Digital Key Deletion Coordination for Multi-Device Vehicle Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital key management systems require users to individually select and delete multiple digital keys, imposing a significant operational burden when managing multiple digital keys for a single vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A management server that manages digital keys, capable of executing a deletion process in response to a deletion request, automatically deleting specified shareable keys and associated keys across different devices based on requests from target devices, simplifying the deletion process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users individually select and delete multiple digital keys, then each key can be precisely controlled, but the operational burden increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of key deletion controlVSAvoidoperational burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service deletion by allowing shareable devices to automatically request deletion of their associated shareable keys from the management server without requiring manual user selection. The shareable device initiates the deletion process itself, reducing operational burden while maintaining control precision through device-specific deletion requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary organization of digital keys by device association, where the management server maintains a structured registry linking shareable keys to their respective shareable devices. This preliminary organization enables automated deletion processes to efficiently identify and remove specific keys without requiring users to manually navigate through multiple key selections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple shareable keys are registered across different devices, then key sharing functionality is enhanced, but the complexity of managing and deleting these keys increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey sharing capabilityVSAvoiddeletion process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the digital key management by associating each shareable key with its specific shareable device, creating device-specific key groups. This segmentation allows the deletion process to be broken down into individual device-level operations, where each shareable device can independently request deletion of its associated key without affecting other devices' keys, thereby simplifying the overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The management server acts as an intermediary that receives deletion requests from shareable devices and coordinates the deletion process across the system. This intermediary role simplifies complexity by centralizing the coordination logic, where the server handles the identification, validation, and execution of deletions based on device-specific requests, shielding users from the underlying complexity of multi-device key management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260040064A1Management server, management system, deletion method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing deletion program

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

When receiving a deletion request specifying a registered shareable key, a management server executes a deletion process that deletes the shareable key of a target shareable device, which is specified in the received deletion request, and a shareable key that has been registered to a different shareable device based on a request from the target shareable device.