Abstract: A method provides secure communication between a first module and a second module within a vehicle communication network. A first anti-replay counter is provided within the first module, and a second anti-replay counter is provided within the second module. A message is transmitted from the first module to the second module over the vehicle communication network. The message includes a partial counter including only a portion of the contents of the first anti-replay counter, and the message is authenticated based on the partial counter.

Abstract: A system and method of regulating data communications between a vehicle electronics system and a computing device includes: communicatively linking a first data port of an isolation device with the vehicle electronics system; communicatively linking a second data port of the isolation device with the computing device; receiving data at the isolation device sent between the computing device and the vehicle electronics system; and permitting the data to pass through the isolation device based on the identity of the computing device, the rate at which the data passes through the isolation device, or the content of the data.

Abstract: A system and method of responding to unauthorized electronic access to a vehicle includes: receiving data indicating unauthorized electronic access to electronic hardware in the vehicle; initiating an electronic hardware countermeasure in response to the unauthorized electronic access; generating a command set that instructs at least a portion of the electronic hardware to implement the electronic hardware countermeasure; and communicating the command set to the portion of the electronic hardware.

Abstract: A relay attack deterrence system includes a mobile platform including a plurality of mobile platform transmitter components and a mobile platform receiver component provided therein. The system further includes a fob device having a fob receiver component, a fob transmitter component, and a motion sensor component configured to produce motion information. The fob device is configured to receive, at the fob receiver component, one or more first signals from at least one of the plurality of mobile platform transmitter components and to selectably transmit, to the mobile platform receiver component, a second signal based on the motion information and position information derived from the one or more first signals.

Abstract: A dual output headlight system includes a projection system having a laser light source to emit incoherent light. The projection system also has a partitioned display surface including a headlight display section and a selectively active augmented display section. The partitioned display surface is positioned in a first path of the incoherent light from the laser light source and to generate a display output. The dual output headlight system also includes an optical splitter positioned in a second path of the display output to split the display output into a headlight illumination output and a graphical output.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed providing user information in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: providing over a vehicle network a cryptographic key in response to receiving a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter at a first electronic control unit (ECU); receiving at a second ECU the cryptographic key; authenticating the cryptographic key at the second ECU; and providing user information via the second ECU based on the authentication.

Abstract: A dual output headlight system includes a projection system having a laser light source to emit incoherent light. The projection system also has a partitioned display surface including a headlight display section and a selectively active augmented display section. The partitioned display surface is positioned in a first path of the incoherent light from the laser light source and to generate a display output. The dual output headlight system also includes an optical splitter positioned in a second path of the display output to split the display output into a headlight illumination output and a graphical output.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data within a vehicle includes: storing two copies of a data message; constructing at an electronic control unit (ECU) a serial bus message that includes one copy of the data message and a message authentication code (MAC) created using a secret key stored at the ECU, a MAC algorithm, and a different copy of the data message; transmitting the serial bus message to a receiving ECU over a vehicle bus; authenticating the serial bus message at the receiving ECU using a copy of the key stored at the receiving ECU by creating a copy of the MAC from the data message included in the serial bus message and the copy of the key; comparing the MAC from the serial bus message with the copy of the MAC created at the receiving ECU; and rejecting or accepting the data message based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method of regulating data communications between a vehicle electronics system and a computing device includes: communicatively linking a first data port of an isolation device with the vehicle electronics system; communicatively linking a second data port of the isolation device with the computing device; receiving data at the isolation device sent between the computing device and the vehicle electronics system; and permitting the data to pass through the isolation device based on the identity of the computing device, the rate at which the data passes through the isolation device, or the content of the data.

