U.S. patent application number 14/484664 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for system and method for enabling secure transactions using flexible identity management in a vehicular environment.
This patent application is currently assigned to CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Cisco Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sateesh K. Addepalli, Flavio Bonomi, Lillian Lei Dai, Vina Ermagan, Erick D. Lee, Alexander Loukissas, Fabio R. Maino, Landon Curt Noll.
Application Number | 20140380442 14/484664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48952184 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140380442 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Addepalli; Sateesh K. ; et
al. |
December 25, 2014 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING SECURE TRANSACTIONS USING FLEXIBLE
IDENTITY MANAGEMENT IN A VEHICULAR ENVIRONMENT
Abstract
A method in one embodiment includes authenticating a first agent
to an on board unit (OBU) of a vehicle if the first agent validates
a first set of one or more authentication requirements and
identifying a first identity profile corresponding to the first
agent. The method also includes determining a role of the first
agent in the vehicle and configuring the vehicle with the first
identity profile, where the vehicle is configured based, at least
in part, on the role of the first agent. In this embodiment, the
first identity profile is one of a plurality of identity profiles
provisioned on the OBU. In specific embodiments, each one of a
plurality of agents corresponds to a respective one of the
plurality of identity profiles, and includes one or more of a human
agent, a machine device, a software agent, an authorized entity,
and a mobile device.
Inventors: |
Addepalli; Sateesh K.; (San
Jose, CA) ; Maino; Fabio R.; (Palo Alto, CA) ;
Bonomi; Flavio; (Palo Alto, CA) ; Dai; Lillian
Lei; (Rockville, MD) ; Ermagan; Vina; (San
Jose, CA) ; Loukissas; Alexander; (San Francisco,
CA) ; Lee; Erick D.; (Santa Clara, CA) ; Noll;
Landon Curt; (Sunnyvale, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cisco Technology, Inc. |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
48952184 |
Appl. No.: |
14/484664 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13014605 |
Jan 26, 2011 |
8863256 |
|
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14484664 |
|
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61433138 |
Jan 14, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
726/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 29/06578 20130101;
H04W 72/0493 20130101; H04L 51/02 20130101; H04W 40/20 20130101;
H04W 52/0206 20130101; H04W 52/346 20130101; H04L 67/12 20130101;
H04W 52/241 20130101; H04W 4/10 20130101; G06F 3/017 20130101; H04L
43/0858 20130101; H04W 36/08 20130101; H04W 80/02 20130101; H04L
45/12 20130101; H04W 8/08 20130101; H04W 36/0009 20180801; H04W
76/45 20180201; G06F 21/45 20130101; H04L 67/32 20130101; H04W
28/0215 20130101; H04W 48/18 20130101; H04W 52/0219 20130101; H04L
61/2592 20130101; H04W 48/16 20130101; H04W 52/12 20130101; H04Q
9/00 20130101; H04W 40/02 20130101; H04L 1/008 20130101; H04W 8/26
20130101; H04W 72/0406 20130101; G06F 3/167 20130101; H04L 43/0876
20130101; Y02A 30/60 20180101; H04W 12/001 20190101; H04W 48/06
20130101; H04W 92/18 20130101; H04W 52/225 20130101; H04L 69/18
20130101; H04W 52/143 20130101; H04W 48/02 20130101; H04W 84/005
20130101; H04W 52/0264 20130101; H04W 72/042 20130101; H04W 84/12
20130101; G06F 9/542 20130101; H04W 8/06 20130101; H04W 28/06
20130101; H04W 4/00 20130101; B60R 16/023 20130101; B60W 50/10
20130101; H04W 4/40 20180201; H04L 43/0811 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
726/6 |
International
Class: |
G06F 21/45 20060101
G06F021/45; H04L 29/06 20060101 H04L029/06 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: authenticating a first agent to an on
board unit (OBU) of a vehicle if the first agent validates a first
set of one or more authentication requirements; identifying a first
identity profile corresponding to the first agent; determining a
role of the first agent in the vehicle; and configuring the vehicle
with the first identity profile, the vehicle configured based, at
least in part, on the role of the first agent, wherein the first
identity profile is one of a plurality of identity profiles
provisioned on the OBU.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first agent is a human
agent.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of a plurality of agents
corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of identity
profiles, wherein the plurality of agents includes one or more of a
human agent, a machine device, a software agent, an authorized
entity, and a mobile device.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a
network connection from the OBU to a remote node of an identity
service provider; and downloading the first identity profile from
the remote node to the OBU.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: authenticating a
second agent to the OBU if the second agent validates a second set
of one or more authentication requirements; identifying a second
identity profile corresponding to the second agent; determining the
role of the second agent in the vehicle; and configuring the
vehicle with the second identity profile, wherein the vehicle is
configured based, at least in part, on the role of the second
agent.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the first
agent has priority over a second agent if the first and second
agents are authenticated to the OBU concurrently, wherein any
preferences in a second identity profile associated with the second
agent conflicting with preferences in the first identity profile
are overridden by the preferences associated with the first
identity profile.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identity profile of the
first agent is stored on the OBU of the vehicle and on one or more
other OBUs of one or more other vehicles, respectively.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether
one or more limitations are set for the first identity profile; and
applying the one or more limitations when the vehicle is configured
with the first identity profile.
9. One or more non-transitory media that includes code for
execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform
operations comprising: authenticating a first agent to an on board
unit (OBU) of a vehicle if the first agent validates a first set of
one or more authentication requirements; identifying a first
identity profile corresponding to the first agent; determining a
priority of the first agent in the vehicle; and configuring the
vehicle with the first identity profile, the vehicle configured
based, at least in part, on the priority of the first agent,
wherein the first identity profile is one of a plurality of
identity profiles provisioned on the OBU.
10. The one or more non-transitory media of claim 9, wherein each
one of a plurality of agents corresponds to a respective one of the
plurality of identity profiles, wherein the plurality of agents
includes one or more of a human agent, a machine device, a software
agent, an authorized entity, and a mobile device.
11. The one or more non-transitory media of claim 9, wherein the
configuring the vehicle with the first identity profile includes
configuring vehicle settings based, at least in part, on a role of
the first agent.
12. The one or more non-transitory media of claim 9, wherein the
configuring the vehicle with the first identity profile includes
configuring preferences indicated in the first identity
profile.
13. The one or more non-transitory media of claim 12, the
operations further comprising: determining the first agent has
priority over a second agent if the first and second agents are
authenticated to the OBU concurrently, wherein any preferences in a
second identity profile associated with the second agent that
conflict with the preferences in the first identity profile are
overridden by the preferences in the first identity profile.
14. The one or more non-transitory media of claim 9, wherein the
code for execution, when executed by a processor, is operable to
perform further operations comprising: establishing a network
connection from the OBU to a remote node of an identity service
provider when the first agent is authenticated; and performing one
of adding, removing, or updating a virtual subscriber identity
module (VSIM) in the first identity profile.
15. The one or more non-transitory media of claim 9, wherein
configuring the vehicle with the first identity profile includes
configuring a network interface account and network configurations
on the OBU for one or more mobile devices identified in the first
identity profile.
16. An apparatus, comprising: at least one memory element
configured to store data; an agent provisioning module; and at
least one processor operable to execute instructions associated
with the data and the agent provisioning module to: authenticate a
first agent to the apparatus if the first agent validates a first
set of one or more authentication requirements, the apparatus
configured for operation in a vehicle; identify a first identity
profile corresponding to the first agent; determine a role of the
first agent in the vehicle; and configure the vehicle with the
first identity profile, wherein the vehicle is configured based, at
least in part, on the role of the first agent, wherein the first
identity profile is one of a plurality of identity profiles
provisioned in the memory element.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: an identity
profile provisioning module, wherein the processor is operable to
execute further instructions associated with the data and the
identity profile provisioning module to: establish a network
connection from the apparatus to a remote node of an identity
service provider; download the first identity profile from the
remote node to the apparatus; and store the first identity profile
in the memory element in an encrypted format.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein configuring the vehicle with
the first identity profile includes configuring preferences
indicated in the first identity profile.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein configuring the vehicle with
the first identity profile includes configuring a network interface
account and network configurations indicated in the first identity
profile for one or more mobile devices identified in the first
identity profile.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a virtual
subscriber identity module (VSIM) provisioning module, wherein the
processor is operable to execute further instructions associated
with the data and the VSIM provisioning module to: establish a
network connection from the apparatus to a remote node of an
identity service provider when the first agent is authenticated;
and perform one of adding, removing, or updating a virtual
subscriber identity module (VSIM) in the first identity profile.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional (and claims the benefit
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120) of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/014,605,
filed Jan. 26, 2011, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING
SECURE TRANSACTIONS USING FLEXIBLE IDENTITY MANAGEMENT IN A
VEHICULAR ENVIRONMENT," Inventors Sateesh K. Addepalli, et al.,
which application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e)
of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/433,138, filed Jan. 14,
2011, by Sateesh K. Addepalli, et al., entitled "SYSTEM, METHOD,
AND PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH CONNECTED VEHICLES." The disclosures
of both of the prior applications are considered part of (and are
incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of this application in
their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates in general to the field of electronic
communications and, more particularly, to enabling secure
transactions using flexible identity management in a vehicular
environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Networking architectures have grown increasingly complex and
have been designed for use in a wide variety of communications
environments. Demand continues to rise among the subscriber base of
end users, however, for network access across diverse network
environments. In particular, configuring suitable network
architecture for vehicular environments (e.g., automobiles,
airplanes, trains, boats, etc.) presents unique difficulties.
Vehicles can be mobile across a large geographic area, can have
internal networks related to the vehicle itself, can include more
than one end user at a time, and can have more than one owner
during the life of the vehicle. Providing the ability to conduct
transactions in vehicular network environments in a secure manner
and providing a secure and flexible identity management framework
for various agents conducting the transactions present significant
challenges to system designers, automobile manufacturers, service
providers, and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] To provide a more complete understanding of the present
invention and features and advantages thereof, reference is made to
the following description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals represent
like parts, in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a communication
system for enabling secure transactions using flexible identity
management in a vehicular environment in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of the
communication system in exemplary network environments associated
with embodiments the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 3 is another simplified schematic diagram of the
communication system in exemplary network environments associated
with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an on-board unit of
the communication system and possible agents of the on-board
unit;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a plurality of identity
profiles in an example scenario of the communication system;
and
[0010] FIGS. 6-15 are simplified flowcharts associated with
possible activities associated with the communication system of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
Overview
[0011] A method in one example embodiment includes detecting an
event for a transaction on an on-board unit (OBU) of a vehicle,
where the event has a trigger associated with an agent. The method
also includes determining whether the transaction is authorized,
identifying network credentials of the agent, and providing the
network credentials to a transaction application corresponding to
the transaction. The method further includes accessing a remote
network using the network credentials. In one embodiment, the
network credentials are identified in an identity profile
associated with the agent. In specific embodiments, the method
includes providing application programming interfaces (APIs) to the
transaction application to enable the transaction application to
access one or more of a plurality of pieces of information of the
identity profile. In other specific embodiments, the method
includes evaluating a memory element to determine whether the
transaction application is mapped to the agent.
[0012] A method in an another example embodiment includes
initiating a transaction on an on board unit (OBU) of a vehicle and
selecting first network credentials for a transaction application
associated with the transaction to establish a network connection
between the OBU and a remote node. In this embodiment, the first
network credentials are selected from a plurality of available
network credentials that correspond to an agent associated with the
transaction. In more specific embodiments, the first network
credentials include one or more virtual subscriber identity modules
(VSIMs). In other more specific embodiments, the first network
credentials are selected based on a mapping of the first network
credentials to one or more predefined criteria and the agent.
[0013] A method in yet another example embodiment includes
authenticating a first agent to an on board unit (OBU) of a vehicle
if the first agent validates a first set of one or more
authentication requirements and identifying a first identity
profile corresponding to the first agent. The method also includes
determining a role of the first agent in the vehicle and
configuring the vehicle with the first identity profile, where the
vehicle is configured based on the role of the first agent. In the
example method, the first identity profile is one of a plurality of
identity profiles provisioned on the OBU.
Example Embodiments
[0014] Turning to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a
communication system 10 for enabling secure transactions using
flexible identity management in a vehicular environment. The
example architecture of FIG. 1 includes an end user (driver) 2
operating a vehicle 4 that includes an on-board unit (OBU) 30. In
this particular example, OBU 30 includes processing elements 21,
which include a computing processor 22 and a routing processor 23.
OBU 30 also includes a memory element 24, network interfaces 26, a
user interface 27, and a display 28. OBU 30 can be suitably coupled
to a plurality of sensors 14a-c, a plurality of controls (e.g.,
electronic control units (ECUs)) 16a-c, and a plurality of
actuators, such as actuator 13. In one example embodiment, sensors
14a-b and controls 16a-b may be part of an automotive diagnostic
system, indicated by vehicle diagnostics 19, which may also be
suitably integrated with OBU 30. OBU 30 may also be suitably
coupled to various in-vehicle mobile devices 18a-b at any given
time, where such devices may be associated with particular end
users (passengers or driver) within vehicle 4. OBU 30 may also
include capabilities associated with navigation system 17 (e.g., a
global positioning system (GPS)). FIG. 1 also includes networks 40,
representing various types of connectivity to vehicle 4 (e.g., via
antenna 29). Each established network of networks 40 has a logical
coupling to remote network nodes or other external electronic
devices, which may include transaction systems 50, authorized
entities 98, and other vehicles 59.
[0015] Elements of FIG. 1 may be coupled to one another through one
or more interfaces (e.g., network interfaces 26) employing any
suitable connection (wired or wireless), which provides a viable
pathway for electronic communications. Additionally, any one or
more of these elements may be combined or removed from the
architecture based on particular configuration needs. Communication
system 10 may include a configuration capable of transmission
control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) communications for the
electronic transmission or reception of packets in a network.
Communication system 10 may also operate in conjunction with a user
datagram protocol/IP (UDP/IP) or any other suitable protocol, where
appropriate and based on particular needs. In addition,
communication system 10 may also include a configuration capable of
accommodating legacy bus subsystems that may be employed to convey
information across the myriad of machine devices (e.g., sensors
14a-c, controls 16a-c, actuator 13) in vehicle 4.
