GB2562054A - Automotive electronic blockchain information system - AEBIS - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic control and communications unit is housed within a hardened, heavy-duty enclosure for installation within a vehicle. The unit communicates with the vehicles electronic control unit or equivalent analogue sensors to obtain data which is encrypted and stored in a distributed ledger or blockchain. Stored data may also include documents related to ownership or title, insurance, maintenance, servicing, repairs and other historical or real-time diagnostics. Authorised service nodes may analyse the telemetry and records in the blockchain, and the unit may provide a SHA encrypted communications channel for other devices connected to the vehicles CAN network. The blockchain may be used to certify and validate the authenticity of the vehicle records and historical performance, or to imply the risk of mechanical failure. Also claimed are integrated circuit designs able to: store digital records related to vehicle manufacturing and repair; operate as a blockchain node to distribute the vehicle document ledger to other nodes; provide encrypted in-vehicle network serial communications; enable a multi-platform development environment. Also claimed is a method of pulse width modulation at high CPU clock speeds.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Automotive electronic blockchain information system - AEBIS Abstract Title: Storage of vehicle data in a distributed ledger (57) An electronic control and communications unit is housed within a hardened, heavy-duty enclosure for installation within a vehicle. The unit communicates with the vehicle’s electronic control unit or equivalent analogue sensors to obtain data which is encrypted and stored in a distributed ledger or blockchain. Stored data may also include documents related to ownership or title, insurance, maintenance, servicing, repairs and other historical or real-time diagnostics. Authorised service nodes may analyse the telemetry and records in the blockchain, and the unit may provide a SHA encrypted communications channel for other devices connected to the vehicle’s CAN network. The blockchain may be used to certify and validate the authenticity of the vehicle records and historical performance, or to imply the risk of mechanical failure. Also claimed are integrated circuit designs able to: store digital records related to vehicle manufacturing and repair; operate as a blockchain node to distribute the vehicle document ledger to other nodes; provide encrypted in-vehicle network serial communications; enable a multi-platform development environment. Also claimed is a method of pulse width modulation at high CPU clock speeds.

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Automotive Electronic Blockchain Information System - AEBIS

Description [001] This invention relates generally to the field of computerized systems for automobiles and other vehicles and more particularly to vehicle electronic components, as they now relate to encrypted distributed ledger information management networks.

[002] In today's world of vehicle manufacturing, intense competition is driving technology and rapid product innovation in search for a more fully integrated vehicle. Most modern-day cars incorporate an electronic control unit that manages a network of sensors and electronic engine systems, all integrated to provide engine and vehicle control, manage sensor information and provide feeback to specialized users.

[003] It is increasingly evident that automobiles are becoming more integrated as personal networked objects with the Internet. This need has created an opportunity to invent a new automotive electronic blockchain information device, with the goal to incorporate advances of blockchain distributed ledger technology to vehicle manufacturing and after-market value chains. The car manufacturing industry is converging with the information network, creating new risks, challenges and problems that must be solved by inventions that leverage benefits offered by diverse blockchain software protocols. At the moment, once could say that the blockchain distributed ledger technology, which was originally created by the bitcoin crypto currency revolution, has now expanded beyond the realm of financial technology to the Internet of Cars.

[004] This invention leverages advances in electronics and information management by means of digital encrypted ledgers, which authenticate transactions, records and may also incorporate vehicle performance, service, maintenance, repairs; ownership records, financing, insurance, as well as increasingly important vehicle regulatory data.

[005] There are significant problems for security presented by hacking threats, which have been successful against smart objects belonging to the Internet of Things (loT) and also pose a significant risk for autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Cars (loC).

[006] As the car industry moves increasingly towards self-driving artificial intelligence vehicles, it becomes ever more critical to invent new solutions that offer robust network security from hacking intruders. This problem presents a significant risk for users and also for car manufacturers, as the costs of insurance coverage reflect implicit security risks in today's digital economy. The dangers posited by rogue self-driving vehicles are evident. We disclose a hardware and software electronic control device capable of providing an enhanced level of encrypted communications with cars, as well as provide authentication of valuable original car records in the aftermarket.

[007] The incorporation of encrypted distributed ledger technology is directly into the circuit logic design of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) disclosed herein as part of the preferred embodiment of this system. AEBIS resolves several key problems with security and reliability of new cars and old, by compatible retrofit of this plug-and-play user friendly blockchain distributed ledger application for the car manufacturing industry. And most importantly, designed with the car owner in mind.

[008] One of the problems is that most cars were not originally manufactured thinking about the rapidly evolving internet connectivity with things and especially with other wireless smart devices. Cars have evolved and do incorporate increasingly sophisticated communications with computer systems of all sorts.

[009] Therefore, there is today a critical need for car security protocols, mostly because automobile electronics developed gradually up to the point where the engine and electronic systems of modern cars are now controlled by a computerized system which could make them easily accesible to hackers and others seeking to do us harm.

[010] Despite significant advances in automotive electronic control systems and network communication protocols, overall the car network continues to provides an obscure interface to most owners and users. The ECU diagnostic port and OBD code system is mostly only for mechanics and specialized diagnostic professionals, in order to troubleshoot and communicate with the car's Electronic Control Unit or ECU.

