Method and apparatus for transmitting data between a tachograph and a data processing device

• US 8,538,624 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Lindinger, Andreas, Schmidt, Gunnar, Smolin, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne, Darnell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varghese, Sasha T
• Application Number:
  US12/444,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/31.5, 701/32.5, 701/32.6, 713/168, 713/176, 713/181, 455/410
• US Class Current: 701/32.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting data via a transmission path between a tachograph arranged in a vehicle, and a data processing device which is remote from the vehicle. To improve data protection, the transmission takes place via a first path section of the transmission path, which path section is arranged between the tachograph and a communication controller arranged in the vehicle, and a second wireless path section of the transmission path, which path section is arranged between the communication controller and the data processing device. The tachograph in response to an encryption request signal sent from the data processing device to the tachograph encrypts data sent from the tachograph to the data processing device. The data is transmitted in encrypted form from the tachograph to the data processing device both via the first path section and via the second path section.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data via a transmission path between a tachograph arranged in a vehicle and a data processing device remote from the vehicle, comprising:

receiving by the tachograph an enquiry sent by the data processing device;

encrypting by the tachograph, only when the enquiry includes an encryption request, data to be sent by the tachograph to the data processing device, the encrypting being based at least in part on the encryption request;

transmitting only the encrypted data by the tachograph to the data processing device via a first path section arranged between the tachograph and a communication controller arranged in the vehicle and via a second path section arranged between the communication controller and the data processing device and comprising an air link when the enquiry includes the encryption request,

whereby the step of encrypting is performed only when the enquiry includes the encryption request, allowing an increased transmission rate when the encryption request is not present.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the encryption request is sent to the tachograph when a selection portion of the data processing device is operated.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the selection portion is an operating key on the data processing device.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the data to be sent by the tachograph to the data processing device with at least one of a signature and a check sum,

wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the encrypted data with the at least one of the signature and the check sum by the tachograph to the data processing device via the first path section and the second path section.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the tachograph a protection request signal sent by the data processing device indicating that the encrypted data is to be sent by the tachograph with at least one of a signature and a check sum.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the encrypted data by the tachograph in a first transmission step to the communication controller and, transmitting the encrypted data in a second transmission step, by the communication controller to the data processing device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second transmission step begins after the first transmission step is concluded.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting is at a first rate when the enquiry includes the encryption request and the transmitting is at a second rate when the encryption request is not present,

wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate.

9. An apparatus for transmitting data via a transmission path between a tachograph and a data processing device, the apparatus comprising:

the tachograph arranged in a vehicle;

a communication controller arranged in the vehicle and coupled to the tachograph;

the data processing device arranged remote from the vehicle; and

the tachograph including an encryption device configured to encrypt the data in response to an enquiry,

wherein a first path section of the transmission path is arranged between the tachograph and the communication controller and a second path section of the transmission path comprising a wireless link is arranged between the communication controller and the data processing device,

wherein the tachograph is configured to transmit only the encrypted data to the data processing device via the first path section and via the second path section only when the enquiry includes an encryption request, whereby the encrypting is performed only when the enquiry includes the encryption request, allowing an increased transmission rate when the encryption request is not present.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tachograph further comprises a protection device configured to provide the data sent by the tachograph via the transmission path with at least one of a signature and a check sum.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the data processing device further comprises a first selection portion configured to send the encryption request signal to the tachograph, the encryption request configured to cause the tachograph to encrypt the data sent by the tachograph to the data processing device via the transmission path.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data processing device further comprises a second selection portion configured to send a protection request signal to the tachograph indicating that the data, sent by the tachograph to the data processing device via the transmission path is to be provided with the at least one of a signature and a check sum.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first and second selection portions each comprise at least one operating key.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data processing device further comprises a second selection portion configured to send a protection request signal to the tachograph indicating that the data, sent by the tachograph to the data processing device via the transmission path is to be provided with the at least one of a signature and a check sum.