[0016] Embodiments of communication system 10 can enable secure
transactions in a vehicular environment by using flexible identity
management for agents associated with the transactions. Given the
plethora of transaction agents (e.g., machine devices, humans,
software agents, mobile devices, and authorized entities) and
possible transactions (e.g., accessing one or more
wireless/mobile/cellular networks and using network bandwidth and
services, gaining access to various resources of the vehicle based
on an identity profile and/or associated databases, gaining access
to transaction applications in the vehicle, and engaging in
commercial activities), numerous transaction scenarios may occur
over the life of the vehicle. Such transaction scenarios may
encompass, for example, toll or parking payments, vehicle miles
traveled (VMT) systems, Internet commerce, original equipment
manufacturer (OEM), gas and electric charging stations, roadside
and/or drive-through kiosks, banking applications, vehicle dealer
systems, location based service (LBS) system, vehicle system and
its resources, mobile network operator system, travel agencies,
rental and leasing agencies, network connection to Internet sites,
vehicle-to-vehicle commerce, vehicle-to-mobile-device commerce,
in-vehicle commerce systems, etc. Accordingly, it is important to
have a unified, flexible, and secure identity and access framework
to ensure that appropriate transactions can be executed by
different agents over time in a secure manner. A unified identity
management framework enables aggregation and association of these
agents and transactions.
[0017] Communication system 10 may include on-board unit (OBU) 30
that validates credentials of each agent, grants appropriate levels
of access, manages potential conflicts (e.g., by assigning priority
to different agents), and provisions the appropriate
wireless/mobile connectivity. An agent may be provisioned for
authentication and access to a particular vehicle by provisioning
at least one virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) and/or an
identity profile in OBU 30 of communication system 10. For each
agent, an individualized, multi-factor authorization process may be
used to validate the particular agent's credentials for accessing
OBU 30 and for authorizing transactions on OBU 30. Authentication
and confidentiality schemes may be specified for transaction
applications corresponding to the particular transactions. Finally,
appropriate wireless/mobile connectivity may be dynamically
determined by evaluating the transaction, the agent, and a current
geographical location of the vehicle. Thus, vehicular transactions
may be securely enabled by managing the identity and authentication
of agents associated with transactions.
[0018] For purposes of illustrating the operational aspects of
communication system 10, it is important to first understand the
activities and problems that may be present in electronic
communication scenarios in a vehicular environment such as the one
shown in FIG. 1. The following foundational information may be
viewed as a basis from which the present disclosure may be properly
explained. Such information is offered earnestly for purposes of
explanation only and, accordingly, should not be construed in any
way to limit the broad scope of the present disclosure and its
potential applications.
[0019] Many useful, but disparate, networks may exist in today's
vehicles. For example, a controller-area network (CAN) bus, a
geographical positioning system (GPS), and personal mobile devices
(e.g., mobile phones, smart mobile phones/devices, e-book readers,
tablets, laptops/net books, portable navigation systems, multimedia
devices, etc.) facilitate the coexistence of some of the many
possible networks within a single vehicle such as a personal
automobile. A CAN bus is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow
microcontrollers, sensors, and other devices associated with a
vehicle to communicate with each other within the vehicle (e.g.,
without a host computer). CAN is a message based protocol, designed
for and typically used by automotive applications. With appropriate
network access, the CAN bus can be used to provide real-time
vehicle diagnostics from associated sensors and controls to a
manufacturer of the vehicle or to any other authorized entity. A
separate network in the vehicle may exist for IP devices involved
in the vehicle navigation system (e.g., GPS) and, possibly, another
network associated with simple content delivery. Other networks
could be used for Internet access for end users through, for
example, mobile devices. Hence, various levels of network usage,
different purposes of network usage, and different agents (e.g.,
humans, machine devices, external devices, mobile devices)
associated with the network usage may occur in a single vehicle.
Network usage in each of the identified cases may have a different
usage scope, different latency, different associated routing,
different policy requirements, and the like.
[0020] In a vehicle that does not offer combined networking
capabilities for the various possible networks, each of the devices
associated with a particular network (e.g., CAN bus sensors, mobile
devices, GPS, etc.) may have a one-to-one mapping to either a human
agent or to the vehicle. Network access and any resulting fees from
such access are typically dictated by the human agent or vehicle
mapped to the particular device. While some of these devices may be
used by other human agents (e.g., another human agent borrows a
cell phone, has account privileges on a laptop, borrows an
automobile with a GPS, etc.) network access and fee accrual does
not ordinarily accommodate the preferences of the new user. In some
cases, a mobile router used to facilitate network access among
various agents associated with a vehicle, could provide
predetermined network access and billing, without regard to the
particular agent or transaction.
[0021] In a vehicle that provides networking capabilities between
entities inside the vehicle and the external world ("connected
vehicle"), the amount of possible transactions and the
changeability of agents associated with those transactions require
a flexible framework to ensure security and appropriate network
access. In a real-life scenario for a connected vehicle, multiple
agents may use the vehicle and perform transactions on or via the
vehicle over any given time period. Individual users such as, for
example, an owner, a driver, a passenger, a temporary driver (e.g.,
borrower or renter), or a new owner of a used automobile, may use
the vehicle as a personal computing and communication platform for
navigational, recreational, and/or business-related purposes. A
manufacturer of the vehicle may want to collect vehicle centric
data from the vehicle and send firmware/software upgrades to the
vehicle. Government entities may want to identify and locate the
vehicle for law enforcement or government regulation (e.g.,
emissions controls) purposes. Vehicle dealers may want to obtain
sensor data and other vehicle diagnostic information for
maintenance updates and/or scheduling. Thus, a one-to-one exclusive
mapping between an agent (e.g., a human or a device) and a
connected vehicle does not exist.
[0022] In a contrasting example, a one-to-one mapping is typically
provided between a mobile phone and a single user. In a mobile
phone, credentials that bind the user and the device may be stored
in a physical subscriber identity module (SIM) or provisioning
module. Thus, if the mobile device is subsequently operated by a
new user (e.g., someone borrowing the mobile phone), the
credentials in the current SIM, associated with the original user,
will be used to access a cellular network and to bill for the
network access usage. Thus, the original user mapped to the mobile
phone will be billed for any network usage fees incurred by the new
user. In some cases involving the same service provider, the mobile
phone can be provisioned with the new user's credentials by
physically replacing the existing SIM hardware with a SIM of the
new user. However, SIM swapping or identity reassignment across
different service providers is often problematic or simply not
feasible in a mobile phone.
[0023] In a connected vehicle, agents may change over any given
period of time, and it may be impossible or impractical to
physically switch a SIM in the vehicle or to make a trip to a
service center each time a new agent needs network access to or
from the vehicle. In one example, a manufacturer of an automobile
may want to use a transaction application to collect real time data
from sensors in the vehicle. If the automobile is manufactured in
one country and shipped to another country (e.g., manufactured in
Japan and shipped to the United States), then before the automobile
is even purchased it would have traveled across international
boundaries and multiple telecom service provider areas. Thus, if
the manufacturer (i.e., the agent) provisions the automobile with
credentials for a first service provider usable in the first
country, the manufacturer may prefer a different service provider
to be provisioned in the automobile once the automobile is shipped
to another country.
[0024] Another example of possible agent changes in a vehicle
includes owners, drivers, renters, and passengers of a vehicle.
When an automobile is sold to a customer, the new owner needs
access rights to various transactions (e.g., toll payments, gas and
charging stations, Internet commerce, personal vehicle settings,
etc.) provided by the vehicle. In addition, the new owner may need
wireless access to networks and devices external to the vehicle
using an appropriate service provider and a desired billing scheme.
These access rights may need to change each time the vehicle is
driven by a different driver (e.g., another person in the owner's
family, a current renter of a rental car, etc.). In addition, if
the vehicle is sold again, a new owner and associated drivers and
passengers also need access rights and the previously existing
access rights need to be removed from the vehicle. Finally,
multiple agents may want to access the vehicle concurrently, such
as a driver and one or more passengers of the vehicle who desire
access rights to at least some of the vehicle transactions. For
example, a passenger may want to use an Internet commerce
transaction to download music or videos, or the passenger may want
to pay for transportation costs, such as toll expenses and/or gas
and charging station expenses.
[0025] Supporting a multi-agent and multi-transaction vehicular
environment may also require more protection layers than typically
used in traditional authentication schemes such as a simple user
identification ("user ID") and password. In one example, additional
protection layers may be necessary for certain transactions and
agents to avoid compromising security (e.g., highly sensitive
transactions such as transactions allowing modifications by a
manufacturer of the vehicle itself) and/or regulatory compliance of
a transaction. Thus, flexible agent identity management is needed
with a strong authentication component that provides adequate
security for dynamically changing agents and transactions, such
that security, privacy, authenticity, accountability, and
regulatory compliance are not compromised.
[0026] A system for enabling secure transactions in a vehicular
environment using flexible identity management for agents
associated with the transactions, outlined by FIG. 1, can resolve
many of these issues. In accordance with one example implementation
of communication system 10, a method is provided for agent identity
management that is flexible, secure, and allows network access to
be switched dynamically for different agents. The method provides
for authenticating an agent to on-board unit (OBU) 30 of vehicle 4,
provisioning an identity profile associated with the agent, and
provisioning one or more virtual subscriber identity modules
(VSIMs) associated with the agent. For a human agent, the identity
profile can include individualized vehicle preferences (e.g., seat
position, cabin temperature settings, radio or other media,
navigation locations, etc.). Boundaries such as parental controls
and transaction access controls may also be provided in an identity
profile, which can be added by another agent having appropriate
authority. The method also provides for verifying whether a
particular transaction is authorized when the transaction is
associated with the agent. For authorized transactions requiring
remote network access to external devices, the method allows for
opportunistic selection of network credentials, such as VSIMs,
WiFi, etc., associated with the particular agent, which may be
determined by evaluating the agent, the transaction, and a current
geographical location of the vehicle. Thus, transactions are
securely enabled for different agents by providing a dynamic
identity framework for agents. In addition, network access can be
opportunistically selected depending on one or more factors,
including the agent, the transaction and the current location of
the vehicle.
[0027] Note that in this Specification, references to various
features (e.g., elements, structures, modules, components, steps,
operations, characteristics, etc.) included in "one embodiment",
"example embodiment", "an embodiment", "another embodiment", "some
embodiments", "various embodiments", "other embodiments",
"alternative embodiment", and the like are intended to mean that
any such features are included in one or more embodiments of the
present disclosure, but may or may not necessarily be combined in
the same embodiments.
[0028] Turning to the infrastructure of FIG. 1, end user 2 can be
associated with a human agent (e.g., a driver or passenger) having
any type of relationship to the vehicle such as an owner, a renter,
a temporary driver, a family member or friend of the owner, etc.
End user 2 may initiate communication in communication system 10
via some network, and such communication may be initiated through
any suitable device, inclusive of an in-vehicle mobile device 18a
or 18b, display 28, and navigation system 17. In one embodiment,
additional displays may be provided for one or more passengers in
vehicle 4. In-vehicle mobile devices 18a-b are inclusive of mobile
phones, smart mobile phones (smartphones), e-book readers, tablets,
iPads, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops or electronic
notebooks, portable navigation systems, multimedia gadgets (e.g.,
cameras, players, etc.), and any other device, component, element,
or object capable of initiating voice, audio, video, media, or data
exchanges within communication system 10. Data, as used herein in
this specification, refers to any type of numeric, voice, video, or
script data, or any type of source or object code, or any other
suitable information in any appropriate format that may be
communicated from one point to another in electronic devices and/or
networks.
[0029] In-vehicle mobile devices 18a-b, and mobile devices external
to vehicle 4, may communicate with OBU 30 of communication system
10 through any wired or wireless communication link and may be
configured as a personal area network (PAN) or a wireless personal
area network (WPAN) or any other appropriate architecture or system
that facilitates communications in a network environment. Wired and
wireless communication links may be inclusive of any electronic
link such as Bluetooth, wireless technologies (e.g., IEEE 802.11x),
a USB cable, an HDMI cable, etc. Connection between mobile devices
and OBU 30 may be configured based on particular needs and
logistics. In one particular example, an external mobile device may
be connected to OBU 30 through a USB cable or wireless network
when, for example, the external mobile device is a diagnostic tool
used by a mechanic for servicing vehicle 4.
[0030] Networks 40 represent a series of points or nodes of
interconnected communication paths for receiving and transmitting
packets of information that propagate through communication system
10. Networks 40 offer communicative interfaces between any of the
components of FIG. 1 and remote network nodes and other electronic
devices (e.g., transaction systems 50, authorized entities 98, and
other vehicles 59), and may be any local area network (LAN),
wireless local area network (WLAN), wide area network (WAN),
wireless wide area network (WWAN), metropolitan area network (MAN),
wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), wireless single hop or
multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle network, virtual private network
(VPN), Intranet, Extranet, or any other appropriate architecture or
system that facilitates communications in a network environment.
Networks 40 may include any suitable communication link to OBU 30
such as wireless technologies (e.g., IEEE 802.11x), satellite,
cellular technologies (e.g., 3G, 4G, etc.), etc., or any
combination thereof. Networks 40 may also include configurations
capable of transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP)
communications, user datagram protocol/IP (UDP/IP), or any other
suitable protocol, where appropriate and based on particular
needs.
[0031] Embodiments of OBU 30 may include one or more distinct
interfaces, represented by network interfaces 26, to facilitate
communication via the various networks described herein. Such
network interfaces 26 may be inclusive of multiple wireless
interfaces (e.g., WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, white space, 802.11x,
satellite, Bluetooth, LTE, GSM/HSPA, CDMA/EVDO, DSRC, CAN, GPS
etc.). Other interfaces represented by network interfaces 26, may
include physical ports (e.g., Ethernet, USB, HDMI, etc.), and the
like. Similarly, each of the network elements and user equipment
(e.g., mobile devices) of communication system 10 can also include
suitable interfaces for receiving, transmitting, and/or otherwise
communicating data or information in a network environment.
[0032] OBU 30 can include one or more memory elements (e.g., memory
element 24) for storing information to be used in achieving
operations associated with the enablement of secure transactions
using flexible identity management, as outlined herein. Any of the
memory or storage items discussed herein should be construed as
being encompassed within the broad term `memory element` as used
herein in this Specification.
[0033] In example embodiments, the operations for enabling secure
transactions using flexible identity management outlined herein may
be implemented by logic encoded in one or more tangible media,
which may be inclusive of non-transitory media (e.g., embedded
logic provided in an ASIC, digital signal processor (DSP)
instructions, software potentially inclusive of object code and
source code to be executed by a processor or other similar machine,
etc.). In some of these instances, one or more memory elements
(e.g., memory element 24) can store data used for the operations
described herein. This includes the memory elements being able to
store software, logic, code, or processor instructions that are
executed to carry out the activities described in this
Specification.
