ELECTRONIC KEY REGISTRATION SYSTEM

• US 20140098959A1
• Filed: 10/02/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: KAWAMURA, Daisuke, NAWA, Yuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,509,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/277
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00841 by a portable device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0816 Key establishment, i.e. cryptographic processes or cryptographic protocols whereby a shared secret becomes available to two or more parties, for subsequent use

Abstract

An electronic key registration system includes an electronic key device that stores a key ID and a first piece of information. A controller is arranged in a communication subject. A registration tool writes the key ID to the controller and stores a second piece of information. Encrypted communication between the communication subject and the electronic key device is enabled after the key ID and a corresponding encryption key are written to the controller. An information center, which communicates with the registration tool, receives and compares the first and second pieces of information. The registration tool is permitted to write the key ID when receiving a signal from the information center indicating that the first and second pieces of information conform to each other.

Claims

1. An electronic key registration system comprising:

an electronic key device that stores a key ID, which is unique to the electronic key device, and a first piece of information, which is written in accordance with a notification from outside the electronic key device;

a controller arranged in a communication subject;

a registration tool that executes a registration operation including writing of the key ID to the controller, the registration tool storing a second piece of information provided from outside the registration tool, wherein encrypted communication between the communication subject and the electronic key device is enabled after the key ID and an encryption key corresponding to the key ID is written to the controller; and

an information center that communicates with the registration tool through a communication network, wherein

the information center receives, through the communication network, the first piece of information stored in the electronic key device and the second piece of information stored in the registration tool,

the information center compares the first piece of information and the second piece of information, and

the registration tool includes a permission unit that permits execution of the registration operation when receiving a signal from the information center indicating that the first piece of information and the second piece of information conform to each other.

2. The electronic key registration system according to claim 1, wherein the first piece of information includes a serviceman ID that is unique to a serviceman who operates the registration tool to perform a task for registering the electronic key device.

3. The electronic key registration system according to claim 1, wherein the first piece of information includes a shop ID that is unique to a shop to which a serviceman belongs who operates the registration tool to perform a task for registering the electronic key device.

4. The electronic key registration system according to claim 1, wherein

the information center includes a database, and

the information center checks whether or not the first piece of information and the second piece of information conform to each other and whether or not the first piece of information has been registered in advance to the database.

5. The electronic key registration system according to claim 1, wherein

the first piece of information and the second piece of information each include a serviceman ID, which is unique to a serviceman who operates the registration tool to perform a task for registering the electronic key device, and a shop ID, which is unique to a shop to which the serviceman belongs, and

the registration tool is configured to write the key ID to the controller when receiving a signal from the information center indicating that the first and second pieces of information conform to each other and that the serviceman ID and the shop ID have been registered in advance to the database as the first piece of information.

6. The electronic key registration system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to acquire the first piece of information from the electronic key device in response to a request from the registration tool,

the controller is configured to transmit the acquired first piece of information to the registration tool, and

the registration tool is configured to receive the first piece of information from the controller and to transmit the first piece of information to the information center.

7. A method for registering an electronic key device including a key ID to a communication subject, wherein encrypted communication between the communication subject and the electronic key device is enabled after the key ID and an encryption key corresponding to the key ID is written to a controller, the method comprising:

writing a first piece of information to the electronic key device, wherein the first piece of information is provided from a purchaser who places an order for the electronic key device;

inputting a second piece of information to a registration tool that is used to write the key ID to the controller by the purchaser of the electronic key device;

transmitting the first piece of information stored in the electronic key device and the second piece of information stored in the registration tool through a communication network to an information center to determine whether or not the first and second pieces of information conform to each other; and

permitting the registration tool to write the key ID to the controller when receiving a signal from the information center indicating that the first piece of information and the second piece of information conform to each other.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining whether or not the first and second pieces of information received by the information center have been registered in advance in the information center,

wherein when the signal from the information center indicates that the first and second pieces of information conform to each other and that the first and second pieces of information are also registered in advance to the information center, the registration tool is permitted to write the key ID to the controller.

9. An electronic key registration system comprising:

an electronic key device storing a key ID unique to the electronic key device;

a controller arranged in a communication subject, wherein encrypted communication between the communication subject and the electronic key device is enabled after the key ID and an encryption key corresponding to the key ID is written to the controller;

a registration tool that executes a registration operation including the writing of the key ID to the controller, wherein

the electronic key device is configured to store and output a first piece of information provided from a purchaser who places an order for the electronic key device,

the registration tool is configured to store a second piece of information provided from the purchaser,

the registration tool is configured to transmit the first piece of information of the electronic key device and the second piece of information of the registration tool through a communication network to an information center to determine whether or not the first and second pieces of information conform to each other, and

the registration tool is configured to be permitted to write the key ID to the controller when a reply from the information center indicates that the first and second pieces of information conform to each other.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein when the reply from the information center indicates that the first and second pieces of information conform to each other and that the first and second pieces of information are also registered in advance to the information center, the registration tool is permitted to write the key ID to the controller.