Method to confirm the server identity for server-initiated services

• US 20070192436A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Alrabady, Ansaf
• Granted Patent: US 7,804,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing server identification to accept a server request in a vehicle wireless communications system. If the server wishes to send a request for a certain function to the vehicle, it will transmit the request and the vehicle will receive the request. If the vehicle receives a valid vehicle identification number, the vehicle will then ask the server to disconnect the communications link. The server will disconnect the communications link, and wait for the vehicle to call the server directly within a predetermined time window to confirm that it was in fact a valid server making the request. If the server confirms that it was the one making the initial request, the vehicle will perform the function.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a server initiated function in a vehicle wireless communications system, said method comprising:

transmitting a service request from the server to the vehicle over a first communications link;

receiving the service request by the vehicle;

requesting that the server disconnect the first communications link;

initiating a call from the vehicle to the server over a second communications link;

confirming the service request from the server; and

performing the service request on the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second communications links are encoded.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the server only waits a predetermined period of time to receive the call from the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined period of time is a few seconds.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing the service request to later perform the service request once it is confirmed.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising re-transmitting the service request once it has been confirmed.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the service request is to upgrade software in the vehicle.

8. A verification system for verifying a server initiated function in a vehicle wireless communications system, said verification system comprising:

means for transmitting a service request from the server to the vehicle over a first communications link;

means for receiving the service request by the vehicle;

means for requesting that the server disconnect the first communications link;

means for initiating a call from the vehicle to the server over a second communications link;

means for confirming the service request from the server; and

means for performing the service request on the vehicle.

9. The verification system according to claim 8 wherein the first and second communications links are encoded.

10. The verification system according to claim 8 wherein the server only waits a predetermined period of time to receive the call from the vehicle.

11. The verification system according to claim 10 wherein the predetermined period of time is a few seconds.

12. The verification system according to claim 8 further comprising means for storing the service request to later perform the service request once it is confirmed.

13. The verification system according to claim 8 further comprising means for re-transmitting the service request once it has been confirmed.

14. The verification system according to claim 8 wherein the service request is to upgrade software in the vehicle.

15. A vehicle wireless communications system, said system comprising:

a vehicle; and

a server, said server transmitting a service request to the vehicle over a first communications link, said vehicle requesting that the server disconnect the first communications link, said vehicle initiating a call to the server over a second communications link, said server confirming the service request from the server, and said vehicle performing the service request.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the first and second communications links are encoded.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the server only waits a predetermined period of time to receive the call from the vehicle.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein the vehicle stores the service request to later perform the service request once it is confirmed.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein the server re-transmits the service request once it has been confirmed.