Diagnostic port protection to body control module

• US 10,118,592 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Boran, Lisa Therese, Caushi, Brunilda B., Hurr, Simon John William, Weinfurther, James Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US15/049,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A body controller may monitor a vehicle bus for diagnostic requests received from a scan device connected to a diagnostic port when a vehicle perimeter alarm of a body controller is armed. The body controller may reset a predetermined lockout timeout responsive to receipt of a session request from the scan device. Upon expiration of the lockout timeout, the body controller may request to establish the session with the body controller from the scan device for a predetermined access timeout. When the session is established, the body controller may allow a user to program entry devices to the body controller and/or download software updates to the body controller.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a diagnostic port configured to provide access to a vehicle bus of a vehicle; and

a body controller of the vehicle connected to the vehicle bus, programmed to, upon a vehicle perimeter alarm being armed;

monitor the vehicle bus for requests received from a scan device connected to the diagnostic port;

reset a predetermined lockout timeout responsive to receipt of a session request from the scan device; and

upon expiration of the lockout timeout, allow, for a predetermined access window, a request to establish the session with the body controller from the scan device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle perimeter alarm is armed responsive to one or more of:

(i) pressing a lock button on a remote keyless entry device, (ii) setting a door lock control to a lock position with a front door open followed by closing of the front door, (iii) inputting a vehicle lock action to a vehicle keyless entry keypad, or (iv) locking the vehicle using a passive entry feature of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle perimeter alarm is disarmed responsive to one or more of:

(i) pressing an unlock button on a door lock control within a predetermined pre-arm timeout, (ii) pressing an unlock button on a remote keyless entry device, (iii) pressing a luggage compartment lid release button on a remote keyless entry device, (iv) using a key programmed to the body controller to change an ignition state of the vehicle to run, (v) inputting a vehicle unlock code to a vehicle keyless entry keypad, or (vi) unlocking a front door or a luggage compartment lid using a passive entry feature of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the session is a programming session request or an extended diagnostic session request.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, when the session is established, the body controller allows one or more of:

(i) entry devices to be programmed to the body controller or (ii) software updates to be downloaded to the body controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined lockout timeout is ten minutes, and the predetermined access timeout is one minute.

7. A method comprising:

upon expiration of a lockout period initiated in response to receiving a session request from a scan device while a vehicle perimeter alarm of a vehicle controller is armed and during which, sessions between the scan device and vehicle controller are prohibited, permitting by the vehicle controller, for a predetermined access time, another session request from the scan device to establish a session between the scan device and vehicle controller.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising resetting a predetermined lockout timeout responsive to receipt of a session request from the scan device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the session request is a diagnostic request attempting to enter an elevated diagnostic mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the elevated diagnostic mode is a programming mode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the elevated diagnostic mode is an enhanced diagnostic mode.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising, requesting credentials required in order to access to the elevated diagnostic mode.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the lockout period is ten minutes, and the predetermined access time is one minute.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle controller programmed to, while a vehicle perimeter alarm of the vehicle controller is armed and in response to a request from a diagnostic device to establish a session with the vehicle controller, prevent establishment of the session for a lockout period initiated upon receipt of the request, and in response to expiration of the lockout period, allow a second request for establishment of the session during a predetermined access time.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller is further programmed to reset the lockout period when an additional request from the diagnostic device to establish the session occurs during the lockout period.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller is further programmed to prevent establishment of the session when the request is to enter a programming mode or enhanced diagnostics mode.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller is further programmed to prevent establishment of the session in response to activation of a vehicle alarm system.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to initiate an alarm when the request occurs during the lockout period.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller is a body module controller.

20. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the lockout period is ten minutes, and the predetermined access time is one minute.