Onboard Interface Device for Encrypted Vehicle Component Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication systems, particularly in modern rail vehicles, require complex integration of vehicle components, especially when the system is encrypted, often necessitating external servers and data connections, which complicates maintenance and component replacement.
Innovation Solution
An interface device on-board the vehicle allows authorized operators to enter public keys and integrate vehicle components into the encrypted communication system, using a camera to read codes containing certificates or public keys, and a computing device to form a PKI server, enabling secure, on-site integration without external servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an encrypted communication system is used in a vehicle, then security and data protection are improved, but the complexity of integrating new vehicle components increases and requires external servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the PKI server functionality from external trackside servers and places it within the vehicle's own communication system. The interface device contains a computing device that can function as a PKI server, enabling key management and certificate validation to be performed locally within the vehicle rather than requiring external infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device serves multiple functions: it acts as an input device for operators to enter public keys, as a computing device that forms a PKI server for cryptographic operations, and as an integration mechanism that adds vehicle components to the encrypted communication system. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate external systems.
2Reliability
If external trackside servers are required for component integration, then security is maintained, but maintenance time and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's communication system becomes self-sufficient for component integration tasks. The interface device enables authorized operators to perform integration operations locally using the onboard PKI server functionality, eliminating the need to contact external servers during maintenance operations. The system serves itself for key management and component registration.
Solution Approach 2:
The necessary cryptographic infrastructure (PKI server capabilities) is prepared and installed in advance within the vehicle's communication system. This preliminary setup enables immediate local processing of component integration requests without requiring external server availability during actual maintenance operations.
3Reliability
If manual entry of public keys is required, then security control is improved, but the effort and time required for integration increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manually typing public keys, the system uses a camera to optically capture and automatically input the public key from a code displayed on a display device. This copying mechanism transfers the public key data from visual form to digital form without manual transcription, reducing errors and effort while maintaining security through authorized operator access.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of typing public keys is replaced with an optical input system. The camera captures the public key visually, and the computing device automatically processes and inputs it into the system, substituting manual keyboard entry with automated optical recognition and data processing.
4Reliability
If certificates with expiration dates are used, then security is improved, but additional maintenance work is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements certificate expiration dates at a level that exceeds typical requirements (e.g., set far in the future or effectively permanent), providing sufficient security for the vehicle component's operational lifecycle without requiring practical renewal operations. This excessive action approach eliminates the need for certificate maintenance while maintaining security posture.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates, among other things, to a vehicle with a communication system (20) comprising an interface device (60).According to the invention, the communication system (20) is an encrypted communication system (20), the interface device (60) is arranged on board the vehicle and allows an authorized operator (70) on board the vehicle to access the communication system (20), and the interface device (60) is designed to enable the authorized operator (70) to input a public key (01-04) of an encryption key pair, the private key of which is implemented in a vehicle component (41-44) of the vehicle, and after input of such a public key (01-04), to integrate the corresponding vehicle component (41-44) into the communication system (20) of the vehicle, whereby its public key (01-04) is stored in the communication system (20).