[011] Vehicle owners along with vehicle manufacturers need to have a much better interface with the vehicle network and electronics, however a large proportion of the current vehicle fleet is dated and does not have ECU components. Newer models with ECU electronics are easier to retrofit with new applications, but for the most part vehicles are largely insulated or disconnected from the global computer network.This car information opacity presents significant problems. An insulated and opaque car (in terms of real-time or current information) creates risk for its owner and for the different vehicle industry stakeholders, including insurers and regulators.

[012] The gradual incorporation of communication network devices and the advent of the Controlled Automobile Network (CAN) protocols have enabled an increasingly easier access to vehicle on-board networks, unfortunately it has made access easier also for hackers. By installing the AEBIS unit to vehicles, a new level of value is possible for car manufacturers who are increasingly incorporating a multi-level service offering, bundled around the car in what is being referred to as digital car sales.

[013] Despite this view, the fact is cars are isolated information islands, vulnerable to tampering, to misrepresentation of hidden faults and results in devaluation of their long-term investment value which is critical in the classic car aftermarket. An important market segment for certain multinational car manufacturers, who depend on their vehicles holding investment value and derive from such markets prestige, brand recognition and most importantly, car manufacturers derive customer loyalty.

[014] Once installed, this electronic blockchain system will enable vehicle manufacturers to more closely integrate sales, leasing, finance and insurance, maintenance, parts service, repairs and aftermarket sales into a seamless and flexible digital product offering which is designed to enhance and protect the value of cars so as to drive sales. At the same time, this invention provides a new level of security for cars from hacking threats, while providing a higher level of assurance to owners and buyers of high-value car brands.

[015] There are also significant problems in the automobile aftermarket due to the lack of complete service records and documentation about original replacement parts which many times are replaced with lower-quality parts and used without knowledge of the car owner, affecting the overall performance of the car and creating unknown hazards which may become more significant with the advent of self-driving cars. In the future, it will not be possible to allow self-driving cars on the roads without a system for certification of the roadworthiness and reliability of such autonomous systems. Therefore, the need for incorporation of the blockchain ledger technology to vehicle manufacturing is becoming increasingly necessary, in order to resolve the issues of safety and system integrity for the future of Al autonomous vehicles.

[016] The incorporation of blockchain ledger technology to the automobile OEM ecosystem would enable robust digital identity and tracking, which would become easily visible to car owners and fleet managers. Suppliers in the value chain of the car would be incorporated into the blockchain system and would establish the trust and identity of all participants in the final product.

[017] Implementation of the AEBIS device would enable collection of significant production, cost and usage information which could help streamline and upgrade the OEM supply chain and provide insightful intelligence to automobile engineers and parts designers from real world data that would be collected at different points during the life of the car.

[018] The fact is there are a number of stakeholders in a modern automobile in today's world. Including the vehicle manufacturer, the entire OEM supply and parts chain (who are interested to know real-time part failure rates to improve future design) and including other less obvious ones like vehicle regulators, insurance providers and in many case original vehicle financing or leasing stakeholders as well.

[019] Such application of this invention would become an essential component of the vehicle's maintenance and service records and would lead to transparent aftermarket sale transactions, in which the buyer would be completely assured of the status, operability, quality and reliability of all the components which are part of the vehicle.

[020] Even if vehicle manufacturers implement blockchain ledger information management systems in their supply-chain protocols, there is still the problem related to the availability of a certifiable and true record of car components which were incorporated into the manufacturing of any car. Today as things stand, there are very limited communications between the manufacturer's OEM original part database and the car computer system once it leaves the plant.

[021] Throughout its life, the car may undergo different modifications due to part failure, tear and wear and other road conditions and accidents which offer no feedback of actual performance information to the manufacturer, who could use such information for improving design life and materials of parts that show high levels of failure in the real world. It also makes it difficult for vehicle owners to respond in a timely and reliable manner to part recalls or safety advisories, as everyone's car is today an information island which very rarely is in communication with the OEM ecosystem that needs and cares to know such data.

[023] For car manufacturers, it would be a valuable contribution to design an automobile electronics component capable of communications with vehicle manufacturers and OEM part enterprises, so as to enhance the safety, reliability and performance records for cars. In such a scenario, cars would be equipped or retro-fitted with the invention disclosed by this application, in order to enable secure communications with the car, maintain and update all car part records, as well as provide updated information about car performance, service and repairs.

[024] All vehicle records maintained under blockchain encryption protocols and designed to provide a higher level of value to the car owner, as the complete life of the vehicle would be recorded and available as a digital certificate at the time of sale or purchase in the secondary car market. In the case of high value automobiles, this would be an important value-enhancer for collectors and investors. The case of older models brings into focus the problem related to all cars manufactured before the advent of modern day Electronic Control Unit systems onboard vehicles. Most cars manufactured before 1986 do not have electronic control systems and therefore, present an important challenge for integrating into the proposed modern day networked card blockchain systems.

[025] However, it is the spirit of this innovation, to provide a hardware/software component that may also be installed and retrofitted to older models and classic cars, so as to provide a suite of value enhancers to the value of such cars. In this application, the possibility of integrating this automobile electronic blockchain system into older model cars is also disclosed in the preferred embodiments.

