Vehicle Door Locking Relay Control Bypassing ECU
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle door locking and unlocking systems for car rental and carsharing are vulnerable to security risks due to the use of CAN protocols and telematics terminals, which can be hacked, and require cumbersome processing and are not secure when IC cards or smartphones are stolen or lost, and do not allow for direct user terminal control without an ECU or CAN.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted device that receives lock or unlock commands directly or through a server, using internal relays to control the door lock actuator independently of the vehicle's ECU and CAN, allowing for secure locking and unlocking without relying on the vehicle's control system, and includes a mechanism to switch the engine starting relay to a starting-disabled state when usage conditions are violated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If CAN protocol and telematics terminal are used for door locking and unlocking, then communication between user terminal and vehicle is enabled, but security vulnerabilities arise due to hacking risks and message spoofing attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the door locking and unlocking control function from the vehicle's ECU and CAN system, implementing it independently in the telematics terminal. The relay control unit directly controls the door lock actuator through relays, bypassing the vulnerable CAN protocol communication path, thereby eliminating security vulnerabilities associated with message spoofing and hacking of the vehicle's control network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a relay control unit as an intermediary between the telematics terminal and the door lock actuator. This intermediary component receives control signals from the telematics terminal and directly actuates the door lock through relays, creating a secure control path that does not rely on the vulnerable CAN protocol and protecting the system from unauthorized control attempts.
2Ease of operation
If IC card with FeliCa chip or smartphone is used as key, then user authentication is enabled, but cumbersome processing is required for associating key with terminal device and downloading key information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the telematics terminal automatically performs authentication and control operations without requiring users to manually associate keys or download information. The system uses the mobile device's existing communication capabilities to directly authenticate and control door locking, eliminating the need for separate key association processes and reducing user effort and time requirements.
3Ease of operation
If IC card or smartphone is stolen or lost, then key information may be misused or user becomes unable to lock/unlock doors, but no immediate solution is provided in conventional systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication and control functionality from the physical key devices (IC cards or smartphones) and implements it directly in the telematics terminal using the mobile device's communication capabilities. This eliminates the security risk associated with stolen or lost key devices, as the control function resides in the vehicle's own terminal rather than in external devices that can be compromised.
4Ease of operation
If direct communication between user terminal and vehicle is implemented, then remote control capability is improved, but security risks increase due to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the relay control unit as a secure intermediary that mediates between the telematics terminal and the door lock actuator. This intermediary implements secure control logic and directly actuates the door lock through relays, creating a protected control path that prevents unauthorized access while maintaining direct remote control capability. The intermediary ensures that only authenticated commands can trigger door locking or unlocking actions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure and efficient method for locking and unlocking vehicle doors directly from a user terminal, enhancing security by bypassing ECU and CAN vulnerabilities and allowing for remote control of engine starting relay states, thus preventing unauthorized use and ensuring vehicle safety.
Implementation Method 1
When a lock command is received, a state of the relay changes for a certain time to drive the door lock actuator in a first direction to lock the door. When an unlock command is received, a state of the relay changes for a certain time to drive the door lock actuator in a second direction to unlock the door.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door locking and unlocking vehicle-mounted device is provided to lock and unlock a vehicle door for car rental and carsharing. The vehicle-mounted device can lock and unlock a vehicle door without using an ECU on the vehicle or CAN. The vehicle door locking and unlocking vehicle-mounted device includes communication means for receiving a lock command or an unlock command from a user terminal directly or through a server and at least one internal relay connected to wiring between a door key switch and a door lock actuator of the vehicle. The internal relay controls at least one external relay to drive the door lock actuator to lock or unlock the door.