Patents by Inventor James Martin Lawlis

James Martin Lawlis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11810409
    Abstract: Performing in-vehicle network diagnostics is provided. A cloud system receives wiring diagnostic data from a vehicle. The wiring diagnostic data includes information with respect to electrical operation of a plurality of segments of wiring of the vehicle. A machine-learning model of the cloud system is utilized to analyze the wiring diagnostic data. Responsive to the machine-learning model identifying an issue with the electrical operation based on the wiring diagnostic data, a response is sent from the cloud system to the vehicle, the response including one or more corrective actions to be performed by the vehicle to address the issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Haysam M. Kadry, Amrit Gopal, Douglas A. Oliver, James Martin Lawlis
  • Publication number: 20230322042
    Abstract: A vehicle panel includes channels, wherein a first channel includes a first wire capable and a second channel includes a second wire and each wire is capable of carrying at least one of power or a vehicle data signal. The panel also includes a connection point connectable to at least one of a battery or a vehicle computing system, wherein selection of connection between the vehicle computing system or battery to a given connection point provided to a given one of the first or second channels dictates whether the channel carries the vehicle data signal or power. Also, the panel includes holes connecting to the first wire and at least two of the holes connecting to the second wire allowing a connection probe to be inserted into a respective hole to connect to a wire included in a channel to which the hole connects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Jonathan Engels, Galen Keith Thomas, Haysam M. Kadry, James Martin Lawlis
  • Patent number: 11770253
    Abstract: An electronic control unit comprises circuitry to receive a combined signal via a vehicle bus of a vehicle, wherein the combined signal contains a combination of a data signal and a watermark signal, which can be a radio frequency (RF) signal or an analog baseband signal, wherein the data signal includes a message, circuitry to extract a watermark from the watermark signal, circuitry to verify the watermark based on a comparison of the watermark with a pre-defined watermark, circuitry to extract the data signal from the combined signal and obtain the message from the data signal, and circuitry to authenticate the message based on the verification of the watermark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan J. Michaels, James Martin Lawlis, Sai Srikar Palukuru, John Moore
  • Publication number: 20230122334
    Abstract: Performing in-vehicle network diagnostics is provided. A cloud system receives wiring diagnostic data from a vehicle. The wiring diagnostic data includes information with respect to electrical operation of a plurality of segments of wiring of the vehicle. A machine-learning model of the cloud system is utilized to analyze the wiring diagnostic data. Responsive to the machine-learning model identifying an issue with the electrical operation based on the wiring diagnostic data, a response is sent from the cloud system to the vehicle, the response including one or more corrective actions to be performed by the vehicle to address the issue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Haysam M. KADRY, Amrit GOPAL, Douglas A. OLIVER, James Martin LAWLIS
  • Publication number: 20230116328
    Abstract: Dynamic controller area network (CAN) messaging is provided. A central gateway of a vehicle includes a processor and a storage, connected to a plurality of vehicle buses, each of the vehicle buses connected to one or more electronic control units (ECUs), The central gateway receives a message from a client of the ECUs, the message requesting a dynamic CAN signal. The message is forwarded over the plurality of vehicle buses to a server of the ECUs. A response from the server is received to the central gateway, the response specifying availability of the dynamic CAN signal. The response is forwarded to the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Amrit GOPAL, James Martin LAWLIS
  • Patent number: 11539704
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly broadcast a message obtained from a first originating vehicle BUS or controller, following a determination that the message was on a pre-approved list for broadcast and having encrypted the message utilizing a temporary random key generated for a message session. The system may include vehicle controllers, a gateway module, and vehicle BUSSES connecting the system controllers to the gateway module. The gateway module may include a memory storing a list of pre-approved message types and corresponding source types, and a processor configured to receive a message from one of the vehicle controllers over one of the vehicle BUSSES to determine if a message type and source type of the received message matches an element of the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Haysam M. Kadry, James Martin Lawlis, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin
  • Publication number: 20220321349
