Vehicle Data Protection via Triggered Deletion and Encryption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle infotainment systems lack protection for personal data shared with them, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access and identity theft, especially when the vehicle changes ownership or custody.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that detects connections between user devices and vehicle computing systems, receives and stores data, and executes a protective response, such as deletion or encryption, upon detection of a triggering event, thereby discontinuing access to the data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If personal data is stored in vehicle infotainment systems for convenient access and service provision, then user convenience and service quality are improved, but security vulnerability and risk of unauthorized access increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of data accessVSAvoidvulnerability to unauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting triggering events (vehicle theft, crash, towing, extended inactivity) and proactively executing protective responses such as data encryption or deletion before unauthorized access can occur. This preventive approach ensures data protection is activated in advance of potential security threats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary protective mechanism that sits between the stored personal data and potential unauthorized access. This intermediary layer monitors for triggering events and intervenes by encrypting or deleting data when threats are detected, acting as a mediator that protects the data without preventing legitimate access during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If data retention period is extended to maintain service continuity, then service quality is improved, but exposure time to security risks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata retention periodVSAvoidexposure time to security risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts data retention by implementing conditional deletion based on detected triggering events. Rather than using a fixed retention period, the system continuously monitors for security-relevant events and automatically adjusts the retention duration by deleting or encrypting data when threats are detected, thereby optimizing both service continuity and security protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by preparing and executing protective measures (data encryption or deletion) in response to detected triggering events that indicate potential security threats. This counteracts the security risk before it can materialize, allowing the system to maintain appropriate data retention for service purposes while neutralizing future security threats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If protective measures such as encryption and deletion are implemented, then security protection is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protection levelVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting triggering events and executing appropriate protective responses without requiring user intervention. The system autonomously monitors for security threats, determines the appropriate protective action (encryption or deletion), and executes these measures automatically, thereby providing high security protection while minimizing the complexity of user interaction with the security system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring for triggering events and automatically adjusting data protection measures based on detected conditions. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain appropriate security levels dynamically, executing encryption or deletion only when necessary, thereby balancing security protection with system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12282584B1Protection of personal data stored in vehicular computing systems
Publication Date: 2025.04.22 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
  • US12282584B1 patent drawing
  • US12282584B1 patent drawing
  • US12282584B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Ways of protecting personally identifiable information stored in an onboard computing system of a vehicle allow improved data security of drivers. The system and method is configured to automatically trigger a deletion or encryption of personal data stored in the motor vehicle in response to an event or other information indicating that the vehicle is outside of the custody of the owner or some other loss of control event.