Automotive Keyless Entry Security Against Relay Attacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current keyless entry and engine ignition systems in vehicles lack effective security measures to prevent unauthorized access and ignition, particularly vulnerable to relay attacks.

Innovation Solution

An automotive entry and engine ignition control system that utilizes a short-range wireless communications system, a human-machine interface, and a body computer to implement a Key Lock Feature, allowing intuitive and secure deactivation of keyless entry and ignition functions via a remote control, with optional PIN authentication and mechanical backup for added security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If keyless entry and ignition systems are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but security against unauthorized access and relay attacks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication actions by checking signal characteristics, timing patterns, and cryptographic validation before granting access. The body computer evaluates multiple parameters in advance to determine whether the remote control is legitimate, preventing unauthorized access before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring communication between the remote control and body computer, analyzing signal responses, and adjusting authentication decisions based on observed patterns. This allows the system to detect relay attacks and unauthorized access attempts by comparing expected versus actual signal behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional security measures are added, then security level is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The body computer serves multiple functions: it manages keyless entry, processes ignition commands, validates remote controls, detects relay attacks, and controls door locks. By consolidating these security-related functions into a single control unit, the system achieves high security without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication protocol between the remote control and body computer that validates signals without requiring additional physical hardware. This software-based intermediary layer provides enhanced security while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If remote control authentication is enhanced, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control and body computer perform self-authentication through cryptographic verification and signal characteristic analysis. The system automatically validates each communication attempt without requiring user intervention or additional authentication steps, maintaining ease of operation while enhancing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3388291B1Automotive entry and engine ignition control
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 FCA ITALY SPA
  • EP3388291B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3388291B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5

AI summary

Automotive entry and engine ignition control designed to allow keyless entry to the motor vehicle and key or keyless ignition of a motor vehicle engine only by a rightful holder of an electronic key of the motor vehicle. To this end, the automotive entry and engine ignition control is designed to cause the keyless entry to the motor vehicle and the key or keyless ignition of the motor vehicle engine to be deactivable by an electronic key of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle doors are centrally locked and, then, to be re-activable by a rightful holder of an electronic key of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle doors are centrally unlocked, by inserting, via control buttons of a remote control of the electronic key, an (alpha) numeric identification code stored in an enablement phase during which the automotive entry and engine ignition control has been enabled.