Vehicle Security Gate Points for Hierarchical Function Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle design methods fail to effectively address security and operational risks associated with deprecated or compromised technologies by disabling entire systems, even when lower order functions are unaffected, leading to unnecessary loss of functionality.
Innovation Solution
A layered system design with strategically assigned 'gate points' allows for the isolation and disabling of higher order functions while maintaining lower order functions, using credential-controlled logic and authentication protocols to restrict interface between lower and higher order functions, enabling secure End of Service operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional means disable multiple layers of functionality to address security risks, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity and loss of functionality worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle software system into multiple hierarchical layers (lower order functions and higher order functions) with clearly defined interfaces. This segmentation allows security risks to be isolated to specific layers or functions without requiring disabling of entire systems, thereby maintaining security reliability while reducing unnecessary complexity and functionality loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gate points as intermediary control mechanisms at the interfaces between software layers and functions. These gate points act as mediators that can selectively enable or disable specific functions based on security conditions, allowing precise control over functionality while maintaining system integrity and security without blanket disabling of entire systems.
2Reliability
If conventional means disable multiple layers of functionality to address security risks, then security reliability is improved, but loss of functionality worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the software architecture into hierarchical layers with distinct lower order functions (LOFs) and higher order functions (HOFs), the patent enables selective disabling of only those functions affected by security risks. This segmentation preserves functional versatility by allowing unaffected functions to continue operating while maintaining security reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by disabling only the specific higher order function or interface that poses a security risk, rather than disabling entire layers or systems. This partial disabling approach maintains the versatility of the system by preserving all other functional capabilities that are not compromised.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gate points are used to selectively disable higher order functions, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security control logic into separate, modular gate point components that are placed at specific interfaces between software layers. This extraction concentrates the control complexity into discrete, manageable elements rather than distributing it throughout the entire system, making the control logic easier to manage while enabling fine-grained functional control.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system comprising a plurality of subsystems, each of the plurality of subsystems configured to perform at least a portion of at least one of a plurality of functions. The plurality of functions are organized in a hierarchy of functions including complex higher order functions and simpler lower order functions. The vehicle system further comprises an advanced computing module configured to control the plurality of subsystems in order to perform a higher order function and a lower order function that supports the higher order function. The advanced computing module comprises software instructions including a first gate point. The first gate point may be activated to prevent the advanced computing module from performing the higher order function.