Vehicle Control Transfer via Central Authority Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transfer of control between entities for autonomous vehicles raises issues of trust and authorization, as well as the need for flexible control over specific operational aspects, with concerns about geographic restrictions, access to vehicle components, and duration of control validity.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a central authority server for authentication and authorization, allowing source entities to selectively transfer control of autonomous vehicles to target entities through enrollment procedures, specifying operational aspects and restrictions, and maintaining secure connections using credentials and policies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If control of autonomous vehicles is transferred between entities, then operational flexibility and service capability are improved, but trust and authorization issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol transfer flexibilityVSAvoidtrust and authorization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a central authority server as an intermediary that issues certificates to both source and target entities. This certificate-based authentication system mediates the control transfer process, ensuring that both parties are verified and authorized. The central authority server acts as a trusted third party that establishes security credentials before control transfer occurs, resolving the trust issue while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements enrollment procedures where source and target entities must be pre-registered and authenticated with the central authority server before control transfer can occur. This preliminary authentication and certificate issuance ensures that trust is established in advance, allowing flexible control transfers to occur only between verified entities with proper authorization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If selective control transfer is implemented for specific operational aspects, then precision and security are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides vehicle control into distinct operational aspects or functions that can be selectively transferred. Instead of transferring all control or using a single monolithic control mechanism, the system segments control rights into specific operational domains, allowing precise transfer of only the necessary functions while maintaining simplicity in each individual control segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If geographic restrictions and access controls are implemented, then security and precision are improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements geographic restrictions and access controls by modifying the parameters of control transfer - specifically by defining spatial parameters (geographic locations) and temporal parameters (duration of control) as conditions for valid control transfer. These parameter-based restrictions are automatically enforced by the system, providing security without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining ease of operation while enhancing security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3576378B1Transferring control of vehicles
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3576378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3576378B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3576378B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In some examples, an electronic device includes a communication interface and at least one processor configured to exchange information with another device via the communication interface to allow transfer of control of operable aspects of a vehicle from a source entity to a target entity. In further examples, a method includes exchanging, by an electronic device, information with another device over a communication medium to allow transfer of control of operable aspects of a vehicle from a source entity to a target entity.