Vehicle Activation Security via Multi-Interface Sequence Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles are often stolen when thieves obtain the vehicle owner's keys or keyfob, either through unauthorized access or cloning, leading to security concerns for owners, especially in cases involving untrustworthy individuals or high crime areas.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a security system that requires a personalized activation sequence for vehicle operations, which is learned and stored within the vehicle's telematics unit and data center, ensuring that only authorized sequences can activate vehicle functions, and triggering a theft alert notification if incorrect attempts exceed a predefined limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional key or keyfob system is used to activate vehicle operations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against theft is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The activation process is segmented into multiple independent steps: first the vehicle owner must provide a sequence of input signals through various device interfaces (door locks, windows, mirrors, lights, HVAC), and secondly the system must verify this sequence against the stored activation sequence key. This segmentation prevents simple key cloning from enabling vehicle activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of the activation sequence before allowing vehicle operations to commence. The controller compares the received input sequence against the stored activation sequence key in advance, and only if the sequence matches does the system proceed to activate vehicle operations. This preliminary check blocks unauthorized activation attempts.
2Reliability
If a security system requiring input sequences is implemented, then the security against theft is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes existing multi-functional device interfaces already present in the vehicle (door locks, windows, mirrors, lights, HVAC controls) for the security verification process. These same interfaces serve both their original operational purposes and the new security function, eliminating the need for separate dedicated security hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's existing controller and memory systems perform the security verification functions without requiring external security hardware. The controller receives input signals, compares them against the stored activation sequence key, and makes activation decisions autonomously, leveraging the vehicle's own computational resources rather than adding separate security processing units.
3Reliability
If multiple device interfaces are used for activation sequences, then the security against theft is improved, but the ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the security verification function with the normal vehicle operation controls. The same device interfaces used for routine vehicle operations (door locks, windows, mirrors, lights, HVAC) are also used for the security sequence input, combining security and operational functions into a unified interaction model that reduces the learning curve and improves convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
One general aspect includes a method of activating vehicle operations, the method including: (a) receiving, via a controller, a sequence of input signals from a plurality of device interfaces to define an activation attempt, where each device interface is configured to control operation of a corresponding vehicle aspect; (b) determining, via the controller, if the activation attempt matches an activation sequence key; and (c) activating vehicle operations, via the controller, when it is determined the activation attempt matches the activation sequence key.