In-Vehicle Payment Authentication Using Digital Key Encryption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems lack secure methods for performing e-commerce transactions using mobile devices, particularly in ensuring data security and user authentication for payment processing.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system utilizing a digital key to encrypt wireless communication with a mobile device, enabling secure authentication and authorization for e-commerce transactions, including biometric and manual user inputs to validate payments, and allowing autonomous navigation to the purchase location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used for e-commerce transactions in vehicles, then convenience and user-friendly operation are improved, but data security and authentication reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a digital key as an intermediary element that mediates between the mobile device and vehicle system for authentication. The digital key acts as a secure token that enables wireless communication while maintaining data security through encrypted authentication protocols, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical authentication methods (physical key cards, manual entry) with wireless digital authentication using encrypted digital keys. This substitution maintains security reliability while significantly improving ease of operation, allowing users to authenticate and conduct e-commerce transactions wirelessly through their mobile devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If digital key encryption is implemented for wireless communication, then data security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal digital key system that serves multiple functions: vehicle authentication, e-commerce transaction authorization, and secure wireless communication. By consolidating these security functions into a single digital key infrastructure, the system achieves high data security without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same cryptographic mechanisms serve multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If authentication interaction with user is required for payment authorization, then payment security is improved, but transaction processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment securityVSAvoidtransaction processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary authentication by establishing the digital key connection and user identity verification before the e-commerce transaction occurs. This preliminary action stores the authentication state, allowing subsequent payment authorizations to be processed more quickly while maintaining security, as the system already has verified user identity and authorization levels established in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4712006A1In-vehicle e-commerce payment system
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP4712006A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4712006A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4712006A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for a vehicle includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile device via a wireless connection encrypted using a digital key, wherein the digital key allows the mobile device to access a driving function of a vehicle; and one or more controllers programmed to responsive to a user input indicative of an intent to make a purchase by a user of the vehicle, transmit a request to the mobile device to launch a payment for the purchase via the wireless connection, perform an authentication by interacting with the user to authorize the payment, and responsive to the authentication, instruct the mobile device to proceed with the payment via the wireless connection.