Vehicle Key Presence Judgment Under Authentication Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems fail to accurately determine the presence of a portable key device within a vehicle due to authentication failures, leading to potential confinement and invalidation issues, especially in complex radio environments and with relay attack countermeasures.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus and method that performs wireless authentication and location determination, considering a portable device as present if the authentication failure reason is specific, even if the device location confirmation is unsuccessful, to reduce false negatives and ensure proper confinement warning and invalidation processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless authentication process is performed to determine whether communication partner is key device, then security against relay attacks is improved, but false negatives occur when key device is present but authentication fails due to complex radio environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against relay attacksVSAvoidaccuracy of key device detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary judgment process that mediates between the wireless authentication result and the final key device presence determination. When authentication fails, the system uses location determination based on wireless signal reception as an intermediary indicator to infer key device presence, rather than directly concluding absence. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by allowing security verification while accounting for radio environment interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by not requiring complete authentication success for key device presence determination. Instead of demanding full authentication pass, the system accepts partial evidence (location determination based on signal reception) when authentication fails for suspected radio environment reasons. This partial acceptance reduces false negatives while maintaining security through the multi-factor judgment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Ease of operation

If location determination is based solely on wireless signal reception, then detection simplicity is improved, but false negatives occur when signal reception is weak despite key device presence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of detectionVSAvoidaccuracy of key device presence determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two determination methods: wireless signal reception-based location determination and wireless authentication-based key device verification. By combining these approaches, the system maintains the simplicity of signal-based detection while enhancing accuracy through authentication validation. The merged judgment process resolves the contradiction by leveraging complementary strengths of both methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using authentication results to correct and refine location determination outcomes. When authentication fails, the system feeds back this information to re-evaluate the key device presence decision, rather than relying solely on the initial signal reception assessment. This feedback loop prevents false negatives while maintaining operational simplicity through automated judgment adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If authentication requirements are strictly enforced, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but operational failures occur when legitimate key devices fail authentication due to radio interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against unauthorized accessVSAvoidsuccess rate of vehicle locking operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the authentication requirement flexible rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts authentication strictness based on contextual judgment: when radio interference is suspected, the system relaxes authentication requirements and relies more on location determination. This dynamic approach maintains security against unauthorized access while preventing operational failures with legitimate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the judgment parameters conditionally: under normal conditions, authentication success is the primary parameter for key device confirmation; under suspected interference conditions, the system shifts to using location determination based on signal reception as the primary parameter. This parameter change strategy resolves the contradiction by adapting security criteria to environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250010815A1Vehicle control device and vehicle control method

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle control apparatus determines a location of a key device through wireless communication with the key device. The vehicle control apparatus is configured to perform a wireless authentication process of determining whether a communication partner is the key device and a location determination process of determining whether the communication partner is present in a vehicle, and to identify an authentication failure reason that is a reason why the communication partner has failed to be determined as the key device.