    Abstract: An electronic control unit comprises circuitry to receive a combined signal via a vehicle bus of a vehicle, wherein the combined signal contains a combination of a data signal and a watermark signal, which can be a radio frequency (RF) signal or an analog baseband signal, wherein the data signal includes a message, circuitry to extract a watermark from the watermark signal, circuitry to verify the watermark based on a comparison of the watermark with a pre-defined watermark, circuitry to extract the data signal from the combined signal and obtain the message from the data signal, and circuitry to authenticate the message based on the verification of the watermark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan J. Michaels, James Martin Lawlis, Sai Srikar Palukuru, John Moore
  • Patent number: 11310074
    Abstract: A first device, for communications on a communications bus is programmed to: identify a configuration on a communications bus comprising one of (1) a second LIN device and no second custom device, (2) the second custom device and no LIN device, and (3) both the second LIN device and the second custom device and select an operating mode specified for communications with the identified bus configuration. A third device for communications on the communications bus is programmed to identify that a fourth device on the communications bus is one of (1) a calibration device programmed to control two-way communications with the third device, (2) a LIN master device programmed to control two-way communications with the third device and (3) a custom master device programmed to only receive messages from the third device; and select an operating mode specified for communication with the other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Upendra J. Patel, Omar Makke, James Martin Lawlis, Jeffrey Scott Lossing
  • Patent number: 10926663
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rail-mounted component. The rail-mounted component can be equipped with one or more restraints. A restraint monitoring system monitors the one or more restraints. The restraint monitoring system includes a restraint control module and a rail-mounted component control module. The rail-mounted component control module can include a restraint deployment loop and a restraint diagnostic loop for relaying restraint deployment signals and restraint diagnostic signals, respectively, between the restraint control module and the rail-mounted component control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David James Tippy, James Martin Lawlis, Alan George Dry, Galen Keith Thomas, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Publication number: 20210036886
    Abstract: A first device, for communications on a communications bus is programmed to: identify a configuration on a communications bus comprising one of (1) a second LIN device and no second custom device, (2) the second custom device and no LIN device, and (3) both the second LIN device and the second custom device and select an operating mode specified for communications with the identified bus configuration. A third device for communications on the communications bus is programmed to identify that a fourth device on the communications bus is one of (1) a calibration device programmed to control two-way communications with the third device, (2) a LIN master device programmed to control two-way communications with the third device and (3) a custom master device programmed to only receive messages from the third device; and select an operating mode specified for communication with the other device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Upendra J. Patel, Omar Makke, James Martin Lawlis, Jeffrey Scott Lossing
  • Publication number: 20210016681
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rail-mounted component. The rail-mounted component can be equipped with one or more restraints. A restraint monitoring system monitors the one or more restraints. The restraint monitoring system includes a restraint control module and a rail-mounted component control module. The rail-mounted component control module can include a restraint deployment loop and a restraint diagnostic loop for relaying restraint deployment signals and restraint diagnostic signals, respectively, between the restraint control module and the rail-mounted component control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: David James Tippy, James Martin Lawlis, Alan George Dry, Galen Keith Thomas, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 10791125
    Abstract: A first electronic control unit (ECU) is in communication with a second ECU over a vehicle bus. The first ECU is configured to generate functional safety values and security protection values for a message, validate the security protection values for the message, and send the message to the second ECU including the security protection values but not the functional safety values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Majed Samhan Mohammed, Xin Ye, James Martin Lawlis, Stephen Robert Traicoff
  • Patent number: 10630481
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for controller area network message authentication. An example disclosed vehicle includes a data bus and a first control unit communicatively coupled to the data bus. The example first control unit generates a secured message by (a) calculating a message authentication code, (b) truncating the message authentication code, (c) truncating a freshness value used to generate the message authentication code, and (d) placing portions of the truncated message authentication code and the truncated freshness value in separate portions of the secured message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Martin Lawlis, Douglas A. Oliver, Xin Ye
