Information Processing Device for Secure Digital Key Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in appropriately providing digital keys to authorized users of sharing cars or rental cars, particularly in ensuring secure and efficient key distribution.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device and method that utilize visible light communication to transmit vehicle identification information from a vehicle to a user's terminal, allowing the device to securely transmit a digital key to the terminal only when the user's identification matches the authorized information associated with the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a server device transmits authentication information for unlocking a vehicle to a terminal device via a network, then the user can access the vehicle using a digital key, but it is difficult to ensure secure and efficient key distribution to authorized users only

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of digital key distributionVSAvoidcomplexity of key distribution system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an information processing device as an intermediary between the server and the vehicle. This intermediary receives requests from terminal devices, verifies authorization by checking against the server, and then transmits digital keys to authorized terminals. This mediator architecture enhances security by centralizing authorization verification while simplifying the overall system structure compared to direct server-vehicle communication for each key request.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary authorization verification before transmitting digital keys. The information processing device checks whether the terminal device is authorized to receive the digital key by communicating with the server in advance. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized users receive digital keys, enhancing security while maintaining efficient key distribution through pre-validated authorization lists.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If digital keys are transmitted to terminal devices without verification, then user convenience is improved, but security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of digital key accessVSAvoidsecurity of vehicle access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The information processing device implements a feedback mechanism by verifying terminal device authorization against the server before transmitting digital keys. The system receives requests from terminals, checks authorization status, and only transmits keys to verified authorized terminals. This feedback loop maintains high security while preserving user convenience through automated verification processes that occur transparently in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple terminal devices can receive digital keys, then user convenience is improved, but control over key distribution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of key distributionVSAvoidcontrol over authorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages digital key distribution by maintaining an authorization list that can be updated in real-time. The information processing device can add or remove terminal devices from the authorization list based on server instructions, allowing flexible key distribution to multiple terminals when needed while maintaining precise control over which terminals are authorized. This dynamic approach enables both versatility in key distribution and strict control over authorized access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables secure and efficient digital key distribution to authorized users, ensuring that the digital key is only provided when the user is in a position to visually recognize the vehicle, thus enhancing security and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting, to the first vehicle, a first command for transmitting first identification information by visible light communication

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVisible light communication: Light

Data Source

PatentUS12272194B2Information processing device and information processing method

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

In the information processing device according to the present disclosure, when the use start request of the first vehicle is received from the first terminal, the control unit transmits, to the first vehicle, a first command for transmitting the first identification information of the first vehicle by visible light communication. Thereafter, when the first signal including the second identification information and the first identification information, which are the identification information of the first user, is received from the first terminal, the control unit transmits the digital key of the first vehicle to the first terminal on condition that the second identification information included in the first signal matches the third identification information associated with the first identification information in advance.