Asset Message Decoding via Fingerprinting for Non-Standard Vehicle Protocols

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing asset tracking systems struggle to accurately identify and decode data messages from vehicles that deviate from standardized communication protocols, particularly in electric vehicles, due to the increasing use of proprietary messaging protocols, leading to inefficiencies in data collection and vehicle type identification.

Innovation Solution

An asset tracking system that includes an asset interface, network interface, and processors to request an asset type fingerprint from an asset data analysis system, decode data messages using local signal definitions, and update these definitions based on received fingerprints, while an asset data analysis system generates unique fingerprints and signal definitions for unrecognized data types using machine learning and sensor data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If asset tracking systems use pre-loaded standardized communication protocols, then data collection from standardized assets is reliable, but the system cannot adapt to assets using non-standardized protocols

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to non-standardized protocolsVSAvoidprotocol identification and dynamic loading complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The asset tracking system automatically identifies asset types through fingerprinting and autonomously loads the corresponding communication protocols without requiring manual configuration or pre-loaded protocol libraries for all possible asset types. The system serves itself by dynamically acquiring the necessary protocol definitions based on actual asset identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Communication protocols are pre-defined and stored in a database accessible by the asset tracking system, allowing the system to quickly load and apply the appropriate protocol once an asset type is identified, rather than requiring all protocols to be pre-loaded into memory or requiring real-time protocol negotiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If asset tracking systems pre-load all possible communication protocols, then they can support all asset types, but the device size and memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for all asset typesVSAvoiddevice size and memory requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication protocols are segmented into discrete, asset-type-specific definitions stored in a database. Instead of loading all protocols into the asset tracking device, the system only loads and maintains the protocol definitions necessary for the specific asset types it encounters, dividing the protocol knowledge base into manageable, on-demand segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The asset tracking system is designed with a universal architecture that can handle multiple asset types through a common protocol identification and loading mechanism. The system uses asset type fingerprinting to universally identify different asset types and dynamically retrieves the appropriate protocol definitions from an external database, allowing one system to serve multiple functions without requiring dedicated protocol code for each asset type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If asset tracking systems manually configure communication protocols for each asset, then data decoding is accurate, but the time and labor required for setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata decoding accuracyVSAvoidprotocol configuration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses asset type fingerprinting as a feedback mechanism to automatically determine which communication protocol to apply. By analyzing asset responses and comparing them against known asset type profiles, the system receives feedback that guides automatic protocol selection and configuration, eliminating the need for manual trial-and-error configuration while maintaining accurate data decoding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

An asset type fingerprinting database acts as an intermediary between the raw asset responses and the communication protocol selection. This intermediary layer translates asset characteristics into identified asset types, which then automatically map to the appropriate protocol definitions, streamlining the configuration process without sacrificing decoding accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4064649B1Systems and methods for data message decoding and asset type fingerprinting

Publication Date: 2026.04.29 GEOTAB INC

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AI summary

Systems and methods for signal definition generation and asset type fingerprinting are provided. An example method for signal definition generation involves providing access to undecoded data messages received from an asset to an asset data analysis system, attempting to match an undecoded data signal constructed from the undecoded data messages to a reference signal constructed from data messages of a data message type for which there is an existing signal definition in a library of signal definitions, and in response to a successful match, generating a proposed signal definition that indicates how a data message having a format of the undecoded data signal is to be decoded into asset information.