JP2008074145A - Vehicle anti-theft system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce hindrance operations as much as possible, and improve usability when a term of the validity of an electronic key is extended. <P>SOLUTION: When a vehicle passes through an extension point of a term of the validity of an electronic key, the term of the validity of the electronic key is extended. For example, if a company or a home is set as an extension point, the term of the validity of the electronic key is automatically extended only by using the vehicle for going to a company or going home by the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle anti-theft system configured to allow engine start only when an electronic key is within an expiration date.

As an example of a system for preventing vehicle theft, an expiration date is set for an electronic key used for starting / stopping the engine of the vehicle, and when the expiration date has expired (when it is not within the expiration date), the engine is started. A configuration that does not allow is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this system, even if the vehicle is stolen, the engine cannot be started when the validity period of the electronic key expires, which is effective in preventing theft.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-343437

  In the case of the system having the above conventional configuration, when the user extends the validity period of the electronic key, the user is usually authenticated by inputting a user ID and a password using a display and a keyboard (such as a touch panel). Later, it is configured to perform an extension of the expiration date. However, there is a problem that it is quite troublesome for the user to perform the operation of inputting the user ID and the password every time the expiration date is extended.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use vehicle antitheft system that can eliminate troublesome work as much as possible when extending the expiration date of an electronic key.

  The vehicle anti-theft system of the present invention is used for starting / stopping the engine of a vehicle. The electronic key stores key information, and the electronic key is a vehicle key based on the key information from the electronic key. A key verification unit that determines whether or not there is an expiration date storage unit that stores expiration date information of the electronic key, and the electronic key is determined to be a vehicle key, and the electronic key is within the expiration date In the system including engine control means that allows engine start only when it is, an extension point setting means that sets an extension point of the expiration date of the electronic key, and a position detection means that detects the current position of the vehicle, And an expiration date extension means for extending the expiration date of the electronic key when the vehicle passes the extension point.

  According to the above configuration, since the expiration date of the electronic key is extended when the vehicle passes through the set extension point, if the company or home is set as the extension point, for example, the vehicle can be used for commuting. The expiration date of the electronic key is automatically extended only by using or returning home. Therefore, when extending the expiration date, troublesome work can be eliminated as much as possible.

  Further, in the case of the above configuration, the extension point setting means is configured to be able to set a plurality of extension points, and the expiration date extension means is used when the vehicle passes all of the plurality of extension points. It is preferable that the expiration date of the electronic key is extended.

  Furthermore, it has owner authentication means for authenticating the owner of the vehicle, and when the electronic key is not within the expiration date, the expiration date of the electronic key when the owner of the vehicle is authenticated by the owner authentication means It is a good configuration to be configured to extend.

  In the case of the above configuration, the owner authentication means includes biometric information acquisition means for acquiring biometric information, biometric information storage means for storing the biometric information of the owner, and biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition means. Is more preferably composed of biometric information recognition means for recognizing whether or not the biometric information matches the biometric information stored in the biometric information storage means.

  The owner authentication means includes an input means for inputting a user ID and a password, an ID password storage means for storing the user ID and password of the owner, and a user ID and password input by the input means. It is also a good structure to comprise ID password recognition means for recognizing whether or not the user ID and password stored in the ID password storage means match.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the vehicle antitheft system 1 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle anti-theft system 1 includes an in-vehicle device 2 and an electronic key 3.

  The in-vehicle device 2 includes an engine control unit 4, a biological information management unit 5, an expiration date management unit 6, and a car navigation unit 7. When the engine control unit 4 receives an ON signal from the start key 8 for starting the engine in a state where the engine start permission signal is received from the expiration date management unit 6, the engine control unit 4 starts the engine (not shown). It is configured. That is, the engine control unit 4 is configured not to start the engine even if it receives an ON signal from the start key 8 when it does not receive an engine start permission signal from the expiration date management unit 6. In this case, the engine control unit 4 constitutes an engine control means.

  The biometric information management unit 5 includes a biometric information acquisition unit 9, a biometric authentication data storage unit 10, and a biometric authentication unit 11. The biometric information acquisition unit 9 is configured by an image capturing device capable of capturing a fingerprint, for example, when acquiring a fingerprint as biometric information. The biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 9 is given to the biometric authentication unit 11.

  The biometric authentication unit 11 compares the biometric information from the biometric information acquisition unit 9 with the biometric information for authentication stored in the biometric authentication data storage unit 10 (that is, the biometric information of the vehicle owner) and matches the biometric information. When it does, it is comprised so that the authentication signal which shows having authenticated that it is the owner of a vehicle may be output to the expiration date management part 6. FIG. The biometric authentication unit 11 outputs a non-authentication signal indicating that it is not the owner of the vehicle to the expiration date management unit 6 when they do not match. The biometric authentication unit 11 constitutes owner authentication means.