[026] It is the spirit of this invention to create an electronic component that is able to connect the car to a blockchain car information management system, which will open the doors to a number of valuable applications for the owner of the car. For example, in the field of car maintenance, the system would be able to predict certain part failures before they actually happen, by monitoring certain car performance records which would be provided to the system by collecting information from the ECU (electronic control unit) of modern vehicles. An embodiment of this application for models manufactured after 2002 incorporates necessary ECU car electronics. Thus for new vehicles, the interface between the ECU and the disclosed invention would be seamless.

Introduction to the Drawings [027] Figure 1 is an illustration of one of the preferred embodiments of this invention, whereby all of the physical documents related to the historical records of a vehicle are scanned by an optical character recognition standard method, so as to enable the system and method disclosed herein to encrypt such records using SHA algorithms and then structuring the encrypted data in merkle trees in the form used by blockchain distributed ledgers. The encrypted data is then stored in one of two alternative embodiments of the disclosure, one of which is for cars manufactured without an electronic control unit (ECU) and the other is designed specifically for universal interface with all types of ECU systems in more modern cars. By means of this system and method, the spirit of this innovation is implemented, which is to create an authentic historical record of all of the transactions, which have occurred for the vehicle in case. This form of vehicle blockchain is to incorporate everything from the manufacturing records, to the ownership sale original manufacturer transaction; to the financial or leasing transactions, the insurace coverage and policy in addition to regulatory vehicle compliance tax disc, roadworthiness test (MOT) and other relevant aftermarket data.

[028] Figure 2 illustrates a block-level diagram in which the architecture of this system is represented by boxes, which are related to the communications bus that this innovation discloses as part of the wider In-Vehicle Network (IVN) for all types of cars. In this embodiment, a client application server implements blockchain database information management software, which is customized for this application, but which can be programmed using practially any one of the existing blockchain protocols that are geared towards smartcontracts and most precisely, which are geared towards distributed ledger transactions in supply chain management. It is adapted in order to incorporate serial communications protocols under the Controller Automobile Network (CAN) standard with data rates between 1Mbps at 40m in a differential circuit type under asynchronous communications.

[029] Figure 2 should be understood to mean IVN interface alternatively using FlexRay high-speed serial communications for in-vehicle networks in a timetriggered, event dual channel topology. This invention is specifically designed to perform as an open communications platform for In-vehicle communications, so that any number of different IVN operating systems may be uploaded to its SSD RAID solid-state storage module, and as a result this AEBIS application-specific intergrated circuit and peripherial custom modules, may communicate and adapt to any existing or future IVN operating protocol.

[030] One of the preloaded operating systems onboard the disclosed preferred embodiment of the custom microcontroller device of this invention, is programmed to operate using the On-Board Diagnostics operating system in all of its 5 (five) current versions, from the original OBD to the now OBDII that interface with the J1962 connector and such port adapters are provided by the embodiment disclosed further below. The supported signal protocols and connectors (using a bespoke universal adaptor) include: SAE J1850 PWM (Ford Motor Company) SAE J1850 (General Motors) ISO 9141-2 (Chrysler and Asian vehicles) ISO 14230 KWP2000 (keyword protocol); and specially designed with an upgradable 8 channel data port for ISO 15765 CAN IVN communications. In the case of this diagram, we disclose the addition of a new microcontroller bespoke module called the AEBIS Data Blockchain input/out serial communications port and it offers both Serial and Peripherial sub-channels with high-resolution provided by the ABS Controller new module, which is indeed disclosed in the Diagrams of the present automotive electronic blockchain information system.

[031] Figure 3 is one of the preferred embodiments of this invention in the application for vehicle real-time maintenance, service, fault prevention, fault management, roadside assistance and other upgrades and modifications made to the vehicle during its operating lifetime. It is the spirit and vision of this disclosure to provide to the automobile manufacturing industry a new encrypted and tamper-proof device, capable of safely interfacing with the ECU by means of the standard communication protocols for CAN and IVN, so as to enable the diagnostic port to provide to the AEBIS microcontroller device, real-time fault code OBD information and performance metrics for any or all selected information channels from the ECU, as enabled by owner rights and made safe througth the operating system of this device, which implements a blockchain encrypted key rights management system for proteccion of the ECU and of the overall vehicle's VIN.

[032] This application is available for cars manufactured with ECU electronics, but may also be retrofitted to older models by means of custom installation of a network of sensors in the vehicle, which may operate wirelessly by detecting hall effect orthogonal magnetic fields around the vehicles electrical cabling system; and may detect temperature and pressure using the same means, in addition to using photo-resistors and sensor photo-transistors to monitor increasingly exact engine telemetry, as no doubt the high performance formula one racing technology has created a great number of telemetry applications which other developers may incorporate into the microcontroller encrypted platform provided herein.

[033] It is the spirit of this invention to provide new electronic hardware for OEM manufacturing or to be retrofitted in the vehicle aftermarkert, without interfering with any of the existing car systems; but which may replicate to a high degree of similarity, the same functions for monitoring certain car performance metrics like milage, fuel management, electrical system integrity and other customized functions which will create the opportunity for future entrepreneurs to develop new applications to leverage the powerful signal processing capabilities of the application-specific integrated circuit disclosed herein; which uniquely incorporates electronically, a blockchain data structure that is then encrypted by a mathematical co-processor unit that is also provided herein.

