Vehicle Component Unlocking via Secure Network Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle component unlocking methods lack an efficient mechanism to ensure that vehicle components are only activated and used within the correct vehicle, preventing theft and ensuring legitimate operation.
Innovation Solution
A method and computer program that unlock a vehicle component based on the activation status of a second vehicle component within a secured network, utilizing message reception and cryptographic verification to legitimize the second component, allowing transitive unlocking of other components without compromising the entire network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle components are linked to a vehicle and only enabled when in the correct vehicle, then theft prevention is improved, but device complexity increases due to cryptographic verification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing cryptographic key pairs in the vehicle components during manufacturing. The public keys are stored in a secure database associated with the vehicle, and components are pre-configured with their own private keys. This preliminary setup enables automatic authentication when the component communicates with the vehicle's control unit, eliminating the need for complex real-time verification protocols and reducing operational complexity while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If cryptographic keys are distributed to vehicle control units, then component authentication is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to potential key compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cryptographic system into multiple independent key pairs, with each vehicle component having its own unique private key and the vehicle having corresponding public keys stored in a secure database. This segmentation ensures that if one key pair is compromised, only that specific component is affected while other components remain secure. The system further segments authentication into two stages: initial key distribution and ongoing message-based verification, reducing the attack surface for potential compromises.
3Reliability
If a secured network of vehicle components is activated, then network security is improved, but system paralysis occurs when a component defect is detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing selective authentication where only the specific vehicle component attempting to access the secured network undergoes cryptographic verification. Other already-authenticated components continue to operate without interruption. When a component defect is detected, the system partially disables only the affected component's access rights while maintaining network functionality for all other components. This approach provides targeted security enforcement without causing system-wide paralysis.
4Ease of operation
If transitive unlocking is implemented based on secured network activation, then ease of operation is improved, but security risk increases due to potential propagation of compromised status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a message-based authentication system where each component must receive and verify cryptographic messages from the vehicle's control unit before unlocking is granted. The control unit continuously monitors the authentication status and provides feedback messages to components. When a component's status changes (e.g., from authenticated to compromised), the system immediately sends updated authentication messages to all components, ensuring that transitive unlocking only occurs when proper authentication feedback is received and verified, preventing propagation of compromised status.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device, a method, and a computer program for unlocking a vehicle component, as well as a vehicle-to-vehicle communication module. The device (10) for unlocking a first vehicle component (20) of a vehicle (100) comprises at least one interface (12) configured for communication with a second vehicle component (50) of the vehicle (100). The second vehicle component (50) is part of a secure assembly of vehicle components of the vehicle (100). The device (10) further comprises a control module (14) configured for controlling the at least one interface (12). The control module (14) is further configured for receiving at least one message from the second vehicle component (50) via the at least one interface (12).The control module (14) is further configured to authenticate the second vehicle component (50) based on at least one message received from the second vehicle component (50). The control module (14) is further configured to unlock the first vehicle component (20) if the at least one received message implies that the second vehicle component (50) has been unlocked based on the secured assembly of vehicle components and if the authentication of the second vehicle component (50) is successful.