In-vehicle communication system and method therefor, in-vehicle communication terminal, communication method therefor, program recording medium, and program

• US 7,933,412 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kugumiya, Mamoru, Ishii, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): TURCHEN, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US11/009,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 380200-242, 726/28
• US Class Current: 380/258
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Display devices are connected with a content server mounted inside a vehicle by a wireless communication technology as stipulated in IEEE802.11b. The content server and display devices share common keys (encryption key and corresponding decryption key) acted on by key creation information consisting of information about the vehicle. The content server reads out stored contents according to requests from the display devices. The read contents are then encrypted using the encryption key shared with the display devices and sent to the display devices. The invention can be applied to a wireless communication system consisting of devices which communicate data by wireless communication technology within the vehicle.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle communication system consisting of first and second communication terminals connected with a wireless network, wherein

said first communication terminal comprises:

a content readout unit reading contents required by said second communication terminal;

a content encryption unit encrypting the contents read by said content readout unit using a first key acted on by identification information about a vehicle;

a content transmission unit sending the contents encrypted by said content encryption unit to said second communication terminal, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle, a calculation unit calculating the total of transfer rates of contents communicated with said second communication terminal, a capability decision unit making a decision as to whether said total of transfer rates calculated by said calculation unit exceeds a transfer capability of said wireless network, and a transfer rate change unit changing the transfer rates of the contents sent by said content transmission unit according to priorities of said contents in a case where said capability decision unit has determined that the total of the transfer rates has exceeded the transfer capability of said wireless network, and

wherein said second communication terminal comprises;

a content reception unit receiving the contents sent by said first communication terminal;

a content decryption unit decrypting the contents received by said content reception unit using said first key; and

an output control unit controlling outputting of the contents decrypted by said content decryption unit and wherein said content reception unit of said second communication terminal receives said first key when a decision is made that said first communication terminal is located within a predetermined short distance; and

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s number.

2. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first communication terminal further includes:

an identification information reception unit receiving said identification information sent from said second communication terminal;

a creation unit creating said first key by acting on said identification information received from said identification information reception unit; and

a key transmission unit sending said first key created by said creation unit to said second communication terminal, and

wherein said second communication terminal further includes;

an input unit entering said identification information based on a user'"'"'s operation;

an input decision unit making a decision as to whether transmission of said identification information entered by said input unit has been commanded;

a position decision unit making a decision as to whether said first communication terminal is located within a given close range;

an identification information transmission unit sending said identification information to said first communication terminal in a case where said input decision unit has determined that transmission of said identification information has been commanded and, at the same time, said position decision unit has determined that said first communication terminal is located in the given close range; and

a key reception unit far-receiving said first key sent in from said first communication terminal.

3. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first communication terminal further includes an identification information storage unit previously storing said identification information and a first creation unit creating said first key by acting on said identification information stored in said identification information storage unit, and

wherein said second communication terminal further includes an input unit entering said identification information based on a user'"'"'s operation and a second creation unit creating said first key by acting on said identification information entered by said input unit.

4. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said first communication terminal further includes a first key storage unit previously storing a second key used for encryption, an identification information decryption unit decrypting said identification information from said second communication terminal using said second key, and a first rewriting unit rewriting said second key stored in said first key storage unit into said first key acted on by said identification information decrypted by said identification information decryption unit,

wherein said second communication terminal further includes a second key storage unit previously storing said second key, an input unit entering said identification information based on a user'"'"'s operation, an identification information encryption unit encrypting said identification information entered by said input unit using said second key, an identification information transmission unit sending said identification information encrypted by said identification information encryption unit to said first communication terminal, and a second rewriting unit rewriting said second key stored in said key storage unit into said first key acted on by said identification information entered by said input unit, and

wherein said content encryption unit and content decryption unit process said contents using said second key before said second key is rewritten into said first key by said first and second rewriting units and process said contents using said first key after said second key has been rewritten into said first key by said first and second rewriting units.

5. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first communication terminal further includes a user identification information reception unit receiving said identification information from said second communication terminal, said identification information being user-specific information, a creation unit creating said first key by acting on said user-specific identification information received by said user identification information reception unit, and a content limitation unit limiting contents read out by said content readout unit based on said user-specific identification information received by said user identification information reception unit, and

wherein said second communication terminal further includes a user information readout unit reading user'"'"'s information from a recording medium installed in the second communication terminal itself, an identification information readout unit reading said user-specific identification information from a memory based on said user'"'"'s information read out by said user information readout unit, and an identification information transmission unit sending said user-specific identification information read out by said identification information readout unit to said first communication terminal.

6. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first communication terminal further includes a volume measurement unit measuring data volume of the contents sent by said content transmission unit, and wherein said calculation unit calculates the total of transfer rates of the contents communicated with said second communication terminal based on information about said data volume measured by said volume measurement unit.

7. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said first communication terminal further includes a data information reception unit receiving information about said data volume sent from said second communication terminal,

wherein said calculation unit calculates the total of transfer rates of the contents communicated with said second communication terminal based on the information about said data volume received by said data information reception unit, and

wherein said second communication terminal further includes a volume measurement unit measuring data volume of the contents received by said content reception unit and a data information transmission unit sending information about said data volume measured by said volume measurement unit to said first communication terminal.

8. A communication method for an in-vehicle communication system consisting of first and second communication terminals connected with a wireless network, wherein said first communication terminal performs communications by reading out contents required by said second communication terminal, encrypting said read contents using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle, sending the encrypted contents to said second communication terminal, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle, calculating the total transfer rates of contents communicated with said second communication terminal, making a decision as to whether the calculated total of transfer rates exceeds a transfer capability of said wireless network, and changing the transfer rates of sending the encrypted contents to said second communication terminal according to priorities of said contents in a case where the calculated total of the transfer rates is determined to exceed the transfer capability of said wireless network, and

wherein said second communication terminal performs communications by receiving the contents sent from said first communication terminal, decrypting the received contents using said key, and controlling outputting of the decrypted contents and wherein said second communication terminal receives said key when a decision is made that said first communication terminal is located within a predetermined short distance;

and

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s number.

9. An in-vehicle communication terminal for performing communications with a different second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, the first-mentioned in-vehicle communication terminal comprising:

a content readout unit reading out contents required by said second in-vehicle communication terminal, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle;

a content encryption unit encrypting the contents read out by said content readout unit using a first key acted on by identification information about a vehicle;

a content transmission unit sending the contents encrypted by said content encryption unit to said second in-vehicle communication terminal;

a calculation unit calculating the total of transfer rates of contents communicated with said second in-vehicle communication terminal;

a capability decision unit making a decision as to whether the total of transfer rates calculated by said calculation unit has exceeded a transfer capability of said wireless network; and

a transfer rate change unit changing the transfer rates of the contents sent by said content transmission unit according to priorities of said contents in a case where said capability decision unit has determined that the total of the transfer rates has exceeded the transfer capability of said wireless network,

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s license number.

10. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 9, further including:

an identification information reception unit for receiving said identification information sent from said second in-vehicle communication terminal located within a given close range;

a creation unit creating said first key based on said identification information received by said identification information reception unit; and

a key transmission unit sending said first key created by said creation unit to said second in-vehicle communication terminal.

11. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 9, further including:

an identification information storage unit for previously storing said identification information; and

a creation unit creating said first key based on said identification information stored in said identification information storage unit.

12. An in-vehicle communication system as set forth in claim 9, further including:

a key storage unit previously storing a second key used for encryption;

an identification information reception unit for receiving said identification information which has been encrypted using said second key by said second in-vehicle communication terminal and which has been sent;

an identification information decryption unit decrypting said identification information, which has been received by said identification information reception unit, using said second key; and

a rewriting unit rewriting said second key stored in said key storage unit into said first key acted on by said identification information decrypted by said identification information decryption unit;

wherein said content encryption unit encrypts said contents using said second key before said second key is rewritten into said first key by said rewriting unit and encrypts said contents using said first key after said second key has been rewritten into said first key by said rewriting unit.

13. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 9, further including:

a user identification information reception unit receiving said identification information from said second in-vehicle communication terminal, said identification information being user-specific information;

a creation unit creating said first key by acting on said user-specific identification information received by said user identification information reception unit; and

a content limitation unit for limiting contents read out by said content readout unit based on said user-specific identification information received by said user identification information reception unit.

14. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein there is further provided a volume measurement unit measuring data volume of the contents sent by said content transmission unit, and wherein said calculation unit calculates the total of the transfer rates of the contents communicated with said second in-vehicle communication terminal based on information about said data volume measured by said volume measurement unit.

15. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein there is further provided a data information reception unit for receiving information about data volume of said contents which are measured by said second in-vehicle communication terminal and which are sent, said second in-vehicle communication terminal receiving the contents sent by said content transmission unit, and

wherein said calculation unit calculates the total of the transfer rates of the contents communicated with said second in-vehicle communication terminal based on information about said data volume received by said data information reception unit.

16. A communication method for a first in-vehicle communication terminal for performing communications with a different second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:

reading out contents required by said second in-vehicle communication terminal, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle;

encrypting the read contents using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle;

sending the encrypted contents to said second in-vehicle communication terminal;

calculating the total transfer rates of contents communicated with said second communication terminal;

making a decision as to whether the calculated total of transfer rates exceeds a transfer capability of said wireless network; and

changing the transfer rates of sending the encrypted contents to said second communication terminal according to priorities of said contents in a case where the calculated total of the transfer rates is determined to exceed the transfer capability of said wireless network,

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s number.

17. A non-transitory program recording medium on which a program for causing a computer in a first in-vehicle communication terminal to perform processing for performing communications with a second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, said program comprising the steps of:

reading out contents required by said second in-vehicle communication terminal, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle;

encrypting the read contents using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle;

sending the encrypted contents to said second in-vehicle communication terminal;

calculating the total transfer rates of contents communicated with said second communication terminal;

making a decision as to whether the calculated total of transfer rates exceeds a transfer capability of said wireless network; and

changing the transfer rates of sending the encrypted contents to said second communication terminal according to priorities of said contents in a case where the calculated total of the transfer rates is determined to exceed the transfer capability of said wireless network,

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s number.

18. A non-transitory program for causing a computer in a first in-vehicle communication terminal to perform processing for performing communications with a second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, said program comprising the steps of:

reading out contents required by said second in-vehicle communication terminal, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle;

encrypting the read contents using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle;

sending the encrypted contents to said second in-vehicle communication terminal;

calculating the total transfer rates of contents communicated with said second communication terminal;

making a decision as to whether the calculated total of transfer rates exceeds a transfer capability of said wireless network; and

changing the transfer rates of sending the encrypted contents to said second communication terminal according to priorities of said contents in a case where the calculated total of the transfer rates is determined to exceed the transfer capability of said wireless network,

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s number.

19. An in-vehicle communication terminal for performing communications with a different second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, the first-mentioned in-vehicle communication terminal comprising:

a content reception unit receiving contents, which have been encrypted using a first key and which have been sent by said second in-vehicle communication terminal, the first key being acted on by identification information about a vehicle, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle, wherein said first in-vehicle communication terminal receives said first key when a decision is made that said second in-vehicle communication terminal is located within a predetermined short distance;

a content decryption unit decrypting the contents received by said content reception unit using said first key;

an output control unit controlling outputting of the contents decrypted by said content decryption unit;

a volume measurement unit measuring data volume of contents received by said content reception unit; and

a data information transmission unit sending information about said data volume measured by said volume measurement unit to said second in-vehicle communication terminal,

wherein said content reception unit receives contents whose transfer rates have been changed based on the information about said data volume by said second in-vehicle communication terminal, and

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s license number.

20. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 19, further including:

an input unit entering said identification information based on a user'"'"'s operation;

an input decision unit making a decision as to whether transmission of said identification information entered by said input unit has been commanded or not;

a position decision unit making a decision as to whether said second in-vehicle communication terminal is located within a given close range;

an identification information transmission unit sending said identification information to said second in-vehicle communication terminal in a case where said input unit decision unit has determined that transmission of said identification information has been commanded and, at the same time, said position decision unit has determined that said second in-vehicle communication terminal is located within the given close range; and

a key reception unit receiving said first key which has been created by acting on said identification information by means of said second in-vehicle communication terminal and which has been sent.

21. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 19, further including:

an input unit entering said identification information based on a user'"'"'s operation; and

a creation unit creating said first key based on said identification information entered by said input unit.

22. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 19, further including:

a key storage unit previously storing a second key used for encryption;

an input unit entering said identification information based on a user'"'"'s operation;

an identification information encryption unit encrypting said identification information, which has been entered by said input unit, using said second key;

an identification information transmission unit sending said identification information encrypted by said identification information encryption unit to said second in-vehicle communication terminal; and

a rewriting unit rewriting said second key stored in said key storage unit into said first key acted on by said identification information entered by said input unit;

wherein said content decryption unit decrypts said contents using said second key before said second key is rewritten into said first key by said rewriting unit and decrypts said contents using said first key after said second key has been rewritten into said first key by said rewriting unit.

23. An in-vehicle communication terminal as set forth in claim 19, further including:

a user information readout unit reading user'"'"'s information from a recording medium mounted in the present in-vehicle communication terminal;

an information readout unit reading said identification information from a memory based on said user'"'"'s information read out by said user information readout unit, said identification information being user-specific information used for identifying the user; and

an identification information transmission unit for sending said user-specific identification information read out by said information readout unit to said second in-vehicle communication terminal;

wherein said content reception unit receives only contents whose readouts are not limited as a result of authentication performed by said second in-vehicle communication terminal based on said user-specific identification information.

24. A communication method for a first in-vehicle communication terminal for performing communications with a different second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, said communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving contents which have been encrypted by said second in-vehicle communication terminal using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle and which have been sent, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle, said first in-vehicle communication terminal receiving said key when a decision is made that said second in-vehicle communication terminal is located within a predetermined short distance;

decrypting the received contents using said key;

controlling outputting of the decrypted contents;

measuring a data volume of the received contents; and

sending information about the measured data volume to said second in-vehicle communication terminal, wherein said first in-vehicle communication terminal receives contents whose transfer rates have been changed by said second in-vehicle communication terminal based on the measured data volume, and

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s license number.

25. A non-transitory program recording medium on which a program is recorded, the program being used to cause a computer in a first in-vehicle communication terminal to perform processing for performing communications with a second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving contents which have been encrypted by said second in-vehicle communication terminal using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle and which have been sent, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle, said first in-vehicle communication terminal receiving said key when a decision is made that said second in-vehicle communication terminal is located within a predetermined short distance;

decrypting the received contents using said key;

controlling outputting of the decrypted contents;

measuring a data volume of the received contents; and

sending information about the measured data volume to said second in-vehicle communication terminal, wherein said first in-vehicle communication terminal receives contents whose transfer rates have been changed by said second in-vehicle communication terminal based on the measured data volume, and

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s license number.

26. A non-transitory program for causing a computer in a first in-vehicle communication terminal to perform processing for performing communications with a second in-vehicle communication terminal connected with a wireless network, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving contents which have been encrypted by said second in-vehicle communication terminal using a key acted on by identification information about a vehicle and which have been sent, the contents including movies and music for distribution within the vehicle, said first in-vehicle communication terminal receiving said key when a decision is made that said second in-vehicle communication terminal is located within a predetermined short distance;

decrypting the received contents using said key;

controlling outputting of the decrypted contents

measuring a data volume of the received contents; and

sending information about the measured data volume to said second in-vehicle communication terminal, wherein said first in-vehicle communication terminal receives contents whose transfer rates have been changed by said second in-vehicle communication terminal based on the measured data volume, and

wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are installed within a vehicle, and the first communication terminal communicates with the second communication terminal within the vehicle to provide secure, in-vehicle wireless content distribution, wherein the second communication terminal is installed within the vehicle behind the driver or passenger seat of the vehicle to permit users on the rear seats of the vehicle to view and listen to the movies and music and wherein said identification information is a production number of the vehicle, a plate number of the vehicle, an engine key number, or a user'"'"'s driver'"'"'s number.