Offline Vehicle Access Using Digital Backup Keys

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle access management systems fail to securely manage access when vehicles are not connected to a wide area communication network, such as in underground garages or rural areas, limiting reservation and access capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a digital regular key sent via a wide area communication network, transitioning to a digital backup key via a local network when the vehicle is out of range, with verification and key management to ensure secure access without reliance on the wide area network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If digital keys are downloaded to the vehicle before reservation starts via wide area communication network, then access management can be managed digitally, but the system cannot operate when the vehicle is not connected to the wide area communication network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigital access managementVSAvoidnetwork connectivity requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing backup keys and reservation data locally in the vehicle's memory before the actual access event occurs. This allows the vehicle access system to function offline by having pre-prepared authentication credentials available when needed, eliminating the requirement for real-time network connectivity during the access process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces local storage memory as an intermediary between the remote server and the vehicle access system. This intermediary stores backup keys and reservation data locally, enabling the vehicle to authenticate and grant access even when the wide area communication network is unavailable, thus mediating between online key management and offline operation requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the system requires continuous wide area communication network connection for access management, then remote server can manage reservations, but access cannot be granted in areas without network coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote reservation managementVSAvoidaccess availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares backup keys and alternative authentication methods in advance and stores them locally in the vehicle. This cushioning mechanism ensures that if the primary wide area communication network connection fails, the system can still grant access using the pre-stored backup credentials, thereby cushioning against network availability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If backup keys are stored locally in the vehicle memory, then access can be granted without network connection, but security verification becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess availability offlineVSAvoidkey verification system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates copies of authentication credentials (backup keys) and stores them locally in the vehicle memory. These copied credentials enable offline authentication without requiring real-time communication with the remote server, thus providing reliability for offline access while using a well-established cryptographic copying approach rather than complex verification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4506869B1A method and system for granting access to a vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.05.06 NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RES & DEV CO LTD

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AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method and a system (100) capable of granting access to a vehicle (1) when the vehicle (1) is not connected to a wide area communication network (50), the system (100) is configured to: send, from a remote node (800) to an electronic device (10), a digital regular key (D-R-K) via a wide area communication network (50); attempt to send, from the remote node (800) to the vehicle (1) via the wide area communication network (50), a reservation data and the digital regular key (D-R-K), and in a determination that the reservation data and the digital regular key (D-R-K) cannot be sent from the remote node (800) to the vehicle (1) due to that the vehicle (1) is not connected to the wide area communication network (50): send, from the remote node (800) to the electronic device (10), the reservation data and a digital backup key (D-BU-K); and send, from the electronic device (10) to the vehicle (1) via a local communication network (55), the digital backup key (D-BU-K).