Multi-Point Immobilizer Challenge Response Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle theft deterrent systems are inadequate due to potential tampering with the immobilizer module or engine control module, which can be compromised by hackers, leading to vulnerabilities in authorization and deterrence.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle theft deterrence system utilizing multiple immobilization point devices interconnected via a communication bus, where each device generates and broadcasts a random number, concatenates these numbers to form a challenge, and verifies responses from a remote transponder, ensuring that all devices must authorize vehicle operation simultaneously to prevent unauthorized start-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single immobilizer module is used to authorize vehicle start, then the system is simple to implement, but the system becomes vulnerable to tampering and hacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single immobilizer module into multiple independent immobilizer modules distributed across different vehicle components (engine control module, transmission control module, body control module). Each module independently verifies authentication codes and must concur to authorize vehicle operation, thereby segmenting the authorization function to enhance reliability against tampering while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
2Reliability
If multiple immobilizer modules are used for authorization, then theft deterrence is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authentication protocol that operates across all immobilizer modules and existing vehicle communication infrastructure (CAN bus, existing transponders). The challenge-response authentication mechanism is a universal function that each module performs independently using the same cryptographic algorithms, allowing multiple modules to work together without requiring fundamentally different systems, thus managing complexity while enhancing security
3Reliability
If communication between immobilizer modules is secured, then system security is improved, but data transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the existing vehicle communication bus (CAN bus or similar) as an intermediary medium for secure communication between immobilizer modules. Rather than creating dedicated secure communication channels, the system leverages the existing infrastructure and applies cryptographic authentication (challenge-response protocols with secret key codes) to the data transmitted over this intermediary, thereby securing communications without adding complex dedicated transmission systems
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for theft deterrence of a vehicle are provided. Each of two or more immobilization point devices generate a random number and broadcasts it to all of the other immobilization points devices. Each of the immobilization point devices retains a local copy of its own random number and concatenates the local copy of its own random number with the random numbers of the other of the two or more immobilization point devices from the bus. From the random numbers broadcast on the bus, all of the random numbers are concatenated in a predetermined sequence to form a single challenge, which is transmitted to a remote transponder. Each of the immobilization point devices then compares a single response from the transponder to their local concatenation. When a specific portion of the response from the transponder matches a local concatenation, then enabling the function of the immobilization point device.