Electronic Key System Relay Attack Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart key systems are vulnerable to relay attacks, where malicious third parties can unlock vehicle doors by relaying signals between the electronic key and the vehicle side device, even if the key is not in proximity, due to the need for GPS receivers in both devices, leading to increased complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
An electronic key system where the mobile device communicates with a location information terminal to acquire and store location information, allowing the system to determine if the key is within a permissible range for unlocking, thereby preventing unauthorized unlocking without the need for GPS receivers in either the electronic key or the vehicle side device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS receivers are installed in both the electronic key and the vehicle side device to prevent relay attacks, then the security against relay attacks is improved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location information terminal as an intermediary device that provides location information to the electronic key. Instead of equipping both the key and vehicle with GPS receivers, the key simply communicates with the terminal to obtain location data, thereby preventing relay attacks without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the location information acquisition function from the electronic key and vehicle side device, placing it in a separate location information terminal. This separation allows the key and vehicle to remain simple while still achieving security through location verification
2Reliability
If GPS receivers are installed in both the electronic key and the vehicle side device to prevent relay attacks, then the security against relay attacks is improved, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The location information terminal serves as a cost-effective intermediary that provides location services without requiring expensive GPS hardware in both the key and vehicle. The key only needs basic communication capability to query location information from the terminal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a more economical approach by replacing expensive dual-GPS configuration with a single terminal-based location service that can be accessed by the electronic key through standard communication protocols, significantly reducing manufacturing costs
Data Source
AI summary
In an electronic key system, at least one of an electronic key and a vehicle side device includes a communication device, a storage unit, and a discrimination unit. The storage unit acquires a location information from a location information terminal through the communication device, and stores information on an unlocking permissible range based on the location information when a vehicle door is locked. The discrimination unit acquires the location information from the location information terminal through the communication device, and discriminates whether the acquired location information falls within the unlocking permissible range, or not, when the wireless communication is performed between the electronic key and the vehicle side device because the vehicle door is unlocked. When the discrimination unit discriminates that the position of the electronic key does not fall within the unlocking permissible range, the vehicle door is not unlocked.