing according to a received operation using the result of authentication using the authentication radio wave transmitted from the terminal device and the reception strength of the radio wave, making it possible to use the general-purpose terminal device as a smart key for the vehicle.

[0008] In the information processing device according to the aspect of the present invention, the setting unit may set the threshold value by adding a predetermined value to the reception strength of the reference radio wave.

[0009] With this configuration, the threshold value can be set by adding a predetermined value according to the characteristics of the vehicle to the reception strength of the reference radio wave.

[0010] In addition, in an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the reference radio wave includes a user identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device, and the information processing device may further include a transmitting unit that transmits to a server a pair of reference strength information, which is information regarding the reception strength of the reference radio wave and is information that can be used to obtain the reception strength of the reference radio wave in a reference vehicle, and the user identifier included in the reference radio wave.

[0011] With this configuration, reference strength information regarding the reception strength of a reference radio wave acquired in a certain vehicle for a user's terminal device can be sent to another vehicle via a server, and a threshold can be set in the other vehicle using the reference strength information.

[0012] In addition, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a receiving unit that receives reference strength information transmitted from a server, and the setting unit may set the threshold value using the reference strength information received by the receiving unit.

[0013] With this configuration, if the reception strength of the reference radio wave has already been acquired for a user's terminal device, it is possible to set a threshold by receiving reference strength information regarding the reception strength of the reference radio wave from the server, even without receiving the reference radio wave from the terminal device.

[0014] In addition, a server according to one aspect of the present invention includes a server receiving unit that receives and stores from the information processing device a set of reference strength information, which is information regarding the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device located in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by an information processing device that performs processing in the vehicle, and a user identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device, and when the user uses the vehicle, transmits reference strength information corresponding to the user identifier that identifies the user to the vehicle.

[0015] With this configuration, reference strength information for a certain user transmitted from an information processing device installed in a certain vehicle can be transmitted to an information processing device installed in another vehicle, and the information processing device installed in the other vehicle can set a threshold value without receiving reference radio waves from the user's terminal device.

[0016] Furthermore, an information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for performing processing in a vehicle, and includes the steps of: accepting vehicle-related operations from a user by a reception unit; receiving authentication radio waves transmitted from a terminal device by a terminal receiving unit; performing authentication by the authentication unit using the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit; performing processing according to the operation when the operation is accepted by the reception unit and is determined to be valid based on authentication by the authentication unit regarding the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit, and the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value corresponding to the operation accepted by the reception unit; receiving reference radio waves transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle by the terminal receiving unit; and setting the threshold value by a setting unit using the reception strength of the reference radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit.

[0017] In addition, an information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of receiving and storing, by a server receiving unit, a set of reference strength information, which is information regarding the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by an information processing device that performs processing in the vehicle, and a user identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device, from the information processing device; and a step of transmitting, by a server transmitting unit, reference strength information corresponding to the user identifier that identifies the user to the vehicle when the user uses the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to an information processing device or the like according to one aspect of the present invention, a general-purpose terminal device can be used as a smart key for an automobile. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view showing an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device according to the embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server according to the embodiment; [Figure 4] A flowchart showing the operation of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] A flowchart showing the operation of the server according to the embodiment. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of first correspondence information in the embodiment. [Figure 6B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of second correspondence information in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a computer system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The information processing device, server, and information processing method according to the present invention will be described below using embodiments. In the following embodiments, components and steps denoted by the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent, and repeated description may be omitted. The information processing device according to this embodiment enables a general-purpose terminal device to be used as a smart key.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an information processing device 1, a terminal device 2, and a server 3 according to this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 1 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 3 according to this embodiment. It is assumed that the information processing device 1 is mounted in an automobile 6, and the terminal device 2 is carried by a user 5. It is also assumed that the server 3 is capable of communicating with one or more information processing devices 1 via a communication line 500 such as the Internet or a public telephone network.

[0022] The information processing device 1 and the terminal device 2 may perform wireless communication using, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), wireless LAN (IEEE802.11), IEEE802.15.4 such as ZigBee (registered trademark), or other communication standards. The wireless communication may be, for example, short-range wireless communication. Bluetooth may be, for example, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR) / Enhanced Data Rate (EDR). Furthermore, the radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the information processing device 1 may be, for example, pulse waves transmitted intermittently or continuous waves transmitted continuously. The frequency of the radio waves may be, for example, in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz. Furthermore, communication between the information processing device 1 and the terminal device 2 may be performed by, for example, broadcast or unicast. Broadcast transmission is preferable from the viewpoint of being able to transmit information without specifying the communication partner.

[0023] The terminal device 2 is a device carried by a user 5 who uses the automobile 6, and is usually a general-purpose device. The terminal device 2 is preferably a portable device that can communicate wirelessly with the information processing device 1, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or a notebook computer.

[0024] 2, the information processing device 1 performs processing in the automobile 6, and includes a terminal receiving unit 11, an accepting unit 12, an authenticating unit 13, a storage unit 14, a processing unit 15, and a setting unit 16, and may further include a transmitting unit 17 and a receiving unit 18 as necessary. There is no particular restriction on where the information processing device 1 is attached in the automobile 6, and the information processing device 1 may be placed inside the dashboard of the automobile 6, for example.

[0025] The terminal receiving unit 11 receives radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2. The radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2 and received by the terminal receiving unit 11 may be, for example, radio waves for authentication or reference radio waves used to set a threshold. The radio waves for authentication may include, for example, information indicating that they are radio waves for authentication. Similarly, the reference radio waves may include, for example, information indicating that they are reference radio waves. These radio waves will be described later. The terminal receiving unit 11 may receive radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2 via, for example, one or more antennas located inside the automobile 6. When reference strength information is transmitted and received via the server 3, for example, antennas may be located in the same positions even for automobiles 6 of different models. In this embodiment, a case will be mainly described in which the terminal receiving unit 11 receives radio waves via one antenna. The radio waves may be, for example, radio waves transmitted by short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, it is preferable that the terminal receiving unit 11 be able to acquire the reception strength of the received radio waves. The reception strength may be, for example, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

[0026] The terminal receiving unit 11 may or may not include a wireless receiving device for receiving signals. The terminal receiving unit 11 may be realized by hardware or software such as a driver that drives the receiving device.

