system

Abstract

[Problem] To achieve both reliable security and more convenient operation control. [Solution] Provided is a system comprising: a control device mounted in a housing; and a program installed in a portable apparatus carried by a user of the housing. The control device causes a controlled device provided in the housing to execute a prescribed operation when an RSSI of a wireless signal, which conforms to a prescribed communication standard and is transmitted and received between the communication device mounted in the housing and the portable apparatus, exceeds a first threshold value. The program performs control to transmit an execution request for requesting execution of the prescribed operation when a prescribed operation for the portable apparatus is detected. The control device compares the RSSI with a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value instead of the first threshold value when the communication device receives the execution request, and causes the controlled device to execute the prescribed operation when the RSSI exceeds the second threshold value.

Description

System

[0001] The present invention relates to a system.

[0002] In recent years, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technique for controlling the operation of an object to be manipulated based on the received signal strength (Received Signal Strength Indicator, RSSI) of a wireless signal transmitted by a terminal has been disclosed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-109040

[0004] However, RSSI is greatly affected by obstacles such as the human body. Therefore, depending on the positional relationship between the object to be manipulated, the terminal, and the person carrying the terminal, a situation where the RSSI significantly decreases may occur.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to achieve both security and more convenient operation control.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, it includes a control device mounted on a housing and a program installed in a portable device carried by a user of the housing. When the RSSI of a wireless signal conforming to a specified communication standard transmitted and received between the communication device mounted on the housing and the portable device exceeds a first threshold value, the control device causes a controlled device provided in the housing to execute a specified operation. The program performs control to transmit an execution request for requesting the execution of the specified operation when a specified operation on the portable device is detected. When the communication device receives the execution request, the control device compares the RSSI with a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value instead of the first threshold value, and when the RSSI exceeds the second threshold value, causes the controlled device to execute the specified operation, and a system is provided.

[0007] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both security and more convenient operation control.

[0008] This figure illustrates an example of the functional configuration of System 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the control flow by System 1 according to the present embodiment. This figure illustrates an example of the first threshold and the second threshold according to the present embodiment.

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, when describing multiple identical components to distinguish them, letters or other symbols may be added to the end of the reference numerals. On the other hand, when there is no need to distinguish multiple identical components, the letters or other symbols may be omitted, and a description common to all identical components may be provided.

[0011] <1. Embodiments> <<1.1. Example of Functional Configuration>> As described above, RSSI is greatly affected by shielding objects such as the human body.

[0012] For example, if a human body is present between a transmitter that sends a wireless signal and a receiver that receives the wireless signal, the wireless signal may be attenuated by the human body, resulting in a significant decrease in RSSI.

[0013] Here, we assume that the transmitter is a portable device such as a smartphone, and the receiver is mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle.

[0014] Furthermore, RSSI is used to determine whether a portable device is located within a predetermined distance from a mobile object (or a receiver mounted on it). If it is determined that the portable device is located within a predetermined distance from the mobile object, it is assumed that the mobile object's controlled device will be permitted to perform a specified operation.

[0015] In this case, if the user of the mobile vehicle approaches the vehicle with the portable device in their back pocket, the human body is interposed between the portable device and the receiver mounted on the vehicle, resulting in a significant decrease in the RSSI of the wireless signal received by the receiver.

[0016] Therefore, even if a portable device is located within a predetermined distance from a moving object, it may be incorrectly determined that the portable device is not located within that predetermined distance.

[0017] However, if the threshold used for comparison with RSSI in control is simply lowered to avoid the above situation, the specified operation will be permitted even when the user carrying the portable device is at home or at a distance from the moving object.

[0018] The technical concept relating to one embodiment of the present invention was conceived with the above-mentioned points in mind, and aims to achieve both security and more convenient operation control.

[0019] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of System 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the system 1 according to this embodiment includes, for example, a mobile body 10, a portable device 20, and a Fob key 30.

[0021] (Mobile body 10) The mobile body 10 according to this embodiment is an example of a housing. The mobile body 10 may be a vehicle, ship, aircraft, or other type of vehicle.

[0022] In the following explanation, we will primarily use the case where the mobile body 10 is a four-wheeled vehicle as an example.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the mobile unit 10 includes at least a communication device 12, a control device 14, a detection device 16, and a controlled device 18.

[0024] (Communication device 12) The communication device 12 according to this embodiment transmits and receives wireless signals in accordance with a specified communication standard to the portable device 20.

[0025] The communication standard specified above may be, for example, BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy).

[0026] However, the specified communication standard in this embodiment is not limited to BLE, and any communication standard may be adopted.

[0027] (Control device 14) The control device 14 according to this embodiment includes a control unit 15 that causes the controlled device 18 to perform a predetermined operation when the RSSI of a wireless signal conforming to a predetermined communication standard transmitted and received between the communication device 12 and the portable device 20 exceeds a first threshold.

[0028] Furthermore, one of the features of the control unit 15 according to this embodiment is that, when the communication device 12 receives an execution request from the portable device 20 requesting the execution of a predetermined operation, it compares the RSSI with a second threshold smaller than the first threshold instead of the first threshold, and if the RSSI exceeds the second threshold, it causes the controlled device 18 to execute the predetermined operation.

