METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING VEHICLES

Abstract: Method for identifying vehicles, more particularly cars, characterized in that, during registration, by means of a transformation at least two data (3-4) are generated which together form a unique result, whereby one of the data (3) is stored with the vehicle (6), whereas the other data (4) is stored in a central system (9).

Description: Method and device for identifying vehicles. This invention relates to a method and device for identifying vehicles, more particularly cars. In particular, the invention relates to a device for providing and connecting an identification to vehicles, whereby this device also allows to perform regular controls. To this aim, the invention in the first place provides for a method for identifying vehicles, more particularly cars, characterized in that, during registration, by means of a transformation at least two data are generated which together form a unique result, whereby one of the data is stored with the vehicle, whereas the other data is stored in a central system. Preferably, the aforementioned transformation consists of a cryptographic transformation, more particularly a cryptographic transformation which delivers results which are always unique and vary for each variation of the initial data. As a consequence therof, it is obtained that it is almost impossible to falsify the identification data of the vehicle, which, however, is the case with the use of classical serial numbers which, as known, can be ground away or the like. In the most preferred form of embodiment, this method is further characterized in that it consists of: - the provision of one or more electronic systems in the vehicle which can form a part of the vehicle; - the provision of an electronic unit in the vehicle which unit can communicate with a central system with a data base, whereby this unit is connected to one or more of the aforementioned electronic systems; - the effecting, by means of the aforementioned unit, of communications with the aforementioned electronic system, the aforementioned electronic systems, respectively, by means of which at the unit characterizing data can be called in by the electronic systems; - the transmittance of these data to the central system, together with identity data of the unit; - the performance, based upon these data and identity date, of a transformation of these data by the central system, whereby at least two data are generated which together are unique; - the central storage of at least one of these generated data; - and communicating the other generated data back to the module and storing it there, whereby this data forms an identification number for the vehicle. The aforementioned connection preferably is realized with several electronic systems present in the vehicle. This connection is preferably performed over a common bus, more particularly a so-called CAN bus (Controller Area Network), according to ISO-11898. According to another preferred characteristic of the invention, the exchange of the data between the unit and the electronic systems is performed by means of a protected communication over the aforementioned bus. According to another characteristic of the invention, regular controls are automatically performed by means of the aforementioned unit, whereby this unit verifies the authenticity and the originality of each electronic system which has communicated its data. Depending on the verification, it is possible to transmit a signal through the unit back to one or more of the electronic systems, whereby this signal is applied in order to take a suitable action, if necessary. According to the invention, this suitable action may consist in making the vehicle unserviceable in a reversible and safe manner. According to another characteristic of the invention, means are applied which allow that the central system can provide for that, by means of a protected communication, the aforementioned regular controls can be switched off. This allows to make a vehicle rendered unserviceable serviceable again. In a practical form of embodiment, the identity of the unit is formed by means of a so-called chip card, as a result of which the identification is also connected to the proprietor of the chip card. The invention also relates to a device for the realization of the aforementioned method, with as a characteristic that it consists in the combination of at least means for generating, by means of an electronic transformation, at least two data which together are unique; an electronic unit which is provided or can be provided in the vehicle, in which one of the aforementioned data can be stored; a central system in which the other of the aforementioned two data can be stored. Hereby, the aforementioned unit is coupled to different electronic systems of the vehicle, and the unit is provided with control means which verify the charac- terizing data of the electronic systems for their authenticity. In the case that the device is provided with means which allow for a communication between the central system and the unit, they preferably consist of transmitting and receiving apparatus allowing for a wireless communication, and/or a connection which allows a coupling to external apparatus, for example, diagnostic apparatus of a workshop. With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, herafter, as an example without any limitative character, a preferred form of embodiment is described, with reference to the sole accompanying drawing which schematically represents a device according to the invention. As represented, the device 1 substantially consists of means 2 for generating, by means of an electronic transformation, at least two data 3-4 which together are unique; an electronic unit 5, for example in the form of a module, which is provided or can be provided in the vehicle in which one of the aforementioned data, in this case, data 3, can be stored; and a central system 7 with a data base 8 in which the other of the aforementioned two data, in other words, data 4, can be stored. The unit 5 is coupled to different electronic systems 9 of the vehicle 6 and comprises control means which verify the characterizing data 10 of the electronic systems 9 for their authenticity, which, as mentioned in the introduction, is performed by means of an electronic data bus 11, preferably by means of a protected communication. The unit 5 is characterized by an identity data 12 which, for example, is obtained by making use of a chip card 13. During the registration of the vehicle 6, the data, the aforementioned data 10, on one hand, and the identity data 12, on the other hand, are transmitted to the central system 7, which is schematically indicated by line 14. By means of these