Centralized Secure Communication Device for Vehicle Safety Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack secure communication and data protection mechanisms to ensure safe operation of safety-critical control devices, particularly in on-board information systems like tachographs and toll collection devices, which are vulnerable to manipulation and data breaches.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system incorporating a secure communication device with a cryptographic functional unit, a radio interface, and an antenna element, which securely couples safety-critical control devices via a vehicle bus, using cryptographic keys and authentication to protect data transmission and prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic functions and secure communication devices are integrated into each safety-critical control device, then data security and access protection are improved, but device complexity and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cryptographic functional units into a centralized secure communication device that serves multiple safety-critical control devices through the vehicle bus. This merging approach maintains data security while reducing overall system complexity by eliminating redundant cryptographic components in each individual control device.
Solution Approach 2:
The secure communication device is designed as a universal interface that provides cryptographic evaluation and secure data transmission services to multiple different safety-critical control devices. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to protect multiple control devices, reducing installation costs and simplifying the system architecture.
2Reliability
If multiple secure communication devices are installed for different safety-critical control devices, then access protection is improved, but installation space and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing separate secure communication devices for each safety-critical control device, the patent merges these functions into a single centralized device that communicates with multiple control devices via the vehicle bus, significantly reducing installation space while maintaining access protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The secure communication device acts as an intermediary between external communication interfaces and multiple safety-critical control devices. It performs cryptographic evaluation centrally and mediates secure data transmission to multiple devices through the shared vehicle bus infrastructure.
3Device complexity
If cryptographic evaluation is performed centrally in one secure communication device, then system complexity is reduced, but communication time and data transmission delays may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The secure communication device maintains continuous readiness for cryptographic evaluation and data transmission. By pre-establishing secure communication channels through the vehicle bus and maintaining persistent cryptographic contexts, the system minimizes communication delays while keeping the centralized architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The secured communication device (20) comprises a housing (30) having a housing-securing means. The secured communication device (20) also comprises a specified radio interface (50) and at least one associated antenna element (40) for coupling the secured communication device (20) to at least one specified additional device with regard to signals. The antenna element (40) is at least partially arranged in the secured housing (30). Furthermore, the secured communication device (20) has a specified vehicle interface (60) for coupling the secured communication device (20) to at least one safety-critical control device (10) of the vehicle with regard to signals. The secured communication device (20) has a cryptographic functional unit (70), which has at least one cryptographic key and/or is designed to perform at least one cryptographic function. The radio interface (50), the vehicle interface (60), and the cryptographic functional unit (70) are arranged in the housing (30).