Vehicle Communication Interface Security for ECU Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication interface (VCI) devices lack secure communication protocols to prevent unauthorized access to vehicle electronic control units (ECUs), which can lead to unauthorized diagnostic actions and data breaches.
Innovation Solution
The VCI device is equipped with a security circuit that receives a secure access protocol and an encrypted ECU key from a diagnostic tool, allowing it to authenticate with the vehicle ECU and establish secure communication sessions, even when the diagnostic tool is disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a VCI device is equipped with secure communication protocols and authentication capabilities, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security circuit as an intermediary component between the processing circuit and the external communication interface. This security circuit handles authentication protocols and encryption/decryption operations, isolating the complex security functions from the main processing circuit. The security circuit acts as a mediator that manages secure key storage, authentication challenges, and encrypted data transmission, thereby improving security without significantly complicating the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The VCI device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a processing circuit for general operations, a dedicated security circuit for authentication and encryption, and a communication interface for data transmission. This segmentation allows the security functions to be implemented independently and modularly, making the system more manageable and maintainable despite the added security requirements.
2Reliability
If the VCI device stores encrypted ECU keys and security protocols locally, then communication security is improved, but the device requires more memory and processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The security credentials (encrypted ECU keys and authentication protocols) are pre-loaded into the VCI device's secure memory during manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary action ensures that the device has the necessary security materials ready before actual communication occurs, eliminating the need for real-time key generation or frequent updates during operation, thus reducing processing overhead and energy consumption during diagnostic sessions.
3Reliability
If the VCI device implements authentication protocols with the vehicle ECU, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The VCI device performs authentication automatically through its processing circuit and security circuit without requiring manual intervention from the user. When the device connects to the vehicle's OBD port, the authentication protocol is initiated and executed autonomously - the device sends authentication requests, processes challenges from the ECU, and manages encrypted communication streams automatically. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while ensuring robust access control.
Data Source
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AI summary
Securing communication requests from a vehicle communication interface to a vehicle. In an exemplary aspect, a vehicle communication interface (VCI) device that is configured to be connected to a vehicle communication port is configured to support secure communications with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU), such as in a standalone mode. The VCI device is configured to receive a security feature(s) from a connected diagnostic tool to then have secure access to the vehicle ECU when the diagnostic tool is disconnected from the VCI device. In this manner, the VCI device is configured to mimic secure diagnostic behavior of the diagnostic tool and leverage the pre-existing diagnostic infrastructure to securely communicate with the vehicle ECU. This prevents or mitigates unauthorized VCI-like devices from being able to be connected to a vehicle's communication port and obtain vehicle data or provide vehicle programming in an unauthorized manner.