Temporary Vehicle Identification for Platoon Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle platoon communication systems face challenges in efficiently identifying vehicles during communication, which affects the coordination and security of vehicle platoons, particularly in reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a temporary vehicle identification license plate system, where vehicles within a platoon create and repeatedly update temporary identification plates for communication purposes, allowing for efficient local identification without the need for globally unique identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If globally unique vehicle identification numbers are used for communication, then vehicle distinguishability is improved, but communication efficiency and security are worsened due to longer identification data and unauthorized tracking risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle identification accuracyVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the identification system into two segments: temporary identification numbers for platoon communication and permanent globally unique identification numbers for vehicle registration. The temporary identification numbers are segmented further into platoon-specific segments, allowing efficient local identification without requiring globally unique long identifiers in every communication message.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating identification numbers tailored to specific communication contexts. Within a platoon, vehicles use temporary identification numbers that are locally unique to that platoon rather than requiring globally unique identifiers. This local differentiation improves communication efficiency while maintaining sufficient identification accuracy for the specific context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If temporary vehicle identification numbers are used, then communication efficiency is improved, but vehicle identification reliability is worsened due to frequent changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoididentification consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic identification where temporary vehicle identification numbers are generated and updated periodically or when vehicles join/leave the platoon. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing platoon compositions while maintaining reliable communication. The receiving vehicles are notified of changes through platoon messages, ensuring identification consistency is maintained despite the dynamic nature of the identifiers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If permanent vehicle identification numbers are used, then identification stability is improved, but security against unauthorized tracking is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification stabilityVSAvoidunauthorized tracking
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable temporary identification numbers that are valid only for specific platoons and time periods. These temporary identifiers are discarded when the platoon dissolves or when a vehicle joins a different platoon, preventing long-term tracking. The low cost and short lifespan of these identifiers compared to permanent ones provide security against unauthorized tracking while maintaining sufficient stability for active communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4250779B1Method for communication for operating a vehicle platoon
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP4250779B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for communication for operating a vehicle platoon (10). The method includes the creation of a temporary vehicle identification number (VIN) by a sender vehicle (14) of the vehicle platoon (10) and the creation of a platoon message (20) to the vehicle platoon (10) by the sender vehicle (14). The platoon message (20) contains the temporary VIN for identifying the sender vehicle (14) as the sender of the platoon message (20). The platoon message (20) is sent by the sender vehicle (14) to the vehicle platoon (10). The use of the temporary VIN can enable more efficient communication.