Vehicle Network Security via Dynamic ECU Identifier Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles face security challenges due to the use of static identifiers for electronic control units (ECUs) and application programming interfaces (APIs), making it difficult to enhance network security against potential attackers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generate temporary identifiers for ECUs and APIs based on salt strings and static identifiers, which are deployed on the vehicle network, enhancing security by changing identifiers frequently and making them harder to guess or deduce.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static identifiers are used for ECUs and APIs, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but network security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static identifiers to dynamic temporary identifiers that change over time. The gateway device generates temporary identifiers with limited validity periods, making the identification system adaptive and time-dependent, thereby enhancing security while maintaining operational simplicity through automated management.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between ECUs/APIs and external systems. It generates and manages temporary identifiers, acting as a security mediator that protects underlying static identifiers while enabling secure communication. This intermediary layer resolves the contradiction by adding security functionality without requiring changes to existing ECU or API implementations.
2Reliability
If temporary identifiers with limited validity are used, then network security is improved, but loss of time increases due to frequent identifier changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing temporary identifiers with defined validity periods before potential security threats can exploit static identifiers. The gateway device proactively generates and distributes temporary identifiers, and systems are pre-configured to automatically renew or update identifiers before expiration, eliminating time loss associated with manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The identifier management system operates autonomously through self-service mechanisms. The gateway device automatically generates, distributes, and revokes temporary identifiers without human intervention. ECUs and APIs automatically receive and use temporary identifiers, and the system self-manages the full lifecycle including renewal and expiration, eliminating time loss from manual identifier management.
Data Source
AI summary
In response to detecting a trigger event a computer in a vehicle such as a gateway device can retrieve a static identifier of an electronic control unit (ECU) via a vehicle network. The vehicle in the computer can then receive, in response to a request to a server computer, a salt string, and generate a temporary ECU identifier for the ECU based on the salt string and the static identifier. The temporary ECU identifier can then be deployed to the vehicle network.