  • Patent number: 10390221
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for private vehicle-to-vehicle communication. An example disclosed vehicle communication system includes sensors to monitor a target vehicle, and a controller. The example controller generates a pseudo-anonymous identifier based on an identifier and an attribute of the target vehicle. Additionally, the controller broadcasts a first message including the pseudo-anonymous identifier, a random number, and a public key. In response to receiving a second message including the identifier and the random number, the example controller broadcasts a third message encrypted with a symmetric key included in the second message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Martin Lawlis, Omar Makke, Haysam M. Kadry
  • Publication number: 20190207950
    Abstract: A first electronic control unit (ECU) is in communication with a second ECU over a vehicle bus. The first ECU is configured to generate functional safety values and security protection values for a message, validate the security protection values for the message, and send the message to the second ECU including the security protection values but not the functional safety values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Majed Samhan MOHAMMED, Xin YE, James Martin LAWLIS, Stephen Robert TRAICOFF
  • Patent number: 10048302
    Abstract: An automotive diagnostic tool includes an antenna, a speaker, and a controller. In response to a vehicle diagnostic request, the controller generates a carrier frequency that corresponds to a predetermined frequency associated with electromagnetic emissions from an imbalanced differential channel in the vehicle. The controller alternately enables and disables the differential channel resulting in an audio signature and a baseline audio signature. The controller demodulates signals from the antenna based on the carrier frequency and outputs the demodulated signal to the speaker for analysis by a listener. The demodulated signal may be further processed by the controller to identify emissions from the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Martin Lawlis
  • Publication number: 20180131522
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for controller area network message authentication. An example disclosed vehicle includes a data bus and a first control unit communicatively coupled to the data bus. The example first control unit generates a secured message by (a) calculating a message authentication code, (b) truncating the message authentication code, (c) truncating a freshness value used to generate the message authentication code, and (d) placing portions of the truncated message authentication code and the truncated freshness value in separate portions of the secured message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: James Martin Lawlis, Douglas A. Oliver, Xin Ye
  • Publication number: 20180027600
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for private vehicle-to-vehicle communication. An example disclosed vehicle communication system includes sensors to monitor a target vehicle, and a controller. The example controller generates a pseudo-anonymous identifier based on an identifier and an attribute of the target vehicle. Additionally, the controller broadcasts a first message including the pseudo-anonymous identifier, a random number, and a public key. In response to receiving a second message including the identifier and the random number, the example controller broadcasts a third message encrypted with a symmetric key included in the second message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: James Martin Lawlis, Omar Makke, Haysam M. Kadry
  • Publication number: 20170234916
    Abstract: An automotive diagnostic tool includes an antenna, a speaker, and a controller. In response to a vehicle diagnostic request, the controller generates a carrier frequency that corresponds to a predetermined frequency associated with electromagnetic emissions from an imbalanced differential channel in the vehicle. The controller alternately enables and disables the differential channel resulting in an audio signature and a baseline audio signature. The controller demodulates signals from the antenna based on the carrier frequency and outputs the demodulated signal to the speaker for analysis by a listener. The demodulated signal may be further processed by the controller to identify emissions from the communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: James Martin LAWLIS
  • Publication number: 20170141917
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly broadcast a message obtained from a first originating vehicle BUS or controller, following a determination that the message was on a pre-approved list for broadcast and having encrypted the message utilizing a temporary random key generated for a message session. The system may include vehicle controllers, a gateway module, and vehicle BUSSES connecting the system controllers to the gateway module. The gateway module may include a memory storing a list of pre-approved message types and corresponding source types, and a processor configured to receive a message from one of the vehicle controllers over one of the vehicle BUSSES to determine if a message type and source type of the received message matches an element of the list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Omar MAKKE, Haysam M. KADRY, James Martin LAWLIS, Oleg Yurievitch GUSIKHIN