Vehicle Bluetooth Low Energy Vulnerability Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication methods in vehicles, such as Bluetooth, face security vulnerabilities that compromise the integrity of vehicle systems and sensors, while wired connections increase weight and maintenance complexity.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for generating vulnerabilities in Bluetooth communication specifications and determining mitigation operations to reduce these vulnerabilities by providing recommendations for modifying the communication specifications, which can be automatically or user-input driven, using computing devices to adjust settings, install programs, or modify configurations to enhance security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If wireless Bluetooth communication is used between vehicle elements, then vehicle weight is reduced and maintenance complexity is decreased, but information security vulnerabilities increase compared to wired approaches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidinformation security
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs vulnerability generation and mitigation operation determination before actual Bluetooth communication occurs. The processor generates potential vulnerabilities based on communication specification features, determines mitigation operations in advance, and provisions these to computing devices before deployment, ensuring security is built into the communication protocol design phase rather than added as a reactive measure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary vulnerability analysis system that sits between the Bluetooth communication specification and implementation. This intermediary generates vulnerabilities by analyzing communication specification features, acts as a security gateway that determines mitigation operations, and provisions security recommendations to computing devices, thereby mediating the security concerns of wireless communication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If communication specifications are modified to reduce vulnerabilities, then security is improved, but communication protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcommunication specification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where the processor generates vulnerabilities based on communication specification features, determines mitigation operations, provisions them to computing devices, and receives implementation feedback. This iterative feedback process allows security improvements to be systematically integrated into communication specifications while monitoring the impact on complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies communication specification parameters systematically by generating vulnerabilities based on specific features, determining mitigation operations that adjust these parameters, and provisioning changes to computing devices. This parameter-based approach allows security improvements to be made through controlled modifications rather than fundamental redesigns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4632609A1Apparatuses, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products for secure bluetooth low energy communication
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4632609A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4632609A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4632609A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for improved Bluetooth communication security in vehicles. In the context of a method, the method includes obtaining, from a computing device, at least one feature of a communication specification for a vehicle, wherein: the communication specification defines data sharing protocols between a sensor or computing device aboard the vehicle and a vehicle management system to enable wireless communication by a Bluetooth communication mode without disabling means of the sensor, computing device, or vehicle management system for communication by a second mode. The method includes generating a vulnerability of the communication specification based on the at least one feature; determining a mitigation operation based on the vulnerability; and providing a recommendation comprising the mitigation operation to the at least one computing device to enable modification of the communication specification toward reducing the vulnerability.