System and method providing permission based access to automotive computers

• US 9,471,795 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• 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: Kote, Thejovardhana S, Jayaraman, Ramprabhu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Thong
• Application Number:
  US14/048,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system, comprising:

a processor connected to an internal Link bus in a Link device;

a non-transitory memory coupled to the Link bus;

a connector interface connected to the Link bus and to an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) connector of a vehicle, the OBD connector of the vehicle accessing a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of the vehicle;

a digital device ID unique to the Link device;

first software executing on the processor from the non-transitory memory, the first software providing a plurality of functions for the Link device, including at least accessing information regarding vehicle status and operating one or more vehicle functions, including at least unlocking vehicle doors;

a wireless communication port enabled to communicate with one or more digital devices external to the vehicle, said communication port having circuitry capable of near-field pairing;

a computerized server connected to a wide area network (WAN) the computerized server hosted by an enterprise providing link devices and software applications to users; and

a mobile communication device connected to the WAN, storing and executing a software application provided by the network-connected computerized server, the software application uniquely associated with the Link device and enabled to communicate with the first software via the wireless communication port;

wherein the first software enables the Link device to communicate with the OBD, and to manage communication with the mobile communication device via an interactive interface provided on a display screen of the mobile communication device by the second software, and the interactive interface displays the plurality of functions of which the Link device is capable, and enables a user to configure the Link device by enabling or denying individual functions.

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 system of claim 1 wherein the Link device is hard-wired to the OBD connector.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication port comprises cellular circuitry for connecting with a cellular wireless network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile communication appliance is associated with a specific user that is also associated with the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the mobile communication device executes an application bearing a specific and unique App ID, wherein the App ID is associated with the digital device ID and received at the link device in order to allow the communication.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein, once a request for cooperation is approved, the interface enables the user to accomplish individual tasks from a variety of enabled tasks including at least pulling data from data stores in the vehicle and operating door locks of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7 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.

9. The Link device system of claim 8 wherein selection of tasks is made in a dialogue window on the mobile communication device presented to the authorized user via the second software.

10. A method comprising steps:

coupling a Link device to an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) connector and OBD system of a vehicle coupled to an internal Link bus and a controller area network (CAN) bus of the vehicle, accessible via the OBD connector, thereby coupling computerized devices in a vehicle, the Link device having a processor connected to the internal Link bus, a non-transitory memory coupled to the Link bus, a device ID unique to the Link device, first software executing from non-transitory media, and a communication port enabled to communicate with one or more mobile communication appliances external to the vehicle via near-field pairing;

receiving a request to cooperate by the Link device from second software stored on and executing from the mobile communication appliance, via the communication port;

approving the request to cooperate only if it references the device ID and is cryptographically secure; and

displaying an interactive interface on a display screen of the mobile communication appliance, the interface listing a plurality of functions of which the Link device is capable, enabling a user an ability to configure operation of the Link device by enabling or denying individual functions.

11. The method of claim 10 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.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the Link device is hard-wired into OBD circuitry of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication port comprises cellular circuitry for connecting with a cellular wireless network.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the mobile communication appliance is associated with a specific user that is also associated with the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile communication device executes an application bearing a specific and unique App ID, wherein the App ID is associated with the device ID and received at the link device in order to allow the communication.

16. The method of claim 10 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, including at least pulling data from data stores in the vehicle and operating door locks of the vehicle.

17. The Link device of claim 16 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.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein selection of tasks is made in a dialogue window presented to the authorized user via the second software.