Vehicle Monitoring Reliability Control for ECU Security Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of multiple ECUs into a single ECU in vehicles increases security risks due to vulnerabilities in virtual machines, making it difficult to detect attacks and manage security effectively.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring system with a reliability manager and function restrictor that dynamically manages and restricts functions based on security protection states, using reliability levels to detect and mitigate threats by restricting functions of monitoring targets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a monitoring system is installed in a vehicle to detect theft or unauthorized use, then security and safety are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the monitoring device with the vehicle's existing ignition system and alarm system. The monitoring device shares the ignition switch and integrates with the alarm system, eliminating the need for separate independent monitoring and alarm systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining security functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring device serves multiple functions: it detects unauthorized use, controls the ignition system, and integrates with the alarm system. By making the monitoring device multi-functional and integrating it with existing vehicle systems, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.

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

2Reliability

If the monitoring device always transmits monitoring results to the information center, then information reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring device transmits data periodically or based on specific triggering events rather than continuously. The transmission is activated when the ignition switch state changes or when unauthorized use is detected, allowing the system to conserve energy during normal operation while ensuring information reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring device autonomously determines when transmission is necessary based on detected conditions. It self-regulates transmission based on whether unauthorized use is detected or ignition state changes, eliminating the need for continuous external control and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If the monitoring device transmits monitoring results frequently, then information availability is improved, but the loss of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidenergy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses event-triggered periodic transmission rather than continuous transmission. Data is transmitted when specific events occur (ignition on/off, unauthorized detection), ensuring information availability when changes happen while minimizing energy loss during stable states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Loss of information

If the monitoring device includes always-on transmission capability, then information availability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring device combines transmission control logic with the ignition system control. The same control unit that manages ignition also manages data transmission, eliminating the need for a separate always-on transmission module and reducing device complexity while maintaining information availability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4350550B1Monitoring system, monitoring method, monitoring device, and function restricting device
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP4350550B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4350550B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4350550B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A monitoring system is for monitoring a vehicle (10) or a monitoring target that operates inside the vehicle (10), and the monitoring system includes: a reliability manager (1186) that manages reliability indicating a security protection state of the monitoring target, according to a vehicle event of the vehicle (10); and a function restrictor (1163) that places a restriction on at least a part of functions of the monitoring target, according to the reliability.