[0027] The reception unit 12 receives an operation related to the automobile 6 from the user 5. This operation may be, for example, an operation to unlock the automobile 6, an operation to lock the automobile 6, an operation to start a driving means such as an engine of the automobile 6, or any other operation. The unlocking operation may be received, for example, by the user 5 pressing a button arranged on the door handle of the automobile 6, or may be received in response to the user placing his / her hand on the door handle. The locking operation may be received, for example, by the user 5 pressing a button arranged on the door handle of the automobile 6. The operation to start the driving means may be received, for example, by the user 5 pressing a start button.

[0028] The reception unit 12 may receive an operation from, for example, an input device (e.g., a button, etc.). The reception unit 12 may or may not include a device (e.g., a button, etc.) for receiving the operation. The reception unit 12 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software such as a driver that drives a predetermined device.

[0029] The authentication unit 13 performs authentication using radio waves for authentication transmitted from the terminal device 2 and received by the terminal receiving unit 11. This authentication may be, for example, authentication for determining whether the terminal device 2 that transmitted the radio waves for authentication is legitimate. For example, the radio waves for authentication received by the terminal receiving unit 11 may include authentication information, and the authentication unit 13 may perform authentication using the authentication information. The radio waves for authentication may be repeatedly transmitted from the terminal device 2, or may be transmitted in response to the terminal device 2 receiving a request for transmission of radio waves for authentication transmitted from the information processing device 1 to the terminal device 2 when authentication is performed by the authentication unit 13. The transmission request may be transmitted, for example, by a terminal transmitting unit (not shown) included in the information processing device 1. Furthermore, the transmission request may be transmitted, for example, when authentication is performed by the authentication unit 13, or may be transmitted repeatedly.

[0030] The authentication information may include any information that can be used to authenticate the terminal device 2. For example, the authentication information may include cryptographic information obtained by encrypting unique information, which is unique information. The unique information may include, for example, a time, a random number, a count value, or a one-time password. The unique information may be information specific to the authentication radio wave. That is, the unique information corresponding to the cryptographic information may differ for each authentication radio wave. The unique information may be, for example, information generated by the terminal device 2 or information transmitted from the information processing device 1 to the terminal device 2. In the latter case, challenge-response authentication may be performed by the information processing device 1. When the unique information is transmitted from the information processing device 1, the unique information may be transmitted, for example, by a terminal transmission unit (not shown) provided in the information processing device 1. The unique information may also be information stored in the terminal device 2. In this embodiment, the case where the unique information is generated by the terminal device 2 will be mainly described. The authentication radio wave may also include, for example, a user identifier that identifies the user 5 of the terminal device 2 transmitting the authentication radio wave.

[0031] The encryption of the unique information may be, for example, encryption using a common key encryption or encryption using a public key encryption. That is, the encryption key used to encrypt the unique information may be, for example, a common key or a public key corresponding to the information processing device 1. When the encryption key is a common key, it is preferable that the information processing device 1 and the terminal device 2 have the same common key. It is also preferable that the common key is different for each terminal device 2.

[0032] The terminal device 2 may or may not be in line of sight from the information processing device 1. In the latter case, the user 5 may carry the terminal device 2 in, for example, a pocket of clothes or a bag.

[0033] The authentication unit 13 may use authentication information included in the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit 11 to determine whether the terminal device 2 that transmitted the authentication radio waves is legitimate. For example, if the authentication information includes cryptographic information in which unique information is encrypted, the authentication unit 13 may determine that the terminal device 2 that transmitted the authentication information is legitimate if the unique information corresponding to the cryptographic information matches the unique information stored in the information processing device 1 and corresponding to the terminal device 2 that transmitted the authentication information, and may determine that the terminal device 2 that transmitted the authentication information is not legitimate if the unique information corresponding to the cryptographic information matches the unique information stored in the information processing device 1. Whether the unique information corresponding to the cryptographic information matches the unique information stored in the information processing device 1 may be determined, for example, by whether the unique information obtained by decrypting the cryptographic information matches the unique information stored in the information processing device 1, or by whether the cryptographic information matches the result of encrypting the unique information stored in the information processing device 1.

[0034] When the unique information is acquired in the terminal device 2, the unique information stored in the information processing device 1 may be, for example, acquired by the same method as that used to acquire the unique information in the terminal device 2. Furthermore, when the terminal device 2 receives the unique information from the information processing device 1, the unique information stored in the information processing device 1 may be, for example, the unique information transmitted by the information processing device 1 to the terminal device 2.

[0035] If the cryptographic information included in the authentication information is encrypted with a common key, the authentication unit 13 may, for example, decrypt the cryptographic information using a common key associated with a user identifier included in the authentication radio waves together with the authentication information, or may encrypt the unique information stored in the information processing device 1 using the common key. If the cryptographic information included in the authentication information is encrypted with a public key, the authentication unit 13 may, for example, acquire a private key and decrypt the cryptographic information using the acquired private key, or may read a public key from a predetermined recording medium and encrypt the unique information stored in the information processing device 1 using the read public key. Note that the information processing device 1 may, for example, receive the common key, the private key, etc. from the server 3. In this case, for example, the information processing device 1 may transmit the user identifier included in the authentication radio waves to the server 3 and, in response to the transmission, receive the common key, etc. associated with the user identifier.

[0036] The authentication unit 13 may perform device authentication using one authentication radio wave, or may perform device authentication using multiple authentication radio waves received within a predetermined period. For authentication using multiple authentication radio waves, see, for example, the following patent document: Patent document: International Publication No. 2020 / 080301

[0037] The storage unit 14 may store threshold values, which will be described later. These threshold values ​​may be stored for each type of operation. For example, a threshold value for unlocking, a threshold value for locking, a threshold value for starting the drive means, etc. may be stored. Furthermore, values ​​used to set these threshold values ​​according to the reception strength of the reference radio wave, for example, values ​​to be added to the reception strength, may be stored in the storage unit 14 for each type of operation. For example, a value to be added for the unlocking threshold value, a value to be added for the locking threshold value, a value to be added for the start of the drive means, etc. may be stored.