[0034] Additionally, OBU 30 may include processing elements 21,
including computing processor 22 and routing processor 23, that can
execute software or algorithms to perform the activities to enable
secure transactions, to use flexible identity management, and to
route packets, using suitable routing protocols, associated with
the secure transactions and identity management. A processor can
execute any type of instructions associated with the data to
achieve the operations detailed herein in this Specification. In
one example, the processors (as shown in FIG. 1) could transform an
element or an article (e.g., data) from one state or thing to
another state or thing. In another example, the activities outlined
herein may be implemented with fixed logic or programmable logic
(e.g., software/computer instructions executed by a processor) and
the elements identified herein could be some type of a programmable
processor, programmable digital logic (e.g., an FPGA, an EPROM, an
EEPROM), or an ASIC that includes digital logic, software, code,
electronic instructions, flash memory, optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD
ROMs, magnetic or optical cards, other types of machine-readable
mediums suitable for storing electronic instructions, or any
suitable combination thereof. Any of the potential processing
elements, modules, microprocessors, digital signal processors
(DSPs), and other devices described in this Specification should be
construed as being encompassed within the broad term
`processor.`
[0035] Regarding a physical implementation of OBU 30, any suitable
permutation may be applied based on particular needs and
requirements, including the design of the particular vehicle in
which OBU 30 is implemented. In example implementations, various
components of OBU 30 may be installed in different physical areas
of the vehicle or may be installed as single unit, with display 28
being positioned to allow driver access. Other displays may be
provided in suitable locations for access by passengers in
particular passenger seats. In one implementation, multimedia,
networking, and communication components may be positioned at some
distance from the vehicle engine (e.g., in or near the rear or
trunk area if the engine is in the front area of the vehicle).
[0036] Communication system 10 may be configured to facilitate
communication with machine devices (e.g., vehicle sensors,
instruments, electronic control units (ECUs), embedded devices,
actuators, etc.). OBU 30 may be implemented to provide one or more
suitable communication interfaces (e.g., network interfaces 26) to
legacy systems in vehicles such as, for example, a controller area
network (CAN) a low speed network (LIN), a flexray communications
protocol network, media oriented systems transport (MOST), and the
like. Typically, multiple ECUs, with different embedded software,
may be found in a single automobile and may communicate via a CAN
bus. Sensors 14a-b may represent, for example, wheel and headlight
sensors, respectively. Controls 16a-b may be inclusive of any
embedded system or ECU that controls one or more of the electrical
systems or subsystems in vehicle 4. Actuator 13 represents a
vehicle setting device such as, for example, a seat positioning
device for adjusting various seat positions (e.g., longitudinal
position relative to the brake and gas pedals, tilt position,
lumbar support, etc.). Actuator 13 and other similar vehicle
setting devices (e.g., temperature controls, sunroof, door locks,
power windows, etc.) may be configured for communications in a LIN
bus, in one embodiment. Sensor 14c represents a type of sensor or
device that may be configured for communications via flexray
communications protocol (e.g., a radar collision sensor). Control
16c, representing one or more ECUs, may be suitably integrated for
controlling the flexray network and sensors and other associated
components. Additionally, OBU 30 may be implemented to provide one
or more suitable communication interfaces (e.g., network interfaces
26) to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, user datagram protocol
(UDP) network, or any other suitable protocol or communication
architecture provided to enable network communication with machine
devices in vehicle 4.
[0037] In this particular example, vehicle 4 includes capabilities
associated with navigation system 17 and vehicle diagnostics 19.
Navigation system 17 may be provided in various embodiments
including, for example, a portable navigation system or,
alternatively, a fixed navigation system, each of which may be
configured for wireless or wired communications to OBU 30. Other
more specific machine devices, not shown in FIG. 1, may include
display panel instruments, climate controls, interior lights, door
locks, trunk open/shut actuator, hood open/shut actuator, seat
heater and/or cooler, sunroof open/shut actuator, window
heater/defroster/defogger, entertainment systems (e.g., speakers,
radio, DVD, CD, etc.), and the like.
[0038] Turning to FIG. 2, communication system 10 is illustrated
with OBU 30 shown coupled to agents 90 and networks 40. As
previously discussed herein, agents 90 can include machine devices
92, humans 94, and mobile devices 96. In addition, agents can also
include software agents 95 and authorized entities 98. Software
agents 95 can include any executable file comprising instructions
that can be understood and processed on a computer, and provisioned
in a memory element accessible to OBU 30 (e.g., memory element 24),
and which may be initiated automatically in response to a
particular set of criteria or conditions (e.g., every time network
connectivity is detected on OBU 30, whenever OBU 30 is powered on
and a particular time interval has passed, in response to another
software agent, etc.).
[0039] Authorized entities 98 may include various entities having
authorization to access a vehicle 4 such as, for example, a dealer
of the vehicle, a manufacturer of the vehicle, OEMs associated with
the vehicle, and public entities having an interest in the vehicle
(e.g., State Departments of Transportation, local police
departments, etc.). A network node of such authorized entities will
typically be remotely located from OBU 30 and, therefore,
accessible from OBU 30 through networks 40 such as the Internet or
other WANs and any available communication link (e.g., 3G, 4G,
local wireless, etc.) providing network access from OBU 30 to the
Internet or other WAN. In some scenarios, however, OBU 30 may be
locally accessible to an authorized entity such that Internet
access is unnecessary. For example, when vehicle 4 is being
manufactured and is located at one of the manufacturer's
facilities, OBU 30 may be capable of directly accessing the
manufacturer's network through a LAN or WLAN. Similarly, when a
vehicle 4 is taken to a dealer for maintenance, the OBU 30 may
connect to the dealer network through a communication link that
does not include the Internet or any other wide area network.
[0040] Networks 40 may also facilitate communication between
certain agents 90 (e.g., machine devices 92, humans 94, software
agents 95, mobile devices 96) and transaction systems 50. By way of
example, transaction systems 50 may include services transaction
systems 52, commercial transaction systems 54, roadside transaction
systems 56, and transportation transaction systems 58 on network
nodes or other electronic devices. Each of the transaction systems
can be associated with many different types of entities and many
different transaction scenarios. Services transaction systems 52
can encompass numerous entities providing services such as identity
service providers, mobile wireless service providers, banks and
other financial institutions, location-based services (LBS), travel
agencies, vehicle rental and leasing agencies, Internet websites,
etc. In some implementations, however, a vehicle rental and leasing
entity may be provisioned as an agent of the OBU, such as when the
vehicle itself is owned by the rental and leasing entity. In this
particular scenario, the rental and leasing agency could be an
authorized entity of vehicle 4, and any authorized employees could
be human agents of the vehicle. Commercial transaction systems 54
may include entities facilitating commercial transactions through
the Internet (e.g., video and music download sites, online
retailers, etc.), etc. Roadside transaction systems 56 may include
various entities providing roadside services such as gas and
electric charging stations, kiosks (both roadside and
drive-through), etc. Transportation transaction systems 58 may
include entities or devices facilitating vehicle charging
transactions related to toll payments, ferry charges, bridge toll
payments, parking, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), and any other
transportation costs incurred as a result of moving vehicle 4 from
one location to another. The transaction systems 52, 54, 56, and
58, as categorized, are provided for purposes of illustration and
ease of understanding, and it will be appreciated that certain
entities may logically be included in multiple transaction systems
(e.g., a bank could be described as both a services transaction
system and a commercial transaction system) and that numerous types
of transaction systems and entities other than those enumerated
herein may also be possible.
[0041] Other commercial transactions may occur through OBU 30 by
accessing other vehicles 59 (vehicle-to-vehicle commerce). An
available network represented by networks 40, may provide a
communicative pathway between vehicle 4 and other vehicles 59,
where vehicle 4 includes OBU 30 and other vehicles 59 include a
suitable communication device (e.g., mobile device, OBU or similar
device). The communicative pathway between vehicle 4 and other
vehicles 59 could be established as a single hop or multi-hop
vehicle-to-vehicle network through WiFi, WiMax, or any other
suitable wireless technologies allowing a sustained connection
between vehicle 4 and other vehicles 59. Commercial transactions
could occur between a mobile device in one vehicle (connected to an
OBU) and an OBU in another vehicle, between mobile devices in
separate vehicles with OBUs, or between OBUs of separate vehicles.
Commercial transactions may also be conducted between OBU 30 and
mobile devices 96 (vehicle-to-mobile device commerce), such as when
a mobile device purchases content from OBU 30. Another type of
commercial transaction can include in-vehicle commerce in which a
user of a mobile device pays for the use of resources through OBU
30 (e.g., in the case of a passenger in a commercial vehicle such
as a taxi cab) or when mobile devices within a vehicle use the
network available through OBU 30 to conduct commercial transactions
with each other. In addition to commercial transactions, these
communicative pathways involving vehicles and mobile devices may
also be established for any other suitable services or
transactions, providing proper authentication and network
credentials are obtained.
[0042] Turning to FIG. 3, communication system 10 depicts a more
detailed representation of certain elements of OBU 30, and of
networks 40 providing a communication pathway to a particular
service transaction system 52 (i.e., an identity service provider
60). In addition, end user computer 42 and mobile devices 96 are
also shown with network access to identity service provider 60. In
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more
virtual subscriber identity modules 32a, 32b, and 32c (referred to
collectively herein as VSIMs 32) may be provisioned in OBU 30 for
each agent authenticated to the OBU and having a subscription with
a mobile network operator providing cellular services (e.g.,
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, PCS, etc.). VSIMs 32 each
include a unique identifier or key 33 that identifies an agent on
mobile telephony devices such as OBU 30. VSIMs 32 may also contain
security authentication to authenticate the agent to the
corresponding mobile network operator. In addition, one or more
VSIMs 32 may be provisioned in OBU 30 for each agent of OBU 30, and
multiple VSIMs for one or more agents can be stored in OBU 30
concurrently. Multiple VSIMs 32 provisioned in OBU 30 can enable
flexible and opportunistic use of available mobile network
operators to provide one or more network access links from OBU 30
to a remote node, and can also enable these network access links
(i.e., communication pathways) on behalf of multiple agents using
OBU 30 as a communication source.
[0043] In one embodiment, OBU 30 is equipped with a Universal
Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that allows for multiple universal
subscriber identity module (USIM) applications to accommodate VSIMs
32. In this embodiment, one or more of VSIMs 32 having a desired
mobile network operator may be opportunistically selected, if
certain criteria are met, so that the desired one or more mobile
network operators can be utilized for network access from OBU 30.
In another implementation, multiple SIM cards may be connected to
OBU 30 to accommodate a corresponding number of VSIMs. In this
implementation involving multiple SIM cards, a software module
could be configured to opportunistically select an appropriate one
or more SIM cards corresponding to a desired one or more mobile
network operators if certain criteria are met. In yet another
implementation, VSIMs could be simply soft SIM information stored
in a storage repository of OBU 30 such as part of an identity
profile of a corresponding agent. Once downloaded, VSIMs 32 can
reside in OBU 30 in accordance with whatever particular
implementation is employed, until an expiration of the VSIM or
until the VSIM is replaced, updated, or removed by an agent with
appropriate authentication and authorization.
[0044] In accordance with embodiments of communication system 10,
OBU 30 may also be provisioned with one or more identity profiles
34a, 34b, and 34c (referred to collectively herein as identity
profiles 34), with each identity profile 34 corresponding to an
agent that can authenticate to OBU 30. Identity profiles 34, as
further detailed below, can include credentials and profile
information for a particular agent. Credentials contain information
that uniquely identifies an agent (e.g., a personal identifier
(PID)) and that may be used for authentication purposes. Examples
of credentials may include one or more of name, address, phone
number, driver's license number, social security number, business
license number, IP address, user ID/password, biometrics, personal
device identifier (e.g., authentication information corresponding
to key fob, access card, credit card, mobile phone, etc.), security
keys, and certificates (e.g., public key infrastructure (PKI)
certificate, trusted third party (TTP) certificate, etc.).
[0045] Profile information aggregates agent attributes, account
information, preferences, and/or settings, which can enable
appropriate transactions by authenticated agents. For example,
profile information can include vehicle settings, dashboard
preferences, wireless interface preferences (e.g., VSIM
information, WiFi account information, etc.), web account
information (e.g., multimedia, social networking, etc.), mobile
device list (e.g., smartphones, mobile phones, tablets, laptops,
etc.) including network configurations for mobile devices, network
service provider membership account information, insurance
information, credit card/payment account information, manufacturer
web account information, network interface account information, GPS
favorite locations, and phone contact list. The information
included in a particular identity profile will be at least
partially dependent upon the particular agent to which it
corresponds. For example, an authorized entity (e.g., a
manufacturer of the vehicle, etc.) would not need vehicle settings,
GPS favorite locations, or multimedia information in its identity
profile. In addition to agents, a profile identity may be
provisioned for a vehicle itself including information to
distinctly identity the vehicle (e.g., a vehicle identification
number (VIN)). It will be apparent that the examples provided
herein of credentials and profile information are not
all-inclusive, and any other suitable information or data could be
included as credentials or profile information.
[0046] Various implementations can accommodate identity profiles 34
in OBU 30. For example, in one embodiment identity profiles 34 are
stored in dedicated hardware (e.g., physical SIM card, memory card,
etc.). Software can be configured to virtually switch between
different hardware or the hardware itself may be programmable to
store different agent identity information over time. In another
embodiment, identity profiles 34 are stored in a programmable
storage module or virtual identity module that can store one or
more identity profiles 34. Generally, identity profiles 34 may be
kept in any suitable memory element, software, hardware, or in any
other suitable component, device, element, or object where
appropriate and based on particular needs. In addition, identity
profiles 34 may be provided in any database, register, cache,
queue, control list, or storage structure.
[0047] In example embodiments of the present disclosure, VSIMs 32
and identity profiles 34 may be provisioned and managed through one
or more identity service providers, represented by identity service
provider 60 in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, identity service provider
60 could be a third party provider (e.g., in the cloud) and could
offer identity services to mobile network operators. In other
embodiments, identity service provider 60 could be a mobile network
operator, a vehicle manufacturer, a vehicle rental and leasing
agency, a vehicle dealer, a government agency, or any other entity
having an interest in managing identities associated with a vehicle
over the life of the vehicle. Moreover, identity profiles 34 and/or
VSIMs 32 can be managed through the same or different identity
service providers. By storing a VSIM and/or an identity profile in
a remote cloud, the VSIM and identity profile can be associated
with an agent rather than to a particular vehicle. Consequently, a
human agent (e.g., driver, passenger, owner, renter, etc.) can
retrieve his VSIM and identity profile in any vehicle. Depending on
the make/model of the vehicle, the human agent can leverage
relevant parts of the identity profile for available features in
virtually any vehicle.
