Vehicle Power Distribution Unit Policy Authorization
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in securely managing power to their electronic devices, particularly in ensuring that power commands are authorized and appropriate for the vehicle's operational state, to prevent malicious interference and ensure safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A power distribution unit that compares power commands from host devices to policies specific to the vehicle's operational state, using a bitstring format for efficient policy storage and authorization, thereby controlling power operations such as powering up, down, or power-cycling devices only if authorized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If power commands are allowed from any host device, then ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to unauthorized power control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power distribution unit as an intermediary between host devices and electronic devices. This intermediary receives power commands from host devices, verifies authorization based on vehicle operational state, and selectively distributes power accordingly. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation for authorized devices while preventing unauthorized access, thus preserving both accessibility and security.
2Reliability
If power commands are restricted to authorized host devices only, then security is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to limited access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic authorization where the power distribution unit continuously monitors vehicle operational state and adjusts authorization decisions in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the system to grant or revoke power command permissions based on current conditions, maintaining security while enabling appropriate access for authorized devices during different operational states.
3Reliability
If detailed policy data is stored for each operational state, then reliability and security are improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses bitstring representation to encode policy data, where each bit corresponds to a specific host device's authorization status for a given operational state. This parameter transformation converts complex authorization rules into compact binary values, significantly reducing storage requirements while maintaining comprehensive security coverage across multiple operational states and devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Among other things, techniques are described for managing power of electronic devices of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle includes a power source, a power distribution unit configured to control power to at least one electronic device from the power source, a first processor configured for communicating power commands to the power distribution unit, wherein the power distribution unit includes a second processor configured to execute the computer executable instructions stored in computer-readable medium for carrying out operations including adjusting a power distribution from the vehicle power source to the electronic device in accordance with policy data.