[0038] Furthermore, information other than that described above may be stored in the storage unit 14. The process by which information is stored in the storage unit 14 is not important. For example, information may be stored in the storage unit 14 via a recording medium, a communication line, or an input device, or information may be accumulated in the storage unit 14 by the setting unit 16. Furthermore, the storage unit 14 is preferably realized by a non-volatile recording medium, but may also be realized by a volatile recording medium. The recording medium may be, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

[0039] When an operation is accepted by the accepting unit 12, if the authentication unit 13 determines that the operation is valid based on the authentication of the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit 11 and the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value corresponding to the operation accepted by the accepting unit 12, the processing unit 15 performs processing according to the operation. The threshold value may be stored in the memory unit 14 for each operation, and the processing unit 15 may use the threshold value for each operation stored in the memory unit 14. Furthermore, if the threshold value is stored in the memory unit 14 in association with a user identifier, the processing unit 15 may use the threshold value associated with the user identifier included in the authentication radio waves. The predetermined relationship may be, for example, greater than the threshold value or less than the threshold value. This predetermined relationship may be determined in advance for each accepted operation. For example, if the accepted operation is an unlocking operation or an operation to start a driving means such as an engine, the predetermined relationship may be greater than the threshold value, and if the accepted operation is a locking operation, the predetermined relationship may be less than the threshold value. In addition, the processing in response to the unlocking or locking operation may be processing to unlock or lock the doors of the automobile 6, and the processing in response to the operation to start a driving means such as an engine may be processing to start a driving means such as an engine of the automobile 6.

[0040] When an operation is accepted by the accepting unit 12, if it is determined to be invalid based on the authentication of the radio waves for authentication received by the terminal receiving unit 11, or if the reception strength of the radio waves for authentication does not have a predetermined relationship with the threshold value corresponding to the accepted operation, no processing corresponding to the operation will be performed. In the former case, it is considered that the radio waves for authentication are being transmitted from an invalid terminal device 2, and in the latter case, it is considered that the terminal device 2 is located in a position that is not expected for the accepted operation.

[0041] The setting unit 16 sets the threshold value using the reception intensity of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device 2 located in a reference area R1 outside the automobile 6 and received by the terminal receiver 11. The threshold value may be set for each operation to be accepted. The reference radio wave may be transmitted, for example, by application software in the terminal device 2 for operating the automobile 6. As an example, before the user 5 starts operating the automobile 6, the application software in the terminal device 2 may output an instruction to the user 5 to go to an area near the driver's door of the automobile 6, i.e., the reference area R1, and press a button on the display screen of the terminal device 2. In response to the instruction, the user 5 may move to the reference area R1 and press the button, and the reference radio wave may be transmitted for a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be, for example, approximately 0.01 to 10 seconds. This reference radio wave may include, for example, a user identifier of the user 5 holding the terminal device 2. The user identifier may be, for example, a character string unique to the user 5, or a terminal identifier identifying the terminal device 2 held by the user 5. The terminal identifier may be, for example, a character string unique to the terminal device 2, or may be an address such as a physical address, a telephone number, or the like. Furthermore, the terminal device 2 may transmit the authentication radio wave and the reference radio wave with the same transmission power, for example. Note that in this embodiment, the case where the reference area R1 is an area outside the vehicle near the driver's door of the automobile 6 as shown in Fig. 1 will be mainly described, but the reference area R1 may also be any other predetermined area outside the vehicle.

[0042] The setting unit 16 may set a threshold value by adding a predetermined value to the reception strength of the reference radio wave. The threshold value may be set by, for example, storing the threshold value in the storage unit 14. The threshold value may be stored in the storage unit 14 in association with a user identifier included in the reference radio wave. The reception strength of the reference radio wave may be, for example, a representative value of the reception strength of the reference radio wave transmitted for a predetermined period of time. The representative value may be, for example, an average value, a median value, or a maximum value. The predetermined value added to the reception strength of the reference radio wave is a real number, and may be, for example, a positive or negative value. This predetermined value may be, for example, a value determined in advance for each operation. This predetermined value is typically a value determined for each model of the automobile 6. This is because the degree of radio wave attenuation is determined by, for example, the structure and material of the doors and body of the automobile 6. This predetermined value may be determined, for example, by conducting an experiment to measure the reception strength of radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2 for each model of the automobile 6.

[0043] The reception strength of radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2 and received by the terminal receiver 11 will fluctuate to some extent. However, even if such fluctuations occur, it is preferable to determine a predetermined value for each operation so that, when a certain operation is accepted, the reception strength of substantially all of the authentication radio waves transmitted from a location where the terminal device 2 of the user 5 who performed the operation is expected to be present has a predetermined relationship with the threshold, while the reception strength of authentication radio waves transmitted from an unexpected location does not have a predetermined relationship with the threshold. For example, for an operation to start the engine, the expected location of the terminal device 2 may be inside the vehicle, and the unexpected location may be outside the vehicle. The predetermined value for each operation may be stored, for example, in the memory unit 14. When the reference radio wave is received by the terminal receiver 11, the setting unit 16 may read the predetermined value for each operation from the memory unit 14 and add it to the reception strength of the reference radio wave to calculate a threshold for each operation, which is then stored in the memory unit 14.

[0044] When the reference radio wave is received by the terminal receiving unit 11, the transmitting unit 17 may transmit to the server 3 a set of reference intensity information, which is information relating to the reception strength of the reference radio wave and is information that enables the reception strength of the reference radio wave in a reference vehicle to be obtained, and a user identifier included in the reference radio wave. When the reference intensity information is transmitted in this manner, it is preferable that the reference information includes a user identifier that identifies the user 5 of the terminal device 2. Here, the reference vehicle may be, for example, a specific vehicle that actually exists, or may be an imaginary vehicle.

[0045] The pair of reference strength information and user identifier is transmitted so that, if a user 5 identified by the user identifier has already transmitted a reference radio wave from the terminal device 2 when using a certain vehicle 6, the user 5 can subsequently use another vehicle 6 without transmitting a reference radio wave from the terminal device 2 to set a threshold value for that vehicle 6. Therefore, the reference strength information may be, for example, information including the reception strength of the reference radio wave and a vehicle model identifier identifying the vehicle model of the vehicle 6 from which the reference radio wave was received. Alternatively, the reference strength information may be the reception strength obtained by converting the reception strength of the reference radio wave into the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle. The vehicle model identifier may be stored, for example, in the storage unit 14. The reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle refers to the reception strength of the reference radio wave that would be expected if the reference radio wave were received by the information processing device 1 installed in the reference vehicle. The reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle may be obtained, for example, by subtracting a value indicated by difference information stored in the storage unit 14 of the information processing device 1 installed in the vehicle 6 from the reception strength of the reference radio wave received at the vehicle 6. In this case, the reception strength of the reference radio wave at a certain vehicle 6 may be determined by adding a value indicated by difference information corresponding to the vehicle model of the certain vehicle 6 to the reception strength of the reference radio wave at that vehicle 6. This difference information may be determined, for example, by the structure and material of the doors and body of the vehicle 6. In this embodiment, a case will be mainly described in which the reference strength information transmitted by the transmitter 17 includes the reception strength of the received reference radio wave and a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle 6. Note that the reference strength information may be converted as appropriate when transmitted and received to and from the server 3. An example of this conversion will be described later.

