Patent ID: 7042332

Claim:
An electronic key system comprising: a portable apparatus that is carried by an owner, the portable apparatus selectively wirelessly transmitting a first signal and a second signal; an operation control device authorizing an operation of a predetermined operation object based on reception of the first signal transmitted by the portable apparatus; security means, wherein the security means operates based on reception of the second signal transmitted by the portable apparatus; an update control device located within a structure under the control of the owner, wirelessly transmitting an update signal limited to a private region inside said structure, said update signal receivable by said portable apparatus; wherein the portable apparatus has a counter and a portable apparatus controller, wherein the counter counts time or a value that represents the number of times that the portable apparatus is used for controlling the operation control device, wherein, when receiving the update signal, the portable apparatus controller resets the counter, wherein when the counting value of the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined limit value, the portable apparatus controller selects the first signal as a signal to be transmitted, and wherein, when the counting value of the counter is in excess of the limit value, the portable apparatus controller selects the second signal as a signal to be transmitted.