Key with display capability, display method, and display program

• US 20040027336A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kurumisawa, Takashi, Watanabe, Yusuke, Sugimoto, Fujikazu, Ishii, Ryo
• Application Number:
  US10/421,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027336A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/00 Keys; Accessories therefor key modifications or attachments preventing removal from the lock E05B11/005; key rings A44B15/00; key cases A45C11/32; key holders A47G29/10; making keys, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D53/42; milling grooves in keys B23C3/35
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/22 Keys with devices for indicating whether the last operation was locking or unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

Owning a mechanical key alone does not allow knowing whether an automobile, dwelling, etc. is locked or unlocked. Furthermore, if a plurality of keys are owned, it is difficult to identify at a glance a key for a particular object. Furthermore, when a toll parking is used, a parking time has been estimated by taking notes on the time when the automobile is parked, which has caused a laborious work. Furthermore, even if an on-vehicle GPS unit is mounted, it has been necessary to take notes on map information of a surrounding area before going out of the automobile. Accordingly, the present invention provides a key with display capability that allows information relating to an object to be grasped even from a location remote from the object. Display means for displaying an image and receiving means for receiving information from an object that requires a key are provided, and information relating to the object is received from the object and then displayed.

Claims

1. A key with display capability, comprising:

display means for displaying an image; and

receiving means for receiving information from an object that requires the key;

wherein information relating to the object is received from the object and displayed.

2. A key with display capability according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving a plurality of types of information and is therefore compatible with a plurality of types of objects.

3. A key with display capability according to claim 2, wherein the display means displays an object-identifying image for identifying the plurality of types of objects, and displays an image other than the object-identifying image as required.

4. A key with display capability according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays whether the object is unlocked or locked.

5. A key with display capability according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a time elapsed since locking.

6. A key with display capability according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays an alert when the object satisfies a predetermined condition.

7. A key with display capability according to claim 1, further comprising means for issuing an alarm, wherein the alarm is issued when the object is left behind unlocked.

8. A key with display capability according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays current position data of the object or map data of an area around the object.

9. A key with display capability according to claim 1, further comprising direction-detecting means for detecting a direction of the object, wherein data of the direction is displayed.

10. A key with display capability according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery as a power source for allowing display by the display means,

wherein the rechargeable battery is charged while the object is active.

11. A display method for displaying an image on a key with display capability, wherein information relating to an object that requires the key is received from the object, and the information is displayed.

12. A display program for allowing a computer to execute processing for displaying an image on a key with display capability, the processing comprising:

a step of receiving information relating to an object that requires the key from the object; and

a step of displaying the information.

13. An automobile management system comprising a wearable computer and an automobile that carries out data communication with the wearable computer,

wherein the automobile comprises:

at least one sensor for detecting status information of at least one part of the automobile;

determination means for comparing the status information output by the sensor with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit, thereby determining whether the determination condition is satisfied; and

first communication means for sending a result of the determination to the wearable computer;

and wherein the wearable computer comprises;

second communication means for receiving the result of the determination from the automobile; and

display means for displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

14. An automobile management system according to claim 13, wherein the wearable computer further comprises alerting means for issuing a predetermined alert on behalf of the display means based on the result of the determination received.

15. An automobile management system according to claim 13, wherein the automobile further comprises ID generating means for generating an ID code, the first communication means further sends the ID code generated by the ID generating means to the wearable computer, and the second communication means further receives the ID code, and sends the ID code together when sending data to the automobile.

16. A wearable computer that is used in an automobile management system including the wearable computer and an automobile that carries out data communication with the wearable computer, the wearable computer comprising:

communication means for receiving a result of a determination that is made by comparing status information of at least one part of the automobile, output by at least one sensor of the automobile, with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit; and

display means for displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

17. An automobile comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting status information of at least one part of the automobile;

determination means for comparing the status information output by the sensor with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit, thereby determining whether the determination condition is satisfied; and

communication means for sending a result of the determination to a wearable computer having display means for displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination.

18. An automobile information management method for managing, using a wearable computer, status information of an automobile that carries out data communication with the wearable computer,

wherein the automobile detects status information of at least one part of the automobile, compares the status information with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit, thereby determining whether the determination condition is satisfied, and sends a result of the determination to the wearable computer,

and wherein the wearable computer receives the result of the determination from the automobile, and displays predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

19. An automobile information management program for allowing a wearable computer to execute processing for managing status information of an automobile that carries out data communication with the wearable computer, the processing comprising:

a communication step of receiving a result of a determination that is made by comparing status information output by at least one sensor of the automobile, the status information relating to a part of the automobile, with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit; and

a display step of displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

20. A dwelling management system comprising a wearable computer and a dwelling management apparatus that carries out data communication with the wearable computer,

wherein the dwelling management apparatus comprises:

at least one sensor for detecting status information of a dwelling;

determination means for comparing the status information output by the sensor with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit, thereby determining whether the determination condition is satisfied; and

first communication means for sending a result of the determination to the wearable computer;

and wherein the wearable computer comprises;

second communication means for receiving the result of the determination from the dwelling management apparatus; and

display means for displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

21. A wearable computer that is used in a dwelling management system including the wearable computer and a dwelling management apparatus that carries out data communication with the wearable computer, the wearable computer comprising:

communication means for receiving, from the dwelling management apparatus, a result of a determination that is made by comparing status information of at least one part of a dwelling, output by at least one sensor of the dwelling management apparatus, with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit; and

display means for displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

22. A dwelling management method for carrying out dwelling management using a wearable computer and a dwelling management apparatus that carries out data communication with the wearable computer,

wherein the dwelling management apparatus detects status information of a dwelling, compares the status information of the dwelling with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit, thereby determining whether the determination condition is satisfied, and sends a result of the determination to the wearable computer,

and wherein the wearable computer receives the result of the determination from the dwelling management apparatus, and displays predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.

23. A dwelling management program for allowing a wearable computer to execute processing for managing status information of a dwelling in a dwelling management system including the wearable computer and a dwelling management apparatus that carries out data communication with the wearable computer, the processing comprising:

a communication step of receiving, from the dwelling management apparatus, a result of a determination that is made by comparing status information of at least one part of the dwelling, output by at least one sensor of the dwelling management apparatus, with a determination condition prestored in a storage unit; and

a display step of displaying predetermined information in accordance with the result of the determination received.