Process for detecting defective component exchanges

• US 20050125655A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Miksch, Andreas, Busch, Michael-Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/151
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

Method of detecting an unauthorized exchange of components in the case of a technical system, where the control unit (1) sends an encoded message (3) to a component (2) to be checked, in a data field of the message (3) a randomly generated or not easily reproducible value (5, 6) being entered, which is used for checking the installed component (2). The component (2) accesses an assignment field (8) and, as a result, assigns an identification (9) to each not easily reproducible or random value (5, 6) transmitted together with the message (3), and the component (2) transmits the identification corresponding to the value (5, 6) back to the control unit (1). The control unit (1) decides on the basis of the identification (9) whether the component (2) is that the component (2) which is authorized for use in the particular technical system.

Claims

1. A method of detecting an unauthorized exchange of components comprising the steps of:

providing a message to be sent from a control unit to a first component wherein said message includes a randomly generated or not easily reproducible value used for checking said first component;

accessing, in said first component, an assignment field and assigning an identification to each of said randomly generated or not easily reproducible value;

transmitting said assigned identification back to said control unit; and

deciding, in said control unit, on the basis of the identification, whether the first component is a component which is authorized for use.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the assignment field is a matrix from which said identification is generated on the basis of two values.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

a selection data field is provided in the message of the control unit, and the authorization check is carried out when a defined value is transmitted in the selection data field, and in that, in the case of other values in the selection data field, the identification is generated on the basis of an algorithm.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein

the algorithm is filed in the component as well as in the control unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the component sends back a message to the control unit, in which the selection data field and then the determined identification is transmitted.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein,

on the basis of a function value or function result sent back by the component by means of a message, the control unit carries out a comparison with the identification forwarded during a preceding message exchange, and decides therefrom whether the component is that component which is authorized for the use in this technical system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein,

on the basis of a message transmission from the control unit, the component sends back the corresponding message with the identification.

8. A method of authenticating a component, comprising of steps of:

providing to said component an encoded message containing an authentication portion;

assigning an identification value to said authentication portion as a function of an assignment field;

providing a response message from said component including said identification value; and

determining, as a function of said response message, whether said component is authentic.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the assignment field is a matrix from which said is generated on the basis of two values.