[0048] Provisioning and managing an identity profile or VSIM
through identity service provider 60 can be accomplished in various
ways. In one scenario, a user could access identity service
provider 60 through the Internet or other available network from
computer 42 (e.g., home computer, publicly accessible computer,
business computer, etc.) or mobile devices 96. Additionally, end
user 2 could access identity service provider 60 by bootstrapping a
communication link through OBU 30 (e.g., accessing a home WLAN
through WiFi, using a preprogrammed VSIM in OBU 30, using another
agent's VSIM already provisioned in OBU 30, etc.) In other
scenarios, the identity service provider 60 may be accessed through
a local network (e.g., manufacturer who is an identity service
provider locally accessing provisioning modules of OBU 30 prior to
shipping the vehicle, etc.) or other wireless networks (e.g., user
accessing mobile network operator through a cellular network if the
mobile network operator is its own identity service provider,
etc.).
[0049] Identity service provider 60 may provide modules allowing
the creation of an account with authentication credentials 66
(which may be saved for future access of the account) for an agent.
A VSIM module 61 may be provided by identity service provider 60 to
allow a user to provision a VSIM for an agent, with the VSIM being
associated with a desired mobile network operator and stored, for
example, in VSIM database 64. An identity profile module 63 may
also be provided by identity service provider 60 to allow the user
to provision an identity profile for the agent and to store the
identity profile in, for example, identity profile database 62. In
some scenarios, a user is the agent and provisions a VSIM and/or an
identity profile for himself. In other scenarios, the user may
provision a VSIM and/or an identity profile for another agent
(e.g., a vehicle dealer provisioning a VSIM and/or an identity
profile for a new vehicle owner, a vehicle rental agency
provisioning a VSIM and/or an identity profile for an agent renting
a vehicle, a user at an OEM provisioning a VSIM and identity
profile for a software agent configured in the OBU to make network
connections to the OEM from the OBU, etc.).
[0050] VSIM 32 and identity profile 34 may be dynamically added,
removed, and updated via local or remote network access. After
provisioning a VSIM and/or identity profile with identity service
provider 60, the VSIM and/or identity profile may be downloaded
using control channels or otherwise provided to OBU 30 if the agent
associated with the VSIM and/or identity profile has been
authenticated to OBU 30. In one example, to download VSIMs 32
and/or identity profiles 34, the agent (e.g., end user 2) may
bootstrap a communication link in OBU 30 (e.g., WiFi, an available
VSIM, etc.) to access identity service provider 60 using control
channels through the Internet or other network.
[0051] In another example, end user 2 may access a local network of
an identity service provider if a vehicle is in close physical
proximity to identity service provider 60. Once identity service
provider 60 is accessed, the user can authenticate to identity
service provider 60 via authentication credentials 66, access the
desired account, and download one or more associated VSIMs 32
and/or identity profiles 34. Similarly, if a new VSIM for the same
agent is provisioned or the identity profile is updated in identity
service provider 60, then the associated agent can use an available
VSIM or other available communication link in OBU 30 to access
identity service provider 60 to download the new VSIM and/or
updated identity profile. In another scenario, the VSIM and/or
identity profile may be stored on a transportable memory element
(e.g., USB stick, CD, etc.), which may be provided locally to OBU
30 by a user, such as end user 2. The VSIM and/or identity profile
can then be downloaded to OBU 30 from the transportable memory
element.
[0052] In other example scenarios, an identity profile may be
dynamically created and managed (e.g., removed or updated) locally,
directly through OBU 30. For example, OBU 30 may provide an
identity profile creation tool through display 28 for a user to
enter desired credentials and profile information and associate
such information with an agent. In another embodiment, the identity
profile creation tool may be accessible through a user's mobile
device. In these scenarios, the identity profile would not be
accessible through identity service provider 60 and could only be
accessed in the particular vehicle containing the identity
profile.
[0053] With reference now to FIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating
an embodiment of the overall identity management and secure
transaction processing architecture is shown. OBU 30 includes a
transaction security framework 70, a secure database/storage layer
80, transaction applications 78, and a secure communication module
77. Transaction security framework 70 may include multiple software
modules, VSIMs 32, and a trusted platform module (TPM) 76. The
software modules can include agent provisioning module 71,
authentication and secure transaction module 72, VSIM provisioning
module 73, multi-factor authentication module 74, identity profile
provisioning module 75, and payment association module 79.
[0054] Agent provisioning module 71 provides the overall flow for
provisioning and authenticating an agent to OBU 30. Agent
provisioning module 71 allows provisioning new agents, provisioning
new and updated VSIMs 32, provisioning new and updated identity
profiles 34, authenticating agents to OBU 30, and activating any
applicable identity profiles 34. In addition, agent provisioning
module may also invoke payment association module to determine
whether to associate a payment method available through the agent
(e.g., in the identity profile or through an associated VSIM) to
certain transaction applications not typically initiated by an
agent having a payment method (e.g., automatic toll payment
transactions, automatic parking transactions, etc.)
[0055] Multi-factor authentication module 74 provides a flow for
using one or more predefined authentication credentials to
authenticate an agent to OBU 30 and to ascertain that the agent is
authorized to conduct a particular transaction on OBU 30. In one
embodiment, multi-factor authentication module 74 may be invoked
upon initial authentication of an agent to gain access to OBU 30
and in addition, when particular transactions are initiated on OBU
30. Authentication credentials may include who, what, and where
criteria related to the agent. By way of example, authentication
requirements for machine devices and some mobile devices could
include one or more of machine hardware signature,
challenge-response, predefined certificate (e.g., PKI certificate,
TTP certificate, etc.), and physical location relative to OBU 30.
Authentication requirements for a human agent 94 (accessing OBU 30
through a mobile device or directly through a user interface such
as display 28) could include one or more of biometrics, (e.g.,
fingerprinting, etc.), challenge-response, key fob, access card,
mobile phone, user ID and password, a one-time password (OTP), and
physical location relative to OBU 30. Authentication requirements
for authorized entities could include challenge-response,
predefined certificate, and the like.
[0056] In one embodiment, the authentication requirements for each
agent may be provided in an agents-to-multi-factor mapping database
83 of secure database/storage layer 80. In some embodiments, the
predefined authentication credentials that are required to
authenticate to OBU 30 are specific to the particular agent being
authenticated. For example, a key fob may allow an owner agent to
authenticate to a vehicle, but only a simple user name and password
may be required for a child of the owner to authenticate. In this
case, a lesser amount of security may be required for the child to
authenticate because the child may have limited access to
transaction applications and resources of OBU 30. Furthermore,
authentication requirements to gain access to OBU 30 may be
different than authentication requirements for a particular
transaction. By way of example, an owner of a vehicle may only need
to use a key fob to gain access to OBU 30, but additional
authentication may be required for the owner to access various
transaction applications and resources of OBU 30. Security can be
strengthened as the number and diversity of authentication
requirements mapped to a particular agent is increased.
[0057] Implementation of the authentication requirements can be
accomplished with any appropriate hardware and/or software. For
example, TPM 76 is a hardware approach that can authenticate an
agent, once the agent has provided appropriate credentials. TPM 76
is a secure processor that performs cryptographic functions and can
store cryptographic keys for protecting information. In another
embodiment, a software container (e.g., a secure virtualized
operating system container) could be provided with appropriate
authentication logic to authenticate an agent once credentials are
provided. Thus, any hardware, software, or suitable combination
thereof can be implemented to accomplish the authentication
requirements of multi-factor authentication module 74.
[0058] TPM 76 can also be used to protect data and transaction
applications. For data, TPM 76 can be a safe store for an
encryption key so that only an authorized agent who properly
authenticates to TPM 76 can access the encryption key to decrypt
protected data (e.g., data in secure database/storage layer 80).
TPM 76 can also be used to ensure the integrity of transaction
applications 78 executing on OBU 30, which can be achieved locally
or remotely depending on the particular transaction application and
associated agent. Locally, the OBU 30 can self-ensure that the
operating system is on a trusted platform. Transaction applications
78 may each include a signature that can be verified prior to
execution. Transaction applications 78 can also be verified
remotely to third parties, such as authorized entities 98. For
example, an authorized entity such as a manufacturer may access a
transaction application that monitors the brakes and accelerator of
vehicle 4. Before the transaction application executes, TPM 76 can
be used to verify the integrity of the application to the
manufacturer. Based on the information provided, the manufacturer
can respond accordingly (e.g., process data received from the
transaction application if the transaction application is verified,
cease execution of the transaction application if the transaction
application is not verified).
[0059] In one embodiment, TPM 76 has a permanent identity
associated with vehicle 4 and does not change even if vehicle
ownership changes. Similarly, a vehicle identity (vehicle ID) of
vehicle 4, such as a vehicle identification number (VIN) is also a
permanent identity associated with vehicle 4. A TPM endorsement
key, which can be used to encrypt data, may have a public key part
that can be used as a TPM identifier (TPM ID). Although vehicle ID
and TPM ID do not ordinarily change, if TPM 76 or OBU 30 is
replaced during the life of vehicle 4, then a new TPM ID would need
to be associated to vehicle 4.
[0060] VSIM provisioning module 73 and identity profile
provisioning module 75 allow the provisioning of new or updated
VSIMs and or identity profiles on OBU 30. Such provisioning may
include downloading new or updated VSIMs and identity profiles from
an identity service provider either locally or remotely.
Provisioning may also include downloading new or updated VSIMs and
identity profiles from a transportable memory element or mobile
device. In addition, identity profiles may also be manually created
in OBU 30, without involving an identity service provider.
[0061] Authentication and secure transaction module 72 provides a
flow for detecting an event for a transaction, determining whether
the transaction is authorized, authenticating an associated agent
if required, and obtaining network credentials and other profile
information as needed. Network credentials may include one or more
VSIMs' information, user ID and password, and/or security
certificates (e.g., asymmetric/symmetric key pair, etc.), and any
other information to facilitate vehicle internal network access or
external network access via an available wired or wireless
communication link. In order to perform necessary authentication
and evaluations to ensure secure transaction processing, this
module may be configured to query secured storage such as
transaction-to-agents mapping database 82,
transaction-to-authentication-and-confidentiality-schemes mapping
database 84, agents-to-multi-factor-authentication mapping database
83, and agent identity profiles database 81. As used in this
Specification, a mapping of data, elements, objects, or components
is intended to mean an electronic association, correspondence,
relationship, or correlation between the data, elements, objects,
or components, provided in electronic devices and/or networks. In
one embodiment, these databases, in addition to any other databases
or memory elements in secure database/storage layer 80, can be
maintained in a secure manner using the default security
credentials obtained from TPM 76. Moreover, various confidentiality
schemes can be used to protect the data stored in the various
memory elements of secure database/storage layer 80 such as, for
example, cryptographic algorithms including Data Encryption
Standard (DES/3DES), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1/2), Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES), etc.
[0062] Transaction-to-agents mapping database 82 indicates which
transactions are authorized for which agents. Mapping database 82
may include mappings of agent identities to user-level and
system-level transaction applications corresponding to transactions
and also to types of transactions (e.g., transactions requiring
remote network credentials, transactions requiring payment
information, etc.). Thus, once an agent has authenticated to OBU
30, only transaction applications that are mapped to the agent, or
that correspond to a type of transaction that is mapped to the
agent, are authorized and accessible to the agent. Example mappings
that could be found in database 82 include: 1) a manufacturer
mapped to transaction applications for accessing vehicle sensor
data (e.g., in order to perform diagnostics), for performing
software or firmware upgrades, and for accessing a "black box" of
the vehicle, 2) a dealer mapped to transaction applications for
accessing sensor data (e.g., read only access in order to schedule
maintenance services), 3) an emergency service provider mapped to
transaction applications for controlling the vehicle (e.g., opening
a vehicle door, disabling a vehicle engine, etc.), 4) a public
entity mapped to transaction applications for accessing sensor data
or other vehicle diagnostic data (e.g., for inspection, security,
surveillance, etc.), 5) an owner of the vehicle mapped to all
transaction applications except those allowing "write" or "modify"
access to vehicle software and/or firmware, 6) a passenger mapped
to a subset of transaction applications and features available to
an owner of the vehicle, and 7) a sensor mapped to a transaction
application compiling diagnostic data.
[0063] Additionally, different agents may have different levels of
authorization. For example, a dealer may only need to read vehicle
sensor data for maintenance scheduling purposes. Consequently, the
dealer would be mapped to a transaction application that only
allows read operations of vehicle sensors to be performed. On the
other hand, a manufacturer may need to read and update vehicle
sensors and controls for performing firmware and/or software
upgrades and fixes. Therefore, the transaction applications mapped
to the manufacturer could allow read and update functions to be
performed.
[0064] In one embodiment, a software agent may be a system-level
transaction application that does not have a separate agent
initiating its execution or otherwise associated with it. For
example, the software agent could be a low level application that
automatically initiates processing based upon predefined criteria
(e.g., specific time periods, whenever network connectivity is
detected, etc.). Accordingly, authorization for the software agent
to execute could be provided in any suitable way, including an
appropriate indication in transaction-to-agents mapping database 82
(e.g., mapping the software agent to a type of transaction, mapping
the software agent to itself).
[0065] Authentication and secure transaction module 72 may also
determine which authentication and confidentiality schemes to use
for particular transactions for exchanging data between OBU 30 and
transaction systems in the cloud. Examples of authentication
protocols that can be used include secure socket layer (SSL),
Internet Protocol Security (IP SEC), Extensible Authentication
Protocol (EAP-*), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Authentication (HTTP
Auth), Kerberos, Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL),
Web Service Security (WS-Security), etc. Examples of
confidentiality schemes that can be used include encryption or
cryptographic algorithms such as DES/3DES, SHA-1/2, AES, etc.
Accordingly,
transaction-to-authentication-and-confidentiality-schemes mapping
database 84 may provide a mapping of which types of transactions
and particular transaction applications require which
authentication and confidentiality schemes. One example database
mapping could be a banking application's related data and other
sensitive information mapped to a desired encryption mechanism.
Furthermore, in certain implementations, the criticality of the
communication may dictate the applicable authentication method
(e.g., different types of authentication may be required for highly
sensitive transaction applications). In some embodiments, mapping
database 84 may also indicate which types of transactions and
particular transaction applications require multi-factor
authentication to be performed for an associated agent.
[0066] In scenarios in which multi-factor authentication is
required for an agent, authentication and secure transaction module
72 may also access agents-to-multi-factor-authentication mapping
database 83. For example, a human agent 94 accessing benign
features such as gaming, video, and the like may require a simple
user name and password during the initial authentication to OBU 30.
