Odometer Data Storage with Incremental Write and Encrypted Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle odometer systems are vulnerable to manipulation, making it difficult to ensure accurate recording and protection of travel distance data, which is crucial for maintenance and valuation purposes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dual memory areas, where one area allows only incremental increases in stored travel distance data and the other stores encrypted reference data, providing redundant and secure storage to prevent manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If travel distance data is stored in a single memory area that can be overwritten, then the system is simple to operate and update, but the data becomes vulnerable to manipulation and loss of reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory storage system into multiple separate memory areas (first memory area for current travel distance data, second memory area for reference travel distance data). This segmentation allows the system to store multiple versions of the data in isolated locations, preventing manipulation of the current data without detection, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by organizing the storage structure into distinct functional segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates encrypted copies of the travel distance data and stores them in separate memory areas. The current travel distance data in the first memory area is copied to the second memory area in encrypted form, creating a redundant backup that protects against manipulation. This copying mechanism enhances reliability while maintaining a manageable complexity through systematic data replication.
2Reliability
If the first memory area allows overwriting of stored data, then updates are easy to implement, but manipulation detection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously compares the current travel distance data from the first memory area with the reference travel distance data from the second memory area. This comparison provides feedback that enables automatic detection of manipulations, resolving the contradiction by making manipulation detection an automatic process that does not complicate the manual updating operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by storing encrypted reference copies of the travel distance data in the second memory area before any potential manipulation can occur. These pre-stored reference values serve as a baseline for future comparisons, enabling automatic detection of any unauthorized changes while keeping the update process simple and uninterrupted.
3Reliability
If reference travel distance data is stored in encrypted form, then security against manipulation is improved, but the complexity of data storage and retrieval increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the encryption function to a dedicated component within the control unit, separating the encryption/decryption operations from the general data storage and retrieval processes. This extraction allows the encrypted storage in the second memory area to enhance security while the specialized handling of encryption minimizes the overall system complexity by concentrating the complex operations in a dedicated module.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for storing travel distance data are provided. In the method, travel distance data is stored in a non-volatile first memory area of a memory device, but only if this results in an increase in the total travel distance already previously stored therein. A first reference total travel distance, which is stored in a second memory area of the memory device, is compared with the total travel distance data which is currently stored in the first memory area. If, according to the first comparison, the total travel distance has increased compared with the first reference total travel distance according to a predetermined first criterion, updated first reference travel distance data corresponding to the total travel distance is stored in the second memory area in an encrypted form.