JP2005335567A - Vehicle control system and vehicle control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that vehicle theft caused by illegally obtained vehicle key shows no sign of significant decline. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle control system (100) mounted on the vehicle is equipped with an information reading mechanism (10) which reads the license information from the driver's license (200) where the license information including the number of the driver's license and the face image is recorded, a face image photograph mechanism (20) photographing the face image of a driver, and a memory mechanism (40) memorizing the number of the driver's license. The vehicle control system reads the license information of the driver's license shown by a driver riding on the vehicle, and compares the number of the driver's license of the license information with the number of the driver's license of the memory mechanism. When these both numbers of the driver's licenses correspond, the vehicle control system photographs the face image of the driver, compares the face image photographed with the face image of the license information previously read out, and determines the advisability of the engine start of the vehicle based on the comparison result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system and a vehicle control program mounted on a vehicle, and more particularly to a technique for determining the validity of a driver using a driver's face image.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system described in Patent Document 1 described below has been proposed as a system for preventing vehicle theft in view of the never-ending problem of parked vehicles being stolen. The system described in Patent Document 1 includes an information processing device that can communicate with a mobile communication terminal possessed by a user of the vehicle, and the information processing device responds to a request from the user's mobile communication terminal. The vehicle status such as the door locking status is notified. According to this system, it is possible for the user to grasp the vehicle status from a remote location, so that the user can quickly resolve anxiety such as forgetting to lock the door even if the user is away from the vehicle. can do.
JP 2001-349108 A

  However, even if the user locks the door of the vehicle, if the third party who obtained the key forcibly enters the vehicle forcibly, the engine is started by the third party key. It becomes possible. Therefore, the above system for monitoring the locking of the door has a disadvantage that it does not have a deterrent against the vehicle theft in such a case. In addition, it is difficult for ordinary users to track a stolen vehicle in order to recover it, and this is a dangerous action.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control system and a vehicle control program capable of preventing the vehicle from being stolen by a person who has illegally obtained a vehicle key.

  A vehicle control system according to the present invention is a vehicle control system mounted on a vehicle, in which a driver's license number and license information including a user's face image corresponding to the number are recorded as digital data. An information reading mechanism for reading the license information from a license, a face image photographing mechanism for photographing a face image of the driver of the vehicle, and a driver's license number of a user who is permitted to drive the vehicle in advance are stored. A storage mechanism and a vehicle control mechanism for controlling the operation of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle control mechanism compares the driving license number of the license information read by the information reading mechanism with the driving license number of the storage mechanism. A comparison result between the number comparison unit, the face comparison unit comparing the face image of the license information read by the information reading mechanism and the face image captured by the face image photographing mechanism, and the number comparison unit and the face comparison unit. Hazuki and a determining start control unit whether the engine start of the vehicle.

  The vehicle control program according to the present invention includes an information reading mechanism for reading the license information from the driver's license in which the license information including the driver's license number and the user's face image corresponding to the number is recorded as digital data. And a face image photographing mechanism for photographing a face image of the driver of the vehicle, and a storage mechanism for storing a driver's license number of a user who is permitted to drive the vehicle in advance. Reading the license information of the driver's license presented by the driver who has boarded the vehicle with the information reading mechanism, the driving license number of the license information read in the step, and the driving license of the storage mechanism A step of comparing the number, and a step of photographing the driver's face image by the face image photographing mechanism when the both driver's license numbers in the step correspond. Comparing a face image of license information read the the photographed face image at the step to perform the determining whether the engine start of the vehicle based on the comparison result of the step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the engine from being started by a driver who has obtained the vehicle key illegally, thereby preventing the vehicle from being stolen. In particular, since personal authentication is performed using face images, engine startup using this driver's license can be prevented even if the presented driver's license is stolen or illegally copied. it can.

[Example]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle control system 100 according to the embodiment is a system that can be mounted on various automobiles, and as shown in FIG. 1, an IC driving license that reads license information described later from an IC driving license 200 presented by a driver. Reading device 10, face image photographing device 20 for photographing a driver's face image, touch panel display 30 as a screen display mechanism capable of input operation, and driving of a person who is permitted to drive in advance, such as a vehicle owner A storage device 40 that stores a license number, a wireless communication device 50 that has a wireless communication function for a base station, and a vehicle control circuit 60 that controls the operation of the vehicle are provided.

  The IC driving license 200 handled in this embodiment is a so-called non-contact type in which a loop-shaped antenna (not shown) and an IC chip (not shown) for performing close-range wireless communication using the antenna are incorporated. Type IC card. On the IC chip of the IC driver's license 200, a driver's license number as license information and a face image of the user are recorded in advance as digital data.

