Telematics Server Gateway for Secure Location Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telematics systems face challenges in securely and efficiently transmitting location information and media content between user devices and in-vehicle systems, particularly in ensuring secure communication and authenticating requests while minimizing interference from malware and ensuring user consent for location sharing.
Innovation Solution
A central host telematics server provides gatekeeper functions by forwarding location messages and media content between user devices and vehicle-mounted telematics control units (TCUs), using unique identifiers and database operations to authenticate and secure communication, while allowing users to request location information and attach media files, and enabling secure sharing of location data through a third-party software interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If third party software is allowed to access the vehicle's bus through the TCU, then user convenience and service versatility are improved, but security risks from malware and computer viruses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure gateway component that acts as an intermediary between third-party software and the vehicle's bus system. This gateway enforces security policies, filters malicious content, and controls access permissions, thereby allowing third-party services to operate while preventing malware and viruses from compromising the vehicle system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the access control architecture into multiple security zones and permission levels. Different third-party applications are granted specific, limited access rights to particular bus segments rather than full system access. This segmentation isolates potential malware to specific zones, preventing system-wide compromise while maintaining service versatility.
2Ease of operation
If location information and media content are transmitted between user devices and vehicle systems, then user convenience and functionality are improved, but communication security and data privacy risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication and authorization mechanisms before location information and media content transmission. User devices and vehicle systems establish secure communication channels in advance, with digital certificates and encrypted sessions configured before data exchange begins. This preliminary security setup ensures convenient data sharing while maintaining robust communication security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts communication security parameters such as encryption keys, authentication tokens, and data transmission protocols based on the specific service being accessed and the trust level established. This allows the system to provide convenient access for authenticated users while maintaining high security standards for sensitive operations like location sharing and media transfer.
Data Source
AI summary
A telematics server manages meeting request messages sent from, and to, a vehicle-coupled device. The server performs authentication services when a subscriber logs in to the server from the vehicle-coupled device, or with a device associated with the subscriber's telematics services account. Upon login, the server may append a session identifier to the request message. After the message passes through the server, an application running on a device remote from the vehicle receives the request message and accepts user input that permits the remote device to transmit its current location to the vehicle-coupled device in a confirmation message according to the session identifier. The telematics server can use the session identifier to determine the destination address of the vehicle-coupled device to forward the confirmation message to. The vehicle-coupled device displays the remote user device location on a map. The request and confirmation messages may include a media content file.