Universal Key Server for Multi-Vehicle Secret Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle entry and engine start systems lack efficiency and security, particularly in managing multiple users and vehicles, as they often require additional electronics and complex training processes for universal keys.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a universal key with Bluetooth and mobile radio interfaces to communicate with a server and vehicle, where secrets are transmitted and stored for unlocking, locking, and starting vehicles, allowing multiple users and keys to operate with limited rights and temporal validity, thereby simplifying the training process and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal key system is implemented to manage multiple users and vehicles, then the adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but the device complexity and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
A server acts as an intermediary between the universal key and multiple vehicles, managing secret distribution and key training processes. The server receives requests from the universal key, coordinates secret transmission between the key and target vehicle, and maintains centralized control over the key-vehicle relationships, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling multi-vehicle compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The secret key material is segmented into multiple parts distributed across different locations: a first secret is stored in the universal key, while a second secret is stored in the target vehicle. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple users and vehicles without requiring every key to contain all secrets, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility
2Ease of operation
If secrets are transmitted through multiple interfaces and devices, then the ease of operation and universal compatibility are improved, but the security risks and potential points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates verification mechanisms where the control device compares secrets received from the universal key with secrets stored in the vehicle. This feedback loop ensures that secret transmission through multiple interfaces (Bluetooth, mobile radio, direct connection) is validated, maintaining security reliability while enabling convenient multi-interface operation
Solution Approach 2:
The server serves as a secure intermediary that orchestrates secret transmission through multiple interfaces. Rather than allowing direct peer-to-peer communication between key and vehicle through various wireless interfaces, the server mediates the process, verifying and validating secret exchange, thereby maintaining security while enabling operational flexibility across different communication channels
3Reliability
If temporal validity is implemented for secrets, then the security is improved, but the duration of action and user convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The secret validity period is made dynamic rather than static. Secrets can be configured with specific temporal validity periods that automatically expire after a defined duration, or they can be dynamically activated and deactivated based on usage conditions. This dynamic approach maintains security by ensuring secrets eventually expire, while minimizing impact on user convenience through configurable and condition-based validity management
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple secrets are stored and managed, then the adaptability for multiple users and vehicles is improved, but the device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a centralized intermediary for managing multiple secrets associated with different users and vehicles. Rather than requiring each universal key to independently manage multiple secrets for multiple vehicles, the server maintains a centralized registry of all secrets and coordinates their distribution and validation, thereby enabling multi-user support while reducing the management complexity at the key and vehicle levels
Solution Approach 2:
Secrets are segmented and assigned specifically to particular user-vehicle relationships rather than being universally distributed. Each universal key receives only the secrets necessary for its authorized vehicles, and each vehicle stores secrets corresponding to its authorized keys. This segmented approach enables multi-user support while reducing the number of secrets each individual component must manage
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments may include an apparatus comprising: a first universal key for unlocking, locking, and/or starting a motor vehicle; a server; and a mobile radio terminal. The first universal key is trained to a particular motor vehicle using a first secret. The server stores a further secret for unlocking, locking, and/or starting the motor vehicle. The server is configured to transmit the further secret to a universal key using two interfaces and the mobile radio terminal.