Vehicle Authentication Fallback for Offline Billing Function Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle authentication systems fail to provide reliable authentication in offline environments, such as tunnels or mountainous areas where network connectivity is lost, leading to potential user anxiety and travel disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle authentication system that includes an alternative authentication mechanism to substitute for network-based authentication when connection to a server is unavailable, utilizing local storage information to determine the enablement of billing system functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network-based authentication is used to determine billing system function enablement, then authentication reliability is improved, but system availability deteriorates in offline environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem availability in offline environments

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing authentication results and billing system function enablement information in the vehicle's memory before network disconnection occurs. This allows the authentication system to operate independently using pre-fetched data when network connection is lost, resolving the contradiction between reliable authentication and offline availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the vehicle's memory acts as a buffer between the network authentication server and the billing system functions. This intermediary stores authentication credentials and function enablement status, enabling the system to maintain operation during network outages while still achieving reliable authentication through the memory-based authentication mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If continuous network connection is required for authentication, then authentication accuracy is improved, but user experience deteriorates during network disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoiduser experience during network disconnection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication actions before network disconnection by fetching and storing authentication results in memory. This ensures that authentication accuracy is maintained during offline periods without degrading user experience, as the system can accurately determine billing system function enablement using stored authentication data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-loading authentication information and function enablement status into the vehicle's memory before network connection is lost. This cushioning mechanism ensures that authentication accuracy is preserved during offline periods, preventing user experience degradation while maintaining reliable authentication through the buffered data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If offline authentication capability is added to the system, then system availability in offline environments is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline authentication capabilityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the memory storage mechanism to serve multiple functions: storing authentication results, maintaining billing system function enablement information, and enabling both online and offline authentication modes. This multi-functional approach improves offline authentication capability without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system performs self-service by utilizing the vehicle's existing memory resources to store and retrieve authentication data independently. This self-service mechanism enables offline authentication capability without requiring additional complex hardware or external servers, as the system leverages its own built-in storage capacity to maintain operation during network disconnection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250365345A1Vehicle authentication system, vehicle authentication method, and storage medium storing vehicle authentication program

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle authentication system is configured to communicate via a network with a server storing information regarding billing system function executable by an occupant of a vehicle; authenticate whether the billing system function can be enabled; and substitute for authentication when connection to the server cannot be established. The alternative authentication is performed when, as a result of a disconnection from the server, the system fails to determine whether the billing system function can be enabled.