Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Karl Nathan Clark

Vijayababu Jayaraman

Jason Michael Miller

Mohamad Nasser

Ali Mohamad Suleiman

John Naum Vangelov

Vijay Jayaraman

Gopichandra Surnilla

Xin Ye

Medville Jay Throop

James Weinfurther

Aldi Caushi

Brian David Tillman

Brunilda Bleta Caushi

Brandon Johnson

John Cardillo

Ylldes Zeneli

John Caradillo

Julius Thomas Crouch, Ii

Riaz Ulla

Vladimir Stefanovski

Zoheb Mohammed

Jonathan Nibert

Methods and systems are provided for storing vehicle, vehicle owner, and vehicle operator data on a blockchain, the data including smart contracts that may be executed to control a usage of the vehicle via customizable permissions. In an embodiment, a vehicle management system comprises a blockchain; a streaming service configured to provide event data in real time to a contract executing virtual machine (VM) embedded in the blockchain; and a non-transitory memory storing instructions that when executed by a processor of the vehicle management system, cause the vehicle management system to generate a digital key for an operator of a vehicle of the vehicle management system, the digital key controlling access to the vehicle and/or a use of one or more functionalities of the vehicle by the operator, based on one or more smart contracts; and store data of the vehicle, the owner, and the operator on the blockchain.

Vehicle digital key management on a blockchain

Tracking controller configuration is provided. Each ECU of a plurality of ECUs is queried for feature codes indicative of elements of functionality implemented by the respective ECU. Each of the feature codes corresponds to a target quantity of ECUs involved in implementing the functionality. An alert is indicated responsive to the querying returning a different quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality than the target quantity.

Vehicle software compatibility

Tracking component configuration is provided. A central gateway is in communication with ECUs over one or more vehicle buses. The central gateway generates a first digest of first software updates installed to the ECUs, the first digest including a manifest of changes performed to the ECUs and a first hash of a subset of the first software updates. A signature is embedded into the first digest, the signature including a first digest hash of the first digest. The first digest is maintained to a non-transitory storage of the central gateway as a non-reputable record of the installation of the software updates.

Non-reputable vehicle change history

A gateway of a vehicle is connected to a telematics control unit (TCU) and a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs). The gateway is programmed to receive a command from the TCU, the command specifying an electronic serial number (ESN) of a target ECU of the ECUs, and forward the command to the target ECU responsive to confirmation that the ESN of the target ECU is included in the web of trust.

VIN ESN signed commands and vehicle level local web of trust

A vehicle includes a processor programmed to validate, using a public key of a lender device, authenticity of a file including permissions for a borrower device signed using a private key of a lender device, and responsive to validating, using a public key of a borrower device, a session request from the borrower device signed with a private key of the borrower device, establish a secure connection with the borrower device over which access to the vehicle is granted per the permissions.

Temporary and customized vehicle access

A vehicle includes a controller, programmed to, send a vehicle status report reflecting current status of the vehicle to a server; responsive to receiving a connection message from the server indicative of a predicted data transaction, wirelessly connect to a fleet vehicle using the connection message; and transmit a data block defined in the connection message to the fleet vehicle.

Vehicle-to-vehicle file sharing system and method

Systems and methods of real-time vehicle-based analytics are provided herein. An example method includes collecting at least one of images, video, or audio of a user when operating a vehicle; analyzing the at least one of the images, video, or audio to determine an emotion or sentiment of the user when interacting with one or more features of the vehicle; identifying user actions that precede a point in time where the emotion or sentiment of the user was detected, wherein the user actions relate to the one or more vehicle features; classifying at least one of the user actions and the one or more vehicle features with the emotion or sentiment; and storing the user actions, the one or more vehicle features, and the emotion or sentiment.

Systems and methods of real-time vehicle-based analytics and uses thereof

A system comprises a processor programmed to send an address range to a server corresponding to a capability of a controller to perform an update; responsive to receiving update data from the server, write the update data into the controller; and responsive to receiving a resume signal to resume the update from a paused state, send a new address range to the server based on a last-successfully-written address received from the controller.

Over the air Ecu update

A vehicle includes a controller, programmed to responsive to receiving a command from a non-customer party, send an authorization request based on the command and a predefined vehicle parameter to a server; and responsive to receiving a signed command from the server, execute the signed command.

Cloud authorized vehicle control

A software update is downloaded from an update server responsive to an update trigger. A pre-installation bus traffic fingerprint is created responsive to completing the download. The software update is installed to the vehicle responsive to creating the pre-installation bus traffic fingerprint. A post-installation bus traffic fingerprint is created responsive to installing the software update. Success of the install is indicated to the update server based on comparing the pre-installation and post-installation bus traffic fingerprints.

Pre and post update vehicle bus traffic fingerprinting

A vehicle includes an onboard controller(s) coupled to a wireless transceiver, which are configured to connect to a remote server, and to respond to a remote software update message for a vehicle from the remote server(s). In response, the controller(s) download a software update to the vehicle from the remote server(s). The controller(s) are further configured to detect a vehicle idle state, to determine whether the vehicle is unattended, such that the software update may proceed. If the idle state is detected, and in response to the remote software update message, the controller(s) configure the vehicle to a program mode, having vehicle conditions that include key on, transmission in park, and engine off. If the program mode configurations are successful, then the controller(s) update and/or flash the downloaded updates to in-vehicle, onboard computer processing systems and controller(s), which may include for example an engine control unit (ECU), among others.

Hybrid electric vehicle with automated software update system

Systems and methods for managing vehicle security include a server that, responsive to receiving a remote command for a vehicle from an authorized mobile device, transmits the command to the vehicle. The vehicle responsively executes the command. The server also monitors third-party Internet data for security risks. Responsive to identifying a security risk for the vehicle based on the monitored third-party Internet data after the command is executed, the server deauthorizes the mobile device from remotely commanding the vehicle.

Vehicle security

A system includes a processor configured to receive vehicle borrower contact information input from a vehicle lender. The processor is also configured to send a digital invitation to use a vehicle using the borrower contact information responsive to the input, and to receive digital confirmation responsive to the electronic invitation. The processor is also configured to establish a digital key responsive to the confirmation and wirelessly send the established digital key to the borrower and the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Belleville, MI, United States of America

Karl Nathan Clark