However, once the human agent 94 decides to access a banking
transaction application, additional authentication (e.g., physical
presence in the form of biometric authentication, etc.) may be
required. In another example, highly critical functions such as
software/firmware changes by a manufacturer, or emergency services
by an emergency service provider, may require multiple layers of
authentication by the manufacturer or emergency services provider.
These multiple layers of authentication could be satisfied by the
agent in the initial authentication to OBU 30, or additional
required layers may need to be satisfied when the agent initiates
access to the particular transaction application requiring the
additional authentication.
[0067] Secure database/storage layer 80 may also provide an agent
identity profiles database 81, for storing identity profiles 34
provisioned locally (e.g., using a transportable memory element to
download an identity profile, creating an identity profile directly
through OBU 30) or remotely (e.g., downloading an identity profile
from identity service provider 60). In addition, agent identity
profiles database 81 may also include security keys, certificates,
and credentials corresponding to various transaction applications
and agents.
[0068] Secure communication module 77 of OBU 30 may enable secure
communication to various networks (e.g., networks 40 as shown in
FIGS. 1-3). Secure communication module 77 selects secure and
authenticated network access for an agent and associated
transaction application. In addition, secure communication module
77 may also provide opportunistic selection of a VSIM available to
the agent, when multiple VSIMs are available for use. VSIM
selection rules database 85 may be configured to provide a
pre-specified mapping of rules that represent preferences regarding
which single VSIM, multiple VSIMs, and/or other wireless
communication option (e.g., WiFi) to select for network access. In
one embodiment, rules may include combinations of an agent, a
transaction application (or type of transaction), and/or a
geographical location of the vehicle mapped to a VSIM or other
wireless communication. Examples of such rule combinations include
agent and transaction application, agent and location, or agent,
transaction application, and location. For illustration purposes,
if an agent and transaction application combination is mapped to a
VSIM, then the VSIM will be used when the agent and transaction
application are associated with a network access request,
regardless of where the vehicle is physically located. If an agent
and location combination is mapped to a VSIM, then the VSIM will be
used if the vehicle is physically located in the mapped location
and if the agent is associated with the network access request,
regardless of which particular transaction application is
associated with the network access request.
[0069] Multiple VSIMs and/or other wireless communication options
can also be mapped to transaction applications or types of
transactions, agents, and/or geographical locations to allow a
network connection to be split among the designated multiple VSIMs
and/or other wireless communication options. In one example
scenario, a large file download may utilize multiple VSIMs (e.g.,
two different 3G mobile networks) in order to split the file to
increase the speed of the download. To accomplish this, a
transaction application and agent associated with the file download
may be mapped to two or more VSIMs provisioned in OBU 30 for the
agent.
[0070] In certain scenarios, one VSIM may be preferred over another
VSIM due to the vehicle location because of the mobile network
operator rate. To illustrate this case, assume Agent X and
California are mapped to VSIM 1 and Agent X and New York are mapped
to VSIM 2. If Agent X is traveling in California, then VSIM 1 will
be used for any network access requested by Agent X. If Agent X is
traveling in New York, then VSIM 2 will be used for any network
access requested by Agent X. In another scenario, a human agent 94
may prefer to have particular types of transactions tied to
different VSIMs or combinations of VSIMs (e.g., home transactions
mapped to VSIM 1, work related transactions mapped to VSIM 2,
child's transactions mapped to VSIM 1). Such mappings can be
configured in VSIM selection rules mapping database 85 with
appropriate authorization. The VSIM selection rules mapping could
also be provided in any other suitable memory element including,
for example, an identity profile associated with the agent. In this
alternative implementation, only transaction application and/or
location may need to be mapped to available VSIMs and/or other
wireless communication options.
[0071] In addition to pre-specifying VSIM selection rules, VSIMs
may also be opportunistically selected in real-time. A real-time
VSIM selection may occur based on current network
conditions/demands, mobile network rate plan of an agent, remaining
data/minutes of a mobile network rate plan. In addition, network
performance characteristics such as, for example, data rate, signal
level, congestion, etc. may also be evaluated in real-time and used
to opportunistically select a suitable one or more VSIMs, other
wireless communication options, or any suitable combination
thereof.
[0072] Transaction applications 78 represent a plethora of
user-level and system-level transaction applications that may be
configured on OBU 30. With proper authentication to OBU 30 and
authorization through transaction-to-agents mapping database 82,
however, numerous types of transactions using transaction
applications 78 may be performed through OBU 30. Generally, types
of transactions are inclusive of 1) accessing one or more
wireless/mobile/cellular networks and using network bandwidth and
services, 2) gaining access to various resources of the vehicle
based on an identity profile and/or associated databases, 3)
gaining access to applications in the vehicle, and 4) engaging in
commercial activities (e.g., paying for receiving goods or
services, or receiving payment for selling goods or services).
These general transactions may overlap in certain cases, for
example, where an agent accesses a cellular network in order to
connect to an online retailer (e.g., commercial transaction system
54) in order to pay for purchased goods, and uses an Internet
commerce transaction application to enable a secure
transaction.
[0073] The user-level and system-level transaction applications of
OBU 30 may be mapped to any appropriate agent 90 (e.g., machine
devices 92, humans 94, software agents 95, mobile devices 96, and
authorized entities 98) in transaction-to-agents mapping database
82. Example transaction applications 78 can include applications
facilitating external network access such as banking applications,
LBS applications, travel agency applications, vehicle rental &
leasing agency applications, Internet commerce applications, kiosk
applications, gas & electric charging applications,
transportation charging applications, vehicle-to-vehicle
applications, vehicle-to-mobile applications, dealer transaction
applications, OEM transaction applications, and the like. Other
transaction applications 78 may include hardware and/or software
applications involving internal access of OBU 30 such as gaining
access to various resources, vehicle subsystems, or software
applications not involving remote network access. A unified
identity management framework, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is capable
of aggregation and association of all agents 90 and transaction
scenarios into a unified system. In one embodiment, application
programming interfaces (APIs) may be exported to integrate these
agent identities with various transaction applications.
[0074] Authorized entities 98 may access appropriate transaction
applications (e.g., dealer transaction application, OEM transaction
application, etc.) after gaining access to OBU 30 through an
authenticated software agent 95. The software agent 95 may first
authenticate to OBU 30 and can then establish a network connection
to the authorized entity using an appropriate VSIM (e.g., the
manufacturer's VSIM). The authorized entity to which the software
agent establishes a network connection may need to authenticate to
OBU 30 before being able to access transaction applications on OBU
30, such as transactions applications related to vehicle sensor
data, diagnostic data, firmware/software upgrades, emissions data,
etc. Thus, for example, an OEM software agent on OBU 30 may be
configured to establish a network connection to the OEM whenever
internal connectivity to a network is detected on OBU 30. OEM
software agent may first authenticate to OBU 30 and, for example,
VSIM 1 may be selected for network access. Once a network
connection is established between OBU 30 and the OEM using VSIM 1,
the OEM may update the VSIM 1 to VSIM 2 if, for example, the OEM
has negotiated a new rate with a different mobile network provider
and wishes to update its VSIM. In some embodiments, a VSIM being
updated (e.g., VSIM 1) may need to remain active and available for
use by the associated agent for a specified period of time, until
the new VSIM (e.g., VSIM 2) has been successfully provisioned (and
possibly tested) in OBU 30. Additionally, the OEM may need to be
authenticated to OBU 30 and authorized in transaction-to-agents
mapping database 82 in order to update the VSIM or to access an OEM
transaction application (e.g., one of transaction applications 78),
which could be configured to access various vehicle components
(e.g., vehicle sensors, vehicle firmware/software, etc.).
[0075] Machine devices 92 may also authenticate to OBU 30 and then
provide an automatic network connection to an external entity or
transaction system 50. For example, a machine device agent (e.g., a
detector) may sense a toll system and initiate a transportation
charging application. After the detector is authenticated to OBU
30, transaction-to-agents mapping database 82 may be evaluated to
determine whether the detector is mapped to the transportation
charging application. Once the detector is determined to be
authorized to access the transportation charging application,
network credentials and payment information may be obtained so that
transportation charging application can connect to the toll system
and provide appropriate payment.
[0076] Turning to FIG. 5, an example selection of identity profiles
that could be provided in an OBU is illustrated. Identity profiles
are included for a parent/owner 502, a child 504, a vehicle sensor
506, and a manufacturer 508. Common elements in each of the
identity profiles include agent identification, VSIM, and security
profile. Agent identification could include credentials information
such as a key fob for the parent/owner 502, a birth date for the
child 504, a device identifier for the vehicle sensor 506, and a
name for the manufacturer 508. The security profile information
could also be credentials such as a user name and password for the
parent/owner 502 and child 504, a security key for the vehicle
sensor 506, and a PKI certificate for the manufacturer 508.
[0077] Identity profiles for human agents, such as parent/owner 502
and child 504 may also include vehicle settings, other wireless
interfaces, device list, and web accounts. The vehicle settings may
include items such as preferred seat positions as a driver and a
passenger, temperature controls, music or radio settings, and the
like. Other wireless interfaces and preferences may include, for
example, a WiFi account established with a mobile network provider.
Wireless interface information can be included in the identity
profiles so that whenever the vehicle is near a hotspot of the
mobile network operator, network connections by the parent/owner or
child can be made through the WiFi interface. Identity profiles for
the parent/owner 502 and child 504 may also include specific web
accounts, such as those related to social networking and media.
[0078] Device lists may include any personal mobile devices of the
parent/owner or child. The device list could include network
interface accounts, passwords, and network configurations. Thus,
the device list is essentially an identity profile for mobile
devices within identity profiles of the parent/owner 502 and child
504. The device list information is provided to allow each of the
identified mobile devices to be recognized and connected to the OBU
30 and to other networks in a desired manner. For example, if the
child wants to download a movie from the Internet to a mobile
device (e.g., a laptop, iPad, etc.) and the mobile device is
included in the device list of the child's identity profile 504,
then the mobile device could be connected to OBU 30 through a local
wireless connection and OBU 30 could route traffic to the Internet
through appropriate and available network connections from OBU 30
to the Internet (e.g., using a VSIM identified in the identity
profile of the child 504). Thus, OBU 30 may be used as a
communication link to the Internet for mobile devices identified in
a device list of an identity profile of another agent.
[0079] Identity profile of parent/owner 502 may also include other
profile information of a sensitive nature such as credit/payment
information. Credit/payment information may be included in an
identity profile to allow the agent of the identity profile to use
his own credit/payment information for various charges/payments
incurred during commercial transactions (e.g., transportation
charging, gas and charging stations, kiosks, Internet commerce,
rental and leasing, travel, etc.). The credit/payment information
may be associated with authorized transaction applications during
provisioning of the identity profile or at other times. By way of
example, during the provisioning of an identity profile of an owner
of vehicle 4, the owner's credit/payment information may be set as
the default credit/payment method for various transaction
applications. In a further example, payment information associated
with transaction applications for transportation and gas and
charging systems could be changed during a trip in vehicle 4 when a
passenger offers to use his own credit/payment information to pay
for such expenses. OBU 30 could provide an interface to allow
modification to appropriate settings to effect such a change using
proper authentication and authorization. In another example, each
time a driver is authenticated to vehicle 4, the driver's
credit/payment information may be associated with the various
transportation and gas and charging transaction applications.
However, if the driver is not the default payer/creditor, then OBU
30 could provide confirmation screens to notify the driver that his
credit/payment information will be used and to receive confirmation
and approval of this change.
[0080] Identity profile of parent/owner 502 may also include
machine device access. While a manufacturer or an OEM may have
access to vehicle machine devices to read and update or modify
firmware or software of such machine devices, an owner of a vehicle
may only be allowed to retrieve data from vehicle sensors.
Accordingly, machine device access can indicate which machine
devices the owner is authorized to access and what type of access
is allowed. In addition, other passengers may not be allowed any
type of access to the vehicle sensors and actuators, for example,
and therefore, machine device access information may be omitted
from identity profiles associated with other human agents.
[0081] Identity profile of child 504 may also contain parental
controls and may not contain certain information that allows use of
particular resources or transactions. Parental controls may be
included to allow a parent to set desired limits on a child's use
of OBU 30 resources and the vehicle itself. For example, any type
of common computer parental controls related to accessing networks
such as the Internet could be provided in parental controls. In
addition parental controls could relate to particular activities of
the vehicle. For example, if the child is authenticated as a
driver, parental controls could require a notification be sent to
the parent (e.g., via an email account, a text message, to a
messaging center of the OBU 30, etc.) if the vehicle is driven
beyond a specified boundary or perimeter or if the vehicle is
driven beyond a specified speed. Parental controls could also be
configured to limit certain vehicle functions (e.g., vehicle speed,
entertainment systems, etc.). In addition, identity profile of
child 504 may not have credit/payment information if the child is
not allowed to engage in commercial transactions through OBU
30.
[0082] Identity profile of manufacturer 508 may also include
machine device access information, which can indicate which machine
devices the manufacturer is authorized to access and what type of
access is allowed. In addition, the identify profile of
manufacturer 508 may also include information related to
diagnostics of vehicle 4 and a history of vehicle technical
problems. Thus, when the manufacturer accesses vehicle 4, valuable
historical information related specifically to vehicle 4 can be
readily available for the manufacturer. Web accounts may also be
provided in identity profile of manufacturer 508. Such information
could allow the manufacturer to communicate with the driver/owner
and provide information including, for example, marketing
information such as coupons or sales events.
[0083] Turning to FIGS. 6 through 15, simplified flowcharts
illustrating various aspects of embodiments of the present
disclosure are shown. For ease of reference, FIGS. 6-15 will be
described herein with reference to various elements, objects,
modules, and components of the present disclosure as provided in
preceding FIGS. 1-5.