[0046] The transmitter 17 may transmit the reference strength information and the like to the address of the server 3 stored in the storage unit 14 as the destination. The transmitter 17 may be capable of transmitting information to a device such as the server 3 via the communication line 500, for example. The transmitter 17 may or may not include a transmitting device for transmitting information. The transmitter 17 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software such as a driver that drives the transmitting device.

[0047] The receiving unit 18 may receive the reference strength information transmitted from the server 3. As will be described later, the server 3 stores a plurality of pieces of correspondence information that associate user identifiers with reference strength information, and when a certain user 5 uses the automobile 6, the reference strength information that is associated with the user identifier of the user 5 by the correspondence information may be transmitted from the server 3 and received by the receiving unit 18 of the information processing device 1 mounted in the automobile 6 before the user 5 uses the automobile 6.

[0048] The receiving unit 18 may be capable of receiving information transmitted from a device such as the server 3 via the communication line 500. The receiving unit 18 may or may not include a receiving device for receiving the information. The receiving unit 18 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software such as a driver that drives the receiving device.

[0049] In this way, when the receiving unit 18 receives the reference strength information, the setting unit 16 may set the thresholds using the reference strength information received by the receiving unit 18. As an example, when the reference strength information received by the receiving unit 18 indicates the reception strength of the reference radio wave in the automobile 6 in which the receiving unit 18 is installed, the setting unit 16 may set each threshold in the same manner as described above using the reception strength indicated by the reference strength information. In other words, the thresholds may be the result of adding a predetermined value to the reception strength indicated by the reference strength information.

[0050] As another example, when the reference strength information received by the receiving unit 18 indicates the reception strength of the reference radio wave in the reference vehicle, the setting unit 16 may convert the reception strength of the reference radio wave indicated by the reference strength information to the reception strength of the reference radio wave in the vehicle 6 in which the setting unit 16 is installed, and use the reception strength of the reference radio wave after the conversion to set each threshold value in the same manner as described above. In other words, the threshold value may be the result of adding a predetermined value to the reception strength of the reference radio wave after the conversion.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the server 3 includes a server receiving unit 31, a server storage unit 32, and a server transmitting unit 33.

[0052] The server receiving unit 31 receives from the information processing device 1 a set of reference strength information, which is information relating to the reception strength of the reference radio wave received by the information processing device 1 and is information from which the reception strength of the reference radio wave in a reference vehicle can be obtained, and a user identifier identifying the user 5 of the terminal device 2 that transmitted the reference radio wave, and stores the set of the user identifier and the reference strength information in the server storage unit 32. That is, the server receiving unit 31 may store the set of the user identifier and the reference strength information in the server storage unit 32.

[0053] The server receiving unit 31 may or may not include a wired or wireless receiving device for receiving data. The server receiving unit 31 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software such as a driver that drives the receiving device.

[0054] The server memory unit 32 may store, for example, multiple pieces of correspondence information (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "first correspondence information") that associate a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle 6 with differential information used when converting the reception strength of the reference radio wave received by the vehicle 6 of the vehicle model identified by the vehicle model identifier into the reception strength of the reference radio wave received by the reference vehicle.

[0055] Furthermore, for example, a plurality of pairs of user identifiers and reference strength information may be stored in the server storage unit 32. These plurality of pairs can be considered as information that associates a user identifier with the reference strength information corresponding to that user identifier, and therefore these plurality of pairs may also be called "second correspondence information."

[0056] The process by which information is stored in the server storage unit 32 is not important. For example, information may be stored in the server storage unit 32 via a recording medium, a communication line, or an input device, or information may be accumulated in the server storage unit 32 by the server receiving unit 31. Furthermore, the server storage unit 32 is preferably realized by a non-volatile recording medium, but may also be realized by a volatile recording medium. The recording medium may be, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

[0057] When a user 5 uses the automobile 6, the server transmission unit 33 transmits, to the automobile 6, standard strength information corresponding to a user identifier that identifies the user 5. The standard strength information corresponding to the user identifier may be standard strength information that is associated with the user identifier by the second association information.

[0058] The server transmitting unit 33 may transmit data to an address stored in the server storage unit 32 as the destination, or may transmit data to an address received from another component or another server before transmission. The server transmitting unit 33 may or may not include a transmitting device for transmitting data. The server transmitting unit 33 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software such as a driver that drives the transmitting device.

[0059] As described above, the content of the reference strength information may be converted as appropriate. For example, the reference radio wave information received by the server receiving unit 31 may include the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the vehicle 6 and a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle 6. Then, for example, the server receiving unit 31 may convert the reception strength of the reference radio wave included in the received reference radio wave information into the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle, using difference information associated with the vehicle model identifier included in the reference radio wave information by the first correspondence information, and store the converted reference strength information in the server storage unit 32. Furthermore, for example, when transmitting reference radio wave information to a vehicle 6 used by a certain user 5, the server transmitting unit 33 may convert the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle, which is indicated by the reference radio wave information associated with the user identifier of the user 5 by the second correspondence information, into the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the destination vehicle 6, using difference information associated with the vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the destination vehicle 6 by the first correspondence information, and transmit the reference strength information including the reception strength of the converted reference radio wave to the information processing device 1 installed in the destination vehicle 6. In this case, for example, in the information processing device 1 of the destination automobile 6, the threshold may be set by assuming that the reception strength indicated by the received reference strength information is the reception strength of the reference radio wave transmitted from the terminal device 2 located in the reference area R1 and received by the terminal receiving unit 11.

[0060] Next, the operation of the information processing device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0061] (Step S101) The terminal receiver 11 determines whether or not the reference radio wave has been received. If the reference radio wave has been received, the process proceeds to step S102, and if not, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0062] (Step S102) The setting unit 16 uses the reception intensity of the reference radio wave received by the terminal reception unit 11 to set a threshold value for each operation that can be accepted.

[0063] (Step S103) The transmitter 17 transmits a set of reference strength information according to the reception strength of the received reference radio wave and the user identifier included in the received reference radio wave to the server 3. Then, the process returns to step S101.

[0064] (Step S104) The receiving unit 18 determines whether or not the reference strength information transmitted from the server 3 has been received. If the reference strength information has been received, the process proceeds to step S105; if not, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0065] (Step S105) The setting unit 16 sets a threshold for each accepted operation using the received reference strength information, and then returns to step S101.