[0029] The functions of the control unit 15 according to this embodiment are realized through the cooperation of various processors and memory.

[0030] Details of the functions of the control unit 15 according to this embodiment will be described later.

[0031] (Detection device 16) The detection device 16 according to this embodiment detects the proximity of the user to the moving object 10.

[0032] For example, the detection device 16 according to this embodiment may detect the proximity of a user to the mobile body 10 based on the pressing of a switch provided on the door handle of the mobile body 10, or the detection of the proximity of an object by an electrostatic sensor provided on the door handle.

[0033] Furthermore, for example, the detection device 16 according to this embodiment may detect the proximity of a user to the mobile body 10 based on detecting a user (person) from an image captured by a camera mounted on the mobile body 10.

[0034] (Controlled device 18) The controlled device 18 according to this embodiment is some device that can perform a predetermined operation in accordance with the control of the control device 14.

[0035] For example, the controlled device 18 may be a locking device that performs a predetermined operation to lock and unlock the door of the mobile body 10.

[0036] Also, for example, the controlled device 18 may be an engine included in the moving body 10. In this case, the defined operation may be the start of the engine.

[0037] Also, for example, the controlled device 18 according to the present embodiment may be a lighting device. In this case, the defined operation may be the lighting or extinguishing of the light.

[0038] (Portable device 20) The portable device 20 according to the present embodiment is carried by a user of the moving body 10 (for example, the owner of the moving body 10, a person permitted to use the moving body 10 by the owner, etc.).

[0039] The portable device 20 according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a smartphone.

[0040] However, the portable device 20 according to the present embodiment is not limited to a smartphone, and may have a function of performing wireless communication conforming to a defined communication standard with the communication device 12 and a function of detecting a defined operation.

[0041] When a defined operation on the portable device 20 according to the present embodiment is detected, a program for controlling the transmission of an execution request for requesting the execution of a defined operation by the controlled device 18 is installed.

[0042] Details of the functions of the program installed in the portable device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described later.

[0043] Also, a digital key associated with the moving body 10 is stored in advance in the portable device 20 according to the present embodiment.

[0044] (Fob key 30) The Fob key 30 according to the present embodiment is a remote control key provided by the manufacturer of the moving body 10.

[0045] The functional configuration example of the system 1 according to the present embodiment has been described above. However, the above functional configuration described with reference to FIG. 1 is merely an example, and the functional configuration of the system 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to such an example.

[0046] The functional configuration of the system 1 according to this embodiment can be flexibly modified according to specifications, operations, etc.

[0047] <<1.2. Details of Control>> Next, the control by the system 1 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0048] As described above, when the RSSI decreases due to the influence of human body shielding or the like, even when the portable device 20 is in an area within a predetermined distance from the moving body 10, it may be determined that the portable device 20 is not in an area within a predetermined distance from the moving body 10, resulting in a situation where convenience decreases.

[0049] On the other hand, when giving priority to convenience and lowering the threshold value used for comparison with the RSSI, even when the distance between the moving body 10 and the portable device 20 is far, the specified operation will be permitted, resulting in a decrease in security.

[0050] The technical idea according to an embodiment of the present invention was conceived by paying attention to the above points, and it achieves both ensuring security and enabling more convenient operation control.

[0051] For this purpose, the program installed in the portable device 20 according to this embodiment is characterized in that, when a specified operation on the portable device 20 by the user is detected, it performs control to send an execution request requesting the execution of a specified operation.

[0052] Further, when the communication device 12 receives the above execution request, the control device 14 according to this embodiment compares the RSSI with a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value instead of the first threshold value, and when the RSSI exceeds the second threshold value, it causes the controlled device 18 to execute a specified operation. This is one of the features.

[0053] For example, the above specified operation may be a tap operation, a swipe operation, etc. In this case, the portable device 20 includes a touch panel or the like.

[0054] Also, for example, the above specified operation may be a voice operation. In this case, the portable device 20 includes a microphone or the like.

[0055] Furthermore, for example, the operations specified above may also be operations using specified motions. In this case, the portable device 20 is equipped with an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like.

[0056] Thus, the prescribed operation of the portable device 20 is not limited to a single operation, but it is desirable that the operation can be performed and that the operation can be detected even when the portable device 20 is stored in a pocket or the like.

[0057] With the above configuration, even if the portable device 20 is stored in a pocket or the like and the RSSI is reduced due to the effects of body shielding, the specified operation can be performed without removing the portable device 20 from the pocket or the like, thus ensuring security while further improving convenience.

[0058] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 2 and 3, an example of the control flow by System 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0059] Figure 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the control flow by System 1 according to this embodiment.

[0060] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first threshold and the second threshold according to this embodiment.

[0061] In the following, it is assumed that authentication based on the digital key stored in the portable device 20 has already been established (i.e., the authenticity of the digital key has been confirmed). Conventional and widely implemented technologies may be used for digital key-based authentication.

