Selective Digital Key Access for Shared Vehicle Fleets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Car-sharing services face challenges in allowing customers to access multiple vehicles without the impracticality of obtaining individual keys, as vehicles are geographically dispersed, and owners want to prevent access to unselected vehicles after a selection is made.
Innovation Solution
A system using a controller and device that transmit signals to enable universal access to a pool of vehicles, then modify the access to restrict control to only the selected vehicle, employing encryption/decryption modules and network interface hardware for secure communication and access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a universal key is used to provide access to multiple vehicles, then customer convenience is improved, but vehicle security deteriorates because unselected vehicles remain accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The digital key's access permissions are made dynamic rather than static. The key can be remotely configured to enable or disable access to specific vehicles based on customer selection. This allows the system to transition from a universal access state to a restricted access state, resolving the contradiction between convenience and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The access control parameters of the digital key are changed remotely through signal transmission. When a customer selects a vehicle, the system modifies the key's parameters to restrict access to only that selected vehicle, thereby maintaining security while preserving the convenience of digital access.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If individual keys are distributed for each vehicle in the rental pool, then vehicle security is improved, but customer convenience deteriorates due to geographic dispersion of vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
A single digital key is made multi-functional to replace multiple individual vehicle keys. The digital key can be remotely programmed to access any vehicle in the rental pool, eliminating the need for customers to obtain separate keys for each geographically dispersed vehicle while maintaining security through remote access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital key acts as an intermediary between the customer and the vehicle fleet. Rather than directly providing physical keys for each vehicle, the system uses a centralized digital key management system that mediates access requests, allowing customers to access multiple vehicles conveniently while the system maintains security control.
3Ease of manufacture
If a digital key system is implemented to allow selective access, then device complexity increases, but manufacturing simplicity improves compared to physical key distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical key distribution system is replaced with an electronic/digital key system. Instead of physically distributing and managing multiple mechanical keys, the system uses digital signals transmitted wirelessly to grant or revoke access permissions, simplifying the distribution process while introducing electronic control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes identifying a plurality of vehicles within a geographic area; transmitting a first signal to a device of a customer, the first signal being configured to control each of the plurality of vehicles; receiving a selection of a vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles; and transmitting a second signal to the device in response to receiving the selection, the second signal modifying the first signal to be disabled from controlling the plurality of vehicles except the selected vehicle.