[034] Figure 4 we believe that this diagram is one of the first graphical representations of a distributed ledger, encrypted blockchain application which does not involve cryptocurrency nor payments in any form, other than in the sense of creating a new market between vehicle owners and authorized service garages, manufacturer OEM parts providers and other specialized technical car mechanics and engineers, to participate in a truly distributed blockchain node network community, in which cars are authorized by their owners to operate the AEBIS device disclosed herein, on a real-time monitoring basis of their ECU (or custom installed pre-ECU versions of AEBIS) so that OBD and OBDII diagnostic codes are monitored for certain critical fault statistics in order to prevent actual part failures and also to provide assitance to the vehicle owner in service, maintenance and repair of their vehicles.

[035] Figure 4 is probably one of the first automotive industry post-crypto currency implementations of the blockchain protocols initially proposed by Satoshi Nakamoto (probably meaning foundation in Japanese) and which of course are all open source. In this sense, this patent application incorporates a new hardware element for the automotive electronics industry and does provide a clear improvement over this open source art, in the sense that a new generation of smart autonomous automobiles is currently under research and development, and this is one of the key components for integration of the valuable distributed ledger decentralized management of large scale volume (Big Data) of Al new vehicles. This figure conveys the fact that vehicle data is held securely in encrypted digital records that are stored on-board a tamper-proof solid-state vehicle network node and as such, prevents the monopoly over critical system vehicle data. This in itself is an important innovation as it solves the vehicle big data problem posited by the concentration risk of too much information in a single location. Instead, each vehicle or smart thing becomes its own safekeeper of its historical records, which are of course replicated in encrypted form and distributed to other members of this private and secure network, or members of the public component of say vehicle regulatory and compliance networks, which are also allowed to transact copies of the same vehicle encrypted ledger, for the purposes of validating its data.

[036] Figure 5 is a software architecture flowchart diagram for illustrating the workflow for the operating system of the client application and the hardware device operating system within the spirit and scope of the embodiments disclosed by this application. In this diagram we start with the physical and digital records and manufacturing information specific to the vehicle at hand. It also incorporates all aftermarket buy and sale transactions as part of the vehicle's history and sets forth the high-level view of validation of such original set of documents by the procedure outlined in the decision box in the third step of the flowchart, by which one of the first applications of the blockchain protocol known as Ethereum (any other blockchain application software may also be operated by our device) may be prototyped in delivery of a consensual verification of the said vehicle information.

[037] To the best of our knowledge, Figure 6 is one of the first applications of the crypto currency merkel-tree distributed blockchain ledger open source technology in the automotive supply chain industry, in which a custom microcontroller ASIC is provided to include an encryption maths co-processor and an orhtogonal frequency division mutiplexer module (OFDM) in order to resolve the critical mission of tamper-proof analog-to-digital (ADC) system integration need for of each vehicle to be authentically recorded onto the universal OEM blockchain for that vehicle's supply chain. We believe that this diagram in itself provides an important disclosure to expert automobile manufacturing industry engineers, who may be currently working on developing new applications around what the industry refers to as the digital car product offering. The vehicle original manufacturer, the OEM supply chain members of this network and other stakeholders like insurance, finance and regulatory bodies would also have to hash the custom blocks provided by the smart-contract open source applications of the blockchain that are available today, as this hardware platform is designed to easily upload any distributed ledger post-crypto-currency vehicle information network.

[038] This diagram 6 incorporates distributed ledger flowcharts in three parallel analog and digital space and time dimensions, of which the first one is the physical records and physical parts and vehicle operating components which are indeed analog and represent in our view what we call the Internet of Cars (loC) and that in of itself is a challange to integrate with the second dimension, which is the digital data dimension of the encrypted world of data blocks which follow one another like the so many times referred expression blockchain (hereafter interchangably referred to as distributed ledger, or digital ledger) and meaning the sequential, time stamped, user party and counter-party validated transaction that uses double-entry digital accounting records in order to make sure that everyone who has a copy of that encrypted ledger, agrees that this vehicle and the records in that transaction chain are authentic and therefore, since the principal stakeholders in that specific vehicle all would then agree on the authenticity and non-tampering with that ledger, that this would create a high level of trust, investment value and operational performance for that vehicle and for that owner.

[039] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the workflow of the preferred software architecture for the client server application and for the In-Vehicle Network microncontroller application-specific integrated circuit and peripherial encryption and storage solid state hardware, which together enable for the first time, encrypted communications with the vehicle, effectively transforming it from the analog domain into a digital real-time domain by incorporation of telemetries and documental transactions.

[040] This Figure 7 also illustrates that an AEBIS client sub-process is available for incorporating an alternative version of an embodiment disclosed of a hardware component, so as to enable retrofit into pre-ECU vehicles and yet also provide an equally functional blockchain network node which is the electronic ledger chain of transactions that are all related to then entire OEM part and component history of the car; as well as the records on maintenance, service, repairs and all other transactions in the aftermarket, including recording each sale and purchase change of ownership and ensuing regulatory, tax and roadworthiness compliance transactions. At the end of each completed cycle of this workflow process, the blockchain network would have authenticated all vehicle transactions and a certificate of authenticity would be issued for the car in an encrypted secure transaction that would also be registered in the ledger.