  The IC driving license reader 10 is a so-called non-contact type card reader that reads the license information from the IC driving license 200 by wireless communication at a short distance. The driver presents the license information to the vehicle control system 100 by bringing the IC driving license 200 close to the IC driving license reading device 10.

  The face image capturing device 20 captures the face image of the driver sitting on the driver's seat of the vehicle and sends the image data to the storage device 40. As the face image photographing device 20, for example, a device capable of clearly photographing a driver's face image in a vehicle, such as a conventionally known CCD digital camera, is preferably used, and its lens is the face of the driver. Install in an appropriate location in the car so that

  The touch panel display 30 has an operation function for registering / updating / deleting information with respect to the vehicle control system 100 and a function for displaying a message from the vehicle control system 100 to the driver.

  The storage device 40 stores an area for storing the license information read by the IC driving license reading apparatus 10 from the IC driving license 200, an area for storing the face image data captured by the face image capturing apparatus 20, and wireless communication. It has an area for storing a communication address such as an electronic mail address or a telephone number used by the communication device 50.

  The wireless communication device 50 has a function of transmitting image data by wireless communication, and a communication address in which a face image captured by the face image capturing device 20 is stored in the storage device 40 under the control of the vehicle control circuit 60. Send to.

  The vehicle control circuit 60 is a computer mechanism that controls the operation of the vehicle according to a predetermined program. FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the vehicle control circuit 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle control circuit 60 includes a number comparison unit 61 that compares the driver license number of the license information read by the IC driver license reader 10 with the driver license number of the storage device 40, and the IC Based on the comparison results of the face comparison unit 62 that compares the face image of the license information read by the driver's license reading device 10 and the face image captured by the face image capturing device 20, and the comparison results of the number comparison unit 61 and the face comparison unit 62. A start control unit 63 that determines whether or not the engine can be started, and a travel control unit 64 that activates the face comparison unit 62 at a predetermined timing during engine operation and determines whether or not to continue the travel based on the comparison result. .

  The face comparison unit 62 is a function that uses a conventionally known facial image authentication technique, for example, a function that compares feature points extracted from face images to be authenticated with each other. For the face comparison unit 62, it is desirable to use a technique that is not easily affected by changes in hairstyle or whether or not glasses are worn.

  An operation procedure of the vehicle control system 100 according to the embodiment will be described. When using the vehicle control system 100, initial settings are made in advance according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 when the vehicle is purchased or when the owner is changed. First, the initial setting operator presents the IC driving license 200 of the person who should be allowed to drive the vehicle to the IC driving license reading device 10, that is, the IC driving license 200 to the IC driving license reading device 10. Approach (step A1). The IC driver's license reading device 10 reads the license information from the presented IC driver's license 200 (step A2), and the read license information is registered in the storage device 40 under the control of the vehicle control circuit 60. (Step A3).

  Subsequently, the operator touches the touch panel display with the communication address of the contact to be notified when an unauthorized driver appears, such as when the vehicle is stolen, and the time interval at which the face comparison unit 62 should be activated while the engine is running. Use 30 to enter. Starting up the face comparison unit 62 while the engine is running means that personal authentication of the driver is performed between the start of the engine and the stop. As this time interval, a time interval suitable for confirming the validity of the driver while the engine is operating, such as “10 minutes” or “20 minutes”, is appropriately set. The input communication address and time interval are registered in the storage device 40 under the control of the vehicle control circuit 60 (steps A4 and A5).

  In the above initial setting, not only one user but also a plurality of users such as family members and employees may be registered. In addition, the registered contents can be added and modified using the touch panel display 30 after registration, but in order to prevent unauthorized changes to the registered contents, an ID and a password are requested at the time of addition or modification. It is desirable to add an authentication procedure.

  The operation procedure of the vehicle control system 100 after the initial setting will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the driver gets on the vehicle, a message prompting the user to present his / her IC driving license to the IC driving license reading device 10 is displayed on the touch panel display 30 (step S1). At this stage, even if the driver attempts to start the engine with a regular vehicle key, it will not start. Therefore, it is possible to prevent engine starting due to unauthorized intrusion into the vehicle, and also to prevent unlicensed driving by a person without a driver's license and forgetting to carry a driver's license by a regular driver. it can.

  When the driver follows the message and presents the IC driver's license 200 to the IC driver's license reader 10, the IC driver's license reader 10 reads the driver's license number and face image as the driver's license information, and the storage device 40 (step S2). The IC driver's license reading device 10 is presented with a new IC driver's license 200 after reading the license information until the license information is invalidated or until the engine is stopped. However, the license information is not read.

