Vehicle Function Authentication During Network Outages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle authentication systems fail to authenticate fee-based functions when network connectivity is lost, causing anxiety and potential operational issues during travel in areas with poor radio wave reception.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that includes a network communication unit, authentication unit, and control unit, enabling execution of fee-based functions without using server information, where the authentication unit determines whether the occupant intends to pay for an additional charge for the fee-based function, and allows continued use of essential functions even in offline environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle authentication system requires network connectivity to authenticate fee-based functions, then the system can verify subscription status and control access, but the system fails to operate in areas with poor radio wave reception, causing user anxiety and operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs authentication in advance when network connectivity is available, storing the authentication result locally. This preliminary action allows the vehicle to use authenticated functions even when network connectivity is later lost, resolving the contradiction between requiring reliable authentication and maintaining usability in offline environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a local copy of the authentication result stored by the server, allowing the vehicle to verify subscription status without continuous network connectivity. This copying approach maintains authentication reliability while enabling offline operation.
2Reliability
If the system continuously verifies subscription status with the server, then access control for fee-based functions is maintained, but the system cannot determine user intent to pay for additional charges without server information
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a local storage component as an intermediary between the server and the function execution unit. This intermediary stores subscription status information locally, allowing the system to maintain accurate access control while also enabling flexible handling of additional charge scenarios by preserving user intent information independently of continuous server communication.
3Reliability
If the vehicle disables functions when authentication fails, then unauthorized use is prevented, but essential functions become unavailable during network outages, reducing user convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs authorization checks in advance when network connectivity is available and stores the results locally. This allows essential functions to remain available during network outages while maintaining security, as the pre-stored authorization information enables continued access to approved functions without requiring real-time server verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies a partial authorization approach where functions are authorized based on available information. When server information is unavailable, the system uses locally stored authorization data to permit essential functions, applying excessive authorization that can be later corrected when connectivity is restored, thereby maintaining availability while preserving security.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system is configured to: communicate with a server via a network, the server storing information about a fee-based function that can be executed by an occupant of the vehicle; authenticate whether the fee-based function can be executed by performing a communication with the server; in response to an authentication of the fee-based function being succeeded, enable an execution of the fee-based function; in response to the authentication of the fee-based function being failed, determine whether the occupant intends to pay for an additional charge for the fee-based function without using (i) information transmitted from the server in advance or (ii) information generated with a same method as a generation method of information in the server; and in response to determining that the occupant intends to pay for the additional charge for the fee-based function, enable the execution of the fee-based function.