[041] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating one of the preferred embodiments for the herein disclosed AEBIS automotive electronic blockchain information system, in which there are two critical and essential components of this distributed network vehicle application. One is the client server application workflow logic and the other is the In-Vehicle blockchain network node. This is in of itself an important innovation, as the prior art CAN (Controller Automobile Network) in-vehicle electronic communications systems, did not attempt to provide a customised application-specific integrated circuit, so as to transform the analog or physicial dimension of the car itself and its operating real-time performance, into a robustly encrypted network node for distributed ledger applications.

[042] Figure 9 is a general illustration of the preferred embodiment for installation of the AEBIS digital ledger car controller in many types of automobiles and any other kind of vessel or even aircraft, ships of all sorts and equipment; including of course, military equipment and communications equipment. As it is disclaimed in the preamble to the detailed description of the drawings below, it is the spirit and scope of this innovation to provide a universal In-Vehicle blockchain node controller for encrypted communications.

[043] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an application-specific integrated circuit which is designed to provide a new math co-processor unit that is integrated with an orthogonal frquency division multiplexer and a custom CPU integration module, which together provide a new level of system-on-a-chip for In-Vehicle Network IVN firewall security and for customized processing of vehicle records under blockchain network node mode.

[044] An automotive electronic control unit is constructed using custom hardware and control software circuit boards, together encased within a heavy-duty black box designed for autonomous user interfacing of all types of vehicles with smart phones and with different kinds of servers, operating with an open architecture software platform for development of further applications. An automotive CAN industry standard electronics communications interface is provided for ECU and vehicle information management.

[045] We disclose an electronic automobile device unit for communicating information to a specialized blockchain vehicle management server, which may also be connected to other database networks related to the same vehicle, for example insurance records, vehicle regulatory compliance records and financing records in that case. Such interconnected server network would be managed under the blockchain protocol in order to guarantee privacy and information security for the vehicle's data and would enable delivery of a new level of service and bespoke attention to that vehicle, as a new integrated value offering.

[046] The device constructed by the disclosures in this application, may be integrated into a Trust Certification communications protocol with any number of blockchain operating environments depending on the type of application that may be custom to each case for embodiments of the present invention.

[047] It is the purpose and spirit of the preferred embodiment of this invention to disclose a system by which each car's complete family of documentary paper and electronic records are scanned, digitized, sorted and recorded under a specialized SQL database software application which resides onboard memory RAM circuitry of the present invention and is encrypted and stored in a solid state on-board memory module.

[048] The incorporation of vehicle information in a distributed blockchain database may include any number of original records for: (i) vehicle manufacturing and supply chain OEM database, parts, vehicle performance and other relevant car history records; (ii) vehicle ownership, including chain of title (also by virtue of the blockchain protocol) transaction records as of the original dealer sale and all subsequent sale/purchase transactions, along with the main vehicle operating parameters for each transaction such as milage, tear and wear and overall opeartional worthiness; (iii) insurance and financing records related to the car (which would enable real-time risk monitoring and accident report forensic analysis for insurance companies, in a way that could change the credit risk profile for a large number of vehicles); and (iv) regulatory and national authority licensing and road legal compliance and taxation.

[049] Although automobiles in the prior art may provide one or two services to the driver, e.g. driver assistance via automatic telephone communications, the equipment for providing these services are dedicated to their respective services and cannot provide distinctly different services. The present system, on the other hand, allows new components or new software to be added to the automobile sub-network and thereby enables new services to be provided to the driver.

[050] The architecture of the present invention is designed to enable different blockchain software platforms and communication protocols to operate efficiently with this device. The hardware circuit design provides for standard communications with the vehicle electronics based on industry protocols, as well as will provide programmable access to application developers in order to create new software product offerings for the device. In the form of the preferred embodiment, we disclose an invention which is desgined for implementation of a vehicle blockchain distributed-ledger information management system. We disclose a hardware circuit driven by on-board control software which may be retrofitted in all kinds of vehicles or vessels of diffrent types.

[051] The design principles incorporate the following technology value model: (i) Universally Compatible Hardware: integrated circuit logic design for a fully compatible heavy-duty automotive electronic component which may be installed in older car models or installed in newer vehicles equipped with ECU computerized car systems; (ii) Open Architecture Development Environment: complete development toolkit for collaborative open development of new applications which leverage the AEBIS car component platform; (Hi) Encrypted Cyber Security Protocols: system architecture provides for encrypted block chain data storage and secure end-to-end network communications; (iv) Blockchain Ledger Architecture: implement circuit logic and hardware integration design so as to incorporate operating platform functionalities for integration of distributed ledger OEM vehicle applications, allowing open development tools for future development of applications, (v) UK Foundation Grade Security Certification.

[052] Whereas the on-board diagnostic computer monitors provide a set of OBD coded operational characteristics of a vehicle, which are hard to retreive and usually obscure for most users other than specialized technicians and mechanics. Instead, the information derived from this system will be processed on-board the preferred embodiment of this device and will connect via wireless protocols (including WiFi and Bluetooth) with a smart mobile phone.

