Car Sharing System With Shared Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In car sharing systems, reserved vehicles are exclusively available to the reserving user, limiting opportunities for other users to utilize the vehicle even if they meet certain conditions.
Innovation Solution
A car sharing system incorporating a car share device and a usage right lending unit, which allows multiple users to access a vehicle by verifying electronic key IDs through wireless communication with a mobile terminal, enabling secondary users to use the vehicle if they satisfy lending conditions, such as belonging to the same user group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle is reserved to a single user, then the user's exclusive access and control are ensured, but the vehicle utilization rate decreases and other users cannot access the vehicle even when available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the vehicle to serve multiple users during the same reservation period. The usage right lending unit allows the reserved vehicle to be accessed by both the reserving user and other users who meet lending conditions, transforming the vehicle's access rights from exclusive to shared, thereby improving utilization without compromising control through authentication mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the usage right lending unit and lending condition evaluation unit - that mediates between the exclusive reservation system and potential additional users. This intermediary evaluates lending conditions (such as user group membership) and authorizes access for qualified users, enabling shared access while maintaining systematic control over vehicle utilization
2Productivity
If multiple users are allowed to use a reserved vehicle, then vehicle utilization improves, but authentication complexity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing user groups and lending conditions before the vehicle reservation occurs. The system pre-configures which users belong to which groups and defines lending conditions in advance, so that when multiple users need access, the authentication process simply checks pre-defined conditions rather than creating complex real-time authentication logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the authentication parameter from verifying individual user identities to verifying whether users belong to authorized groups. Instead of complex individual authentication for each user, the system checks group membership parameters, simplifying the authentication process while enabling multiple users to access the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A car sharing system includes a car share device and a usage right lending unit that allows multiple users including a first user and a second user to use the vehicle. If the second user requests for usage of the vehicle when the vehicle is being rented to the first user, the usage right lending unit allows the second user to use the vehicle as long as the second user satisfies a lending condition.