[0066] (Step S106) The reception unit 12 determines whether or not an operation related to the automobile 6 has been received from the user 5. If an operation related to the automobile 6 has been received, the process proceeds to step S107, and if not, the process returns to step S101.

[0067] (Step S107) The terminal receiving unit 11 receives radio waves for authentication. This radio wave for authentication may be, for example, one transmitted from the terminal device 2 in response to a transmission request transmitted from the information processing device 1, or may be one repeatedly transmitted from the terminal device 2.

[0068] (Step S108) The authentication unit 13 performs authentication using the received radio waves for authentication.

[0069] (Step S109) If the authentication in step S108 determines that the user is valid, the process proceeds to step S110, and if not, the process returns to step S101.

[0070] (Step S110) The processing unit 15 determines whether the reception strength of the radio wave for authentication received in step S107 and the threshold value corresponding to the operation accepted in step S106 have a predetermined relationship. If they have the predetermined relationship, the process proceeds to step S111; if not, the process returns to step S101.

[0071] (Step S111) The processing unit 15 performs processing according to the operation accepted in step S106, and then returns to step S101.

[0072] The order of the steps in the flowchart of Fig. 4 is an example, and the order of the steps may be changed as long as the same results are obtained. Also, in the flowchart of Fig. 4, the processing may be terminated by power-off or an interrupt to terminate the processing.

[0073] Next, the operation of the server 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0074] (Step S201) The server receiving unit 31 determines whether or not a pair of reference strength information and a user identifier has been received. If a pair of reference strength information and a user identifier has been received, the process proceeds to step S202; if not, the process proceeds to step S204.

[0075] (Step S202) The server receiving unit 31 converts the received reference intensity information. For example, if the reference intensity information includes the reception intensity of the reference radio wave received by the information processing device 1 and a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the automobile 6, the server receiving unit 31 may use difference information corresponding to the vehicle model identifier to convert the reception intensity of the reference radio wave into the reception intensity of the reference radio wave in the reference automobile. The converted reference intensity information may include the reception intensity of the reference radio wave in the reference automobile.

[0076] (Step S203) The server receiving unit 31 stores second correspondence information that associates the converted reference strength information with the received user identifier in the server storage unit 32. Then, the process returns to step S201.

[0077] (Step S204) The server transmitting unit 33 determines whether to transmit the reference strength information. If the reference strength information is to be transmitted, the process proceeds to step S205; if not, the process returns to step S201. The server transmitting unit 33 may determine to transmit the reference strength information, for example, when it receives the address of the destination information processing device 1, the vehicle model identifier of the automobile 6 in which the destination information processing device 1 is installed, and the user identifier of the user 5 who uses the destination automobile 6.

[0078] (Step S205) The server transmission unit 33 reads out from the server storage unit 32 the reference strength information that is associated with the user identifier of the user 5 using the destination vehicle 6 by the second correspondence information, and converts the read reference strength information using difference information that corresponds to the vehicle model identifier of the destination vehicle 6. For example, the server transmission unit 33 may convert the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle, which is included in the read reference strength information, into the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the destination vehicle 6. The converted reference strength information may include the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the destination vehicle 6.

[0079] (Step S206) The server transmitting unit 33 transmits the converted reference strength information to the address of the destination information processing device 1. Then, the process returns to step S201.

[0080] Note that the conversion of the reference intensity information in the flowchart of Fig. 5 is an example, and a conversion different from the above conversion may be performed, or at least one of the conversion processes of steps S202 and S205 may not be performed. Also, the order of the processes in the flowchart of Fig. 5 is an example, and the order of the steps may be changed as long as the same results are obtained. Also, in the flowchart of Fig. 5, the process may end due to an interrupt such as power off or end of process.

[0081] Next, the operation of the information processing device 1 and the server 3 according to this embodiment will be described using a specific example. In this specific example, it is assumed that a plurality of pieces of first correspondence information shown in FIG. 6A are stored in the server storage unit 32 of the server 3. It is assumed that the first correspondence information is information including a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle 6 and differential information used to convert the reception strength of the reference radio wave in that vehicle 6 into the reception strength of the reference radio wave in a reference vehicle. In this specific example, if the vehicle model identifier of a certain vehicle 6 is "C001" and the differential information associated with that vehicle model identifier "C001" by the first correspondence information is "D1", it is assumed that (the reception strength of the reference radio wave in the vehicle 6 identified by the vehicle model identifier "C001") = (the reception strength of the reference radio wave in the reference vehicle) + D1.

[0082] In this specific example, it is assumed that predetermined values ​​for each accepted operation are stored in the storage unit 14 of the information processing device 1 as follows: α1 and α3 are positive real numbers, and α2 is a negative real number. Predetermined value for unlocking: α1 Predetermined value for locking: α2 Predetermined value for engine start: α3

[0083] First, suppose that a user identified by user identifier "U001" (hereinafter also referred to as "user U001") approaches a car 6 that has been reserved for car sharing and operates terminal device 2, which is a smartphone, to launch application software for operating car 6. Then, suppose that the application software outputs an instruction to approach the driver's door of car 6 and press a button on the display screen of terminal device 2. In response to the instruction, user U001 moves to reference area R1 of car 6 as shown in FIG. 1 and presses a button on the display screen of terminal device 2. In response, a reference radio wave including user identifier "U001" is transmitted from terminal device 2 for a predetermined period of time.

[0084] The reference radio wave transmitted from the terminal device 2 is received by the terminal receiver 11 of the information processing device 1 (step S101). Then, the terminal receiver 11 passes the reception strength "A1" of the reference radio wave and the user identifier included in the reference radio wave to the setting unit 16 and the transmitter 17. Upon receiving the reception strength of the reference radio wave, the setting unit 16 reads out predetermined values ​​α1 to α3 for each acceptable operation stored in the memory unit 14, and calculates a threshold for each acceptable operation by adding each of the values ​​α1 to α3 to the reception strength "A1" of the reference radio wave. The calculated thresholds are stored in the memory unit 14 in association with the received user identifier "U001" (step S102). The stored thresholds are as follows: Unlocking threshold: A1+α1 Locking threshold: A1+α2 Engine start threshold: A1+α3

[0085] Furthermore, upon receiving the reception strength of the reference radio wave, the transmitting unit 17 reads out the vehicle model identifier "C1" that identifies the vehicle model of the automobile 6, which is stored in the memory unit 14, and transmits a set of the received reception strength, the reference strength information including the read vehicle model identifier, and the received user identifier to the server 3 (step S103).

