Marine Vessel Engine Authentication via Transponder Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing theft deterrence systems for marine vessels with multiple engines face challenges in managing the status of each engine control circuit, leading to potential unauthorized operation and theft, as they often restrict engines to low power or fail to indicate the overall vessel status effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control system and method that utilize a security control circuit to receive a transponder identification code, determine the status of each engine control circuit, and establish an arbitrated lock status through conjunctive analysis, allowing normal operation only when all circuits are unlocked, while limiting power in case of locked or error conditions, and optionally establishing a virtual geographical perimeter for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing theft deterrence systems restrict engines to low power mode, then theft prevention is improved, but vessel operational capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the engine control into individual control circuits, each with independent authentication capability. Each engine control circuit can be independently locked or unlocked based on transponder authentication, allowing selective engine operation rather than blanket power restriction. This enables legitimate operations with authenticated engines while preventing unauthorized use of unauthenticated engines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power output parameter of engine control circuits based on authentication status. When a transponder is authenticated, the engine control circuit transitions from a restricted power state to a full power state. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the vessel to operate at full capability when authorized while maintaining theft prevention through power limitation when unauthorized.
2Measurement precision
If individual engine control circuits are managed independently, then authentication precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vessel's engine control into separate control circuits, each with its own authentication logic and transponder verification capability. This segmentation allows each circuit to independently authenticate transponders and control its associated engine, improving authentication precision while distributing system complexity across multiple independent units rather than one complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each engine control circuit is designed with universal authentication functionality, capable of receiving and verifying transponder codes and controlling engine operation. This multi-functional design allows the same authentication mechanism to be replicated across multiple engines, improving precision through consistent verification while reducing overall complexity by using standardized components rather than custom solutions for each engine.
3Reliability
If all engine control circuits must be unlocked for full power operation, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments engine control into independent circuits that can be individually authenticated and unlocked. Instead of requiring all engines to be unlocked simultaneously for any operation, each engine control circuit can be independently managed. This allows operators to start and operate individual engines as needed, improving ease of operation while maintaining security through per-engine authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows partial operation of the vessel by enabling individual engine control circuits to be unlocked independently. Rather than requiring complete system authentication for any operation, operators can authenticate and unlock only the specific engines needed for current operations. This partial action approach maintains security through authentication while significantly improving ease of operation by allowing selective engine use.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system and method for deterring theft of a marine vessel. A security control circuit receives a transponder identification code from a transponder. The engine control circuit has a status that is based on a comparison of a stored identification code with the transponder identification code. The status of the engine control circuit is locked if the stored identification code does not match the transponder identification code and the status of the engine control circuit is unlocked if the stored identification code does match the transponder identification code. The security control circuit determines an arbitrated lock status of the control system based on a conjunctive analysis of the locked and unlocked statuses of a plurality of engine control circuits connected to a network bus, and indicates the arbitrated lock status to an operator of the marine vessel.