  The expiration date management unit 6 includes an expiration date extension processing unit 12, a key verification unit 13, an expiration date storage unit 14, a key authentication data storage unit 15, and a transmission / reception unit 16. The expiration date extension processing unit 12 receives an authentication signal from the biometric information management unit 5 or an extension point passage signal from the car navigation unit 7 (that is, a signal indicating that an extension point of the expiration date has passed). Is received, the expiration date is extended, and the extended expiration date is stored in the expiration date storage unit 14 (that is, the expiration date is extended and updated). The expiration date extension processing unit 12 constitutes expiration date extension means.

  The key verification unit 13 reads the expiration date data stored in the expiration date storage unit 14 and determines whether it is within the expiration date. The key verification unit 13 receives the key information transmitted from the electronic key 3 by wireless communication via the transmission / reception unit 16, and the received key information is stored in the key authentication data storage unit 15 for authentication. Compare with the key information of.

  Then, the key verification unit 13 is within the expiration date, and when the key information from the electronic key 3 matches the key information for authentication (when it is determined that the electronic key 3 is a vehicle key), The permission signal for allowing the engine to start is configured to be output to the engine control unit 2. Note that the key verification unit 13 does not output a permission signal to the engine control unit 2 when the key information received from the electronic key 3 and the key information for authentication do not match (i.e., non-permission). The signal is output to the engine control unit 2). In this case, the key verification unit 13 constitutes a key verification unit.

  The car navigation unit 7 includes an input unit 17, an extension point storage unit 18, a current location detection unit 19, and a point collation unit 20, and a configuration (shown) of a well-known car navigation device. (For example, a display, a map data input device, a route search device, a route guidance device, etc.) are provided.

  The input unit 17 is composed of various operation switches and a touch panel provided on the surface of the display, and the user can extend the expiration date of the electronic key. , Home location and company location). The information on the two extension points input by the input unit 17 is configured to be stored in the extension point storage unit 18. The input unit 17 constitutes an extension point setting unit.

  The current location detection unit 19 includes a combination of a GPS receiver, a gyro sensor, a distance sensor, and the like, and has a function of detecting the current location (current location) of the vehicle. Information on the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection unit 19 is given to the point verification unit 20. The current location detection unit 19 constitutes a position detection unit.

  The point verification unit 20 compares the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection unit 19 with the two extension points (home and company) stored in the extension point storage unit 18, and the vehicle has two locations. It is determined whether or not the extension point, that is, the home and the company have been passed. When the point matching unit 20 detects that the vehicle has passed through both the home and the company, an extension point passing signal indicating that fact (that is, having passed all two extension points) is valid. It is configured to output to the management unit 6 (expiration date extension processing unit 12).

  The electronic key 3 is used for starting / stopping the engine of the vehicle, and includes a control circuit 21, a transmission / reception unit 22, a storage unit 23, a switch 24, and a battery 25. . The control circuit 21 controls the operation of the entire electronic key 3 and operates according to a control program stored in the storage unit 23. The control circuit 21 transmits the key information (information such as the electronic key ID and the authentication code) stored in the storage unit 23 to the expiration date management unit 6 (key verification unit 13) by wireless communication via the transmission / reception unit 22. Configured to send. The switch 24 is a switch for locking / unlocking the door of the vehicle.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle antitheft system 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 2, a process for setting an extension point of the expiration date is executed. In this case, first, a process of authenticating the biological information of the driver (user) by the biological information management unit 5 of the in-vehicle apparatus 2 is executed. Specifically, the biometric information acquisition unit 9 of the biometric information management unit 5 acquires biometric information (for example, a fingerprint) from the driver, and the acquired biometric information is stored in the biometric authentication data storage unit 10 for authentication. It is determined whether or not it matches the biometric information (that is, the biometric information of the vehicle owner) (step S10).

  Here, if both pieces of biometric information match, that is, the driver is authenticated as the owner of the vehicle, an authentication signal indicating that the driver is authenticated is output to the expiration date management unit 6 and the car navigation unit 7. If both pieces of biometric information do not match, that is, it is known that the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, a non-authentication signal indicating that the driver has not been authenticated is output to the expiration date management unit 6 and the car navigation unit 7. . And when this non-authentication signal is output, the process which sets the extension point of an expiration date is complete | finished.

