Vehicle Network Access Control via Entitlement Pre-Check

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle management systems incur costly and undesirable charges due to the exchange of preliminary data during authorization processes when applications on vehicles attempt to connect to wireless networks, often resulting in denial of service due to lack of data usage entitlements or roaming issues, leading to wastage of wireless resources.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle management system comprising a network usage controller and a network access manager that determines data usage status and prevents authorization processes when entitlements are insufficient, thereby erasing or disabling communication routes to avoid unnecessary data exchange and resource wastage, and offers alternative routes when possible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless network performs authorization process with preliminary data exchange, then network security and access control are improved, but wireless resources are wasted and costs are incurred when entitlements are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access controlVSAvoidwireless resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by checking data usage entitlements and status before initiating the authorization process. The network usage controller determines whether the application has sufficient entitlements to access the wireless network in advance, and only if the check passes does the system allow the authorization process to proceed. This prevents wasteful data exchange when entitlements are insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism - the network usage controller and network access manager - that mediates between the application and the wireless network authorization process. These intermediaries check entitlements and manage the routing decisions, preventing direct unnecessary data exchange while maintaining proper authorization controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the application attempts to connect to wireless network without checking entitlements first, then ease of connection is improved, but costly charges are incurred due to unnecessary data exchange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection processVSAvoidwireless resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by checking data usage entitlements and status before initiating the authorization process. The network usage controller determines whether the application has sufficient entitlements to access the wireless network in advance, and only if the check passes does the system allow the authorization process to proceed. This prevents wasteful data exchange when entitlements are insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically checking entitlements and managing routing decisions without requiring manual intervention. The network usage controller and network access manager autonomously determine whether to allow connection based on pre-configured entitlements, eliminating the need for user involvement while preventing resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the system allows authorization process to proceed without pre-checking entitlements, then authorization completeness is improved, but data usage costs increase due to failed connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthorization processVSAvoiddata usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by checking data usage entitlements and status before initiating the authorization process. The network usage controller determines whether the application has sufficient entitlements to access the wireless network in advance, and only if the check passes does the system allow the authorization process to proceed. This prevents wasteful data exchange when entitlements are insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network usage controller continuously monitors data usage status and entitlements, providing feedback to the network access manager to make real-time routing decisions. This feedback loop ensures that authorization processes only proceed when necessary, preventing unnecessary data exchange while maintaining complete authorization when entitled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12253384B2Network access control for vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A vehicle management system for managing access of an application on a vehicle to a wireless network external to the vehicle. The system may include a network usage controller configured for determining a data usage status for the application to be one of allowed and blocked and a network access manager configured for storing a route for the application to access a server of the wireless network when the data usage status is allowed and for erasing or disabling the route when the data usage status is blocked.