Vehicle Interface Access Control via Server-Based Application Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack a centralized and intelligent mechanism to manage and control the extension of mobile phone applications onto vehicle head units, failing to ensure safe and appropriate access to vehicle interfaces based on vehicle conditions and user preferences.

Innovation Solution

A network device maps application operation modes to vehicle conditions and compares application identifiers to determine authorized access to specific vehicle interface components, using remote server software to control and prioritize access, ensuring safe and intelligent utilization of vehicle interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If mobile phone applications are extended to the vehicle head unit, then user interface quality is improved, but vehicle safety is compromised due to unrestricted access to interface components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface qualityVSAvoidvehicle safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements selective access control where different applications are granted permission to access specific subsets of vehicle interface components based on their functionality and safety requirements. For example, navigation applications may access display and audio components while gaming applications are restricted during driving. This localized permission system allows high-quality interface usage where safe while preventing harmful access where risky.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server-based intermediary system that acts as a mediator between mobile applications and vehicle interface components. The server receives application requests, evaluates them against safety criteria and vehicle conditions, and grants or denies access permissions. This intermediary layer enables comprehensive interface access when appropriate while blocking potentially harmful access, thus resolving the contradiction between interface quality and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If centralized server control is implemented to manage application access, then vehicle safety is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing safety policies, application profiles, and interface component mappings on the server before runtime operations. Applications are pre-evaluated and assigned permission sets based on their intended functionality. During actual operation, the system only needs to enforce these pre-determined policies rather than making complex safety decisions in real-time, thus improving safety while minimizing runtime complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If application access to vehicle interface is restricted based on vehicle conditions, then safety is improved, but user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic access control where application permissions are not fixed but change based on real-time vehicle conditions. For example, when the vehicle is stationary, applications may access all interface components freely. When the vehicle transitions to moving mode, the system dynamically adjusts permissions to restrict access to safety-critical components while maintaining access to non-distracting functions. This dynamic adaptation preserves safety while optimizing user experience for each operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2488944B1Centralized management of motor vehicle software applications and services
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 AIRBIQUITY INC
  • EP2488944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2488944B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2488944B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

In one example, a network device (322) signals control software (330) on a vehicle to permit a particular application to access only an identified portion of the vehicle interface (321). The network device (322) probes the control software (330) or the vehicle interface (321) to correlate the vehicle interface (321) to a particular one of a plurality of vehicle interface configurations (369A, 369B). The network device causes the vehicle interface (321) to display a particular one (381) of a plurality of graphical user interfaces based on a result of said probing.