[0086] The pair of reference intensity information and user identifier transmitted from the information processing device 1 is received by the server receiving unit 31 of the server 3 (step S201). Then, the server receiving unit 31 searches for the plurality of first correspondence information shown in FIG. 6A stored in the server storage unit 32 using the vehicle model identifier “C1” included in the received reference intensity information as a search key, reads out difference information “D1” included in the found first correspondence information, and subtracts the read-out difference information “D1” from the reception intensity “A1” of the reference radio wave included in the received reference intensity information to obtain “A1-D1” of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle (step S202). The server receiving unit 31 also stores the reference intensity information including the reception intensity “A1-D1” of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle and second correspondence information including the user identifier “U001” in the server storage unit 32 (step S203). As a result, the plurality of second correspondence information stored in the server storage unit 32 becomes as shown in FIG. 6B.

[0087] Thereafter, when user U001 places his / her hand on the door handle of the driver's door of automobile 6, the reception unit 12 receives the unlocking operation in response, and notifies the processing unit 15 that the unlocking operation has been received (step S106). Upon receiving the notification that the unlocking operation has been received, the processing unit 15 causes a terminal transmitting unit (not shown) to transmit a transmission request. The transmission request is received by terminal device 2, and in response to the reception of the transmission request, radio waves for authentication are transmitted from terminal device 2. It is assumed that the radio waves for authentication include the user identifier "U001."

[0088] The authentication radio waves transmitted from the terminal device 2 are received by the terminal receiver 11, and the authentication information and user identifier contained in the authentication radio waves are passed to the authentication unit 13. The user identifier and the reception strength of the authentication radio waves are also passed to the processing unit 15 (step S107). Upon receiving the authentication information, the authentication unit 13 performs authentication using the received authentication information (step S108). Here, it is assumed that the authentication is deemed valid, and the result is passed to the processing unit 15 (step S109). Upon receiving the authentication result, the processing unit 15 reads the unlocking threshold "A1+α1" associated with the received user identifier from the storage unit 14 and determines whether the reception strength of the received authentication radio waves exceeds the read threshold (step S110). In this case, it is assumed that the reception strength of the authentication radio waves exceeds the threshold. The processing unit 15 then unlocks each door of the automobile 6 accordingly (step S111). In this way, user U001 is able to get into car 6.

[0089] Similar processing is performed when the user U001 presses the engine start button of the automobile 6 or when he or she exits the automobile 6 and presses the lock button located on the door handle, and processing according to the operation is performed according to the authentication result and the result of comparing the reception strength of the authentication radio wave with a threshold (steps S106 to S111). In this way, the user U001 can operate the automobile 6 by using the general-purpose terminal device 2 in the same way as with a smart key.

[0090] Next, a process will be described in which user U001 rides in another car 6 reserved through a car sharing service. A predetermined time before the start date and time of user U001's use, the server transmission unit 33 of the server 3 receives the user identifier "U001" of user U001, the vehicle model identifier "C3" of the car 6 reserved by user U001, and the address of the information processing device 1 installed in the car 6 from the car sharing management server, and determines to transmit reference intensity information accordingly (step S204). Then, the server transmission unit 33 searches multiple pieces of second correspondence information stored in the server storage unit 32 using the received user identifier "U001" as a search key, and reads reference intensity information "A1-D1" from the found second correspondence information. Since this read reference intensity information is the reception intensity of the reference radio wave in the reference car, the server transmission unit 33 converts it into the reception intensity of the reference radio wave in the destination car 6 (step S205). Specifically, the server transmission unit 33 searches for multiple pieces of first correspondence information stored in the server storage unit 32 using the vehicle model identifier "C3" of the destination vehicle 6 as a search key, and reads out difference information "D3" from the found first correspondence information. The server transmission unit 33 then adds the read out difference information to the read out reference intensity information to obtain the reception intensity "A1-D1+D3" of the reference radio wave for the vehicle model identified by the vehicle model identifier "C3." The thus obtained reception intensity "A1-D1+D3" of the reference radio wave becomes the converted reference intensity information. The server transmission unit 33 then transmits the converted reference intensity information and the user identifier to the address of the received information processing device 1 (step S206).

[0091] The reference strength information and user identifier transmitted from the server transmission unit 33 of the server 3 are received by the receiving unit 18 of the information processing device 1 installed in the car 6 reserved by the user U001, and passed to the setting unit 16 (step S104). Upon receiving the reference strength information, etc., the setting unit 16 calculates thresholds for each acceptable operation in the same manner as when the receiving strength of the reference radio wave and the user identifier are received from the terminal receiving unit 11, and stores these calculated thresholds in the storage unit 14 in association with the received user identifier (step S105). Therefore, in this case, the user U001 can use the car 6 without transmitting the reference radio wave from the terminal device 2.

[0092] As described above, the information processing device 1 according to this embodiment uses the reception strength of the reference radio wave transmitted from the general-purpose terminal device 2 to set a threshold for each acceptable operation, thereby determining whether to perform processing corresponding to the accepted operation using the authentication radio wave transmitted from the terminal device 2. This allows the general-purpose terminal device 2 to be used as a smart key. Furthermore, reference strength information, which is information related to the reception strength of the reference radio wave and is information that allows the reception strength of the reference radio wave in a reference vehicle to be acquired, is transmitted to the server 3. Furthermore, when the user 5 uses another vehicle 6, the server 3 transmits the reference strength information of the user 5 to the information processing device 1 of the vehicle 6 in advance. This allows the information processing device 1 to set a threshold for each acceptable operation using the reference strength information received from the server 3. Therefore, in this case, the threshold can be set in the information processing device 1 without receiving the reference radio wave from the terminal device 2 of the user 5.

[0093] Furthermore, in the past, in car sharing and the like, cars have been locked and unlocked via a server using a general-purpose terminal device such as a smartphone, without using a smart key. However, in such cases, there has been a problem that the car cannot be locked or unlocked via the server using the terminal device in places where radio waves are difficult to reach, such as underground parking lots. However, such a problem can be avoided by directly communicating wirelessly between the information processing device 1 mounted on the car 6 and the terminal device 2, as in the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0094] In the present embodiment, the case where a set of reference strength information and a user identifier is transmitted to the server 3 has been mainly described, but this is not necessarily the case. If such transmission is not performed, the server 3 may not exist, and the information processing device 1 may not include the transmitting unit 17 or the receiving unit 18.

