Remote Vehicle Diagnostics via Parameter Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Certain vehicle diagnostics cannot be performed remotely due to older communicating electronic devices not supporting remote diagnostics, which can be dangerous as they require prior diagnoses to function properly.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that generate a remote diagnostic request with a parameter value, compare it to a predefined value, and transmit a request for a remote diagnosis session only if there's an identity match, allowing acceptance or refusal responses to determine if the request can proceed, thus enabling remote diagnostics without modifying the devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a secure remote diagnostics mechanism is implemented with verification steps, then security is improved, but older communicating electronic devices cannot be diagnosed remotely

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcompatibility with older devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of the diagnostic request by introducing a specific format with a teleservice parameter indicator set to a predefined value. This parameter change allows older devices to recognize and process the request without modification, while newer devices can handle the enhanced secure diagnostic format. The parameter transformation enables backward compatibility while maintaining security for modern devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The diagnostic request message is designed with universal compatibility by including a teleservice parameter indicator that can be interpreted differently by different device generations. Older devices interpret the request in their native format, while newer devices recognize the secure diagnostic format. This multi-functionality allows a single request format to serve both legacy and modern devices, resolving the contradiction between security and compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If remote diagnostics are performed on older communicating electronic devices, then diagnostic coverage is improved, but device modification would traditionally be required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic coverageVSAvoiddevice modification requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the older devices, the patent changes the parameter format of the incoming diagnostic request to be recognizable by older devices. By transforming the request into a format with a teleservice parameter indicator that older devices can interpret, full diagnostic coverage is achieved without any hardware or software modification to the legacy equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than adapting older devices to support new secure diagnostic protocols (modifying the target), the patent inverts the approach by adapting the diagnostic request format to be compatible with older devices. This inversion allows older devices to be diagnosed remotely without modification, expanding diagnostic coverage while avoiding manufacturing changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If secure verification steps are added to remote diagnostics, then unauthorized access is prevented, but diagnostic process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoiddiagnostic process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements security through a parameter change approach rather than complex verification procedures. By setting the teleservice parameter indicator to a predefined value in the diagnostic request, unauthorized access is prevented through a simple parameter check rather than complex authentication protocols. This maintains security while minimizing process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3257027B1Method and system for carrying out a telediagnosis of communicating electronic equipements of vehicles
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3257027B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3257027B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (SD) for performing remote diagnostics of vehicles (V) comprising networked electronic devices (EE1-EE4). Said system (SD) comprises a diagnostic tool (OD) capable of sending a remote-diagnostics request associated with a value of a remote-diagnostics parameter to a networked electronic device (EE1) of a vehicle (V), and processing means (MT) arranged to compare said value to a predefined value, and, in the event that these values are identical, to trigger the sending of a remote-diagnostics session request to said networked electronic device (EE1), then, in the event of receipt of a reply to this request sent by the latter (EE1) and representing predefined acceptance or refusal of the remote-diagnostics session, to trigger the sending of the remote-diagnostics request to the networked electronic device (EE1) such that said device may send to the diagnostic tool (OD) a message in response to the remote-diagnostics request.