[0084] FIG. 6 is a simplified agent provisioning flow 600 providing
example steps of agent provisioning module 71 for provisioning an
agent to OBU 30, which may be configured as a background process
open and running whenever OBU 30 is booted up. Agent provisioning
flow 600 begins at step 601, waiting for an agent. When an agent
attempts to gain access to OBU 30, flow moves to step 602 and an
agent is detected. This can occur whenever a new or existing agent
initiates a vehicle-based transaction via OBU 30. For example, when
a human 94 (e.g., an owner, a renter, a borrower, etc.) enters a
vehicle such as vehicle 4 and OBU 30 is powered on (e.g., by using
a key fob to enter the vehicle, by starting the vehicle or
otherwise providing power to OBU 30). Agent provisioning flow 600
may also occur when a mobile device 96 is powered on within vehicle
4, when a software agent 95 is initiated, when a machine device 92
is activated (e.g., by powering on vehicle 4) or attempts to access
resources or transaction applications of OBU 30 (e.g., vehicle
sensor or actuator sending data or information to OBU 30, detector
initiating a transportation transaction application after detecting
proximity to a toll system), when an authorized entity 98 attempts
to access OBU 30 (e.g., after a corresponding software agent 95 has
established network access to the authorized entity 98 from OBU
30). Furthermore, agent provisioning may also occur when a human
agent provisions another agent (e.g., machine device, software
agent, mobile device, authorized entity), typically for the first
time.
[0085] Once an agent has been detected in step 602, flow passes to
step 604 to perform authentication of the agent to the vehicle,
which will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.
7-10. During the authentication, VSIMs and/or an identity profile
may be provisioned for the agent if the agent is properly
authenticated. Flow then passes to decision box 606 where a
determination is made as to whether the agent was properly
authenticated to the vehicle. If the agent was not properly
authenticated then flow passes back to step 601 to wait for another
agent. If the agent was properly authenticated as determined in
decision box 606, however, then flow passes to decision box 608 to
determine whether an identity profile is provisioned for the agent.
If the agent has a corresponding identity profile, then flow passes
to step 610 to activate the identity profile, including determining
agent priority and role in the vehicle, adjusting vehicle settings,
configuring agent preferences, and the like, which will be further
described herein with reference to FIG. 11.
[0086] After the identity profile is activated in step 610, or if
the agent does not have a corresponding identity profile in OBU 30,
then flow passes to decision box 612 to determine whether the agent
has an associated payment method (e.g., payment method information
in identity profile, VSIM that can be used for payment). If the
agent has an associated payment method, then flow passes to step
614 to invoke payment association module, which will be further
described with reference to FIG. 12. After the payment association
processing is completed in step 614, or if the agent does not have
an associated payment method as determined in decision box 612,
then flow passes back to step 601 to wait for another agent.
Certain agents (e.g., vehicle machines such as a brake sensor or a
seat actuator, a human agent without payment information in an
identity profile, etc.) may not have associated payment methods
because these agents may not engage in commercial transactions
through OBU 30 and, therefore, may not interact with transaction
applications requiring payments.
[0087] FIG. 7 is a simplified authentication to vehicle flow 700,
which may be performed at step 604 of FIG. 6 and which illustrates
example steps for authenticating an agent to the vehicle.
Authentication to vehicle flow 700 begins at step 702 where a
determination is made as to whether the detected agent is a new
agent. "New agent" refers to an agent that does not have any
authentication credentials, profile information, or VSIMs currently
provisioned in OBU 30. New human agents could include, for example,
a new owner, rental or lease driver, borrower, or passenger who has
not previously been provisioned on the vehicle. Other types of new
agents include, for example, a new mobile device attempting to
access a local network of OBU 30, a new machine device (e.g.,
sensor, actuator, etc.) added to the vehicle, or a new software
agent installed on OBU (e.g., a new dealership adds a software
agent to automatically initiate connection with the
dealership).
[0088] In one embodiment, agent identity of a human can be inferred
from a key fob used by the human agent to enter the vehicle. In
certain embodiments, when a driver enters a vehicle, display 28 can
prompt the driver to confirm that his identity matches the
displayed owner identity (or provisioned default driver) of the
vehicle. If other identities of human agents have been provisioned
in the vehicle, then the display could also provide a list of
provisioned identities from which the agent can choose to
authenticate. Display 28 could also provide the option to select
"New Driver", "New Passenger", or the like.
[0089] If the agent is determined to be a new agent in decision box
702, then flow may pass to decision box 720 where a query is made
as to whether policies allow a new agent to be provisioned. In some
embodiments, OBU 30 may include a policy module that allows various
policy controls, including new agent provisioning. Thus, for
example, for an added layer of security, an owner may set policies
that by default block any new agents from being added to OBU 30.
Thus, whenever a new agent needs to be added, the owner would have
to reset or override the policy with credentials to allow the new
agent to be provisioned. Such policy settings can be controlled
through a policy settings interface by an appropriate agent (e.g.,
the owner or other superagent with a specified high level of
authority for conducting transactions and configuring policies in
OBU 30). If the policies do not allow new agents as determined in
decision box 720, then authentication to vehicle flow 700 ends and
flow returns to agent provisioning flow 600 with the agent not
authenticated.
[0090] If policies allow new agents to be provisioned as determined
in decision box 720, however, then flow passes to decision box 722
where a determination is made as to whether VSIM provisioning is
requested. In the case of a human agent, a display screen may offer
the choice to the agent to provision a VSIM. If VSIM provisioning
is requested, then flow passes to step 724 to perform VSIM
provisioning, which will be further described with reference to
FIGS. 9A and 9B. VSIM provisioning allows an agent to create or
update one or more VSIMs with an identity service provider (e.g.,
third party identity service provider accessible through the
Internet), and/or to download one or more VSIMs (e.g., from the
identity service provider, from a transportable storage medium,
from a mobile device) to OBU 30.
[0091] After the one or more VSIMs are provisioned in step 724, or
if VSIM provisioning was not requested, flow passes to decision box
726 to determine whether identity profile provisioning is
requested. In the case of a human agent, a display screen may offer
the choice to the agent to provision an identity profile. If
identity profile provisioning is requested, then flow passes to
step 728 to perform identity profile provisioning, which will be
further described herein with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.
Identity profile provisioning allows an agent to create or update
an identity profile through an identity service provider (e.g.,
third party identity service provider accessible through the
Internet) or directly onto OBU 30. If an identity profile is
created or updated through an identity service provider, or if an
identity profile is stored on transportable storage medium or
mobile device, then the identity profile can be downloaded to OBU
30.
[0092] After the identity profile is provisioned in step 728, or if
identity profile provisioning was not requested, flow passes to
step 730, where one or more authentication factors or requirements
may be provisioned for the new agent in
agents-to-multi-factor-authentication mapping database 83. Such
factors could include user ID and password, biometrics, key fob,
access card, etc., and one or more of these factors could be
obtained by accessing the agent's identity profile credentials. For
example, if an identity was provisioned and includes a user ID and
password, the agent could be prompted to confirm that the user ID
and password from the identity profile should be included as one of
the authentication factors. After the authentication factors are
provisioned in step 730, flow returns to agent provisioning flow
600 of FIG. 6.
[0093] Referring again to decision box 702, if the detected agent
is determined to be an existing agent (e.g., with authentication
credentials, VSIMs, identity profile), then flow passes to step 704
to perform multi-factor authentication, which will be described in
more detail herein with reference to FIG. 8. Multi-factor
authentication requires the detected agent to authenticate himself
using one or more factors provided in
agents-to-multi-factor-authentication mapping database 83. After
the multi-factor authentication is performed, flow passes to
decision box 706 to determine whether the detected agent passed the
required multi-factor authentication. If the agent did not pass,
then authentication to vehicle flow 700 flow ends and returns to
agent provisioning flow 600 without the detected agent being
authenticated.
[0094] If in decision box 706, it is determined that the detected
agent passed the multi-factor authentication, however, then flow
passes to steps 710 through 718. These steps essentially perform
the same function as steps 722 through 728 with regard to VSIM and
identity profile provisioning. Thus, the existing, authenticated
agent is allowed to provision (by creating or updating) one or more
VSIMs and/or an identity profile and to download such data to OBU
30.
[0095] Turning to FIG. 8, a multi-factor authentication flow 800 is
shown, which may be invoked in step 704 of FIG. 7, to authenticate
the agent to access OBU 30. Multi-factor authentication flow 800
may also be used to authenticate the agent when the agent is
attempting to conduct particular transactions through OBU 30, which
will be further described herein with reference to FIG. 13. Flow
begins at step 802 where agents-to-multi-factor-authentication
mapping database 83 is evaluated. In one embodiment, the agent can
be mapped to one or more authentication requirements necessary for
authenticating to OBU 30. Moreover, each agent provisioned in OBU
30 could have various required authentication requirements and
various numbers of such requirements. For example, an owner having
significant privileges and access to OBU 30 and its resources may
have several authentication requirements, whereas a passenger in
the vehicle with limited access to OBU 30 and its resources may
only need to provide a user ID and password. Flow moves to step 804
to get a first authentication requirement from mapping database 83.
In one embodiment, a key fob used to open a door for a human agent
could be the first authentication requirement for a driver or owner
of the vehicle.
[0096] Flow then passes to decision box 806 where a determination
is made as to whether the agent passes the authentication
requirement (e.g., entering a correct user ID and password,
providing a matching fingerprint, providing a valid PKI
certificate, etc.). If the agent passes the authentication
requirement, then flow moves to decision box 810 where a
determination is made as to whether more authentication
requirements are identified in
agents-to-multi-factor-authentication mapping database 83. If
additional requirements are necessary to authenticate the agent,
flow passes to step 812 to identify the next requirement, and then
passes back to decision box 806 to repeat the steps determining
whether the agent passes the authentication requirement. This
processing continues until the agent has passed all of the
authentication requirements or until the agent fails one of the
authentication requirements. If the agent passes all of the
authentication requirements, then the agent is authenticated to the
vehicle, as indicated in step 814, and multi-factor authentication
flow 800 ends. If, however, the agent fails one of the
authentication requirements, then the agent is not authenticated to
the vehicle, as indicated in step 808, and the multi-factor
authentication flow 800 ends.
[0097] Turning to FIGS. 9A and 9B, simplified flowcharts of a VSIM
provisioning flow 900A and an identity service provider access flow
900B, respectively, are illustrated. VSIM provisioning flow 900A
may represent at least a portion of the flow of VSIM provisioning
module 73 of OBU 30. In one embodiment, flow 900A can be invoked
during authentication to vehicle flow 700 and also at any time
during which an agent is authenticated to OBU 30.
[0098] Flow begins at step 906 where an available communication
link is identified. Various communication links may be used to
provision a VSIM, including some form of wireless communication
(e.g., WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, white space, 802.11x, satellite, etc.)
to connect to identity service provider 60, a local network within
vehicle 4 (e.g., local WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, etc.) to connect
to a mobile device, or a direct connection to a transportable
medium (e.g., USB, CD, etc.). Flow passes to decision box 908 to
determine whether the identified link is for local provisioning. If
the identified communication link is not for local provisioning,
then flow passes to step 910 to access identity service provider 60
via an available network. Example processing of identity service
provider 60 will be described in more detail herein with reference
to FIG. 9B.
[0099] When a network connection has been established to identity
service provider 60 in step 910, or if the available communication
link was identified for local provisioning, flow passes to decision
box 912. In decision box 912 a determination is made with regard to
what VSIM action to perform. If a VSIM is to be removed from OBU
30, then flow passes to step 914 to remove the VSIM. If a VSIM on
OBU 30 is to be updated, then flow passes to step 918 to download a
VSIM using the identified communication link (e.g., from identity
service provider 60, from a transportable storage medium directly
connected to OBU 30, from a mobile device) to update an existing
VSIM. Finally, if a new VSIM is to be added to OBU 30, flow passes
to step 916 to download the new VSIM using the identified
communication link (e.g., from identity service provider 60, from a
transportable storage medium directly connected to OBU 30, from a
mobile device). Once the desired action (i.e., remove, update, or
add) has been performed, flow passes to decision box 920 to
determine whether more VSIM actions are to be performed. If more
VSIM actions are to be performed, then flow passes back to decision
box 912 to repeat the determination of whether to remove, update,
or add a VSIM and to perform the desired action accordingly. This
processing may continue until all VSIM actions have been completed.
In one embodiment, an agent may be associated with multiple VSIMs
provisioned in OBU 30. Therefore, multiple VSIM actions may occur
during a single VSIM provisioning process.
[0100] Turning to FIG. 9B, a simplified flowchart illustrates
possible processing steps of identity service provider 60 providing
identity services for managing VSIMs, including accessing and
downloading VSIMs to connected vehicles. As previously described
herein, VSIMs may be managed and stored by identity service
provider 60 in a memory element such as VSIM database 64. Flow 900B
will be described with reference to a user, which includes a human
provisioning the VSIM for any type of agent (e.g., software agent,
machine device, authorized entity, human agent), including
provisioning the VSIM for himself as a human agent. Flow could
start at decision box 922, where a determination is made as to
whether the user accessing identity service provider 60 has been
authenticated to the identity service provider. For example, the
user may log on to an account created with identity service
provider 60. If the user is not authenticated, then flow ends.
Although not shown in FIG. 9B, the user could potentially create a
new account with identity service provider 60.
[0101] If the user is authenticated to identity service provider
60, then flow passes to decision box 924 to determine whether there
is a VSIM action to perform. If, for example, a VSIM was previously
created by the user (e.g., a user on a computer or mobile device
creating a VSIM through identity service provider 60), then the
user may simply need to access and download the existing VSIM to
OBU 30. However, if the user needs to create, update, and/or remove
a VSIM, then flow passes to decision box 926 to determine whether
to add a new VSIM to OBU 30. If a request is made to add a new VSIM
(e.g., to VSIM database 64), then flow passes to step 928 to add
the new VSIM. If adding a new VSIM is not requested, as determined
in decision box 926, then flow passes to decision box 930 to
determine whether a request was made to update an existing VSIM. If
an update request was made, then flow passes to step 932 where an
existing VSIM is updated. If an update request is not made, as
determined in decision box 930, however, then flow passes to step
934 where an identified VSIM is removed.
[0102] After a VSIM is either added (step 928), updated (step 932),
or removed (step 934), flow passes to decision box 936 where it is
determined whether there are more VSIM actions to perform. If more
VSIM actions are requested, then flow passes back to decision box
926 and steps 926 through 936 continue to be processed until no
more VSIM actions are requested. Once no more VSIM actions are
requested, or after it is determined that there are no VSIM actions
to perform, then the connection to identity service provider 60
from OBU 30 may continue until one or more VSIMs are downloaded to
OBU 30. In addition, it will be apparent that flow 900B may also
occur when a user establishes a network connection to identity
service provider 60 from a remote computer or mobile device to
manage his associated VSIMs.
[0103] Turning to FIGS. 10A and 10B simplified flowcharts of an
identity profile provisioning flow 1000A and another identity
service provider access flow 1000B, respectively, are illustrated.
Identity profile provisioning flow 1000A may represent at least a
portion of the flow of identity profile provisioning module 75 of
OBU 30. In one embodiment, flow 1000A can be invoked during
authentication to vehicle flow 700 and also at any time during
which an agent is authenticated to OBU 30.
