Vehicle Diagnostic Tool Cellular Communication Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle diagnostic tools face challenges in securely accessing vehicle modules when used at facilities without Internet access, risking unauthorized access if challenge query responses are not properly managed.

Innovation Solution

Equipping vehicle diagnostic tools with cellular communication capabilities or linking them with a separate wireless device, such as a smartphone, to transmit challenge queries and responses via cellular protocols, ensuring secure access to vehicle modules through encrypted SMS messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If vehicle diagnostic tools use traditional Internet-based communication for challenge query verification, then secure access to vehicle modules is achieved, but the system fails to operate at facilities without Internet access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational capability at facilities without Internet accessVSAvoidsecure access to vehicle modules

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cellular communication network as an intermediary between the diagnostic tool and the back-shop facility. Instead of requiring direct Internet connectivity, the challenge queries and responses are transmitted through cellular SMS messages via mobile phones, enabling secure verification in locations without Internet access while maintaining the security architecture through centralized back-shop validation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional Internet-based electronic communication system with a cellular communication system using SMS messaging. This substitution allows the diagnostic tool to maintain secure challenge-response authentication by transmitting data through cellular networks and mobile devices, functioning independently of Internet infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If challenge query responses are transmitted without proper authorization verification, then easy access is provided, but unauthorized access to vehicle modules occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to vehicle modulesVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authorization verification by sending challenge queries to the back-shop facility before granting access to vehicle modules. The back-shop facility validates the diagnostic tool's authorization status in advance and only provides responses to authorized tools, preventing unauthorized access before it can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the back-shop facility receives challenge queries, verifies authorization, and returns validated responses only to authorized diagnostic tools. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that access is granted only after proper verification, balancing ease of operation with security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9179311B2Securing vehicle service tool data communications

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A system and method of securely communicating information between a vehicle and a central facility includes receiving at a vehicle diagnostic tool a challenge query from the vehicle; establishing a wireless connection between the vehicle diagnostic tool and a central facility; transmitting the challenge query from the vehicle diagnostic tool to the central facility via the wireless connection; receiving at the vehicle diagnostic tool a response to the challenge query via the wireless connection; and accessing one or more vehicle modules on the vehicle using the received response to the challenge query.