Abstract:
A smart key generating device which can generate and transmit a smart key to open and drive an automobile operates within an environment of three electronic devices, one device being in the automobile, one in a device held by automobile owner, and one in a device held by borrower or potential borrower of automobile. The automobile verifies information of a smart key received to determine whether a sender of the key is authorized. If the information in the smart key is verified, the holder of the sending device can be permitted by the automobile to use it, subject to conditions which can be imposed. The automobile can be started by the smart key alone, physical key cannot be necessary.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610334489.5 filed on May 18, 2016. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter herein generally relates to smart keys for automobiles, and particularly to a smart key for an automobile and a method for controlling the automobile by using the smart key. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, physical keys are needed to start an automobile. However, the physical key is not convenient. For example, if a person wants to borrow an automobile, he/she must get the physical key of the automobile from the owner of the automobile. Besides, the physical keys may be easily lost. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an operating environment of a smart key generating system. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the smart key generating device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3-6  illustrate a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling an automobile by using a smart key. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0009]    The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”, it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an operating environment of a smart key generating device  200 . The smart key generating device  200  can communicate with at least one automobile  100  and at least one terminal device  300 . The smart key generating device  200  is configured to generate a smart key for the automobile  100 , the automobile  100  verifies information of the smart key to determine whether a user of the smart key generating device  200  is authorized to start the automobile  100 . If the information in the smart key is verified, the automobile  100  can be started by the smart key. By using the smart key, the automobile  100  can be started without physical keys. The smart key generating device  200  further can communicate with a terminal device  300  and transmit the smart key to the terminal device  300 , thus the user of the terminal device  300  can start the automobile  100  by using his/her terminal device  300 . 
         [0011]    In the exemplary embodiment, the smart key generating device  200  can be a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone, a table computer, or the like. For example, the smart key generating device  200  can be a mobile phone of an owner of the automobile  100 . The terminal device  300  also can be a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone, a table computer, or the like. For example, the terminal device  300  can be a mobile phone of a borrower of the automobile  100 , for example a friend or a family member of the owner of the automobile  100 . 
         [0012]    In the exemplary embodiment, the smart key generating device  200  is a mobile phone of an owner of the automobile  100 , and the terminal device  300  is a mobile phone of a person authorized to use the automobile  100 , is taken as an example to describe the present disclosure. 
         [0013]    In the exemplary embodiment, the automobile  100  can include, but is not limited to, a smart key verification system  10 , a first storage device  20 , a first processor  30 , a first communication device  40 , and a first acquiring device  50 . The smart key generating device  200  can include, but is not limited to, a second storage device  21 , a second processor  31 , a second communication device  41 , and a second acquiring device  51 . The terminal device  300  can include, but is not limited to, a third storage device  22 , a third processor  32 , a third communication device  42 , and a third acquiring device  52 . 
         [0014]    In the exemplary embodiment, the first storage device  20  can be, but is not limited to, an internal storage system of the automobile  100 , such as a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read-only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The first storage device  20  can also be a storage system, such as a hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium. The first processor  30  can be, but is not limited to, a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, or a single chip, for example. The first processor  30  can be built into the automobile  100 . The first processor  30  further can be external component. The first communication device  40  can be, but is not limited to, a BLUETOOTH module, a WI-FI module, or a ZIGBEE module. The first acquiring device  50  is configured to obtain biometric information of users. For example, the first acquiring device  50  can be a camera configured to acquire face images of the users. The first acquiring device  50  also can be a fingerprint reader configured to acquire fingerprint information of the users. 
         [0015]    In the exemplary embodiment, the second storage device  21  and the third storage device  22  can be, but are not limited to, an internal storage system, such as a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read-only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The second storage device  21  and the third storage device  22  can also be a storage system, such as a hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium. The second processor  31  and the third processor  32  can be, but are not limited to, a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, or a single chip, for example. The second communication device  41  and the third communication device  42  can be , but are not limited to, a BLUETOOTH module, a WI-FI module, or a ZIGBEE module. The second acquiring device  51  and the third acquiring device  52  are configured to obtain biometric information of users. For example, the second acquiring device  51  and the third acquiring device  52  can be cameras configured to acquire face images of the users. The second acquiring device  51  and the third acquiring device  52  further can be fingerprint readers configured to acquire fingerprint information of the users. 
         [0016]    In the exemplary embodiment, the second storage device  21  of the smart key generating device  200  stores a number of modules, which are a collection of software instructions that can be respectively executed by the second processor  31 . In the exemplary embodiment, the modules can include a setting module  11 , a generating module  12 , and a control module  13 . 
         [0017]    In the exemplary embodiment, the smart key verification system  10  can include a number of modules, which are a collection of software instructions stored in the first storage device  20  and executed by the first processor  30 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , in at least one embodiment, the smart key verification system  10  can include a detecting module  14 , an obtaining module  15 , a determining module  16 , a query module  17 , and a recording module  18 . 
         [0018]    In an alternative embodiment, the setting module  11 , the generating module  12 , and the control module  13 , the detecting module  14 , the obtaining module  15 , the determining module  16 , the query module  17 , and the recording module  18  can be stored in each of the first storage device  20  and the second storage device  21 , and executed by the first processor  30  and the second processor  31 . 
