Patent ID: 7228420
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: B60R,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for authentication of a prospective vehicle by a service technician for performing a service operation on the prospective vehicle, the method performed by the service technician and a secure device, and comprising the steps of: accessing the prospective vehicle; obtaining from a certification authority a digital signature, wherein the digital signature certifies the prospective vehicle as an authentic vehicle and certifies an identified attribute of the authentic vehicle, and wherein the digital signature is associated with a certificate that comprises an attribute identifying the authentic vehicle and a cryptographic key, wherein the cryptographic key is bound to the authentic vehicle; utilizing the cryptographic key in cryptographic communication with the prospective vehicle via a secure device having limited accessibility but being accessible by the service technician; and determining whether the prospective vehicle is the authentic vehicle based on whether the cryptographic key is successfully utilized in the cryptographic communication.