Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11242034-B2
Application number	US-202016869634-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2020
Priority date	May 16, 2019
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle control device includes a processor a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to transmit a virtual key enabling an operation on a vehicle through automated valet parking control to another device by using a communicator communicating with the other device; and an operation controller configured to operate the vehicle according to operation information of the vehicle in a case where the communicator receives use information of the virtual key.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle control device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to:
transmit a virtual key enabling an operation on a vehicle through automated valet parking control to another device by using a communicator for communicating with the another device;
operate the vehicle according to operation information of the vehicle in a case where the communicator receives use information of the virtual key;
invalidate the virtual key in a case where the vehicle leaves a parking facility according to a return instruction from a user of the vehicle;
adjust an operation of the vehicle according to a communication strength between the communicator and the another device;
cause the vehicle to perform a first operation in response to an operation on the vehicle in a case where the communication strength is equal to or greater than a first strength;
cause the vehicle to perform a second operation in which a control degree is lower than in the first operation in a case where the communication strength is less than the first strength and equal to or greater than a second strength; and
cause the vehicle to stop in a case where the communication strength is less than the second strength.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the operation on the vehicle includes an operation of giving an instruction to activate a system of the vehicle and to cause the vehicle to travel.

3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein,
transmitting the virtual key comprises transmitting the virtual key to the another device after the vehicle enters the parking facility, and until the user of the vehicle alights from the vehicle.

4. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:
invalidate the virtual key in a case where the vehicle parked in a parking space in the parking facility exits from the parking space according to an instruction from the user of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:
invalidate the virtual key in a case where the vehicle deviates from a communicable range of a communication device provided in the parking facility.

6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation on the vehicle includes an operation of giving an instruction to unlock a door of the vehicle according to permission of the user.

7. A vehicle control method using a computer, comprising:
transmitting a virtual key enabling an operation on a vehicle through automated valet parking control to another device by using a communicator communicating with the another device;
operating the vehicle according to operation information of the vehicle in a case where the communicator receives use information of the virtual key;
invalidating the virtual key in a case where the vehicle leaves a parking facility according to a return instruction from a user of the vehicle;
adjusting an operation of the vehicle according to a communication strength between the communicator and the another device;
causing the vehicle to perform a first operation in response to an operation on the vehicle in a case where the communication strength is equal to or greater than a first strength;
causing the vehicle to perform a second operation in which a control degree is lower than in the first operation in a case where the communication strength is less than the first strength and equal to or greater than a second strength; and
causing the vehicle to stop in a case where the communication strength is less than the second strength.

8. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that stores a program causing a computer to perform:
transmitting a virtual key enabling an operation on a vehicle through automated valet parking control to another device by using a communicator communicating with the another device;
operating the vehicle according to operation information of the vehicle in a case where the communicator receives use information of the virtual key;
invalidating the virtual key in a case where the vehicle leaves a parking facility according to a return instruction from a user of the vehicle;
adjusting an operation of the vehicle according to a communication strength between the communicator and the another device;
causing the vehicle to perform a first operation in response to an operation on the vehicle in a case where the communication strength is equal to or greater than a first strength;
causing the vehicle to perform a second operation in which a control degree is lower than in the first operation in a case where the communication strength is less than the first strength and equal to or greater than a second strength; and
causing the vehicle to stop in a case where the communication strength is less than the second strength.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Noguchi Junpei
• Sugihara Chie
• Takada Yuta
• Taguchi Ryoma

Classifications

• B60R25/241 Primary

  whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers · CPC title

• B60W30/06 Primary

  Automatic manoeuvring for parking · CPC title

• B60R25/2018

  Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking · CPC title

• B60R25/248

  Electronic key extraction prevention · CPC title