         [0019]    The setting module  11  controls the smart key generating device  200  to provide a user interface for the owner of the automobile  100  to input automobile information, user information of one or more users, and use-permission information of each of the users. 
         [0020]    In the exemplary embodiment, the automobile information can include, but is not limited to, a type of the automobile  100 , a color of the automobile  100 , a license plate number of the automobile  100 , and other identifications of the automobile  100 . 
         [0021]    In the exemplary embodiment, the user information can include, but is not limited to, identity information of the user and biometric information of the user. The identity information of the user can include, but is not limited to, a name of the user, a gender of the user, an age of the user, and the like. The biometric information of the user can include, but is not limited to, facial features of the user, fingerprint information of the user, and the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the biometric information is fingerprint information of the user acquired by the second acquiring device  51  or the third acquiring device  52 . In the exemplary embodiment, the user information can be information of the owner of the automobile  100 , and also can be information of other persons who may need the automobile  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, the user information can be inputted by the owner of the automobile  100 , and also can be received from other terminal devices, for example the terminal device  300 . The user information can be input by the owner of the automobile  100  when the owner of the automobile  100  uses the smart key for the first time. The user information further can be received from other terminal devices of people who might need to use the automobile  100 . 
         [0022]    In the exemplary embodiment, the use-permission information can include, but is not limited to, a usage time, a time duration that the automobile  100  is allowed to be used, and a travel distance threshold or ceiling. For example, if the user is the owner of the automobile  100 , the usage time can be anytime, the time duration is unlimited, and the travel distance is unlimited. If the user is a borrower of the automobile  100 , the usage time can be from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM. A time duration can be 3 hours. The travel distance can be 500 kilometers. Thus, the borrower of the automobile  100  only can use the automobile  100  within the time period 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM, for not more than 3 hours, and travel only 500 kilometers or less. 
         [0023]    The generating module  12  generates an identification code according to the automobile information inputted by the owner of the automobile  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, each automobile  100  corresponds to one unique identification code. 
         [0024]    The control module  13  transmits the identification code, the user information of the one or more users and use-permission information of each user to the automobile  100 . The automobile  100  stores the identification code, the user information of the one or more users and use-permissions information of each user, to the first storage device  20 . 
         [0025]    The generating module  12  further generates the smart key according to the identification code, the one or more user information, and use-permission information of each user. The smart key can include the identification code and the user information. The generating module  12  further stores the smart key to the second storage device  21  or transmits the smart key to the terminal device  300 . In detail, if the user information is about the owner of the automobile  100 , the generating module  12  stores the smart key to the second storage device  21 . If the user information is received from the terminal device  300 , the generating module  12  transmits the smart key to the terminal device  300 . 
         [0026]    When the automobile  100  is in a locked state, the detecting module  14  detects at intervals whether a smart key is within a first preset range around the automobile  100 . In detail, the detecting module  14  detects whether a terminal device (for example the smart key generating device  200  or the terminal device  300 ), which can establish a communication with the first communication device  40 , is within the first preset range. If the detecting module  14  determines that there is one terminal device can establish communication with the first communication device  40 , the control module  13  controls the first communication device  40  to establish the communication with the terminal device, for example the smart key generating device  200  or the terminal device  300 . The detecting module  14  detects whether the smart key is stored in the terminal device. 
         [0027]    If the detecting module  14  determines that the terminal device stores the smart key, the obtaining module  15  obtains the user information and the identification code of the automobile  100  from the smart key. 
         [0028]    The determining module  16  determines whether the identification code obtained from the smart key matches with the identification code stored in the first storage device  20 . If the determining module  16  determines that the identification code obtained from the smart key matches the identification code stored in the first storage device  20 , the query module  17  searches in the first storage device  20  to determine whether a user information matches with the user information obtained from the smart key. If the query module  17  determines that there is a user information which matches the user information obtained from the smart key, the control module  13  controls the automobile  100  to unlock the door of the automobile  100 . 
         [0029]    When the door of the automobile  100  is unlocked, the determining module  16  further determines whether a biometric information of the user obtained by the first acquiring device  50  matches with a biometric information of the user stored in the first storage device  20 . If the determining module  16  determines that the biometric information of the user matches with a biometric information of the user stored in the first storage device  20 , the query module  17  obtains the use-permission information corresponding to the biometric information. The determining module  16  determines whether the user has a permission to use the automobile  100  at the current time according to the user-permission information. If the determining module  16  determines that the user has the permission to use the automobile  100 , the control module  13  sends a command to the engine of the automobile  100  to control the engine of the automobile  100  to start. 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment, once the determining module  16  determines that the biometric information of the user matches with a biometric information of the user stored in the first storage device  20 , the control module  13  sends a command to the engine of the automobile  100  to control the engine of the automobile  100  to start. 
         [0031]    The recording module  18  starts to record a usage log of the automobile  100  once the door of the automobile  100  is unlocked or the engine of the automobile  100  is started. In the exemplary embodiment, the usage log can include the current time, the time duration of the automobile  100  being used, the distance travelled of the automobile  100 , and the current location of the automobile  100 . 
