Vehicle ECU Replacement Authentication Using Server-Verified IDs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to ensure that replacement parts in vehicles are genuine and authentic to maintain safety and reliability, as non-genuine parts can compromise the safety of the vehicle during operation.

Innovation Solution

A management system that includes vehicles connected to authentication servers via a network, where electronic control units (ECUs) are detected for replacement, and unique identifiers are generated and verified using blockchain technology to record and authenticate the authenticity of replaced parts, ensuring that only genuine parts are used.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If component identification mechanisms are implemented to verify genuine parts, then reliability of part authentication is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional authentication systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepart authentication reliabilityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication server that mediates between the ECU and the verification system. The server stores authentication information and performs verification, eliminating the need for complex authentication logic in the ECU itself. This resolves the contradiction by centralizing the authentication complexity in a dedicated server while keeping the ECU relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses identification information that is copied from the ECU's internal storage and transmitted to the authentication server. This copy-based verification approach allows authentication without requiring complex direct verification mechanisms in the ECU, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability through server-side verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If authentication verification is performed for all ECUs, then safety of vehicle operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to verification processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle operation safetyVSAvoidauthentication verification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary authentication by storing authentication information in the ECU before it is installed in the vehicle. When the ECU is installed, the authentication server already has the verification data ready, allowing for rapid verification without time-consuming on-the-spot authentication processes. This resolves the contradiction by preparing authentication data in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables rapid authentication by transmitting only essential identification information to the server, which then performs quick verification against stored data. The streamlined process skips unnecessary verification steps, allowing authentication to be completed rapidly while maintaining safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Measurement precision

If detailed authentication information is stored in ECUs, then measurement precision of part identity is improved, but loss of substance increases due to additional data storage requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepart identity identification precisionVSAvoiddata storage resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential authentication information from the ECU and transmits it to the authentication server for verification. By taking out only the necessary identification data rather than storing and processing all possible information, the system achieves precise part identity verification while minimizing data storage requirements in the ECU.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts the data storage dimension from the ECU to the authentication server. Instead of storing detailed authentication information locally in the ECU, the system moves the storage burden to the server, allowing the ECU to maintain minimal local storage while the server handles comprehensive authentication data verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3439264B1Management system, vehicle, and information processing method
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3439264B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3439264B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3439264B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a management system including vehicles and authentication servers. A vehicle includes a communication circuit, multiple electronic control units connected to an in-vehicle network, a detection circuit, and a transaction data generating circuit. The detection circuit detects a replacement of one or more electronic control units. The transaction data generating circuit generates transaction data including an identifier that uniquely identifies each of the replaced electronic control units. An authentication server includes a communication circuit, and a verifying circuit that verifies validity of the transaction data obtained by the vehicle. The authentication server also includes a recording circuit that, upon verifying that the first transaction data is valid by the verifying unit, records the transaction data in a recording device.