Vehicle e-Key Sharing With Conditional Access Privileges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle access systems lack efficient and flexible methods for sharing electronic keys (e-Keys) with users, particularly in a controlled manner that enforces conditions of use and monitors usage data.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based system generates and manages e-Keys for vehicles, allowing conditional access and usage monitoring, including geographic, speed, and time restrictions, with real-time data collection and notifications for violations, using wireless communication and cloud processing to enable secure and flexible key sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional physical keys are used for vehicle access, then security is maintained through physical control, but flexibility and ease of sharing access is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical keys with electronic key systems that use wireless communication protocols (Bluetooth, NFC, RFID) to enable contactless vehicle access. This substitution provides flexible digital key sharing while maintaining security through encrypted authentication, eliminating the need for physical key exchange and enabling remote access management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud-based server as an intermediary between vehicle owners and users. The server manages key generation, distribution, and revocation, enabling flexible access sharing without direct physical key exchange. The intermediary handles authentication, authorization, and communication routing, simplifying the user experience while maintaining system security.
2Ease of operation
If e-Keys are shared widely for flexibility, then access convenience is improved, but security control and usage monitoring becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor e-Key usage including location tracking, speed monitoring, and condition verification. The system provides real-time feedback to users through notifications and alerts when conditions are violated, and maintains detailed usage logs for security auditing. This feedback loop enables secure widespread key sharing by ensuring continuous oversight of e-Key usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates dynamic e-Key credentials that are temporarily valid only under specific conditions (geographic location, time period, speed limits). The key's validity changes dynamically based on real-time condition verification, enabling flexible access sharing with built-in security controls that automatically revoke access when conditions are not met.
3Reliability
If conditional access restrictions are implemented for security, then usage control is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures all access conditions, restrictions, and parameters when generating an e-Key through the cloud server. Geographic boundaries, time windows, speed limits, and other constraints are established in advance and embedded in the key's validation logic. This preliminary configuration reduces real-time processing complexity by shifting computational burden to key generation rather than continuous verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the access control system into distinct functional modules: key generation, condition verification, communication management, and logging. Each module handles specific tasks independently, reducing overall system complexity. The segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple conditions and enables modular updates to specific control aspects without affecting the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided. One method includes processing operations to share electronic keys (e-keys). The method includes receiving a request to share an electronic key (e-key) of a vehicle with a recipient device. The request to share the e-key is initiated by sending a message to the recipient device using a sharing device. The method includes processing the request to validate the request to share the e-key, as received from the sharing device having associated therewith a registered owner e-key. Processing the request includes generating the e-key securely by the sharing device and registering the e-key that was generated with a server associated with a manufacturer of the vehicle. The method includes enabling the e-key for use on the vehicle by the recipient device responsive to said processing of the request. The request to share the e-key includes enabling a setting to apply a privilege level for use of the vehicle via the e-key. The privilege level provides one or more conditions of use of the vehicle via the e-key.