System and Method Providing Permission Based Access to Automotive Computers

• US 20140108819A1
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automatic Labs Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automatic Labs Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Jayaraman, Ramprabhu, Kote, Thejovardhana S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,471,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application

Abstract

A Link device has a processor connected to an internal Link bus, a non-transitory memory, a digital device ID, one or both of firmware or software executing from non-transitory media, a first communication port enabled to communicate with a vehicle bus coupling computerized devices in a vehicle, and a second communication port enabled to communicate with one or more digital devices external to the vehicle. The firmware or software enables the Link device to communicate with the vehicle bus, and to accomplish a variety of tasks including pulling data from data stores in the vehicle and operating specific vehicle functions, and wherein the firmware or software manages communication with the one or more external digital devices, accepting only requests for cooperation with the Link device using the unique device ID with a request that is cryptographically secure.

Claims

1. A Link device, comprising:

a processor connected to an internal Link bus;

a non-transitory memory coupled to the Link bus;

a digital device ID unique to the Link device;

one or both of firmware or software executing from non-transitory media;

a first communication port enabled to communicate with a vehicle bus coupling computerized devices in a vehicle; and

a second communication port enabled to communicate with one or more digital devices external to the vehicle;

wherein the firmware or software enables the Link device to communicate with the vehicle bus, and to accomplish a variety of tasks including pulling data from data stores in the vehicle and operating specific vehicle functions, and wherein the firmware or software manages communication with the one or more external digital devices, accepting only requests for cooperation with the Link device using the unique device ID with a request that is cryptographically secure.

2. The Link device of claim 1 wherein a security key is associated with the Link device, and to be processed the request for cooperation must be signed using the security Key.

3. The Link device of claim 1 wherein the Link device is hard-wired into circuitry of the vehicle.

4. The Link device of claim 1 wherein the link device is coupled to an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) connector, and connected to an OBD connector of the vehicle.

5. The Link device of claim 1 wherein the second communication port comprises cellular circuitry for connecting with a cellular wireless network.

6. The Link device of claim 1 wherein the second communication port comprises near-field pairing circuitry enabled for connecting to a digital device in range that is also enabled for compatible near-field pairing.

7. The Link device of claim 6 wherein the digital device in range is a mobile communication appliance associated with a specific user that is also associated with the vehicle.

8. The Link device of claim 7 wherein the mobile communication device executes an application bearing a specific and unique App ID.

9. The Link device of claim 1 wherein, once a request for cooperation is approved, the requesting application is enabled to cause the link device to accomplish individual tasks from the variety of enabled tasks.

10. The Link device of claim 9 wherein access to tasks in the variety of tasks is limited for individual users seeking access to the Link device by an authorized user selecting to allow only individual ones of the tasks in the variety of tasks.

11. The link device of claim 10 wherein selection of tasks is made in a dialogue window presented to the authorized user.

12. A method comprising steps:

coupling a Link device to a vehicle bus coupling computerized devices in a vehicle, the Link device having a processor connected to an internal Link bus, a non-transitory memory coupled to the Link bus, a device ID unique to the Link device, one or both of firmware or software executing from non-transitory media, and a communication port enabled to communicate with one or more digital devices external to the vehicle;

receiving a request to cooperate by the Link device from an external digital device via the communication port; and

approving the request to cooperate only if it references the device ID and is cryptographically secure, granting to the external digital device ability to accomplish a variety of tasks including pulling data from data stores in the vehicle and operating specific vehicle functions.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a security key is associated with the Link device, and approval requires that the request for cooperation must be signed using the security Key.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the Link device is hard-wired into circuitry of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the link device is coupled to an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) connector, and connected to an OBD connector of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the communication port comprises cellular circuitry for connecting with a cellular wireless network.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the communication port comprises near-field pairing circuitry enabled for connecting to a digital device in range that is also enabled for compatible near-field pairing.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the digital device in range is a mobile communication appliance associated with a specific user that is also associated with the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the mobile communication device executes an application bearing a specific and unique App ID.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein, once a request for cooperation is approved, the requesting application is enabled to cause the link device to accomplish individual tasks from the variety of enabled tasks.

21. The Link device of claim 20 wherein access to tasks in the variety of tasks is limited for individual users seeking access to the Link device by an authorized user selecting to allow only individual ones of the tasks in the variety of tasks.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein selection of tasks is made in a dialogue window presented to the authorized user.