Transport Software Update Validation Using Blockchain Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle software update systems lack efficient and secure methods for authorization and validation, particularly in decentralized environments, which can lead to unauthorized or improperly executed updates, compromising safety and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized authorization and validation system using blockchain technology to ensure that software updates are authorized by qualified technicians and validated through a consensus process, ensuring that only trusted sources can execute and verify updates, with records stored on an immutable ledger for accountability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a decentralized authorization system using blockchain technology is implemented, then security and reliability of software updates are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoftware update authorization securityVSAvoidauthorization system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a blockchain-based decentralized authorization system as an intermediary layer between software update providers and transport components. This mediator validates update authenticity through cryptographic proof and consensus mechanisms, ensuring security without requiring direct trust between updating components. The blockchain ledger serves as a neutral intermediary that records and verifies authorization codes, resolving the contradiction by externalizing the security verification function to a specialized subsystem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authorization system is segmented into distinct functional modules: authorization code generation, blockchain transaction creation, consensus validation, and update execution. Each module performs a specific function in the authorization chain, allowing the complex security protocol to be broken down into manageable, independently verifiable steps. This segmentation reduces the cognitive complexity of implementing and maintaining the overall system while preserving security guarantees.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If validation code generation and consensus process are implemented, then manufacturing precision of software updates is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoftware update validation accuracyVSAvoidupdate execution time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation actions by generating authorization codes and creating blockchain transactions before the actual software update is applied. The consensus validation occurs in advance, ensuring update integrity before deployment to transport components. This preliminary action prevents the need for time-consuming post-update verification and rollback procedures, reducing overall update time while maintaining high validation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical verification methods (physical media inspection, manual authentication) with cryptographic validation and blockchain consensus mechanisms. Digital signature verification and distributed consensus algorithms provide rapid, automated validation that is both highly accurate and time-efficient compared to physical verification processes. This substitution enables parallel validation of multiple updates simultaneously, reducing total validation time.

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

Data Source

PatentUS12504969B2Execution of transport software update
Publication Date: 2025.12.23 TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA INC
  • US12504969B2 patent drawing
  • US12504969B2 patent drawing
  • US12504969B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An example operation includes one or more of receiving an authorization code for a software update by a transport component, executing the software update on the transport component, responsive to a successful execution of the software update, generating a validation code by the transport component, and running the software update on other transport components based on the validation code.