         [0032]    The determining module  16  determines compliance with the use-permission of the user. For example, by determining whether the current time is within the permitted hours, whether the time duration that the automobile  100  has been used exceeds the time duration of the use-permission information, and whether the travel distance of the automobile  100  exceeds the permitted distance. If at least one of the usage time, the time duration, and the travel distance exceeds the use-permission information, the determining module  16  determines that the use-permission is expired or breached, and the control module  13  can forbid the usage of the automobile  100  by using a preset method. In the exemplary embodiment, the preset method can include one or more of the following methods: locking the door of automobile  100 , turning off the engine of the automobile  100 . In an alternative embodiment, if the automobile  100  is running on the road when the determining module  16  determines that the user can no longer use the automobile  100 , the preset method can be that the engine is forbidden to be started by the user after the engine is next turned off. 
         [0033]    A method for controlling an automobile by using a smart key is illustrated in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 6 . The method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. Each block shown in  FIGS. 3-6  represent one or more processes, methods, or subroutines carried out in the example method. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can be changed. The example method can begin at block S 301 . 
         [0034]    At block S 301 , a setting module of a smart key generating device provides an user interface for an owner of an automobile to input automobile information, user information of one or more users, and use-permission information of each of the users. 
         [0035]    At block S 302 , the generating module generates an identification code according to the automobile information inputted by the owner of the automobile. In the exemplary embodiment, each automobile corresponds to one unique identification code. 
         [0036]    At block S 303 , a control module transmits the identification code, the user information of the one or more users, and use-permission information of each user to the automobile. The automobile stores the identification code, the user information of the one or more users and use-permission information of each user to a first storage device. 
         [0037]    At block S 304 , the generating module generates a smart key according to the identification code, the user information of one or more users, and use-permission information of each user, and stores the smart key in a second storage device or transmits the smart key to a terminal device. The smart key can include the identification code and the user information. 
         [0038]    In at least one embodiment, if the user information and the automobile information are previously stored in the smart key generating device, the block S 301 -S 304  can be omitted. 
         [0039]    At block  305 , a detecting module of the automobile detects at intervals whether a smart key is within a first preset range around the automobile, when the automobile is in a locked state. If the automobile determines that there is one smart key existing in the first preset range, the procedure goes to block S 306 , otherwise, the procedure repeats the block S 305 . 
         [0040]    At block S 306 , an obtaining module obtains the user information and the identification code of the automobile from the smart key. 
         [0041]    At block S 307 , a determining module determines whether the identification code obtained from the smart key matches with the identification code stored in the first storage device. If the automobile determines that the identification code obtained from the smart key matches one of the identification codes stored in the first storage device, the procedure goes to block S 308 , otherwise, the procedure is ended. 
         [0042]    At block S 308 , a query module searches in the first storage device to determine whether a user information matches with the user information obtained from the smart key. If the automobile determines that there is a user information which matches the user information obtained from the smart key, the procedure goes to block S 309 , otherwise, the procedure is ended. 
         [0043]    At block S 309 , the automobile unlocks the door of the automobile. 
         [0044]    At block S 310 , the determining module determines whether a biometric information of the user obtained by a first acquiring device of the automobile matches with a biometric information of the user stored in the first storage device. If the determining module determines that the biometric information of the user matches with a biometric information of the user stored in the first storage device, the procedure goes to block S 311 , otherwise, the procedure is ended. In an alternative embodiment, if the determining module determines that the biometric information of the user matches a biometric information of the user stored in the first storage device, the procedure directly goes to block S 313 . 
         [0045]    At block S 311 , the query module obtains the use-permission information corresponding to the biometric information. 
         [0046]    At block S 312 , the determining module determines whether the user has a permission to use the automobile at the current time according to the use-permission information. If the determining module determines that the user has the permission to use the automobile, the procedure goes to block S 313 , otherwise, the procedure is ended. 
         [0047]    At block S 313 , the control module controls the engine of the automobile to be started. 
         [0048]    At block S 314 , a recording module starts to record a usage log of the automobile once the door of the automobile is unlocked or the engine of the automobile  100  is started. In the exemplary embodiment, the usage log can include the current time, the time duration of the automobile being used, the distance travelled of the automobile, and the current location of the automobile. 
         [0049]    At block S 315 , the determining module determines whether the use-permission is expired by determining whether the current time is within the permitted hours, whether the time duration that the automobile has been used exceeds the time duration of the use-permission information, and whether the travel distance of the automobile exceeds the travel distance threshold. If at least one of the usage time, the time duration, and the travel distance is determined to exceed the use-permission information, the procedure goes to block S 316 , otherwise, the procedure repeats the block S 315 . 
         [0050]    At block S 316 , the control module forbids the usage of the automobile by using a preset method. In the exemplary embodiment, the preset method can include one or more of the following methods: locking the door of automobile, turning off the engine of the automobile. In an alternative embodiment, if the automobile is running on the road when the determining module determines that the user can no longer use the automobile, the preset method can be that the engine is forbidden to be started by the user after the engine is next turned off. 
         [0051]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.