Vehicle Token Pair Authentication for Seamless Mobile Device Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle-based systems require excessive user interaction for repeated connections between mobile devices and vehicle devices, leading to inconvenience due to redundant security measures, especially when occupants wish to switch between different onboard devices.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a token pair comprising a plaintext token and an encrypted token, managed by a system key, allows for seamless subsequent connections without user queries, by verifying the token pair using the system key, enabling reduced security interactions and flexible device connectivity within the vehicle-based system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual connection approval with credential exchange is required for each connection request, then security of the vehicle-based system and mobile device is ensured, but user convenience deteriorates due to repetitive connection procedures when switching between devices

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication during the first connection between a mobile device and any vehicle device. The authenticated mobile device receives a token that is valid for subsequent connections to other vehicle devices, eliminating the need to repeat the full authentication process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A token acts as an intermediary credential between the mobile device and vehicle-based system. The token, generated after initial authentication, serves as a portable proof of authorization that can be presented to multiple vehicle devices without requiring re-exchange of complex credentials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system requires full authentication procedures for each connection request from third-party devices, then system security is maintained, but connection flexibility deteriorates when users need to switch between different vehicle devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem securityVSAvoidconnection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication token serves multiple functions: it proves the mobile device's authorization to the vehicle-based system, enables connections to multiple different vehicle devices, and can be presented to any device within the system without modification. This universal credential resolves the contradiction between security and flexibility.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs the complex authentication action once in advance during the first connection. The resulting token encapsulates the authentication result and can be reused for subsequent connections to different devices, providing both security verification and connection flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If credential exchange is performed for every connection request, then security verification is thorough, but connection time increases due to repetitive authentication processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity verificationVSAvoidconnection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the time-consuming credential exchange and security verification in advance during the first connection. The authenticated mobile device receives a token that is valid for subsequent connections to other vehicle devices, eliminating the need to repeat the full authentication process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3236614B1Technique for connecting a mobile device to multiple devices of a vehicle-based system
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 E SOLUTIONS
  • EP3236614B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3236614B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3236614B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for connecting a mobile device with a vehicle-based system is described. The vehicle based-system comprises a first device and a second device that are both in possession of a system key. For an initial connection request between the first device and the mobile device, a token pair comprising a plaintext token and an encrypted token has been provided. The encrypted token is obtainable by applying the system key to at least the plaintext token. The mobile device is connected with the vehicle-based system by receiving, for a subsequent connection request with the second device and from the mobile device, the token pair comprising the plaintext token and the encrypted token. The token pair is verified using at least the system key. The subsequent connection is accepted upon successful verification of the token pair.