  When the reading of the license information by the IC driver's license reader 10 is completed, the vehicle control circuit 60 activates the number comparison unit 61, and the transmitted driver's license number and the operation registered in advance in the initial setting. Compare your license number. As a result, if the driver's license numbers do not match (step S3: No), the touch panel display 30 prompts that the IC driver's license 200 is not appropriate and prompts the user to present the regular IC driver's license 200. It is displayed (step S4), and the license information previously read in step S2 is invalidated (step S5). At this time, a predetermined mail document or the like may be automatically transmitted to the contact registered at the time of initial setting by the wireless communication device 50 in order to report that an unauthorized driver has appeared.

  On the other hand, when the driver's license numbers match (step S3: Yes), the face comparison unit 62 is activated, and the face image capturing device 20 captures the face image of the driver sitting in the driver's seat, and the image data is obtained. The data is transmitted to the storage device 40 (step S6). Furthermore, the face comparison unit 62 compares the transmitted face image with the face image previously read from the IC driving license 200.

  If the comparison result by the face comparison unit 62 coincides (step S7: Yes), the start control unit 63 permits the engine start based on the determination that the driver is a regular user. The message is displayed on the touch panel display 30 (step S8). Thereby, the engine can be started.

  If the face images do not match (step S7: No), the start control unit 63 indicates that the driver and the holder of the IC driver's license 200 are not the same person, that is, the driver is the IC driver of another person. Based on the determination that the license 200 is used, the touch panel display 30 is notified that the engine start is not permitted, and the license information is invalidated (step S9).

  Further, the face image captured by the face image capturing device 20 is automatically transmitted by the wireless communication device 50 in order to notify a contact information such as a security company registered in advance (step S10). As a result, a third party who is not allowed to drive is notified to the contact in real time that the vehicle is attempting to drive the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is stolen, theft is promptly stolen based on the transmitted face image. The offender can be identified.

  When the driver actually starts the engine after receiving permission to start the engine (step S11), the travel control unit 64 activates the face comparison unit 62, and the face image photographing device 20 causes the driver's face image. Is photographed (step S12) and compared with the face image read from the IC driver's license 200 in the previous step S2. If the comparison results of the face images match (step S13: Yes), the traveling control unit 64 determines that the traveling is continued (step S14), and also during the subsequent traveling (step S15: No), the initial The face comparison unit 62 is activated at a time interval such as “every 10 minutes” registered in advance in the setting, and personal authentication is performed for the driver's face image by the procedures of steps S12 and S13.

  When it is determined that the driver's face image does not match that of the IC driver's license 200 during engine operation (step S13: No), the traveling control unit 64 determines that the driver has been tampered with. A warning message for stopping the vehicle is displayed on the touch panel display 30, and deceleration control for forcibly decreasing the traveling speed is performed (step S16). Furthermore, the traveling control unit 64 automatically transmits the driver's face image to a predetermined contact by the wireless communication device 50 to make a notification (step S17).

  Thus, for example, even if a situation occurs in which a third party illegally enters the vehicle and travels while the driver parks with the engine running and leaves the vehicle, In addition to preventing continuation, it is possible to automatically notify the security company.

  Thereafter, when the engine is stopped, the license information read from the IC driving license 200 is invalidated, and the process is terminated (step S18). When using the vehicle control system 100, there are a plurality of drivers allowed to drive in advance, and when the driver is changed after the engine is started, the engine is temporarily stopped in order to avoid erroneous notifications. After the driver's license information is invalidated, the new driver presents his / her IC driver's license 200.

  According to the vehicle control system 100 of the embodiment described above, the engine start by the driver who has obtained the vehicle key illegally can be prevented, and when such a situation occurs, the driver's face image It is possible to report to a security company etc. by automatic transmission. In particular, since personal authentication is performed using a face image, even if the presented IC driving license 200 is stolen or illegally copied, the vehicle control system 100 uses the IC driving license 200 to It is possible to prevent the engine from starting or continuing to run.

  In the embodiment described above, an example in which a non-contact type IC card is used as the IC driving license 200 has been described. Instead, a so-called contact type IC card having an external connection terminal is used as an IC driving license. It can also be adopted as 200. In that case, as the IC driving license reading device 10 of the vehicle control system 100, a mechanism for reading the license information from the contact type IC card by electrical connection via the external connection terminal is prepared. Then, after the driver sets the IC driver's license 200 in the IC driver's license reader 10, the IC driver's license 200 is obtained when the license information is invalidated or when the engine is stopped. Control to discharge. The driver's license handled in the present invention is not limited to the IC driver's license 200 as described above, and may be a driver's license on which a two-dimensional barcode indicating the driver's license information is described, for example.

