Secure wireless networks for vehicles
View Patent ↗A system and method ( 600 ) of securely and accurately connecting mobile devices ( 110 ) to wireless networks in vehicles ( 210 ) by using encrypted wireless network configurations based on vehicle specific data is disclosed herein. The system comprises a vehicle ( 210 ) comprising an on-board computer ( 232 ) with a memory ( 231 ) having a vehicle identification number ( 233 ), a connector plug ( 235 ), and an motorized engine ( 234 ), a connected vehicle device ( 130 ) comprising a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, a memory, and a connector for mating with the connector plug of the vehicle ( 210 ), and a mobile device ( 110 ) comprising a graphical user interface ( 335 ), a processor ( 310 ), a WiFi radio ( 307 ), a BLUETOOTH radio ( 306 ), and a cellular network interface ( 308 ).
1. A system for vehicle to mobile device secure wireless communications, the system comprising:
a vehicle comprising an on-board computer with a memory having a vehicle identification number (VIN), a connector plug, and an motorized engine;
a connected vehicle device (CVD) comprising a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, a memory, and a connector for pairing with the connector plug of the vehicle; and
a mobile device comprising a graphical user interface, a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, and a cellular network interface;
wherein the mobile device has been previously paired with the CVD and has been provided the SSID and an encrypted password;
wherein the CVD is configured to broadcast a WiFi network having a service set identifier (SSID), wherein the SSID is not published;
wherein the mobile device is configured to search for the vehicle having the CVD broadcasting the WiFi network with the SSID;
wherein the mobile device is configured to connect with the CVD using the encrypted password.
2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.
3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a server for validating the pairing of the mobile device with the CVD.
4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a delivery truck.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the WiFi network uses an 802.11 communication protocol.
6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the CVD obtains a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the on-board computer and transmits the VIN to the mobile device over the WiFi network for verification of the vehicle.
7. A method for a secure connection to a wireless network of a vehicle, the method comprising:
broadcasting a wireless network having a service set identifier (SSID) from a connected vehicle device (CVD) connected to an on-board computer of a vehicle, wherein the SSID of the wireless network is not published, and the CVD has been previously paired with a mobile device;
searching at the mobile device for the vehicle having the CVD broadcasting the wireless network with the unpublished SSID;
connecting the mobile device with the CVD using an encrypted password;
wherein the vehicle comprises the on-board computer with a memory having a vehicle identification number (VIN), a connector plug, and an motorized engine;
wherein the CVD comprises a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, a memory, and a connector for pairing with the connector plug of the vehicle; and
wherein the mobile device comprises a graphical user interface, a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, and a cellular network interface.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.
9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising a server for validating a pairing of the mobile device with the CVD.
10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle is a delivery truck.
11. The method according to claim 7 wherein the WiFi network uses an 802.11 communication protocol.
12. The method according to claim 7 wherein the CVD obtains a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the on-board computer and transmits the VIN to the mobile device over the WiFi network for verification of the vehicle.
13. A method for finding a specific vehicle in a vehicle depot, the method comprising:
broadcasting a wireless network having a service set identifier (SSID) from a connected vehicle device (CVD) connected to an on-board computer of a vehicle in the vehicle depot, wherein the SSID of the wireless network is not published and the wireless network is only viewable to a previously paired mobile device, wherein the vehicle depot comprises a plurality of vehicles;
searching at a mobile device for the vehicle having the CVD broadcasting the wireless network with the unpublished SSID, the mobile device previously paired to the CVD; and
connecting the mobile device with the CVD, which allows a driver to find a specific vehicle using the encrypted password.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle comprises the on-board computer with a memory having a vehicle identification number (VIN), a connector plug, and a motorized engine.
15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the CVD comprises a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, a memory, and a connector for pairing with the connector plug of the vehicle.
16. The method according to claim 13 wherein the mobile device comprises a graphical user interface, a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, and a cellular network interface.
17. The method according to claim 13 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.
18. The method according to claim 13 further comprising a server for validating a pairing of the mobile device with the CVD.
19. The method according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a delivery truck.
20. The method according to claim 13 wherein the WiFi network uses an 802.11 communication protocol.