[053] The device will also be able to connect with a blockchain server, which is within a secure private network, in order to provide and manage vehicle information that may also be displayed on a user's smart mobile phone or computer screen, while simultaneously transmitting this information over the internet to be stored in a blockchain database, accessed by means of a secure channel within a private network that is managed by the application software provider and which can become a new platform for a number of different blockchain applications.

[054] A new automotive electronic control system component is disclosed in which the vehicle together with its manufacturing documentation, parts, maintenance and service records are integrated into a digital ledger which is encrypted, stored, managed and selectively via an in-vehicle CAN compatible virtual client secure blockchaine node.

[055] The vehicle CAN network is in addition provided with encrypted communication channels via a secure end-to-end encrypted vehicle information management distributed ledger network that is controlled by the preferred embodiment of a custom ASIC or application-specific integrated circuit, which is disclosed herein. The micro-controller logic design is customized to incorporate a new encryption math co-processor that is based on SHA blockchain encryption algorithms and other circuit logic security.

[056] The AEBIS system is designed to provide a secure blockchain car network environment upon which to deliver a number of new applications, which are more fully described in the preferred embodiments of this invention and, which are related to vehicle maintenance, performance, service, repair, as well as related to ownership, financing and insurance.

[057] Figure 11 is a memory map of the random access memory that is user configurable and in this preferred embodiment of the invention, is designed to incorporate a FLASH EEPROM ROM range of hexadecimal page addresses that may be adjusted to accomodate the required specifications of any particular alternative embodiement. It also maps a new memory range for what is disclosed to become the blockchain NODE mappable pages of the application. In this case, the blockchain node for the vehicle is incorporated in the device, so as to enable true distributed processing of vehicle data, thereby eliminating the critical problem of aggregating very massive vehcle fleet data in a single or few locations, and thereby implementing in a hardware solid state solution a new functionality that will more fully integrate vehicles with all versions of the blockchain distributed ledger for the automotive industry.

[058] This Figure 11 also illustrates the memory range mapping for the custom AEBIS operating system, which is downloaded by the ASIC from an SSD RAID solid state memory module that is integrated into the custom electronics, with the goal to upgrade the random memory storage capacity to at least 32 gigabytes and allowing for additional solid state RAID storage to be incorporated by means of the peripherial ASIC ports.

Detailed Description of Drawings [059] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[060] It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

[061] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope [062] Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention.

[063] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[064] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases in one embodiment, in an embodiment, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[065] Techniques described herein can be applied to any type of in-vehicle networks (IVNs), including a Controller Area Network (CAN), a Local Interconnect Network (LIN), a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) network, a compatible network, and other types of IVNs. Although in some embodiments a specific type of IVN is described, it should be noted that the invention is not restricted to a specific type of IVN.

[066] Numeral 1 of Figure 1 represents the physical documents that are part of the history of any vehicle. It includes all of the standard vehicle title of ownership, regulatory paperwork, insurance paperwork, leasing and finance documents and it also includes OEM documentation which may be in digital form, including in this case all data related to the vehicle supply chain and other components later added in the aftermarket.

[067] Numeral 2 represents the client application that runs in standard server environments operating any one of a number of alternative blockchain smart contract or distributed ledger protocols, and which is able to communicate with the AEBIS hardware disclosed herein, via encrypted TCP/IP internet communications, and is also able alternatively to only communicate via local area wi-fie or blue-tooth protocols.

[068] Numeral 3 represents the system integration of the AEBIS device in any type of vehicle, in which there is an ECU or electronic control unit that is able to interface with the hardware dislcosed in this application; but which is also able to be installed in vehicles without an ECU and it is also installed in a similar fashion for operations.

[069] Numeral 4 represents the AEBIS Client Application Server, which may be operated from any standard blockchain secure communications server, and for which this hardware device is adaptable to any operating environment, as it is possible to configure the on-board operating system via the SSD solidstate storage module. The most important concept from this numeral 4 is the system principle that the hardware may be adapted and configured to use any blockchain and communications protocols.

[070] Numeral 5 represents the input/output data server interface with the onboard communications device, which may be accomplished either via a smartphone local area network interface, or may be accomplished using other prior art vehicle to TCP/IP networks for which there are multiple open source alternative methods and systems.

[071] Numeral 6 represents the Internet communicatins protocols used for standard communications with the hardware device using encrypted protocols.

[071] Numeral 7 illustrates one of the key components of this blockchain diagram, by providing a universal data bus that also acts like an encrypted high speed serial communications module, which may be configured for syncrhonous or asynchronous protocols, depending on the needs of each custom application and vehicle.

[072] Numeral 8 this conceptual block diagram illustrates the possibility to communicate with any standard smart device, so as to provide a local area network access to users.

[073] Numeral 9 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the incorporation of CAN in-vehicle protocols to the data port provided by the disclosed hardware innovation, as a 8 or more data channel signals configuration and for provision of high speed bus interface.

[074] Numeral 10 this represents any number of alternative OBD and OBDII electronic control units that may be used in different models for all types of cars and vehicles.

