Secure Vehicle Dialogue via Automated Image Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for establishing a secure communication link between railway vehicles require prior knowledge of each other's identifiers, leading to difficulties when vehicles are unfamiliar or need to be replaced, especially in crowded environments, where discrimination between vehicles is challenging and communication may be vulnerable to hacking.

Innovation Solution

A secure automatic dialogue method using a wireless reception and transmission system with automated image recognition to detect approaching vehicles, allowing for secure communication without prior knowledge, by exchanging computer signals and control commands, and activating wireless communication ports only when necessary to reduce energy consumption and exposure to hacking risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless communication ports are continuously activated to enable secure communication between vehicles, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and exposure to hacking risks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication port is activated periodically only when a vehicle is detected in the surveillance zone, rather than remaining continuously active. This periodic activation based on detection events reduces energy consumption while maintaining communication reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

An automated image recognition system acts as an intermediary between vehicle detection and wireless communication activation. The detection system identifies approaching vehicles and triggers communication only when necessary, reducing both energy consumption and hacking exposure while maintaining reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If wireless communication ports are continuously activated to enable secure communication between vehicles, then communication reliability is improved, but exposure to hacking risks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidhacking risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication port is activated periodically only when a vehicle is detected in the surveillance zone, rather than remaining continuously active. This periodic activation based on detection events reduces energy consumption while maintaining communication reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

An automated image recognition system acts as an intermediary between vehicle detection and wireless communication activation. The detection system identifies approaching vehicles and triggers communication only when necessary, reducing both energy consumption and hacking exposure while maintaining reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If automated image recognition is used to detect approaching vehicles and activate communication ports, then energy consumption is reduced and hacking risks are minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: an automated image recognition module for vehicle detection, and a wireless communication module activated only when detection occurs. This segmentation allows the detection system to operate independently with lower power, triggering communication only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An automated image recognition system acts as an intermediary between vehicle detection and wireless communication activation. The detection system identifies approaching vehicles and triggers communication only when necessary, reducing both energy consumption and hacking exposure while maintaining reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If vehicles exchange identifiers and passwords to establish secure connection, then communication security is improved, but the ability to communicate between unfamiliar vehicles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidability to communicate between unfamiliar vehicles
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Vehicles are pre-configured with authentication credentials (identifiers and passwords) before encountering each other. This preliminary preparation enables secure communication to be established automatically when vehicles meet, without requiring prior knowledge of specific partner vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicles perform mutual authentication automatically using their pre-configured credentials when they detect each other. The system enables itself to establish secure communication without external intervention, allowing unfamiliar vehicles to communicate securely upon first encounter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3771614B1Method and system for a secure automatic dialogue between two vehicles
Publication Date: 2022.06.01 SNCF VOYAGEURS
  • EP3771614B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3771614B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3771614B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (100) for secure automatic communication between two vehicles, preferably railway vehicles, separated by a certain length on the same track. For a vehicle parked on said track, the method comprises: - by means of a wireless reception and transmission system, establishing contact (102) by exchanging computer signals between the parked vehicle and a second vehicle approaching said track; - an exchange of data (104) resulting in the transmission by the second vehicle of one or more control commands to the parked vehicle. The method (100) is further characterized in that it comprises an approaching vehicle detection (106) by automated image recognition. This vehicle detection (106) comprises: - within an image representing an approach surveillance zone, an identification (108) of the track on which said vehicle is parked, by a track graphic recognition system.and - within a defined detection zone on said lane, detection (110) of the second approaching moving vehicle by a moving vehicle detection system, - following said detection (110), automatic activation of a wireless communication port (112) within the wireless transmission and reception system of the parked vehicle, enabling it to receive the ignition signal from the second vehicle. It also applies to a vehicle equipped with a device implementing the method (100).