Electronic key registration method and electronic key registration system

• US 9,509,499 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kawamura, Daisuke, Kawai, Hideki, Egawa, Tetsuya, Iwashita, Hiroaki, Nagae, Toshihiro, Hayashi, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughan, Michael R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, DEREENA T
• Application Number:
  US14/373,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20140359292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 380/44
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/24 Key scheduling, i.e. generating round keys or sub-keys for block encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0822 using key encryption key
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0869 involving random numbers or seeds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0897 involving additional devices, e.g. trusted platform module [TPM], smartcard or USB

Abstract

A method for registering a first electronic key, which is capable of controlling a communication subject, to a controller of the communication subject, the method including: performing an initial production process including storing identification information unique to the communication subject in the controller, and storing an encryption key generation code unique to the first electronic key and an encryption key that is used to verify the first electronic key in the first electronic key; and performing an initial registration process including writing the identification information stored in the controller to the first electronic key, obtaining the encryption key generation code from the first electronic key, generating the encryption key with an encryption key generation logic that uses the encryption key generation code, storing the encryption key in the controller, and storing encryption key information related to the encryption key in a database in association with the identification information.

Claims

1. An electronic key registration method for registering a first electronic key, which is capable of controlling a vehicle, to a controller of the vehicle, the electronic key registration method comprising:

performing an initial production process including

storing identification information unique to the vehicle in the controller, and

storing, in the first electronic key, an encryption key generation code unique to the first electronic key and an encryption key that is used to verify the first electronic key; and

performing an initial registration process including

writing the identification information stored in the controller to the first electronic key,

obtaining the encryption key generation code from the first electronic key,

generating the encryption key with an encryption key generation logic that uses the encryption key generation code,

registering the first electronic key to the controller by storing the encryption key in the controller, storing encryption key information related to the encryption key in a database in association with the identification information, and

after the registering the first electronic key to the controller, deleting the encryption key generation code from the first electronic key.

2. The electronic key registration method according to claim 1, wherein the performing an initial production process further includes storing, in the controller, an encryption key that is used to verify a second electronic key that is additionally registered,

the electronic key registration method further comprises performing an additional key production process including storing, in the second electronic key, the identification information and the encryption key of the second electronic key, which is stored in the database in association with the identification information.

3. The electronic key registration method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing a replacement controller production process including

reading the encryption key information from the database and

storing the encryption key of the first electronic key and the identification information in a newly replaced controller; and

performing a replacement controller registration process including checking that the identification information, which is stored in the replaced controller, is registered to the first electronic key.

4. The electronic key registration method according to claim 1, further comprising inhibiting the use of the encryption key generation logic after the encryption key generation logic is used.

5. The electronic key registration method according to claim 2, further comprising

based on order information generated by checking the identification information that is set in advance for the vehicle, storing identification information, which differs for each vehicle, in a replacement controller and the second electronic key prior to shipment.

6. An electronic key registration system comprising:

a controller located in a vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to store identification information unique to the vehicle; and

an electronic key capable of controlling the vehicle, wherein the electronic key is configured to store an encryption key generation code and an encryption key,

wherein the controller is configured to write the identification information to the electronic key, obtain the encryption key generation code from the electronic key, calculate the encryption key with an encryption key generation logic that uses the encryption key generation code, and store encryption key information related to the encryption key in a database in association with the identification information,

the controller includes a memory that stores the encryption key, and

after the controller completes registration of the electronic key by storing the encryption key in the memory, the controller requests the electronic key to delete the encryption key generation code from the electronic key.