C-V2X Message Schema for Privacy-Compliant Vehicle Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current C-V2X communication technologies do not have a defined message format for transmitting permanent vehicle identification information, which is necessary for law enforcement to track vehicles, such as stolen ones, while maintaining privacy through the use of temporary identifiers in standard messages.
Innovation Solution
A method and communication schema that allow vehicles to detect the need to transmit permanent identification information and generate a message, either by including it in an extension to a basic safety message or creating a new message, for routing to concerned parties like law enforcement, using direct communication links or wireless network base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If temporary identifiers are included in transmitted BSMs to prevent unauthorized tracking, then vehicle privacy is protected, but law enforcement cannot track vehicles for legitimate government purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The identifier system is segmented into two distinct types: temporary identifiers for regular BSM transmissions to protect privacy, and permanent identifiers for law enforcement tracking. This segmentation allows each identifier type to serve its specific purpose without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and law enforcement capability
Solution Approach 2:
A new message format acts as an intermediary mechanism between the vehicle and law enforcement agencies. This specialized message format enables permanent identifier transmission for legitimate tracking purposes while maintaining the privacy-protecting temporary identifier system for standard BSM communications
2Loss of information
If no message format is defined for transmitting permanent vehicle identifier information, then privacy is maintained through temporary identifiers, but the ability to transmit permanent identification information to authorized parties is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between temporary and permanent identifiers based on the communication context and authorization level. Regular communications use temporary identifiers for privacy protection, while authorized law enforcement communications can access permanent identifiers through the new message format, thus adapting to different operational requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If permanent identification information is always transmitted, then law enforcement can track vehicles, but privacy concerns are violated and unauthorized tracking becomes possible
Solution Approach 1:
Different identifier types are applied to different communication contexts: temporary identifiers are used for general BSM transmissions where privacy is paramount, while permanent identifiers are reserved for specific law enforcement communications through the new message format. This local differentiation ensures privacy protection in ordinary contexts while enabling tracking when authorized
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include methods that may be performed in a computing device of a vehicle for communicating permanent vehicle identification information in vehicle communications in response to detecting that there is a need to send the vehicle permanent identification information to a concerned party. The computing device may generate a message including the vehicle permanent identification information, and transmit the generated message to a roadside unit for routing to the concerned party. In some embodiments, the permanent vehicle identification information may be included in cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) protocol messages.