Direct Connection Verification for Vehicle Diagnostic Data Security

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnostic data from vehicle control units can unintentionally flood into other networks when transmitted to diagnostic devices, causing disruptions or errors due to large data volumes or conflicting packet conventions, potentially damaging these networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a direct connection verification mechanism between the diagnostic device and the vehicle control unit, using specific network configurations and cryptographic checks to ensure only direct connections allow data transmission, preventing interference from other network components and ensuring secure data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If diagnostic data is transmitted from vehicle control unit to diagnostic device via network connection, then diagnostic functionality is enabled, but data packets may unintentionally flood into other networks causing disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic data transmissionVSAvoidnetwork flooding and disruptions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A direct connection verification mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the diagnostic device and vehicle control unit. This mechanism verifies whether a direct connection exists before allowing data transmission, preventing diagnostic data packets from unintentionally flooding into other networks while still enabling diagnostic functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If connection verification mechanism is implemented to prevent network flooding, then network integrity is protected, but connection establishment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork integrityVSAvoidconnection verification mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The direct connection verification is performed as a preliminary action during the connection establishment phase, before any diagnostic data transmission begins. This approach ensures network integrity is protected while the verification complexity is confined to the initial connection setup rather than affecting ongoing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2954498B1Method and device for connecting a diagnostic unit to a control unit in a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2954498B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2954498B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2954498B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

For connecting a diagnostic unit (7) to a vehicle control unit (3) of a motor vehicle (2) via a network connection, it is provided that, when the connection has been established between the diagnostic unit (7) and the vehicle control unit (3), a check is performed as to whether the diagnostic unit (7) is directly connected to the vehicle control unit (3). The diagnostic unit (7) receives diagnostic data from the vehicle control unit (3) only when there is a direct connection.