Tampering detection method

• US 9,031,735 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Pauli, Joakim
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/392,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/29.6, 701/32.6, 701/33.4, 701/34.2, 701/102, 701/34.6
• US Class Current: 701/29.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/043 Testing equipment at KEY-ON
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2425 Particular ways of programming the data
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24042 Signature analysis, compare recorded with current data, if error then alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method is provided for detecting use of unauthorized software in an engine control unit provided in a vehicle. The method includes calculating a Checksum Verification Number (CVN) each time the engine is started, comparing a last calculated CVN with a last stored CVN in a list of a plurality of CVN entries, storing the last calculated CVN if the last calculated CVN is different to the last stored CVN together with a date of an entry in the list of CVN and/or the current odometer status, removing entries in the list of CVN according to FIFO principle when the list of CVN is full, and presenting this upon request from an on-board or off-board tool.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle having at least one of an engine and a gearbox, comprising:

accessing a list of Checksum Verification Numbers (CVN) comprising storage positions;

controlling operation of the at least one of the engine and the gearbox via software in an electronic control unit; and

detecting use of unauthorized software in the electronic control unit by performing the following steps each time the engine is started or once a day;

calculating, via the electronic control unit, a CVN based on data bytes in an area of interest of the software, and

comparing a last calculated CVN with a last stored CVN in the list of CVNs,

wherein the method further comprises;

removing entries from the list of CVNs according to a FIFO principle in response to a determination that the list of CVNs is full and in response to a determination that the last calculated CVN is different from the last stored CVN, and

storing the last calculated CVN together with a current odometer status as entries in the list of CVNs, in response to a determination that the last calculated CVN is different from the last stored CVN.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of CVNs comprises at least 10 storage positions.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing a separate list of CVNs for different predefined parts of the software.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises restricting CVN calculation to a maximum of one time per day.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises retrieving the list of CVNs with metadata for an on-board or off-board client utilizing a diagnostic communication protocol.