Driving Mode Switching Record via Blockchain Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automatic driving systems lack the ability to objectively determine whether a traffic accident occurred in manual or automatic driving mode, hindering the verification and improvement of automatic driving functions, which is essential for constructing a safer system.

Innovation Solution

A driving management system that utilizes authentication servers and vehicles equipped with electronic control processors to record and verify the switching history between manual and automatic driving modes using blockchain technology, ensuring accurate recording and verification of driving mode transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automatic driving systems switch between manual and automatic driving modes based on traffic rules, then the system can operate autonomously, but the ability to objectively verify and improve automatic driving functions is lost when accidents occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic driving capabilityVSAvoidverification of automatic driving functions
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously recording driving mode switching information in real-time during normal operation. This pre-recording of operational data ensures that when an accident occurs, the previously captured switching history is already available for immediate verification, eliminating the need for post-accident reconstruction or estimation of driving modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary recording mechanism (storage device and processing system) that acts as a neutral mediator between the automatic driving system and accident verification. This intermediary continuously logs driving mode transitions independently, providing objective third-party evidence that resolves the contradiction by decoupling the automation operation from the verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If driving mode switching is managed without continuous recording, then the system operation is simpler, but objective judgment of driving modes during accidents becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoiddriving mode identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a continuous copy (recording) of the driving mode switching information in a storage device. This copying mechanism duplicates the operational state data without interfering with the primary control functions, enabling precise post-event analysis while maintaining simple real-time operation. The copy serves as an immutable record that preserves measurement precision without adding operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If blockchain technology is used to record driving mode switching information, then the recording becomes tamper-proof and verifiable, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of driving mode recordsVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated processing system as an intermediary layer between the automatic driving control system and the blockchain network. This intermediary handles the complex tasks of data formatting, validation, and blockchain interaction, while presenting a simplified interface to the main driving control system. The mediator absorbs the architectural complexity, allowing the core driving system to remain relatively simple while still achieving tamper-proof recording through blockchain technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3447993B1Driving management system, vehicle, and information processing method
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3447993B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447993B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3447993B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A driving management system includes an authentication server, and a vehicle capable of switching between a manual driving mode and an automatic driving mode. The vehicle includes multiple electronic control processors connected to a network inside the vehicle, a first processor that detects switching between the manual driving mode and the automatic driving mode, based on messages issued by one or more electronic control processors of the multiple electronic control processors, and the first processor generates first transaction data including information indicating the detected switching, and a first identifier indicating the vehicle, and transmitting the first transaction data to the authentication server. The authentication server includes a second processor that judges the validity of transaction data including the first transaction data obtained from the vehicle, and the second processor records the transaction data, of which the validity has been verified by the second processor, in a storage device.