METHOD OF DETECTING MANIPULATION OF A PROGRAMMABLE MEMORY DEVICE OF A DIGITAL CONTROLLER
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Abstract
A method of detecting manipulation of a programable memory device of a digital controller for a motor vehicle is described; data and control programs for operation of the controller and for control/regulation of certain functions of the motor vehicle can be stored in the memory device. To permit especially reliable detection of manipulation in the simplest possible way, in conjunction with each programing/reprograming operation of the programable memory device, information regarding the programing/reprograming operation is stored in a separate memory area of the memory device where only reading and programing are possible, and in order to detect manipulation, the content of the separate memory area is read out and compared with given information.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. A method for detecting a manipulation of a programmable memory device of a digital controller for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
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storing in the programmable memory device data and control programs for an operation of the digital controller and for a control/regulation of functions of the motor vehicle; storing information regarding a programming/reprogramming operation in a separate memory area of the programmable memory device where only reading and programming are possible, the step of storing information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation being performed in conjunction with each programming/reprogramming operation of the programmable memory device, the stored information recording a number of times the programmable memory device has been programmed/reprogrammed; and reading out and comparing a content of the separate memory area with another set of information in order to detect a manipulation, wherein the separate memory area is incapable of being erased, and wherein a remaining memory area of the programmable memory device is capable of being erased; wherein the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation stored in the separate memory area is documented, so that if (i) the motor vehicle enters a workshop and warranty claims are made, or (ii) if the memory of the controller is to be reprogrammed, the content of the separate memory area is read out and compared with a documented information of the memory area, and if the information stored in the separate memory area matches the documented information, then there has not been an unauthorized manipulation of the controller, and if the information read out of the memory area does not match the documented information, then there has been an unauthorized manipulation of the controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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17. An external programming unit for at least one of programming and reprogramming a flash memory of a digital controller for a motor vehicle, the flash memory including a programmable memory device, comprising:
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an arrangement for storing in the flash memory data and control programs for an operation of the digital controller and for a control/regulation of functions of the motor vehicle; an arrangement for storing information regarding a programming/reprogramming operation in a separate memory area of the programmable memory device where only reading and programming are possible, the storing of the information regarding the programming/ reprogramming operation occurring in conjunction with each programming/reprogramming operation of the programmable memory device, the stored information recording a number of times the programmable memory device has been programmed/reprogrammed; an arrangement for reading out and comparing a content of the separate memory area with another set of information in order to detect a manipulation; and an arrangement for storing in the separate memory area information from an external programming unit for programming/reprogramming the flash memory, wherein a remaining memory area of the programmable memory device is capable of being erased; wherein the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation stored in the separate memory area is documented, so that if (i) the motor vehicle enters a workshop and warranty claims are made, or (ii) if the memory of the controller is to be reprogrammed, the content of the separate memory area is read out and compared with a documented information of the memory area, and if the information stored in the separate memory area matches the documented information, then there has not been an unauthorized manipulation of the controller, and if the information read out of the memory area does not match the documented information, then there has been an unauthorized manipulation of the controller.
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18. A digital controller for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a programmable memory device for storing data and control programs for an operation of the digital controller and for a control/regulation of functions of the motor vehicle; an arrangement for storing information regarding a programming/reprogramming operation in a separate memory area of the programmable memory device where only reading and programming are possible, the storing of the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation occurring in conjunction with each programming/ reprogramming operation of the programmable memory device, the stored information recording a number of times the programmable memory device has been programmed/reprogrammed; an arrangement for reading out and comparing a content of the separate memory area with another set of information in order to detect a manipulation; and an arrangement for storing in the separate memory area information from an arrangement of the digital controller for storing the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation, wherein the separate memory area is incapable of being erased, and wherein a remaining memory area of the programmable memory device is capable of being erased; wherein the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation stored in the separate memory area is documented, so that if (i) the motor vehicle enters a workshop and warranty claims are made, or (ii) if the memory of the controller is to be reprogrammed, the content of the separate memory area is read out and compared with a documented information of the memory area, and if the information stored in the separate memory area matches the documented information, then there has not been an unauthorized manipulation of the controller, and if the information read out of the memory area does not match the documented information, then there has been an unauthorized manipulation of the controller. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification