Driver-Specific Vehicle Configuration via Central Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle personalization systems do not effectively restrict access to vehicle functions based on a driver's authorization, potentially allowing unauthorized users to access and operate features they are not trained or competent to handle, compromising safety and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A system where a central data processing unit verifies a user's identity and matches their authorized vehicular functions with the vehicle's capabilities, generating an activation message to enable only authorized functions, using various identification methods such as smartcards, voice recognition, or biometrics, and inhibiting all functions if the user is unauthorized.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If vehicle functions are made accessible to multiple drivers for efficient fleet utilization, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unauthorized access to functions drivers are not trained to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefleet utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsafe operation of vehicle functions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different access rights and authorization levels to different drivers for different vehicle functions. Each driver receives a personalized activation message that enables only those functions they are authorized to use, creating local quality variations in access permissions across the driver population while maintaining overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The central data processing unit acts as an intermediary between the driver identification system and the vehicle function activation system. It verifies driver identity, checks authorization status, and generates personalized activation messages that mediate between the driver's request and the vehicle's function set, ensuring reliable access control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If all vehicle functions are activated for every driver to ensure full functionality, then adaptability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to unauthorized use of complex functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle function accessibilityVSAvoidsafety risks from unauthorized function use
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements local quality by providing different function activation states to different drivers based on their authorization. Each driver experiences a customized set of activated functions tailored to their training and competence level, rather than a uniform activation state for all users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification of driver identity and authorization status before activating any vehicle functions. The central data processing unit checks the driver's credentials and generates activation messages in advance, ensuring that only authorized functions are made available before the driver interacts with the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple identification methods are implemented for driver verification, then reliability is improved through better authorization control, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthorization verification accuracyVSAvoididentification system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple identification methods (smartcard reader, voice recognition, biometric sensors) within a single integrated system. This universal interface can adapt to different verification methods without requiring separate dedicated systems for each method, thereby improving reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2534016B1Driver specific vehicle configuration
Publication Date: 2015.08.05 SCANIA CV AB
  • EP2534016B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2534016B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A motor vehicle (100) comprises a first set of vehicular f unctions (V-CAP) that are potentially possible to execute in the vehicle (100). A user interface (101 ) in the vehicle (100) receives personal data (D-I D) designating an identity of a user of the vehicle (100). A communication device (105) transfers the personal data (D-I D) and vehicular data (V-I D) designating the identity of the vehicle ( 100) to a central data processing unit ( 120). This unit (120) investigates whether the user whose identity is designated by said personal data (D-I D) is an authorized user of the vehicle (100). Given that this is the case, a description (D-CERT) of a set of vehicular f unctions for which the user is authorized is matched with the first set of vehicular f unctions (V-CAP). Then, an activation message (MSG-A) is generated, which upon reception in the vehicle (100) is designated to cause activation exclusively of those functions for which the user is authorized and which are included in the first set of vehicular f unctions (V- CAP).