  When it is verified that the driver is the owner of the vehicle, the driver sets two extension points of the expiration date, that is, the home and the company as the extension points. Then, in the car navigation unit 7, the home point and the company point are stored in the extension point storage unit 18 as extension points (steps S20 and S30).

  Next, the control when the engine is started by the electronic key 3 in the state where the extension point of the expiration date is set as described above will be described. First, the case where the electronic key 3 is within the expiration date will be described. In this case, when the key information is transmitted from the electronic key 3 to the expiration date management unit 6 by wireless communication, the key verification unit 13 of the expiration date management unit 6 receives the key information and stores it in the key authentication data storage unit 15. The data is compared with the stored key information for authentication, and the expiration date data stored in the expiration date storage unit 14 is read to determine whether it is within the expiration date (step S40).

  Then, the key verification unit 13 outputs a permission signal that permits engine start to the engine control unit 2 when the key information from the electronic key 3 and the key information for authentication coincide with each other within the expiration date ( Step S50). Subsequently, the engine control unit 4 receives the permission signal from the expiration date management unit 6 and starts the engine when receiving the ON signal from the start key 8. As a result, the vehicle can travel.

  Here, the process of extending the expiration date of the electronic key 3 will be described with reference to FIG. When the vehicle arrives (stops) at home (a point where the expiration date is extended), the car navigation unit 7 sets a home arrival flag indicating passage through the home by the point matching unit 20 (step S60). Thereafter, when the vehicle arrives (stops) at the company (a point where the expiration date is extended), the car navigation unit 7 sets a company arrival flag indicating that the company has passed by the point matching unit 20 to “1” (step S70). .

  Then, the point matching unit 20 detects that the two points of extension of the expiration date of the home and the company have passed, so the extension point passing signal (that is, the expiration date extension request) is sent to the expiration date management unit 6 (expiration date extension). It outputs to the processing unit 12) (step S80). In response, the expiration date extension processing unit 12 extends the expiration date of the electronic key 3 and stores it in the expiration date storage unit 14 (step S90). Further, the expiration date extension processing unit 12 transmits a request signal for resetting the home arrival flag and the company arrival flag to “0” to the car navigation unit 7 (step S100). Subsequently, when the car navigation unit 7 receives the request signal, the point matching unit 2 resets the home arrival flag and the company arrival flag to “0” (step S110).

  On the other hand, in the control of starting the engine with the electronic key 3, the control when the expiration date of the electronic key 3 has expired (when not within the expiration date) will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, when the key information is transmitted from the electronic key 3 to the expiration date management unit 6 by wireless communication, the key verification unit 13 of the expiration date management unit 6 receives the key information, and the received key information, The authentication key information stored in the key authentication data storage unit 15 is compared, and the expiration date data stored in the expiration date storage unit 14 is read to determine whether it is within the expiration date. (Step S120).

  Here, since the expiration date has expired, the key collation unit 13 outputs a non-permission signal not permitting engine start to the engine control unit 2 (step S130). Therefore, the engine control unit 4 receives the non-permission signal from the expiration date management unit 6 and does not start the engine. Subsequently, the key verification unit 13 requests authentication of the driver's biometric information (step S130).

  In response to this, the biometric information management unit 5 performs authentication of the biometric information of the driver (step S140). That is, the biometric information acquisition unit 9 of the biometric information management unit 5 acquires biometric information (for example, a fingerprint) from the driver, and the acquired biometric information is stored in the biometric authentication data storage unit 10 for authentication biometric information ( That is, it is determined whether or not it matches the biometric information of the owner of the vehicle.

  Here, if the two pieces of biometric information match, it is authenticated that the driver is the owner of the vehicle, and an extension request signal for requesting extension of the expiration date of the electronic key 3 is output to the expiration date management unit 6 (step S140). ). Thereby, the expiration date extension processing unit 12 of the expiration date management unit 6 extends the expiration date of the electronic key 3 and stores it in the expiration date storage unit 14 (step S150).

  If the two pieces of biometric information do not match, that is, if it is found that the driver (user) is not the owner of the vehicle, the expiration date is not extended and the process is terminated without doing anything. .

  According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, the vehicle is configured to extend the expiration date of the electronic key 3 when the vehicle passes the extension point of the expiration date of the electronic key 3. If the home is set, the expiration date of the electronic key 3 is automatically extended only by using the vehicle for commuting or returning home. Therefore, when the expiration date of the electronic key 3 is extended, troublesome work can be eliminated as much as possible and user convenience can be improved.