[075] Numeral 11 is a conceptual block for one of the mission critical components of this hardware disclosure, as it represents a new generation of application-specific integrated circuit micro-controllers, designed to provide a higher level of encryption by incorporating a bespoke mathematical SHA coprocessor module in addition to providing robust analog to digital conversion and orthogonal frequency multiplexing.

[076] Numeral 12 is also a mission critical new integrated circuit module, which is part of the same ASIC architecture and which is designed to provide a secure encrypted channel for IVN communications at the same time that this module provides a firewall encrypted local area network for CAN communications and which is clear improvement over prior electronic control network communications, as it solves a potential risk from hacking threats and adds a signfiicant layer of additional protection, by distributing the encrypted data among a network of authorized blockchain network nodes, which are then authenticated by those other stake holders in the integrity of the vehicle's data.

[077] Numeral 13 illustrates any number of vehicles which are equipped either with an ECU (electronic control unit) capable of OBD or OBDII diagnostic functions, or alternatively equipped by another embodiment of this same hardware system, by which analog vehicles may also be integrated into the blockchain network as nodes, by alternative means in which their records and other vehicle data may be uploaded.

[078] Numeral 14 illustrates an example of a preferred embodiment in which the AEBIS equipped vehicle produces a mainteance and service report for the user, which is then also distributed to other nodes in the authorized blockchain network for analysis and also for the possible bidding on the required service order, which is then communicated to the user for selection, approval and authorization of one of the submitted service orders which would then be provided under the protocols of this new network system.

[079] Numeral 15 represents the client server application supporting this embodiment.

[080] Numeral 16 is an important flowchart diagram of the in-vehicle hardware and software operations of the preferred embodiment, as one of the new applications for the blockchain distributed ledger technology in the vehicle maintenance, service and repair industry. In this case, an ECU service alert has been originated in the vehicle and such message has been distributed to the network nodes, alerting the user and prompting a number or responses from the authorized service and repair network.

[081] Numeral 17 is the corresponding AEBIS client flowchart, illustrating the corresponding events to the parallel flowchart of Numeral 16, and where we can see that a new market dynamic is possible by implementing the in-vehicle blockchain node, together with the alternative ECU or analog ADC signals that may be alternatively incorproated into this device, so as to provide a new level of service, quality and trust for the vehicle owner as well as resulting in important real-time data on parts failure and vehicle design performance for EOM stakeholders and for the vehicle manufacturer.

[082] Numeral 18 represents the flowchart system architecture for the client application and for the hardware system integration with the in-vehicle AEBIS network node. This diagram is self-explanatory and it is preferrable to enable the legends on the flowchart elements to explain the inventive steps requried to produce the desired system outcome.

[083] Numeral 19 this is an important flowchart diagram which illustrates one of the very first applications from an accounting view of three parallel space and time dimensions in the data history of a vehicle. The first column illustates the workflow for the physical records related to all transactions that have integrated the vehicle in both physical, legal, financial, insurance and regulatory transactions, and shows how to process them. The second column illustrates the blockchain network domain, in which more than one and probably a large number of other authorized network nodes share the same vehicle's datra ledger in encrypted and secure communications, so as to implement one or more alternative methods for authentication of the data veracity and integrity at all times. The third column illustrates the in-vehicle AEBIS hardware dimension, as this interacts both with the physical analog dimension as well as operates within the client server network.

[084] Numeral 20 this illustrates a more detailed workflow and data flowchart for the preferred embodiment of this application, and as in the case of Numeral 18, it is better to let the legends communicate to the reader the inventive steps involved in the process.

[085] Numeral 21 is a logic decision flowchart for integration of the AEBIS client server application and the in-vehicle blockchain network node, allowing for the alternative workflow for cases where there is no ECU on-board the vehicle, and in both cases providing operable functionality so as to authenticate encrypted ledger transactions.

[086] Numeral 22 illustrates an alternative embodiment for installation of the hardware components disclosed by this invention and referred to as the AEBIS in-vehicle system.

[087] Numeral 23 is a similar cross section of an alternative embodiment.

[088] Due to the secret nature of ENCRYPTION logic gate semiconductor technology, employed by the application specific integrated circuit of this invention, the disclosures related to Numerals 25 to 47 are to be provided in person to the Intellectual Property Office in room GR70 under Section 22 of the UK Patents Act, as well as shall provide a Divisional Application which discloses the related secret electronics and mathematical algorithms, semiconductor materails, ASIC system architecture, encryption protocols and all of the related modules of this custom application integrated circuit. It shall become evident to those expert in the art of semiconductor microcontroller design, that there are new system modules that have been incoporated into the electronics of the hardware which is disclosed herein, and that for the purposes of security, the diagram and this numeral reference are provided so as to enable continuation of this application via a divisional secret document to be provided to the UK Patent Office as soon as practically possible and for the purposes of protecting the information security of the UK.

Claims (15)

Claims What is claimed is:

1. - An electronic logic control and communications unit within a hardened heavy-duty enclosure for custom installation in all types of vehicles, via open standard auto industry interface protocols with electronic control units (ECU) of vehicles or with analog vehicles in an alternative system integration; wherein new circuit board and semiconductor micro controller component application-specific intregrated circuitry and software architecture are disclosed by this patent application; which together provide a new and retrofitted electronic control component for delivery of encrypted distributed ledger encrypted data protocols for both analog and digital IVN vehicle applications.