[0095] In the present embodiment, the information processing device 1 receives the reference radio wave transmitted from the terminal device 2 and sets the threshold value using the reception strength of the reference radio wave. However, this is not necessarily the case. Because radio wave transmission and reception are performed symmetrically, for example, the reference radio wave transmitted from the information processing device 1 may be received by the terminal device 2 located in the reference region R1, and the reception strength of the reference radio wave may be passed from the terminal device 2 to the information processing device 1, thereby setting the threshold value in the information processing device 1. In this case, for example, the reception strength of the reference radio wave may be wirelessly transmitted directly from the terminal device 2 to the information processing device 1, or may be transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the information processing device 1 via another device such as the server 3. In this case, the information processing device 1 may include, for example, a terminal communication unit that transmits and receives radio waves to and from the terminal device 2, instead of the terminal receiving unit 11. The setting unit 16 may set the threshold value using the reception strength of the reference radio wave transmitted from the terminal communication unit and received by the terminal device 2 located in the reference region R1 outside the automobile 6. In this case, the reception strength of the reference radio wave may be received directly from the terminal device 2 by the terminal communication unit, for example, or may be received by the receiving unit 18 via a device other than the terminal device 2. In this way, the setting unit 16 may set the threshold using the reception strength of the reference radio wave transmitted and received between the terminal device 2 present in the reference region R1 outside the automobile 6 and the terminal communication unit. Note that the reference radio wave may be transmitted from the terminal device 2 and received by the terminal communication unit of the information processing device 1, or may be transmitted from the terminal communication unit and received by the terminal device 2. In the latter case, the reception strength of the reference radio wave may be transmitted from the terminal device 2 and received by the terminal communication unit, or may be transmitted from the reference device 2 via another device such as the server 3 and received by the receiving unit 18.

[0096] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, each process or function may be realized by centralized processing by a single device or a single system, or may be realized by distributed processing by multiple devices or multiple systems.

[0097] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the transfer of information between components may be performed, for example, by one component outputting information and the other component receiving information if the two components transferring the information are physically different, or by moving from a processing phase corresponding to one component to a processing phase corresponding to the other component if the two components transferring the information are physically the same.

[0098] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, information related to the processing performed by each component, such as information accepted, acquired, selected, generated, transmitted, or received by each component, and information such as thresholds, formulas, and addresses used in processing by each component, may be temporarily or long-term stored in a recording medium (not shown), even if not explicitly stated in the above description. Furthermore, the storage of information in the recording medium (not shown) may be performed by each component or a storage unit (not shown). Furthermore, the reading of information from the recording medium (not shown) may be performed by each component or a reading unit (not shown).

[0099] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, if the information used by each component, such as thresholds, addresses, and various setting values ​​used by each component in processing, may be changed by the user, the user may or may not be able to change the information as appropriate, even if not explicitly stated in the above description. If the information is changeable by the user, the change may be realized, for example, by a receiving unit (not shown) that receives a change instruction from the user and a changing unit (not shown) that changes the information in accordance with the change instruction. The change instruction may be received by the receiving unit (not shown), for example, from an input device, by receiving information transmitted via a communication line, or by receiving information read from a predetermined recording medium.

[0100] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, when two or more components included in the information processing device 1 or the server 3 have a communication device, an input device, etc., the two or more components may physically have a single device, or may have separate devices.

[0101] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware, or a component that can be realized by software may be realized by executing a program. For example, each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory. During execution, the program execution unit may execute the program while accessing a storage unit or recording medium. The software that realizes the information processing device 1 in the above-described embodiments is the following program. That is, this program may cause a computer that executes processing in a vehicle to execute the following steps: accepting a vehicle-related operation from a user; receiving authentication radio waves transmitted from a terminal device; performing authentication using the received authentication radio waves; and, if the operation is determined to be valid based on the authentication of the received authentication radio waves and the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value corresponding to the accepted operation, performing processing according to the operation; receiving a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle; and setting a threshold value using the reception strength of the received reference radio waves.

[0102] Furthermore, software that realizes the server 3 in the above-described embodiment is the following program. That is, this program may be a program that causes a computer to execute the steps of receiving and storing, from the information processing device, a set of reference intensity information, which is information related to the reception intensity of a reference radio wave that was transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by an information processing device that performs processing in the vehicle, and which is information from which the reception intensity of the reference radio wave in the reference vehicle can be obtained, and a user identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device, and transmitting, to the vehicle, the reference intensity information that corresponds to the user identifier that identifies the user, when the user uses the vehicle.

[0103] In the above program, the steps of transmitting information and receiving information do not include processing that can only be performed by hardware, such as processing that can be performed by a communication device.

[0104] This program may be executed by being downloaded from a server or the like, or by being read from a predetermined recording medium (for example, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory). This program may also be used as a program constituting a program product.

[0105] Furthermore, the computer that executes this program may be a single computer or multiple computers, and may perform centralized processing or distributed processing.

[0106] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a computer system 900 that executes the above program to realize the information processing device 1 and the server 3 according to the above embodiment. The above embodiment can be realized by computer hardware and a computer program executed thereon.

[0107] 7, computer system 900 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 911, a ROM 912 such as a flash memory in which programs such as a boot-up program, application programs, system programs, and data are stored, a RAM 913 connected to MPU 911 to temporarily store instructions for application programs and provide temporary storage space, a touch panel 914, a wireless communication module 915, and a bus 916 interconnecting MPU 911, ROM 912, etc. Note that computer system 900 realizing information processing device 1 may include a plurality of wireless communication modules 915, such as a wireless communication module 915 corresponding to terminal receiver 11 and a wireless communication module 915 corresponding to transmitter 17 and receiver 18, or may be connected to a wireless communication module corresponding to terminal receiver 11 and a wireless communication module corresponding to transmitter 17 and receiver 18. Furthermore, the computer system 900 may include a display and an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard instead of the touch panel 914, or may not include a display device or an input device such as the touch panel 914. Furthermore, the computer system 900 may further include other recording media such as a hard disk.

[0108] A program that causes the computer system 900 to execute the functions of the information processing device 1 and the server 3 according to the above-described embodiments may be stored in the ROM 912 via the wireless communication module 915. The program is loaded into the RAM 913 when executed. The program may also be loaded directly from the network.