data, a cryptographic transformation is performed by the means 2 , which results in the data 3 and 4. One data 4 is taken up in the data base 8. The other data 3 is communicated back to the unit 4 and stored there and forms an identification number. The transmittance of data according to line 14 and of data 3 is performed by means of the aforementioned bidirectional communication. By means of an also bi-directional communication 15, controls may now be performed by checking whether the different data mutually coincide. In order to realize these communications, the device, of course, is provided with the means necessary to this end. These means may consist of transmitting and receiving apparatus allowing for a wireless communication, and/or a connection allowing for a coupling with external apparatus, for example, diagnostic apparatus of a workshop. The present invention is by no means limited to the form of embodiment described as an example and represented in the accompanying figure, on the contrary may such method and device be realized according to various variants without leaving the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims . 1.- Method for identifying vehicles, more particularly cars, characterized in that, during registration, by means of a transformation at least two data (3-4) are generated which together form a unique result, whereby one of the data (3) is stored with the vehicle (6), whereas the other data (4) is stored in a central system (9). 2.- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned transformation consists of a cryptographic transformation. 3.- Method according to claim 2, characterized in that a cryptographic transformation is applied which delivers results, in other words, data (3-4), which are always unique and vary for each variation of the initial data. 4.- Method according to any of the preceding claims, in particular a method for creating and providing an identification to vehicles (6), characterized in that it consists in: - the provision of one or more electronic systems (9) in the vehicle (6); - the provision of an electronic unit (5) in the vehicle (6) which unit can communicate with a central system (7) with a data base (8), whereby this unit (5) is connected to one or more of the aforementioned electronic systems (9); - the effecting, by means of the aforementioned unit ( 5 ) , of communications with the aforementioned electronic system, the aforementioned electronic systems (9), respectively, by means of which at the unit (5) characterizing data (10) can be called in by the electronic systems (9); - the transmittance of these data (10) to the central system (9), together with identity data (12) of the unit (5) ; - the performance, based upon these data (10) and identity data (12), of a transformation of these data by the central system ( 7 ) , whereby two or more data (3-4) are generated which together are unique; - the central storage of at least one of these data (4); - and communicating the other data ( 3 ) back to the unit (5) and storing it there, whereby this data (3) forms an identification number for the vehicle (6). 5.- Method according to claim 4, characterized in that thereby a connection is realized with several electronic systems (9) in the vehicle (6), whereby this connection is realized over a common data bus (11). 6.- Method according to claim 5, characterized in that, for the common data bus (11), a so-called CAN bus (Controller Area Network) is applied, according to ISO-11898. 7.- Method according to claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the data (10) exchanged between the unit (5) and the electronic systems (9) are performed over the data bus (11) by means of a protected communication. 8.- Method according to any of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that, by means of the aforementioned unit (5), regular controls are performed automatically, whereby this unit (5) verifies the authenticity and the originality of each electronic system (9) which has communicated its data (10). 9.- Method according to claim 8, characterized in that. depending on the verification, a signal is transmitted back by the unit (5) to one or more of the electronic systems (9), whereby this signal is used for taking a suitable action at this system (9), if necessary. 10.- Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that thereby means are applied which allow that the central system ( 8) can provide for that , by means of a protected communication (15), the aforementioned regular controls can be switched off. 11.- Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the suitable action consists in making the vehicle (6) unserviceable in a reversible and safe manner. 12.- Method according to any of the claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the identity of the unit (4) is formed by means of a so-called chip card (13). 13.- Device for the realization of the method as described in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists in the combination of at least means (2) for generating, by means of an electronic transformation, at least two data (3-4) which together are unique; an electronic unit (5) which is provided or can be provided in the vehicle (6), in which one of the aforementioned data (3-4) can be stored; a central system (7) in which the other of the aforementioned two data (4) can be stored. 14.- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the aforementioned unit (5) is coupled to different electronic systems (9) of the vehicle (6), and that the unit (5) is provided with control means which verify the characterizing data from the electronic systems (9) for their authenticity. 15.- Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it is provided with a chip card (13) which forms the identity of the unit (5). 16.- Device according to claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that it is provided with means which allow for a communication between the central system (7) and the unit (5) . 17.- Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the aforementioned means consist of transmitting and receiving apparatus allowing for a wireless communication. 18.- Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the aforementioned means consist of a connection which allows a coupling to external apparatus, for example, diagnostic apparatus of a workshop.

Inventors: BUYTAERT STEVEN HERWIG CYRIEL, MAES MARC JOZEF MARIA, BUYTAERT, STEVEN, HERWIG, CYRIEL, MAES, MARC, JOZEF, MARIA
Applicants: BUYTAERT STEVEN HERWIG CYRIEL, MAES MARC JOZEF MARIA, SMARTMOVE NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHA, BUYTAERT, STEVEN, HERWIG, CYRIEL, MAES, MARC, JOZEF, MARIA, SMARTMOVE, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R13, B60R25, G07C5, G08G1