  Further, as described with reference to FIG. 4 in the embodiment, when the driver's face image does not match during engine operation, deceleration control is performed together with a request to stop the vehicle (step S16). Instead of executing step S16 immediately when the face images do not match, the above step may be set to be executed when a face image mismatch occurs a plurality of times such as twice or three times. . This setting is suitable for an application where a legitimate user is changed by temporarily parking the engine while operating, for example, in a delivery service.

It is a block diagram of the vehicle control system of the Example by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the vehicle control circuit of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the initial setting procedure with respect to the system of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the vehicle control system of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

100 Vehicle control system 200 IC driving license.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 IC driver's license reading device 20 Face imaging device 30 Touch panel display 40 Storage device 50 Wireless communication device 60 Vehicle control circuit 61: Number comparison part, 62: Face comparison part, 63: Start-up control part, 64: Traveling control part

Claims (12)

A vehicle control system mounted on a vehicle,
An information reading mechanism for reading the license information from the driver's license in which the license information including the driver's license number and the user's face image corresponding to the number is recorded as digital data; and the face of the driver of the vehicle A face image photographing mechanism for photographing an image, a storage mechanism for storing a driving license number of a user who is permitted to drive the vehicle in advance, and a vehicle control mechanism for controlling operation of the vehicle,
The vehicle control mechanism is
A number comparison unit that compares the driving license number of the license information read by the information reading mechanism with the driving license number of the storage mechanism;
A face comparison unit that compares the face image of the license information read by the information reading mechanism and the face image captured by the face image capturing mechanism;
A vehicle control system comprising: a start control unit that determines whether or not the vehicle engine can be started based on a comparison result of the number comparison unit and the face comparison unit. The vehicle control mechanism is
The vehicle control system according to claim 1, further comprising: a travel control unit that activates the face comparison unit at a predetermined timing while the engine is running and determines whether or not to continue traveling based on the comparison result. Furthermore, a wireless communication mechanism for performing wireless communication is provided,
The start control unit transmits a face image captured by the face image capturing mechanism to a predetermined communication address by the wireless communication mechanism when it is determined not to permit the start of the vehicle. Item 3. The vehicle control system according to Item 1 or 2.   The travel control unit transmits a face image captured by the face image capturing mechanism to a predetermined communication address by the wireless communication mechanism when it is determined not to allow the travel to be continued. 4. The vehicle control system according to 3.   The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the travel control unit performs control to gradually decrease the travel speed of the vehicle when it is determined not to allow the travel to be continued. .   The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information reading mechanism reads the license information from the driver's license by wireless communication at a short distance. An information reading mechanism for reading the license information from the driver's license in which the license information including the driver's license number and the user's face image corresponding to the number is recorded as digital data; and the face of the driver of the vehicle In a computer mounted on a vehicle, comprising a face image photographing mechanism for photographing an image and a storage mechanism for storing a driving license number of a user who is permitted to drive the vehicle in advance.
The information reading mechanism reads the license information of the driver's license presented by the driver who has boarded the vehicle, the driving license number of the license information read in the step, and the driving license number of the storage mechanism A step of photographing the face image of the driver by the face image photographing mechanism when the both driver's license numbers in the step correspond to each other, and reading the face image photographed in the step A vehicle control program for executing a step of comparing a face image of license information and a step of determining whether or not the vehicle can be started based on a comparison result of the step.   While the engine is running, the step of photographing the driver's face image by the face image photographing mechanism at a predetermined timing is compared with the face image photographed in the step and the face image of the read license information. The vehicle control program according to claim 7, wherein the computer is caused to execute a step and a step of determining whether to continue traveling based on a comparison result of the step. The vehicle includes a wireless communication mechanism for performing wireless communication,
When it is decided not to permit engine start of the vehicle, the computer is caused to execute a step of transmitting a face image taken by the face image photographing mechanism to a predetermined communication address by the wireless communication mechanism. The vehicle control program according to claim 7 or 8.   When it is determined not to allow the vehicle to continue running, the computer is caused to transmit a face image captured by the face image capturing mechanism to a predetermined communication address by the wireless communication mechanism. The vehicle control program according to claim 9.   11. The computer according to claim 8, wherein when it is determined not to allow the vehicle to continue to travel, the computer is caused to execute a step of performing a control for gradually decreasing the traveling speed of the vehicle. Vehicle control program.   A computer-readable recording medium in which the vehicle control program according to any one of claims 7 to 11 is recorded.

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