Vehicle Digital Key Storage With Expiring Usage Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

The limited storage capacity of secure elements in digital key systems necessitates a method to efficiently manage and delete usage data to free up space for additional digital keys, while ensuring secure access control.

Innovation Solution

A method involving generating usage data based on a package signal, storing it in a secure element, and deleting it after usage, along with maintaining allow and deny lists to manage access rights, thereby optimizing storage and reducing the need for permanent key storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If usage data is stored permanently in the secure element to maintain access control, then security and access management are improved, but storage capacity is exhausted and cannot accommodate additional digital keys

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control securityVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic deletion of usage data after the vehicle usage period expires. The secure element stores usage data temporarily during the usage period and then discards it after expiration, thereby recovering storage capacity for new digital keys while maintaining security through time-limited access control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from static permanent storage to dynamic time-limited storage. Usage data is stored only during the active usage period and automatically removed afterward, allowing the storage capacity to adapt over time and accommodate multiple digital keys while maintaining security requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If digital keys are stored indefinitely in the storage resource to allow indefinite use, then user convenience is improved, but storage space is consumed and limited by secure element capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discards usage data after the usage period expires and recovers the storage space for new digital keys. This allows indefinite use of digital keys over time while managing limited storage capacity through automatic data lifecycle management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous availability of digital keys by automatically managing the storage lifecycle. Usage data is continuously stored during active periods and continuously rotated out after expiration, ensuring the storage resource remains available for new keys while maintaining user convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Quantity of substance

If usage data is deleted to free up storage space for additional digital keys, then storage efficiency is improved, but data management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The secure element performs self-service data management by automatically deleting usage data after the usage period expires without requiring external intervention. This simplifies data management complexity while maintaining high storage efficiency through automatic lifecycle management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the automatic deletion mechanism. The secure element is programmed to automatically delete usage data after the usage period, eliminating the need for manual data management and reducing operational complexity while optimizing storage efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260105169A1Method for Maintaining a Storage Resource, Apparatus, Vehicle, Computer Program
Publication Date: 2026.04.16 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • US20260105169A1 patent drawing
  • US20260105169A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for maintaining a storage resource of an apparatus includes receiving, from user equipment, a package signal indicative of an attestation package of the user equipment. The method further includes generating usage data based on the package signal for a usage of the vehicle. The method further includes storing the usage data in a secure element of the apparatus and deleting the usage data after the usage of the vehicle.