  Further, in the case of the above-described embodiment, two extension points (home and company) can be set, and the electronic key 3 is used when the vehicle passes all the two extension points (home and company). Since the expiry date of the vehicle is extended, the anti-theft property of the vehicle is sufficient.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the biometric information management unit 5 (owner authentication means) for authenticating the owner is provided. When the electronic key 3 is not within the expiration date, the biometric information management unit 5 identifies the owner of the vehicle. Since the validity period of the electronic key 3 is extended when authenticated, the anti-theft performance can be further improved.

  In particular, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the biometric information management unit 5 includes the biometric information acquisition unit 9 (biometric information acquisition unit) that acquires biometric information, and the biometric authentication data storage unit 10 that stores the biometric information of the owner ( A biometric information storage unit) and a biometric authentication unit 11 that recognizes whether the biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 9 matches the biometric information stored in the biometric authentication data storage unit 10 (biometric information recognition unit) ), The owner can be authenticated accurately and strictly.

  In the above embodiment, the fingerprint is acquired as the biological information by the biological information acquisition unit 9, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration is such that a vein such as a hand or other biological information is acquired. You may do it.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the owner authentication means was comprised with the biometrics authentication part 11, it replaced with this, an owner authentication means is an input means which inputs a user ID and a password, and an owner's user ID and password. ID password storage means for storing ID, and ID password recognition means for recognizing whether the user ID and password input by the input means match the user ID and password stored in the ID password storage means You may comprise.

  In the above embodiment, two extension points can be set as extension points of the expiration date of the electronic key 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one extension point (for example, home or company) On the other hand, it may be configured to be settable, or three or more extension points may be settable.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the expiration date information is configured to be stored in the expiration date storage unit 14 of the expiration date management unit 6 of the in-vehicle apparatus 2, but instead of this, the storage unit 23 of the electronic key 3 is stored. You may comprise so that it may memorize | store in. In the case of this configuration, when the condition for extending the expiration date is reached, an expiration date extension request is sent from the expiration date extension processing unit 12 of the expiration date management unit 6 to the electronic key 3 via the transmission / reception unit 16, What is necessary is just to comprise so that the expiration date in the memory | storage part 23 may be extended by the control circuit 31 of the key 3.

The block diagram of the vehicle antitheft system which shows one Example of this invention Flow chart (Part 1) Flow chart (Part 2) Flow chart (part 3)

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a vehicle antitheft system, 2 is an in-vehicle device, 3 is an electronic key, 4 is an engine control unit (engine control means), 5 is a biological information management unit, 6 is an expiration date management unit, and 7 is car navigation. , 8 is a start key, 9 is a biometric information acquisition unit, 10 is a biometric authentication data storage unit, 11 is a biometric authentication unit (owner authentication unit), 12 is an expiration date extension processing unit (expiration date extension unit), and 13 is Key verification unit (key verification unit), 14 is an expiration date storage unit (expiration date storage unit), 15 is a key authentication data storage unit, 16 is a transmission / reception unit, 17 is an input unit (extension point setting unit), and 18 is an extension point A storage unit, 19 is a current position detection unit (position detection means), 20 is a point matching unit, 21 is a control circuit, and 23 is a storage unit.

Claims (5)

An electronic key used for starting / stopping a vehicle engine and storing key information, and key verification for determining whether the electronic key is a vehicle key based on the key information from the electronic key Means, an expiration date storage means for storing the expiration date information of the electronic key, and it is determined that the electronic key is a vehicle key and the engine is started only when the electronic key is within the expiration date. In a vehicle anti-theft system comprising engine control means to allow,
Extension point setting means for setting an extension point of the expiration date of the electronic key;
Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
A vehicle theft prevention system comprising: an expiration date extension means for extending an expiration date of the electronic key when the vehicle passes the extension point. The extension point setting means is configured to be able to set a plurality of extension points,
2. The vehicle theft prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the expiration date extension means is configured to extend the expiration date of the electronic key when the vehicle passes all of the plurality of extension points. An owner authentication means for authenticating the owner of the vehicle,
When the electronic key is not within the expiration date, the expiration date of the electronic key is extended when the owner of the vehicle is authenticated by the owner authentication means. The vehicle antitheft system according to 1. The owner authentication means includes biological information acquisition means for acquiring biological information;
Biological information storage means for storing the biological information of the owner;
The biometric information recognition means for recognizing whether or not the biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition means matches the biometric information stored in the biometric information storage means. The vehicle antitheft system according to 1. The owner authentication means includes an input means for inputting a user ID and a password;
ID password storage means for storing the user ID and password of the owner;
It comprises ID password recognition means for recognizing whether or not the user ID and password input by the input means match the user ID and password stored in the ID password storage means. The vehicle antitheft system according to claim 1.

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