Abstract: A method for classifying a road surface being traversed by a vehicle. The method comprises receiving one or more electrical signals each representative of a vibration detected by a sensor carried by the vehicle. The method further comprises identifying, for at least one of the received electrical signals, a pattern in the detected vibration represented by that/those signal(s), and matching the identified pattern to one of one or more known patterns, wherein each known pattern corresponds to a respective road surface classification. The method further comprises classifying the road surface in accordance with the road surface classification corresponding to the known pattern matching the identified pattern. A system comprising one or more sensors carried by the vehicle that is/are configured to detect a vibration, and a pattern classification system for performing the methodology described above, is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of responding to unauthorized electronic access to a vehicle includes: receiving data indicating unauthorized electronic access to electronic hardware in the vehicle; initiating an electronic hardware countermeasure in response to the unauthorized electronic access; generating a command set that instructs at least a portion of the electronic hardware to implement the electronic hardware countermeasure; and communicating the command set to the portion of the electronic hardware.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling access to electronic control units (ECUs) includes: receiving, at an ECU supplier computer, a supplier encryption key derived from a master encryption key using a supplier identifier that identifies an ECU supplier; issuing an ECU identifier that identifies an ECU and includes the supplier identifier; generating for the ECU an ECU unlock authorization key using the supplier encryption key and the ECU identifier; and storing the ECU unlock authorization key and the ECU identifier in the ECU.

Abstract: A system and method for employing a mechanism for unlocking a vehicle ECU. The ECU stores a unique ECU identification value that identifies the particular ECU and a secure server stores the ECU identification value and a unique ECU security key value, where the identification value identifies the security key value in the server, and where the secure server stores the unique ECU identification value and the unique security key value for many ECUs. A service tool that wants to gain access to the ECU for software reprogramming or service requests the ECU identification value and a challenge from the ECU and sends them to the secure server, which then identifies the security key value associated with that ECU identification value and the response for the challenge. The secure server then sends the response to the service tool, which provides it to the ECU to unlock it for programming.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting data within a vehicle over a vehicle bus includes: constructing at an electronic control unit (ECU) a serial bus message that includes a data message and a message authentication code (MAC) that is created using a secret key stored at the ECU, a MAC algorithm, and the data message; transmitting the serial bus message to a receiving ECU over the vehicle bus; and authenticating the serial bus message at the receiving ECU using a copy of the secret key stored at the receiving ECU by creating a copy of the MAC from the data message included in the serial bus message, the copy of the secret key, and the MAC algorithm; comparing the MAC included in the serial bus message with the copy of the MAC created at the receiving ECU; and rejecting or accepting the data message based on the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for theft deterrence of a vehicle are provided. Each of two or more immobilization point devices generate a random number and broadcasts it to all of the other immobilization points devices. Each of the immobilization point devices retains a local copy of its own random number and concatenates the local copy of its own random number with the random numbers of the other of the two or more immobilization point devices from the bus. From the random numbers broadcast on the bus, all of the random numbers are concatenated in a predetermined sequence to form a single challenge, which is transmitted to a remote transponder. Each of the immobilization point devices then compares a single response from the transponder to their local concatenation. When a specific portion of the response from the transponder matches a local concatenation, then enabling the function of the immobilization point device.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed providing user information in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: providing over a vehicle network a cryptographic key in response to receiving a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter at a first electronic control unit (ECU); receiving at a second ECU the cryptographic key; authenticating the cryptographic key at the second ECU; and providing user information via the second ECU based on the authentication.

Abstract: A system for processing an SMS message transmitted between a vehicle telematics unit and a call center and a method of processing an SMS message using the system. The method includes the steps of: receiving an SMS message having security data, wherein both a header and a payload of the SMS message carry the security data; attempting to authenticate the security data; accepting the SMS message if the security data is authenticated, and ignoring the contents of the SMS message if the security data is not authenticated.

Abstract: An audio interruption and buffering playback system includes a primary audio source for reproducing primary audio content and a secondary audio source for reproducing secondary audio content. A processing device detects an interruption event that includes the secondary audio source reproducing secondary audio content having priority over the primary audio source. The processor mutes the output of the primary audio content in response to the interruption event. A buffer buffers the audio content from the primary audio source during the interruption event. The buffered audio content is reproduced by the processor to the user at an accelerated playback speed following the interruption event.

Abstract: A method for managing communications from a device onboard a vehicle is provided. The method accesses a message transmitted from the device; determines whether the message is permitted; and, when the determining step determines that the message is not permitted, prevents the message from further transmission to an intended recipient device.

Abstract: A system and method for writing a new or replacement public key to a bootloader stored in a memory segment in the memory of a vehicle ECU without having to rewrite the entire bootloader. The method includes defining a key table in the bootloader memory segment includes a number of vacant memory slots that are available to store replacement public keys if they are needed. The key table is a separate section of the bootloader memory segment so that the key table memory slots are not used by the bootloader code.