Telematic Vehicle Access Control for Secure Shared Fleet Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle sharing technologies lack secure access control and fail to leverage telematic technologies for efficient management, monitoring, and maintenance, leading to potential theft and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A telematic device with a microprocessor, memory, firmware, and communication circuitry that utilizes unique personal attributes, such as biometrics or proximity sensors, to enable secure vehicle access and control, monitor usage, and manage sharing, maintenance, and storage through a telematic vehicle share I/O expander.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If virtual vehicle key sharing is implemented with readily available keys within the vehicle, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates making vehicles prone to theft

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle accessVSAvoidvehicle security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A telematic device acts as an intermediary between the user and the vehicle control systems. The device receives unique personal attributes (biometrics, proximity data, or personal devices) and communicates with vehicle control units to authorize access and control functions, preventing direct unauthorized access while maintaining convenient operation for authorized users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical key systems with telematic authentication mechanisms. Instead of physical keys that can be lost or copied, the system uses electronic communication between the telematic device and vehicle control units, leveraging data-driven authentication methods to improve both security and operational convenience

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

2Device complexity

If traditional vehicle access systems are used without telematic integration, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to inefficiencies in management and monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control systemVSAvoidvehicle management efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The telematic device performs multiple functions including authentication, vehicle control authorization, usage monitoring, and communication with remote servers. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated device, improving management efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automated vehicle access and control authorization without requiring manual intervention. The telematic device automatically processes unique personal attributes, communicates with vehicle control units, and monitors usage, allowing the system to manage itself and reducing the need for complex manual management procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If secure access control is implemented using unique personal attributes, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional authentication mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control securityVSAvoidauthentication system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The telematic device serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of multiple authentication methods (biometrics, proximity sensors, personal devices). By consolidating these authentication mechanisms in a single device that communicates with the vehicle, the system achieves high security without dispersing complexity across multiple separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system accepts different types of unique personal attributes (biometric data, proximity information, personal device identifiers) and processes them through standardized authentication protocols. This flexibility in input parameters allows the system to maintain high security while using established, relatively simple authentication technologies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3901850B1System for shared vehicle maintenance and recovery
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 GEOTAB INC
  • EP3901850B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3901850B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3901850B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

System, apparatus, device and methods relating to a telematic vehicle sharing platform ecosystem and a telematic vehicle share I/O expander to automate sharing and management of a vehicle that is shared by more than one operator.