[0062] Furthermore, the following describes the case where the specified operation of the portable device 20 is a tap operation. Furthermore, the following describes the case where the specified operation of the controlled device 18 is the locking and unlocking of the door of the mobile body 10. Furthermore, the following describes the case where the detection of the user's proximity by the detection device 16 is detected based on the pressing of a switch provided on the door handle or the like of the mobile body 10.

[0063] In the example shown in Figure 2, the detection device 16 mounted on the mobile body 10 first detects the pressing of the switch, that is, the detection device 16 detects the proximity of the user to the mobile body 10 (S101).

[0064] Based on the detection of the user's proximity in step S101, the control device 14 mounted on the mobile unit 10 performs a determination (Fob key determination) to determine whether or not the Fob key 30 has been detected by the communication device 12 (S102).

[0065] Furthermore, the control device 14 performs a determination (k1 determination) to determine whether the RSSI of the wireless signal compliant with a specified communication standard transmitted and received between the portable device 20 and the communication device 12 exceeds the threshold k1 (S103).

[0066] As illustrated in Figure 3, the threshold k1 is used to define an area that is sufficiently close to the moving object 10.

[0067] If the control device 14 determines in step S102 that the Fob key 30 has been detected, or if it determines in step S103 that the RSSI exceeds the threshold k1, the system 1 may lock or unlock the door without performing steps S104 to S108 shown in Figure 2 (S109).

[0068] This is because, if the Fob key 30 is detected, control based on the Fob key 30 should be prioritized, and by not detecting the prescribed operation on the portable device 20, it is possible to prevent false detection of the prescribed operation on the portable device 20.

[0069] Furthermore, if the RSSI exceeds the threshold k1, it is considered that the portable device 20 is in an area sufficiently close to the moving object 10, regardless of the effects of human body shielding, etc.

[0070] On the other hand, if the control device 14 determines in step S102 that the Fob key 30 has not been detected, and in step S103 that the RSSI is less than or equal to the threshold k1, it causes the communication device 12 to send a detection request requesting the detection of a specified operation (tap operation) (S104).

[0071] The program installed on the portable device 20 causes the portable device 20 to start detecting tap operations (S105) when the portable device 20 receives a detection request in step S104.

[0072] If it is detected that the user has performed a tap operation on the portable device 20 (S106), the program installed on the portable device 20 controls the system to send an execution request that requests the execution of a predetermined action (locking and unlocking the door) (S107).

[0073] In this example, the execution request may be a signal requesting a reversal of the door's locked / unlocked state. Alternatively, if the detection request includes information indicating the door's locked / unlocked state, the execution request in this example may be a signal requesting either the door to be locked or unlocked.

[0074] When the communication device 12 receives an execution request in step S107, the control device 14 mounted on the mobile device 10 determines whether the RSSI of the wireless signal compliant with a specified communication standard transmitted and received between the portable device 20 and the communication device 12 exceeds the threshold k2 (k2 determination) (S108).

[0075] As illustrated in Figure 3, threshold k2 is used to define an area wider than the area defined by threshold k1. In other words, threshold k2 takes a value smaller than threshold k1.

[0076] If the control device 14 determines in step S108 that the RSSI exceeds the threshold k2, it controls the locking and unlocking of the door on the mobile body 10 (S109).

[0077] <2. Supplementary Information> Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear to any person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and these are also understood to fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0078] For example, in the above embodiment, a mobile body was given as an example of a housing. However, the housing is not limited to such examples. The housing may be, for example, a delivery box, a locker, a building, etc. The present invention is also applicable to the locking and unlocking of locking devices provided in such various housings.

[0079] Furthermore, the series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented by a program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Each program is, for example, loaded into RAM when executed by a computer and executed by a processor such as a CPU. The storage medium may be, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or flash memory. Alternatively, the program may be distributed without using a storage medium, for example, via a network.

[0080] 1: System, 10: Mobile device, 12: Communication device, 14: Control device, 15: Control unit, 16: Detection device, 18: Controlled device, 20: Portable device, 30: Fob key

Claims

1. A system comprising a control device mounted on a housing and a program installed on a portable device carried by a user of the housing, wherein the control device causes a controlled device provided on the housing to perform a specified operation when the RSSI of a wireless signal conforming to a specified communication standard transmitted and received between a communication device mounted on the housing and the portable device exceeds a first threshold, the program performs control to transmit an execution request requesting the execution of the specified operation when a specified operation on the portable device is detected, and when the communication device receives the execution request, the control device compares the RSSI with a second threshold smaller than the first threshold instead of the first threshold, and causes the controlled device to perform the specified operation if the RSSI exceeds the second threshold.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control device causes the communication device to send a detection request requesting the detection of a specified operation when the RSSI is below the first threshold, and the program controls the portable device to start detecting the specified operation when it receives the detection request.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the system so that the detection request is not transmitted when a remote control key associated with the housing is detected.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control device determines whether the RSSI exceeds the first threshold when the proximity of the user is detected by a detection device mounted on the housing.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed operation includes a tapping operation on the portable device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operation described above includes locking and unlocking the door of the housing.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a mobile body.

8. The communication standard specified above includes BLE, as described in claim 1.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the portable device is a smartphone.

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