Systems and methods for identification of a compromised module

• US 9,940,762 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Vangelov, John
• Primary Examiner(s): INGRAM, THOMAS P
• Application Number:
  US14/036,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/043 Testing equipment at KEY-ON
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A vehicle computing system having a computer processor in communication with a wireless transceiver, such that the wireless transceiver is capable of communication with a wireless communication device located remotely from the processor. The computer processor may be configured to receive input identifying at least one checksum value from one or more modules in the vehicle. The computer processor may transmit the at least one checksum value to a remote server through the wireless communication device. The remote server may compare the at least one checksum value to a predetermined value. Based on the compared results, the processor may receive one or more messages from the remote server to indicate whether the at least one checksum is equal to the predetermined value. The processor may generate one or more remedial actions if the at least one checksum is not equal to the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a processor communicating with a memory having a plurality of stored checksum values each associated with one of a plurality of vehicle control modules in communication with the processor over a vehicle network, the processor configured to;

poll the plurality of vehicle control modules and receive a current checksum associated with vehicle software in each of the plurality of vehicle control modules;

compare each of the current checksum values with a corresponding one of the stored checksum values; and

in response to the current checksum value of any one of the plurality of control modules not matching the corresponding one of the stored checksum values, transmit a request through a linked device to a remote server to request different software for the vehicle control module having the current checksum value that does not match.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the processor is additionally configured to update the vehicle control module with the different software received from the remote server.

3. The vehicle system of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to update of the vehicle control module with the different software in response to a vehicle key-on or key-off event.

4. The vehicle system of claim 3 wherein the vehicle key-on or key-off event prepares the update of the different software based on input received from one or more infotainment system inputs.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to activate a reduced powertrain mode for a vehicle powertrain system based on the current checksum value of at least one of the plurality of vehicle control modules not matching the associated stored checksum.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the linked device comprises a cellular phone embedded in the vehicle.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the linked device comprises a wirelessly linked portable cellular phone.

8. A vehicle system comprising:

a processor communicating with a server via a transceiver and configured to;

transmit vehicle module software or calibration test values received from periodic polling of vehicle modules to the server;

compare the test values received from periodic polling with server-stored vehicle values associated with a vehicle identification number received via the transceiver; and

in response to the test values not matching the stored vehicle values, initiate reprogramming of the vehicle modules.

9. The vehicle system of claim 8 wherein the processor is additionally configured to initiate reprogramming of the vehicle modules to update the vehicle modules having test values not matching the stored vehicle values with software stored at the server.

10. The vehicle system of claim 9 wherein the update of the vehicle modules may be initiated in response to input received from one or more infotainment knobs.

11. The vehicle system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to activate a reduced powertrain power mode in response to at least one of the vehicle modules having a test value not matching the stored vehicle value.

12. The vehicle system of claim 8 wherein the transceiver is an embedded WiFi transceiver.

13. The vehicle system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle module software or calibration test values comprise checksums.

14. A method for a vehicle comprising:

polling, via a vehicle processor, vehicle modules for associated software checksums;

transmitting the checksums to a remote server via a vehicle transceiver for evaluation;

receiving, via the transceiver, software and/or calibration data for vehicle modules associated with checksums that do not match server-stored checksums associated with a vehicle identification number of the vehicle; and

flashing the vehicle modules associated with non-matching checksums with the software and/or calibration data.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising activating, via the processor, a reduced powertrain power mode for a vehicle powertrain system responsive to at least one of the checksums not matching the server-stored checksums.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the flashing of the modules is performed in response to a vehicle key-on or key-off event.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising establishing, via the processor, communication with a portable cellular phone and outputting a message associated with the vehicle modules having non-matching checksums at a display of the portable cellular phone.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the portable cellular phone in communication with the processor is linked by BLUETOOTH technology.