Vehicle Access Control Using Smartphone-Based Waiting Notifications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems rely on electronic keys without advanced notification devices like displays, vibrators, or speakers, leading to limited information provision and increased costs, power consumption, and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system utilizing a first and second communication device, where the first device (electronic key) and second device (smartphone) communicate wirelessly with the vehicle, enabling reliable notifications of operation waiting states through hysteresis-based area detection and authentication, using Bluetooth™ for communication and distance detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If notification devices (display, vibrator, speaker) are added to the electronic key, then the amount of information provided to the user increases, but the cost, power consumption, and battery life are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone acts as an intermediary device between the vehicle and the user. Instead of adding notification devices to the electronic key, the system uses the smartphone's existing notification capabilities (display, vibrator, speaker) to provide information to the user. The electronic key only needs basic communication functions, while the smartphone handles complex notification tasks, thus avoiding the need to increase power consumption in the electronic key.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication device for authentication, a notification device for providing information to the user, and a processing unit for handling complex operations. By leveraging the smartphone's existing multi-functional capabilities, the system avoids adding dedicated notification devices to the electronic key, thereby maintaining low power consumption and cost.
2Reliability
If the electronic key is provided with notification devices, then the user can be reliably notified of operation waiting states, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone serves as an intermediary that provides notification capabilities without being part of the electronic key structure. The electronic key communicates with the vehicle and the smartphone, but the actual notification to the user is handled by the smartphone's existing display, vibrator, and speaker components. This approach maintains reliability of notification while avoiding increases in electronic key complexity and cost.
3Use of energy by moving object
If Bluetooth communication is used for wireless communication, then power consumption is reduced compared to other wireless technologies, but communication range and signal stability may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple communication approaches: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for low-power periodic communication and authentication, and Wi-Fi for high-speed data transfer when needed. This combination allows the system to maintain low power consumption during normal operation while ensuring reliable communication when high data rates are required, leveraging the strengths of both technologies.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system includes: a vehicle including an operation device; a first communication device; and a second communication device. In a case in which the first communication device is positioned in a first area containing a position of the vehicle, the vehicle operates in an operation waiting state in which the operation device is allowed to receive an operation. In a case in which the second communication device is positioned in a second area contained in the first area and smaller than the first area, the vehicle operates in the operation waiting state. In a case in which the first communication device is positioned in the first area and the second communication device is positioned in the second area, the second communication device generates a notification indicating that the vehicle is in the operation waiting state.