Smart Device Attestation for Vehicle Digital Key Account Binding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for binding a user account with a digital key in vehicles are tedious and require manual interaction, compromising privacy and security, especially when linking digital keys to vehicle OEM user accounts.

Innovation Solution

A method where a smart device generates a user account attestation based on a digital key, which is verified by an administrative platform, enabling secure binding without user interaction, using cryptographic signatures and key pairs to manage access rights and personalize vehicle settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual interaction is required for binding user account with digital key, then security and privacy control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity and privacy controlVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic binding between user account and digital key without requiring manual user interaction. The smart device automatically generates the binding when both the user account and digital key are present on the device, eliminating the need for users to manually link them through vehicle HMI interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The binding between user account and digital key is established in advance before the user interacts with the vehicle. This preliminary binding action occurs automatically on the smart device, so that when the user later uses the digital key with the vehicle, the association is already in place and no additional manual steps are needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automatic binding is implemented without user interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity and privacy control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The smart device acts as an intermediary that securely manages the binding process. It generates and stores the binding between user account and digital key in its secure storage, serving as a trusted mediator that ensures only authorized automatic binding occurs while maintaining security controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction (users physically linking account and key through vehicle interfaces) with an automated electronic system. The smart device automatically performs the binding operation through software processes, eliminating the need for manual user actions while maintaining security through cryptographic mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If explicit linking is required inside vehicle through HMI, then security is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidbinding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The smart device serves as an intermediary that performs the binding operation externally, eliminating the need for users to interact with the vehicle's HMI system. This transfers the binding function from the vehicle system to the mobile device, improving efficiency while maintaining security through the mobile device's secure storage capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The binding between user account and digital key is performed in advance on the smart device before the user needs to access the vehicle. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming manual linking operations inside the vehicle, thereby improving productivity without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4246346B1Methods, computer programs, and apparatuses for a smart device, an administrative platform for vehicles, and a vehicle, and for binding a user account to a digital key
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4246346B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4246346B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4246346B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments relate to methods, computer programs, and apparatuses for a smart device, an administrative platform for vehicles, and a vehicle, and for binding a user account to a digital key. A method (10) for a smart device of a user and for binding a user account with a digital key comprises logging (11) into the user account of an administrative platform for vehicles; receiving (12) information on the digital key stored on the smart device; informing (13) an application for processing vehicle information about the information on the digital key; generating (14) a user account attestation comprising a signature based on the digital key; and forwarding (15) the user account attestation to the administrative platform for binding the user account with the digital key.