[0109] The program does not necessarily include an operating system (OS) or a third-party program that causes the computer system 900 to execute the functions of the information processing device 1 or server 3 according to the above-described embodiment. The program may include only instructions that call appropriate functions or modules in a controlled manner to achieve the desired results. How the computer system 900 operates is well known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0110] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for specifically implementing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments, and is intended to include modifications within the literal scope of the claims and within the scope of equivalent meanings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 1. Information processing equipment 2. Terminal Device 3 Server 11 Terminal receiver 12 Reception 13 Authentication Section 14 Storage section 15 Processing section 16 Setting section 17 Transmitter 18 Receiving unit 31 Server receiving unit 32 Server storage unit 33 Server transmission unit

Claims

1. An information processing device that performs processing in a vehicle, a terminal receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted from a terminal device via one antenna; a reception unit that receives an operation related to the vehicle from a user; an authentication unit that performs authentication using radio waves for authentication transmitted from the terminal device and received by the terminal receiver; a storage unit that stores a threshold value for each type of operation; a setting unit that sets a threshold value for each type of operation in the storage unit using a reception intensity of a reference radio wave that is transmitted from the terminal device that is present in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by the terminal receiving unit in response to a user's operation of the terminal device; and a processing unit that, when an operation is accepted by the accepting unit, determines that the operation is legitimate based on authentication by the authentication unit regarding the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit, and performs processing in accordance with the operation if the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value set in the memory unit by the setting unit, which corresponds to the type of operation accepted by the accepting unit.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the setting unit sets the threshold value by adding a predetermined value to the reception strength of the reference radio wave.

3. the reference radio wave includes a user identifier that identifies a user of the terminal device; The information processing device described in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprises a transmitting unit that transmits to a server a set of reference strength information, which is information regarding the reception strength of the reference radio wave and is information that can be used to obtain the reception strength of the reference radio wave in a reference vehicle, and a user identifier contained in the reference radio wave.

4. a receiving unit for receiving reference strength information transmitted from the server, The information processing device according to claim 3 , wherein the setting unit sets the threshold value using reference intensity information received by the receiving unit.

5. A server storage unit that stores multiple correspondence information that associates a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of a vehicle with difference information that is used when converting the reception strength of a reference radio wave received by a vehicle of the vehicle model identified by the vehicle model identifier into the reception strength of a reference radio wave received by a reference vehicle; a server receiving unit that receives from the information processing device a set of reference strength information including the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by an information processing device that processes in the vehicle, a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle, and a user identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device, converts the reception strength of the reference radio wave included in the reference strength information into the reception strength of a reference radio wave at a reference vehicle using difference information that is associated with the vehicle model identifier included in the reference strength information by the correspondence information, and stores a set of reference strength information including the reception strength of the reference radio wave after the conversion and the user identifier; A server comprising: a server transmitting unit that, when a user uses a vehicle, converts reference strength information corresponding to a user identifier that identifies the user into the reception strength of a reference radio wave in the vehicle using difference information that is associated with a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model by the correspondence information, and transmits the converted reference strength information to the vehicle.

6. An information processing method for a vehicle that performs processing using a storage unit that stores threshold values ​​for each type of operation, receiving, by a terminal receiving unit, via one antenna, a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle in response to a user's operation of the terminal device; a setting unit setting a threshold value for each type of operation in the storage unit using the reception intensity of the reference radio wave received by the terminal receiver; receiving an operation related to the vehicle from a user by a receiving unit; receiving, by the terminal receiving unit, radio waves for authentication transmitted from the terminal device via the one antenna; performing authentication by an authentication unit using the radio waves for authentication received by the terminal receiving unit; and a step of performing processing according to the operation when the operation is accepted by the accepting unit and the operation is determined to be legitimate based on authentication by the authenticating unit regarding the authentication radio waves received by the terminal receiving unit, and when the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value set in the memory unit by the setting unit corresponding to the type of operation accepted by the accepting unit.

7. a server receiving unit receiving from the information processing device a set of reference strength information including the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by an information processing device performing processing in the vehicle, and a vehicle model identifier identifying the vehicle model of the vehicle, and a user identifier identifying the user of the terminal device; converting the reception strength of the reference radio wave included in the reference strength information to the reception strength of the reference radio wave at the reference vehicle using differential information associated with the vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle and differential information used when converting the reception strength of the reference radio wave received at the vehicle model identified by the vehicle model identifier to the reception strength of the reference radio wave received at the reference vehicle, and storing a set of reference strength information including the reception strength of the reference radio wave after the conversion, and the user identifier; an information processing method including a step of converting, by a server transmitting unit, when a user uses a vehicle, reference strength information corresponding to a user identifier that identifies the user to a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model, using difference information that is associated with the correspondence information, into the reception strength of a reference radio wave in the vehicle and transmitting the converted information to the vehicle.

8. A computer that executes processing in a vehicle and has access to a storage unit that stores threshold values ​​for each type of operation, receiving, via one antenna, a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle in response to a user's operation of the terminal device; setting a threshold value for each type of operation in the storage unit using the reception intensity of the received reference radio wave; receiving an operation related to the vehicle from a user; receiving, via the one antenna, radio waves for authentication transmitted from the terminal device; performing authentication using the received radio waves for authentication; A program for executing a step of performing processing according to an operation when the operation is accepted and is determined to be valid based on authentication of the received authentication radio waves, and when the reception strength of the authentication radio waves has a predetermined relationship with a threshold value set in the memory unit corresponding to the type of accepted operation.

9. A computer that can access a server storage unit that stores a plurality of correspondence information that associates a vehicle model identifier that identifies a vehicle model with difference information that is used when converting the reception strength of a reference radio wave received by a vehicle of the vehicle model identified by the vehicle model identifier into the reception strength of a reference radio wave received by a reference vehicle, receiving from the information processing device a set of reference strength information including the reception strength of a reference radio wave transmitted from a terminal device present in a reference area outside the vehicle and received by an information processing device performing processing in the vehicle, a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model of the vehicle, and a user identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device; converting the reception strength of the reference radio wave included in the reference strength information to the reception strength of a reference radio wave at a reference vehicle using difference information that is associated with the vehicle model identifier included in the reference strength information by the correspondence information; and storing a set of reference strength information including the reception strength of the reference radio wave after the conversion and the user identifier; A program for executing a step of converting, when a user uses a vehicle, reference strength information corresponding to a user identifier that identifies the user into the reception strength of a reference radio wave in the vehicle using difference information that is associated with a vehicle model identifier that identifies the vehicle model by the correspondence information, and transmitting the converted reference strength information to the vehicle.

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