# US 12,109,976 B2 · Vehicular apparatus, vehicular system, and user authentication management program product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,976 B2 - Document ID: US12109976B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/367,672 - Filed: 2021-07-06 - Published: 2022-03-31 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-30 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Makiko Hanzaki; Yuka Itou; Yuusuke Tanaka; Hajime Nomura; Takanari Makita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109976B2 ## CPC - B60R 25/24: using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions - B60R 25/102: a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner - B60R 25/32: of vehicle dynamic parameters, e.g. speed or acceleration - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks} - G07C 9/00563: {using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns} - H04W 4/48: for in-vehicle communication - H04W 12/06: Authentication - B60K 2360/197: Blocking or enabling of input functions - B60R 2325/20: Communication devices for vehicle anti-theft devices - G07C 9/257: {electronically (G07C9/26 takes precedence)} - G07C 2009/00507: {keyless data carrier having more than one function} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A vehicular apparatus is configured to authenticate a user of a vehicle. In response to authenticating the user, a user management table, which manages an association between the user and a permitted or prohibited operation of the user for each vehicle scene, is referred to, and the permitted or prohibited operation of the user authenticated is specified to provide a specified result. An application corresponding to the permitted or prohibited operation of the user is notified of the specified result to manage the operation of the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicular apparatus to a vehicle, the vehicular apparatus comprising: a memory storing a user management table configured to manage an association between a user of the vehicle and a permitted or prohibited operation of the user with respect to each vehicle scene of a plurality of vehicle scenes; a user authentication unit configured to authenticate the user of the vehicle; an operation specification unit configured to refer to the user management table in response to the user being authenticated, and specify the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user, providing a specified result indicating the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user; and an operation management unit configured to notify an application corresponding to the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user of the specified result to manage the operation of the authenticated user; wherein the operation management unit adds a new association to the user management table stored in the memory between a new user and a permitted or prohibited operation of the new user with respect to each vehicle scene of the plurality of vehicle scenes, the adding of the new association to the user management table being included in the permitted operation of the authenticated user; wherein the plurality of vehicle scenes includes a driving scene classified by driving the vehicle while having a combination of occupants within the vehicle; and wherein the adding of the new association is permitted to only a specific authenticated user, the specific authenticated user including at least one of an owner of the vehicle or a family member of the owner of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the user authentication unit is further configured to authenticate a plurality of users; and the user management table is configured to manage the association between one of the plurality of authenticated users and the permitted or prohibited operation of the one of the plurality of authenticated users. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the operation management unit is further configured to refer to the user management table in response to receiving a vehicle scene change request, and change the vehicle scene in response to a request source of the vehicle scene change request corresponding to a user who is permitted to change the vehicle scene or not prohibited from changing the vehicle scene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the operation management unit is further configured not to change the vehicle scene in response to the request source of the vehicle scene change request corresponding to a user who is prohibited from changing the vehicle scene or not permitted to change the vehicle scene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: the operation management unit is further configured to notify the user who is permitted to change the vehicle scene or not prohibited from changing the vehicle scene, of the vehicle scene change request, in cases of not changing the vehicle scene in response to the request source of the vehicle scene change request corresponding to the user who is prohibited from changing the vehicle scene or not permitted to change the vehicle scene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the user management table is further configured to manage an initial setting scene corresponding to a life cycle as one of the plurality of vehicle scenes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the user management table is further configured to manage an inspection and maintenance scene as one of the plurality of vehicle scenes; and the inspection and maintenance scene is configured to permit the operation of a user who is permitted to inspect and maintain the vehicle, and prohibit the operation of other than the user who is permitted to inspect and maintain the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the user authentication unit is further configured to include a function of communicating with a mobile communication terminal, and authenticate a user who holds the mobile communication terminal by authenticating the mobile communication terminal. ### Claim 9 A vehicular system, comprising: a mobile communication terminal held by a user of a vehicle; and a vehicular apparatus to the vehicle, the vehicular apparatus configured to communicate with the mobile communication terminal, wherein the vehicular apparatus comprises: a memory storing a user management table configured to manage an association between the user of the vehicle and a permitted or prohibited operation of the user with respect to each vehicle scene of a plurality of vehicle scenes; a user authentication unit configured to authenticate the user of the vehicle; an operation specification unit configured to refer to the user management table in response to the user being authenticated, and specify the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user, providing a specified result indicating the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user; and an operation management unit configured to notify an application corresponding to the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user of the specified result to manage the operation of the authenticated user; wherein the operation management unit adds a new association to the user management table stored in the memory between a new user and a permitted or prohibited operation of the new user with respect to each vehicle scene of the plurality of vehicle scenes, the adding of the new association to the user management table being included in the permitted operation of the authenticated user; wherein the plurality of vehicle scenes includes a driving scene classified by driving the vehicle while having a combination of occupants within the vehicle; and wherein the adding of the new association is permitted to only a specific authenticated user, the specific authenticated user including at least one of an owner of the vehicle or a family member of the owner of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 A user authentication management program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising instructions configured to, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: authenticate a user of a vehicle; refer to a user management table, which manages an association between the user of the vehicle and a permitted or prohibited operation of the user with respect to each vehicle scene of a plurality of vehicle scenes, in response to authenticating the user; specify the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user, providing a specified result indicating the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user; notify an application corresponding to the permitted or prohibited operation of the authenticated user of the specified result to manage the operation of the authenticated user; and add a new association to the user management table between a new user and a permitted or prohibited operation of the new user with respect to each vehicle scene of the plurality of vehicle scenes, the adding of the new association to the user management table being included in the permitted operation of the authenticated user; wherein the plurality of vehicle scenes includes a driving scene classified by driving the vehicle while having a combination of occupants within the vehicle; and wherein the adding of the new association is permitted to only a specific authenticated user, the specific authenticated user including at least one of an owner of the vehicle or a family member of the owner of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicular apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one processor communicably coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured to implement the user authentication unit, the operation specification unit, and the operation management unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicular system according to claim 9, wherein: the user authentication unit in the vehicular apparatus is further configured to authenticate the user who holds the mobile communication terminal by authenticating the mobile communication terminal.