2. - The method for registering physical documents related to ownership, regulatory compliance, insurance, maintenance, service, repairs and other vehicle historical and other current ECU diagnostics and real-time data, onboard the memory of the device of claim 1; involving the processing of data under SHA encryption and blockchain security.

3. - The method for incorporating the encrypted blockchain ledger data of the vehicle with the application client server by means of encrypted secure communications over TC/IP and other serial communications protocols, so as to distribute the vehicle blockchain to other authorized network nodes under secure encrypted communications.

4. - The system and method for reporting and broadcasting securely in an encrypted blockchain reporting system, any vehicle fault diagnostic data provided on a real-time basis by the electronic control unit (ECU) via one or more in-vehicle network (IVN) industry standard protocols, to the device of claim 1; and transmitted via secure TC/IP network to the blockchain application server, resulting in the distributed ledger notifying other authorized service network nodes to analyze the blockchain messages and telemetry records for service, maintenance, repair or brekdown report and bid on a real26 time basis, subejct to authorizations, permissions and rights management by the user.

5. - A custom fabricated application-specific integrated circuit which is designed to store electronically the digital records related to vehicle manufacturing, including the complete list of OEM and after-market parts, the technical repair diagrams, the manuals and service books, any updates and safety advisories on the vehicle; as well as record and digitally store in a solid state memory module, the records related to all of the manufacturing numbers of chassis, engine block, vehicle VIN and other regulatory and safety information; including vehicle ownership and each subsequente sale and buy transaction, so as to provide a higher level of trust and value for the vehicle at hand.

6. - The hardware circuits and method for networking as a blockchain node the device of claim 5, by means of the application-specific integrated circuit of claim 1; which is enclosed and protected by a heavy-duty water-proof and fireproof enclosure that is permanently mounted in the vehicle by mechanical and electronic means; and which data is also protected by SHA encryption and mechanical tamper-proof measures.

7. - The application-specific semiconductor (ASIC) module design for operations of the device of claim 5 as a blockchain node and distribute the vehicle document ledger to other authorized blockchain network nodes for authentication protocols; and including the hardware components to integrate such a vehicle blockchain ASIC into a simplified version of the device of claim 1, for retrofit installation in cars manufactured without an electronic control unit, and/or without a digital electronic in-vehicle network.

8. - User application software architecture flowchart diagrams for operations of either one of the devices of claims 1 and 5, which incorporates a historical, current and real-time ransactional data procedure, in order to create viable blockchain vehicle nodes; and including the automotive blockchain system design comprising: (i) vehicle physical document recording, encryption and storage; (ii) ECU real-time diagnostic fault alarms and other user authorized vehicle real-time performance and part failure data.

9. - Blockchain certification and validation of authenticity of vehicle records, operating performance, maintenance and repair history, statistical relevant ECU data which is authorized for distribution by the system user to other remote blockchain network nodes, designed as disclosed herein to preserve and protect the long-term value, authenticity, roadworthines, implied mechanical failure risk, and any other parameter derived from the in-vehicle ECU and available as an OEM or after-market retrofitted component.

10. - A hardware encrypted communications component, comprising: an application-specific integrated circuit, designed as a vehicle encrypted blockchain network node: (i) an encryption mathematical co-processor designed to process SHA algorithms; (ii) a custom system integration module with sixteen (or more) data channels for in-vehicle network encrypted serial communications with one or more blockchain network servers and (iii) the method for integrating all vehicle manufacturing and ECU digital records in encrypted data, structured as a distributed blockchain ledger for all types of vehicles, on-board a solid state 32GB, or more read and write random access memory module.

11. - The system and method by which the device of claim 1 is used as an InVehicle Network firewall by providing secure SHA encrypted channel communications for all other CAN network peripherial devices.

12. - The hardware logic integrated circuit design and operating system integration that enables a flexible multi-platform development environment and toolkit for other automotive industry expert developers to develop new applications, by using the disclosed improvement over prior in-vehicle network electronic components, which includes an SHA encryption maths coprocessor unit that is programmed to deliver on-board data encryption and decryption, fast fourier transformations from analog input signals by applying a custom orthogonal frequency division multiplexer module, that is integrated to the ASIC architecture by means of an internal high speed photonic bus.

13.- The pulse widh modulation/demodulation (PWM) method by operating at high CPU clock speeds a custom module integrated with the encryption maths co-processor and the analog to digital converter, inlcuding the OFDM multiplexer on the same photonic (or solid state semiconductive) high speed bus.

14. - The system and method for providing to regulatory vehicle stakeholders a tamper-proof, encrypted channel device for implementing vehicle safety measures within urban and metropolitan context in light of the risk of vehicles unlawfully used to cause harm to pedestrians, as well as the related secret security measures (disclosed under Section 22 to Room GR70) under separate cover as a divisional application.

15. - The encryption and decryption SHA algorithms incorporated into the logic gate transistor design for the application-specific integrated circuit, and the maths encryption co-processor, which are also to be disclosed under separate cover under the same Section 22 provisions in person at Room GR70, of the Intellectual Property Office (Patent Office) of the United Kingdom.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1706950.1 Examiner: Rob Valkass