User authentication method, user authentication digital key system, and mobile device program product

A user authentication digital key system comprising:

• a digital key application installed in a mobile device, which is capable of performing a first communication and a second communication, the first communication being a wireless communication method having a communication distance of 0.5 meters or longer, and the second communication being a wireless communication method having a communication distance shorter than the communication distance of the first communication;
• and
• a key module configured to communicate with the mobile device via the second communication,
• wherein
• the digital key application includes:
• a first data receiving unit receiving first data, which is transmitted from an authentication unit, via the first communication for user authentication purpose;
• and
• a first data transmission unit transmitting a data set including the first data to the key module via the second communication in response to the first data being received by the first data receiving unit via the first communication,
• the key module includes:
• a module storage unit in which a key code for user authentication purpose is stored;
• and
• a response circuit generating second data based on the first data using the key code stored in the module storage unit in response to the first data transmitted from the digital key application being received via the second communication, and the response circuit returning the generated second data to the digital key application via the second communication, and
• the digital key application further includes:
• a second data receiving unit receiving the second data returned from the key module via the second communication;
• and
• a second data transmission unit transmitting the second data to the authentication unit via the first communication.

A mobile device program product stored in a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, the mobile device program product comprising instructions to be executed by at least one processor included in a mobile device for performing authentication of a user, the instructions comprising:

• receiving first data, which is transmitted from an authentication unit, via a first communication for user authentication, wherein the mobile device is capable of performing the first communication, which is a wireless communication method having a communication distance of 0.5 meters or longer, and a second communication, which is a wireless communication method having a communication distance shorter than the communication distance of the first communication;
• in response to receiving the first data transmitted from the authentication unit via the first communication, performing the second communication with a key module, in which a key code used for the user authentication is stored, to acquire the key code;
• generating second data based on the first data using the acquired key code;
• and
• transmitting the second data to the authentication unit via the first communication.