[0104] Flow begins at decision box 1002 where a determination is
made as to whether an agent is locally creating an identity
profile. In one embodiment, an agent can manually create an
identity profile on OBU 30 by entering profile information directly
into OBU 30 through an appropriate user interface. If the agent is
locally creating an identity profile, then flow passes to step 1004
where the agent is permitted to manually create an identity
profile, and then flow ends.
[0105] If it is determined that the agent is not locally creating
an identity profile, then flow passes to step 1006 where an
available communication link is identified. Various communication
links may be used to provision a identity profile, including some
form of wireless communication (e.g., WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, white
space, 802.11x, satellite, etc.) to connect to identity service
provider 60, a local network within vehicle 4 (e.g., local WiFi,
Bluetooth, Ethernet, etc.) to connect to a mobile device, or a
direct connection to a transportable medium (e.g., USB, CD, etc.).
If the identified communication link is not for local provisioning,
then flow passes to step 1010 to access identity service provider
60 via an available network. Example processing of identity service
provider 60 will be described herein in more detail with reference
to FIG. 10B.
[0106] When a network connection has been established to identity
service provider 60 in step 1010, or if the available communication
link was identified for local provisioning, flow passes to decision
box 1012. In decision box 1012 a determination is made with regard
to what identity profile action to perform. If an identity profile
is to be removed from OBU 30, then flow passes to step 1014 to
remove the identity profile. If a identity profile on OBU 30 is to
be updated, then flow passes to step 1018 to download a identity
profile using the identified communication link (e.g., from
identity service provider 60, from a transportable storage medium
directly connected to OBU 30, or from a mobile device) to update an
existing identity profile. Finally, if a new identity profile is to
be added to OBU 30, flow passes to step 1016 to download the new
identity profile using the identified communication link (e.g.,
from identity service provider 60, from a transportable storage
medium directly connected to OBU 30, or from a mobile device). Once
the desired action (i.e., remove, update, or add) has been
performed, flow passes to decision box 1020 to determine whether
more identity profile actions are to be performed. If more identity
profile actions are to be performed, then flow passes back to
decision box 1012 to repeat the determination of whether to remove,
update, or add a identity profile and to perform the desired action
accordingly. This processing may continue until all identity
profile actions have been completed.
[0107] Turning to FIG. 10B, a simplified flowchart illustrates
possible processing steps of identity service provider 60 providing
identity services for managing identity profiles, including
accessing and downloading identity profiles to connected vehicles.
As previously described herein, identity profiles may be managed
and stored by identity service provider 60 in a memory element such
as identity profile memory element 62. Flow 1000B will be described
with reference to a user, which includes a human provisioning the
identity profile for any type of agent (e.g., software agent,
machine device, authorized entity, human agent), including
provisioning the identity profile for himself as a human agent.
Flow could start at decision box 1022, where a determination is
made as to whether the agent accessing identity service provider 60
has been authenticated to the identity service provider. For
example, the user may log on to an account created with identity
service provider 60. If the user is not authenticated, then flow
ends. Although not shown in FIG. 10B, the user could potentially
create a new account with identity service provider 60.
[0108] If the user is authenticated to identity service provider
60, then flow passes to decision box 1024 to determine whether
there is an identity profile action to perform. If, for example, an
identity profile was previously created by the user (e.g., a user
on a computer or mobile device creating an identity profile through
identity service provider 60), then the user may simply need to
access and download the existing identity profile to OBU 30.
However, if the user needs to create, update, and/or remove an
identity profile, then flow passes to decision box 1026 to
determine whether to add a new identity profile to OBU 30. If a
request is made to add a new identity profile (e.g., to identity
profile database 64), then flow passes to step 1028 to add the new
identity profile. If adding a new identity profile is not
requested, as determined in decision box 1026, then flow passes to
decision box 1030 to determine whether a request was made to update
an existing identity profile. If an update request was made, then
flow passes to step 1032 where an existing identity profile is
updated. If an update request is not made, as determined in
decision box 1030, however, then flow passes to step 1034 where an
identified identity profile is removed.
[0109] After an identity profile is either added (step 1028),
updated (step 1032), or removed (step 1034), flow passes to
decision box 1036 where it is determined whether there are more
identity profile actions to perform. If more identity profile
actions are requested, then flow passes back to decision box 1026
and steps 1026 through 1036 continue to be processed until no more
identity profile actions are requested. Once no more identity
profile actions are requested, or after it is determined that there
are no identity profile actions to perform, then the connection to
identity service provider 60 from OBU 30 may continue until one or
more identity profiles are downloaded to OBU 30. In addition, it
will be apparent that flow 1000B may also occur when a user
establishes a network connection to identity service provider 60
from a remote computer or mobile device to manage his identity
profiles.
[0110] FIG. 11 illustrates a simplified flowchart of example steps
for activating an identity profile, as indicated in step 610 of
FIG. 6, after the identity profile has been provisioned in OBU 30
and an associated agent has been authenticated to OBU 30. For
example, flow may begin in decision box 1102 where a determination
is made regarding whether any control/access limitations have been
set by one agent that apply to another agent. Typically, an owner
of the vehicle or other superagent will have authority to set such
controls/access limitations by configuring policies through an
appropriate policy module. Such controls/access limitations may
include, for example, parental controls set by a parent of a child
(e.g., restrictions on certain web content, media features, any
transactions involving credit cards or payments, vehicle functions,
etc.). If control/access limitations exist, then flow passes to
step 1104 to apply such control/access limitations to the identity
profile of the agent.
[0111] After the limitations are applied, or if no limitations
exist for the agent, then flow may pass to step 1105 to determine
the role and priority of the agent in the vehicle. For human
agents, role can be determined based on which seat of the vehicle
the agent occupies (e.g., driver seat, front passenger seat, rear
left passenger seat, rear right passenger seat, etc.). Once the
role and priority of the agent are determined, flow passes to step
1106 to configure the vehicle settings based on the agent's role in
the vehicle. Depending on the role of the agent, OBU 30 may
communicate the agent's identity profile parameters corresponding
to actuators and software applications of the particular seat
occupied by the agent. For example, seat positioning, air
temperature settings, seat heater/cooler, dashboard features, and
the like may be configured for the agent if the agent is the
driver. If the agent is a passenger, however, the seat positioning,
seat heater/cooler, and temperature settings may be applied to the
agent's particular passenger seat, if such settings are available
for the passenger seat.
[0112] Once the vehicle settings are applied in step 1106, flow may
pass to step 1108 to configure other identity profile parameters
based on an agent's priority. Depending on the agent's priority,
OBU may communicate the agent's identity profile parameters
corresponding to any appropriate actuators, software applications,
and the like related to agent preferences (e.g., radio channel
list, phonebook, address book, GPS favorite locations, etc.). For
purposes of illustration, it is assumed that a driver has highest
priority and driver preferences will override any conflicting
passenger preferences. It should be understood, however, that a
passenger could be configured with a higher priority and override
the driver's preferences for preferences not pertaining to the
safety of the vehicle. Additionally, OBU 30 may also configure
network interface accounts and network configurations for other
mobile devices identified in the agent's identity profile (e.g., in
a device list). Moreover, while examples have been provided for
human agents, activating an identity profile of other types of
agents authenticated to the OBU may also occur for any appropriate
identity profile parameters in an authenticated agent's identity
profile.
[0113] FIG. 12 illustrates a simplified flowchart of example steps
of payment association module 79, for associating a payment method
to certain transaction applications that are not associated with or
initiated by an agent that has an associated payment method (e.g.,
payment information in identity profile, VSIM). For example, if a
toll payment transaction application is configured to pay tolls
automatically, then a payment method needs to be associated with
the toll payment transaction application. The payment method could
be payment information such as a credit card or bank account from
an agent's identity profile, or a VSIM to be used as payment on a
back end of the corresponding mobile network operator. In addition,
over the life of the vehicle, changes to the payment methods
associated with such transaction applications may be desired (e.g.,
each driver of a vehicle owned by a rental car agency may be
required to pay their own tolls, a new owner will need to associate
a new payment method with such vehicle transaction applications, an
owner of a vehicle may have a credit card or banking account change
that needs to be updated., someone borrowing a car or sharing trip
expenses may want to pay for all certain transactions through a
payment method provided in their identity profile, etc.)
[0114] Generally, payment association flow 1200 of FIG. 12
represents both automatic and manual payment association to
transaction applications. Flow 1200 may be invoked when an agent is
being provisioned, as indicated in step 614 of FIG. 6, or at any
time during which an agent is authenticated to the vehicle. In the
scenario in which the agent is being provisioned, flow 1200 may
occur automatically and, depending on the role and priority of the
agent, may automatically associate the agent's payment methods to
the identified one or more transactions. In another scenario in
which the agent has already been provisioned and authenticated to
the vehicle, then flow 1200 may be invoked by the agent through an
appropriate user interface of OBU 30 in which the agent may
individually or collectively identify which transaction
applications to associate with which payment methods.
[0115] Flow begins in step 1202 where a transaction application is
identified. The identified transaction application may be an
application that is not associated with or initiated by an agent
that has an associated payment method. Flow then passes to decision
box 1204 where a determination is made as to whether the agent
attempting to make the payment association is authorized to change
payment association for the identified transaction application
(e.g., if the agent is being provisioned but is not the driver then
the agent may not be authorized, if policies do not allow the agent
to change payment associations then the agent will not be
authorized, etc.). If the agent is not authorized as determined in
decision box 1204, then flow 1200 ends and payment associations are
not made.
[0116] If is determined in decision box 1204 that the agent is
authorized to change payment association for the identified
transaction application, then flow passes to step 1206. In step
1206 a new payment method is identified from the agent's identity
profile payment information or from the agent's corresponding VSIM.
The agent's identity profile payment information may include
information for a credit card, a debit card, a bank account, or
other payment service providers. Alternatively, a VSIM associated
with the agent could be used to provide payment. The VSIM could be
used to connect to the associated mobile network operator, the
payment could be received from the mobile network operator, and
then the mobile network operator could bill the agent on the back
end (e.g., with a set periodic or stand-alone bill to the agent).
In a manual process of payment association, the agent can simply be
provided with suitable options to select a desired payment method
from options associated with the agent. In the automatic payment
association, however, priority of available payment options can be
pre-specified in any suitable way (e.g., an indication provided in
the identity profile, etc.).
[0117] Once the payment method is determined in step 1206, flow
passes to step 1208 to associate the selected payment method to the
identified transaction application. In one embodiment, a separate
mapping database may be provided to map identified transaction
applications to selected payment methods. In another embodiment, an
existing mapping database, such as transaction-to-agents mapping
database 82, may be used and may include any suitable mechanism
(e.g., pointer, link list, additional field, etc.) to indicate
which agent to select to retrieve an associated payment method for
the transaction application.
[0118] After the selected payment method is associated to the
identified transaction application, flow passes to decision box
1210 to determine whether another transaction application has been
identified. If another transaction application has been identified
(e.g., parking transaction application), then flow passes back to
decision box 1204 to process the newly identified transaction
application. Steps 1204 through 1210 can be repeated until no more
transaction applications are identified, and flow ends.
[0119] Turning to FIGS. 13 and 14, simplified flowcharts with an
authentication and secure transaction flow 1300 and an identity
profile access flow 1400 are illustrated. Authentication and secure
transaction flow 1300 may be configured as a background process
open and running whenever OBU 30 is booted up. Flow starts at step
1301 where the process waits for an event for a transaction, which
could have a trigger associated with an agent to initiate the
transaction. Triggers could include, for example, a human agent
attempting to initiate a transaction (e.g., by pressing a button or
otherwise issuing commands through any suitable user interface on
display 28, by using a mobile device to access OBU 30), a machine
device receiving or transmitting a signal (e.g., a detector
receiving a signal from a toll system, a detector receiving a
signal from a parking system, a sensor in the vehicle sending a
signal to OBU 30, etc.), a software agent attempting to execute
(e.g., requesting network credentials to automatically connect to
an authorized entity, etc.), or an authorized entity attempting to
access OBU 30 (e.g., authorized entity connected to the vehicle and
attempting to access transaction applications on the vehicle,
etc.).
[0120] When an event occurs, the event is detected in step 1302 and
then flow moves to step 1304 to evaluate transaction-to-agents
mapping database 82. In decision box 1306, a determination is made
as to whether the transaction is authorized. If the mapping
database 82 does not indicate the transaction is authorized (e.g.,
the agent is not mapped to a transaction application corresponding
to the transaction), then flow passes to 1307 where the transaction
is blocked. Flow then passes back to step 1301 to wait for another
event.
[0121] If transaction-to-agents mapping database 82 indicates the
transaction is authorized (e.g., the agent is mapped to a
transaction application corresponding to the transaction), as
determined in decision box 1306, then flow may pass to step 1308 to
identify authentication and confidentiality schemes by evaluating
transaction-to-authentication/confidentiality-schemes mapping
database 84. Mapping database 84 may include which transactions
require authentication of the associated agent. Although the agent
should already be provisioned and authenticated to the vehicle when
transaction processing occurs, some transactions may be of a
sensitive nature, and authentication must be provided again. In
addition, in one embodiment, initial authentication to the vehicle
may be provided with a single authentication requirement, whereas
authentication to conduct certain transactions may require multiple
authentication requirements as indicated in
agent-to-multi-factor-authentication mapping database 83 and
transaction-to-authentication-and-confidentiality-schemes mapping
database 84. For example, access to a banking transaction
application that facilitates transactions to personal bank accounts
of agents, may require re-authenticating the agent with multiple
authentication requirements (e.g., biometrics in addition to a key
fob used to initially authenticate to OBU 30). In addition, mapping
database 84 may also indicate other authentication and
confidentiality schemes to be used by a transaction application
such as, for example, a particular encryption mechanism for data
associated with the transaction application. Additionally, any
authentication protocols required for establishing network
connections may also be provided in mapping database 84.
[0122] After authentication and confidentiality schemes are
identified in step 1308, flow passes to decision box 1309 to
determine whether agent authentication is required for the
transaction. In one embodiment, if authentication is required, then
multifactor authentication module 74 may be invoked in step 1310,
as previously discussed herein with reference to FIG. 8. If
multi-factor authentication is required, the agent could be mapped
to one or more of the same or different authentication requirements
used during the initial authentication of the agent to OBU 30.
Thus, multi-factor authentication flow 800 could be configured to
distinguish between initial authentication of an agent to OBU 30
and authentication of an agent for particular transactions. If the
agent does not pass authentication as determined in decision box
1312, then flow passes to step 1313 where the transaction is
blocked. Flow then passes back to step 1301 to wait for another
event.
