Server-Based Digital Vehicle Key Sharing for Offline Delegation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital key sharing systems for vehicles are limited to sharing keys from a single paired owner device, preventing further sharing and delegation of sharing rights.

Innovation Solution

A server-based approach is introduced to manage digital vehicle key sharing, allowing direct sharing to user devices and indirect sharing via secondary servers, enabling key sharing even when the owner device is offline, and supporting multiple devices with a unified mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If digital key sharing is performed using a single paired owner device with private key signing, then security is maintained through cryptographic verification, but the system lacks flexibility for multiple devices and indirect sharing scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey sharing flexibilityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server is introduced as an intermediary between the owner device and sharee devices. The server stores public keys and coordinates the key sharing process, allowing flexible sharing scenarios (direct and indirect) while maintaining security through server-mediated verification rather than requiring direct device-to-device cryptographic operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The key sharing system is segmented into distinct functional components: the owner device that initiates sharing, the server that manages public keys and coordinates processes, and sharee devices that receive keys. This segmentation allows each component to have specialized responsibilities, improving overall system adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the owner device must be online to share keys, then direct device control is maintained, but key sharing cannot occur when the owner device is offline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey sharing availabilityVSAvoidowner device dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Public keys are pre-configured and stored on the server during system setup. This preliminary action allows the server to immediately process key sharing requests without requiring real-time communication with the owner device, enabling offline key sharing while maintaining security through pre-established cryptographic credentials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If key sharing is limited to direct device-to-device communication, then security verification is straightforward, but indirect sharing via secondary servers is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharing scenario supportVSAvoidcommunication architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple sharing scenarios: direct sharing between owner and sharee devices, and indirect sharing through secondary servers. The same server infrastructure and verification mechanisms serve both direct and indirect sharing paths, enabling scenario versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260012335A1Method and Apparatus for Server-Based Sharing of Digital Keys

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

An apparatus for a digital vehicle key sharing server includes interface circuitry and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain, via the interface circuitry, a request for sharing a digital vehicle key for one or more vehicles to a second device from a first device. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the second device specified by the request is a user device or a server. The processing circuitry is also configured to process the request for sharing the digital vehicle key based at least in part on whether the second device specified by the request is a user device or a server.