Vehicle Control System for Car-Sharing Door Access

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle key systems for car-sharing models restrict access to the vehicle interior only at designated return positions after the booked usage time range, limiting user convenience for retrieving personal belongings left inside the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control system that manages booked usage time ranges, allows door unlocking using an electronic key after the usage end procedure, and permits access based on whether another booked usage time range exists or if the key was used by another user, thereby relaxing access restrictions while ensuring the vehicle is not started with an expired key.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If door unlocking is restricted only at designated return positions after booked usage time range, then vehicle security and proper return enforcement are improved, but user convenience for retrieving personal belongings is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle securityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating door unlocking permissions based on location. During the booked usage time range, door unlocking is permitted at any location. After the booked usage time range, door unlocking is restricted only at the designated return position. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing flexibility when needed (during usage) while enforcing security when appropriate (after usage).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic control of door unlocking permissions based on the temporal state of vehicle usage. The system transitions from a permissive state (during booked usage time range allowing unlock anywhere) to a restrictive state (after booked usage time range allowing unlock only at return position). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting security levels to the current usage phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If door unlocking is permitted at any location after booked usage time range, then user convenience for accessing vehicle interior is improved, but vehicle security and proper return enforcement are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidvehicle security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating door unlocking permissions based on location. During the booked usage time range, door unlocking is permitted at any location. After the booked usage time range, door unlocking is restricted only at the designated return position. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing flexibility when needed (during usage) while enforcing security when appropriate (after usage).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic control of door unlocking permissions based on the temporal state of vehicle usage. The system transitions from a permissive state (during booked usage time range allowing unlock anywhere) to a restrictive state (after booked usage time range allowing unlock only at return position). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting security levels to the current usage phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If electronic key validity is limited strictly to booked usage time range, then usage scheduling and vehicle availability management are improved, but user flexibility for late return or extended usage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle availability managementVSAvoiduser flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electronic key's functionality into two distinct modes: a primary mode during the booked usage time range where the key operates with full permissions (including starting the vehicle and unlocking at any location), and a secondary mode after the booked usage time range where the key operates with limited permissions (unlocking only at the designated return position). This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining strict scheduling during normal usage while providing flexibility for exceptional situations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic control of door unlocking permissions based on the temporal state of vehicle usage. The system transitions from a permissive state (during booked usage time range allowing unlock anywhere) to a restrictive state (after booked usage time range allowing unlock only at return position). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting security levels to the current usage phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10850706B2Vehicle control system

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A control system for a vehicle used by a plurality of users determines, in response to a request for unlocking vehicle doors, whether to permit vehicle door unlocking depending on whether or not another booked usage time range is registered after one booked usage time range in which a usage end procedure has been performed, or whether vehicle door unlocking that does not use an electronic key for the one booked usage time range was performed during the time from the end of the usage end procedure to the current time.