[0123] If the agent passes authentication, as determined in
decision box 1312, or if authentication of the agent was not
required, as determined in decision box 1309, then flow passes to
step 1316 in which the identity profile may be accessed to obtain
network credentials and any other needed profile information such
as payment information for commercial transactions. Accessing the
identity profile will be described in more detail herein with
reference to FIG. 14. After the network credentials and any needed
profile information are provided to the transaction application in
step 1316, flow passes to step 1318 to allow the transaction. Flow
then returns to step 1301 to wait for another event. Although
transactions can be processed by transaction processing flow 1300
sequentially, it will be apparent that transaction processing flow
1300 is intended to initiate each time an event is detected, which
can occur simultaneously with other events. Thus, multiple
transactions may be occurring on OBU 30 simultaneously.
[0124] Turning now to FIG. 14, FIG. 14 illustrates a simplified
flowchart of an access identity profile flow 1400, which may occur
in step 1316 of FIG. 13. Flow 1400 includes step 1402 where
application programming interfaces (APIs) are exposed to a
transaction application corresponding to the transaction to enable
the transaction application to securely access relevant parts of
the identity profile. APIs may be provided to export parts of the
identity profile to the transaction application to the extent that
the transaction application is authorized to access the profile
information. (e.g., credit/payment information, social media web
accounts, etc.)
[0125] Flow then moves to step 1404 to determine the identity of
the agent to be used to provide network credentials and/or other
profile information such as payment information. In a simple case,
a human agent who initiates a commercial transaction by triggering
an Internet commerce transaction application on OBU 30 may have an
identity profile that can be used to obtain network credentials and
payment information. In other transaction scenarios, however, the
agent associated with the event may not have payment information
and/or network credentials. Therefore, the determination in step
1404 accommodates certain transaction applications that need
profile information from an agent other than the agent associated
transaction. For example, a driver or other passenger may want to
pay for toll transactions that occur automatically when a detector
(agent) senses the toll system and initiates a toll transaction
application. Therefore, the identity of the particular agent with
the payment information needs to be determined. This can be
accomplished in various ways including, for example, a display
screen offering a human agent the option to pay the toll using
identity profile information. Alternatively, a human agent could
preconfigure the payment information through, for example, payment
association module 79.
[0126] Once the determination is made in step 1404, flow passes to
decision box 1408 to determine whether the identity profile of the
agent is needed. In some transaction scenarios, network credentials
for remote network access (e.g., VSIM, WiFi, etc.) may not be
required for a transaction application. For example, a transaction
application merely accessing in-vehicle networks and having no
commercial component may not need any identity profile information.
In this case, flow passes to step 1410 to get network credentials
for in-vehicle networks, if the transaction application accesses an
in-vehicle network. Flow then passes to step 1420 to provide the
in-vehicle network credentials to the transaction application, if
needed.
[0127] If the identity profile is needed for a transaction
application requiring remote network access or a transaction
application occurring internally (e.g., not requiring remote
network access), as determined in decision box 1408, then flow
passes to step 1412. In step 1412, network credentials are obtained
from identity profile, if needed. Flow may then pass to step 1414
to perform opportunistic selection of VSIM, if needed, which will
be further described herein with reference to FIG. 15.
Opportunistic selection of VSIM may be needed if VSIM selection
rules apply to the particular agent, the transaction application,
and/or vehicle geographical location. Steps 1412 and 1414 may not
be necessary if the transaction application does not need remote
network access.
[0128] After the VSIM is selected, then flow passes to decision box
1416 to determine whether other profile information is needed from
the agent's identity profile. Other information includes, for
example, payment information, which could be necessary if the
transaction application has a commercial component. If other
profile information is needed, then flow passes to step 1418 to get
the other profile information and provide such information to the
transaction application. Finally, after the profile information is
provided to the transaction application in step 1418, or if other
profile information is not needed as determined in decision box
1416, flow passes to step 1420 to provide any obtained network
credentials, including the VSIM, to the transaction
application.
[0129] FIG. 15 is a simplified flowchart of an opportunistic VSIM
selection flow 1500. Because a vehicle may at any given time use
multiple VSIMs, the VSIMs may be opportunistically selected for
better connectivity, for different traffic and application types,
for different locations, and for a better user experience. In one
embodiment, opportunistic VSIM selection flow 1500 dynamically
evaluates VSIM selection rules database 85 to determine whether a
particular VSIM selected for connectivity is the preferred VSIM for
a particular set of criteria (e.g., agent identity, location of the
vehicle, transaction application). If the set of criteria is mapped
to a different VSIM than a currently selected VSIM, then the VSIM
can be dynamically changed to accommodate the agent or vehicle
owner's preferences. Opportunistic VSIM selection flow 1500 may
occur when a transaction has been initiated and a corresponding
transaction application is waiting for network credentials, or
during an established network connection associated with a
transaction application. Although FIG. 15 is described with
reference to opportunistically selecting a VSIM, it will be
appreciated that other wireless connection options (e.g., WiFi,
etc.) may also be opportunistically selected and may be mapped to
particular sets of criteria.
[0130] Flow may begin in steps 1504 through 1508 where the set of
criteria are determined. In step 1504 an agent associated with the
network access/attempt may be identified. In step 1506, a
transaction application associated with the network access/attempt
may be identified. Finally, in step 1508, a current location of the
vehicle may determined (e.g., by navigation system 17). Flow then
passes to step 1510 where one or more preferred VSIMs are
identified from VSIM selection rules mapping database 85. In
decision box 1512 a determination is made as to whether the current
VSIM(s), which could include one or more VSIMs, are equivalent to
the preferred VSIM(s) identified from VSIM selection rules mapping
database 85. When opportunistic VSIM selection flow 1500 is
processing to evaluate an established network connection associated
with a transaction application, the current VSIM(s) could be one or
more VSIMs currently being used for the established network
connection. However, when opportunistic VSIM selection flow 1500 is
processing during identity profile access flow 1400 at step 1414,
then the current VSIM(s) could be one or more VSIMs selected from
an identity profile for a transaction application waiting to
receive network credentials. If the preferred VSIM(s) are different
than the current VSIM(s), then flow passes to step 1514 where the
current VSIM(s) are changed to the preferred VSIM(s). In the case
of an established network connection, the network connection may be
moved to network access links enabled by the preferred VSIM(s).
[0131] After the current VSIM(s) are changed to the preferred
VSIM(s) in step 1514, or if the current VSIM(s) are equivalent to
the preferred VSIM(s) as determined in decision box 1512, then flow
passes to step 1516 to evaluate network conditions. In the next
decision box 1518, a determination is made as to whether any
policies override the current VSIM(s) because, in one embodiment,
various network conditions and policies related to such network
conditions may override a VSIM preference. For example, a VSIM
preference based on a particular location, such as a preference for
using mobile network operator X in New York because it is more cost
effective than using mobile network operator Y, may be overridden
if the network conditions of mobile network operator X are not
suitable. Similarly, multiple VSIMs, or a VSIM associated with
another agent may be selected, depending on network conditions and
authorization to use the other agent's network credentials. Thus,
if policies based on network conditions override the current
VSIM(s), then flow passes to step 1520 where the current VSIM(s)
are changed to one or more VSIMs consistent with the policy. After
the current VSIM(s) are changed in step 1520, or if policies and
network conditions did not require a change to the current VSIM(s)
as determined in decision box 1518, flow ends, and the associated
transaction application may establish a network connection using
the current VSIM(s) or may continue network access with the current
VSIM(s), as appropriate.
[0132] By using the infrastructure described above, a connected
vehicle can opportunistically switch between multiple VSIM
identities to allow for multiple identity profiles to be used
during the vehicle's lifecycle. Thus, the infrastructure enables
multiple agents to source communication from the vehicle. To
illustrate these features, an example scenario will now be
described of a possible lifecycle of a connected vehicle and
identities associated with the connected vehicle.
[0133] In the beginning of the life of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 4),
a manufacturer of the vehicle may provision an OBU (e.g., OBU 30)
configured within vehicle 4 with a physical UICC card that is
initialized with an identity associated with the vehicle
manufacturer, which can be used for authentication to download soft
SIM or VSIM identities issued by mobile network operators. A
software agent may also be provisioned in OBU 30 to connect to a
desired an identity service provider 60 (e.g., third party identity
service provider, mobile network operator, manufacturer identity
service provider, etc.) to obtain the VSIM. For example, if vehicle
4 is manufactured in Japan, then software agent may use the
manufacturer VSIM to authenticate vehicle 4 to the identity service
provider, and then download a VSIM to be used during quality
assurance testing before vehicle 4 is exported from Japan to an
automotive dealer in the United States (U.S.).
[0134] After vehicle 4 is shipped and crosses an international
border such as the U.S., the software agent can use manufacturer
VSIM identity to download a VSIM of a local mobile network operator
(e.g., Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, SPRINT, PCS, etc.), by
accessing an identity service provider 60 through which the
manufacturer has provisioned VSIMs. This may be desirable for the
manufacturer to avoid expensive roaming charges. Thus, the
manufacturer may be able to negotiate a better rate (e.g., for a
particular area) with different mobile network operators at any
time and simply update the associated VSIM on vehicle 4.
[0135] When a consumer purchases vehicle 4 from the automotive
dealer and becomes an owner of vehicle 4, he may provision one or
more different VSIMs on the OBU of vehicle 4 for his own network
access. The owner may authenticate to a desired identity service
provider 60 and download a desired one or more VSIMs to be used for
connectivity (e.g., 3G or 4G) by the owner. The owner may also
download an identity profile to allow personalization of contacts
and various preferences provided in the identity profile, as
previously described herein (e.g., personalized contacts, vehicle
settings, payment methods, device lists, etc.). The owner may also
configure authentication requirements to authenticate to vehicle 4
(e.g., set up as desired via key fob, user ID and password,
biometrics, etc.).
[0136] If another member of the owner's family drives vehicle 4,
another VSIM may be provisioned. The family member may authenticate
to the same or different identity service provider and download his
own one or more VSIMs, which could correspond to the same or
different mobile network operators. In addition, a separate
identity profile for the family member may also be downloaded to
allow for personalization of preferences, subject to policies
implemented by the owner or other superagent and subject to
priorities related to the role of an agent at a particular time
(e.g., driver vs. passenger). The family member may also configure
authentication requirements, which could be provided in identity
profile, in order to authenticate to vehicle 4 each time the family
member is in the vehicle as a driver or a passenger.
[0137] Finally, if vehicle 4 is sold, the new owner can download
his particular one or more VSIMs and/or identity profile from an
appropriate identity service provider, and can create
authentication requirements for authenticating to the vehicle. The
VSIMs and identity profiles associated with the previous owner, any
human agent associated with the previous owner, and any mobile
devices may be removed from OBU 30. However, other identity
profiles and VSIMs associated with agents such as authorized
entities, machine devices, and software agents may remain on OBU
30, if appropriate.
[0138] In certain implementations and numerous examples provided
herein, vehicle 10 is described with reference to an automobile.
Communication system 10, however, is not limited to automobiles,
but can be applied to a myriad of other types of vehicles (e.g.,
airplanes, boats, trains, etc.). It will be appreciated that the
broad teachings disclosed herein are intended to include any type
of vehicle used to move from one location to another location,
including vehicles that are not designed to transport humans.
[0139] In certain example implementations, at least some portions
of enabling secure transactions and flexible identity management
activities outlined herein may be implemented in software. This
could be inclusive of software provided in transaction security
framework 70 of OBU 30 and in other modules and elements such as
secure communication module 77. These elements and/or modules can
cooperate with each other in order to perform the enabling secure
transactions and flexible identity management activities as
discussed herein. In other embodiments, one or more of these
features may be implemented in hardware, provided external to these
elements, or consolidated in any appropriate manner. For example,
some of the processors associated with the various elements may be
removed, or otherwise consolidated such that a single processor and
a single memory location are responsible for certain activities. In
a general sense, the arrangements depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 may
be more logical in their representations, whereas a physical
architecture may include various permutations, combinations, and/or
hybrids of these elements.
[0140] Any of the memory items discussed herein should be construed
as being encompassed within the broad term `memory element.`
Similarly, any of the potential processing elements, modules, and
machines described in this Specification should be construed as
being encompassed within the broad term `processor.` Furthermore,
OBU 30, and each separate component of OBU 30, may also include
suitable interfaces for receiving, transmitting, and/or otherwise
communicating data or information in a network environment.
[0141] Note that with the numerous examples provided herein,
interaction may be described in terms of two, three, four, or more
network elements. However, this has been done for purposes of
clarity and example only. It should be appreciated that the system
can be consolidated in any suitable manner. Along similar design
alternatives, any of the illustrated computers, modules,
components, and elements of FIGURES lthrough 4 may be combined in
various possible configurations, all of which are clearly within
the broad scope of this Specification. In certain cases, it may be
easier to describe one or more of the functionalities of a given
set of flows by only referencing a limited number of network
elements. It should be appreciated that communication system 10 of
FIGS. 1 through 3 and its teachings are readily scalable and can
accommodate a large number of components, as well as more
complicated/sophisticated arrangements and configurations.
Accordingly, the examples provided should not limit the scope or
inhibit the broad teachings of communication system 10 as
potentially applied to a myriad of other architectures.
[0142] It is also important to note that the operations and steps
described with reference to the preceding FIGURES illustrate only
some of the possible scenarios that may be executed by, or within,
the system. Some of these operations may be deleted or removed
where appropriate, or these steps may be modified or changed
considerably without departing from the scope of the discussed
concepts. In addition, the timing of these operations may be
altered considerably and still achieve the results taught in this
disclosure. The preceding operational flows have been offered for
purposes of example and discussion. Substantial flexibility is
provided by the system in that any suitable arrangements,
chronologies, configurations, and timing mechanisms may be provided
without departing from the teachings of the discussed concepts.
[0143] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail
with reference to particular arrangements and configurations, these
example configurations and arrangements may be changed
significantly without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure. For example, although the present disclosure has been
described with reference to particular communication exchanges
involving certain network access and protocols, communication
system 10 may be applicable to other exchanges or routing protocols
in which packets are exchanged in order to provide mobility data,
connectivity parameters, access management, etc. Moreover, although
communication system 10 has been illustrated with reference to
particular elements and operations that facilitate the
communication process, these elements and operations may be
replaced by any suitable architecture or process that achieves the
intended functionality of communication system 10.
[0144] Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations,
alterations, and modifications may be ascertained to one skilled in
the art and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass
all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and
modifications as falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
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