Granted Patent B2

US 12,430,455 · App. 18/054,775 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Inventor: David Witters (Westchester, CA)

Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC

G06F21/6209G06F21/554G06F2221/034

Abstract

Claims (91)

1. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

memory configured to store data temporarily until the data is delivered to a receiver, and instructions for routing the data, the instructions comprising a location of the receiver and a route for routing the data between the autonomous vehicle and the receiver; and

a data courier, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive the data from a user device associated with a passenger of the autonomous vehicle via a wired connection, wherein the data is received in a first encrypted data structure secured by a digital key, the first encrypted data structure comprising the route, a first digital key to authenticate the autonomous vehicle, and the data;

a security module configured to prevent unauthorized access to the data while stored in the memory;

a tamper detector configured to detect tampering with the data while stored in the memory; and

a second interface configured to deliver the data via the route to the receiver, wherein the data is delivered in a second data structure different from the first data structure, and the second data structure comprising an actual route used to deliver the data to the receiver, a second digital key to authenticate the receiver, and the data,

wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to receive and deliver the data in a parked state.

2. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the data exceeds 1 Terabyte.

3. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the wired connection comprises one or more signal wires in a charging cable, the charging cable comprising at least another wire configured to carry power to charge the autonomous vehicle.

4. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the data courier further comprises a microwave interface configured to receive the data from the passenger by microwave radiation having a frequency between 1 GHz and 1000 GHz.

5. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the data courier further comprises a status monitor configured to determine whether the autonomous vehicle is in the parked state.

6. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tamper detector comprises:

a route module configured to monitor a route traversed by the autonomous vehicle when the autonomous vehicle is in motion to the receiver;

an integrity module configured to monitor a physical integrity of the data stored in the memory; and

a data leak module configured to monitor access to the data in the memory.

7. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the security module is configured to prevent unauthorized access to the data by encrypting the data using the first digital key.

8. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tamper detector is also configured to:

continuously monitor and store a route taken by the autonomous vehicle taken-between a sender of the data and to the a receiver; of the data; integrity module instructions te

continuously monitor a physical integrity of the memory while the data is stored in the memory; and

continuously monitor access to the data while the data is stored in the memory.

9. The autonomous vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the tamper detector is also configured to:

flag any delivery of the data while the autonomous vehicle is in motion; and

flag any damage to the memory while the data is stored in the memory.

10. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the data courier is configured to:

ensure ensuring-security of the data in the memory; data store;

determining whether route instructions have been received;

verify verifying route information in the route-instructions for routing the data;

program programming a route of the autonomous vehicle according to the route information; instructions;

authenticate the authenticating a-receiver of the data; and

deliver delivering-the data to the receiver.

11. The autonomous vehicle of claim 10 , wherein verifying the route information comprises:

comparing an expected route in the instructions for routing the data to one or more maps stored in the autonomous vehicle;

determining that the expected route is navigable according to the one or more maps;

accessing traffic or roadblock information available to the autonomous vehicle; and

determining that there is no traffic or roadblock along the expected route.

12. A method, comprising:

while an autonomous vehicle is in a parked state at a first location receiving data from a sender, wherein the data is received in a first encrypted data structure secured by a digital key, the first encrypted data structure comprising a route, a first digital key to authenticate the autonomous vehicle, and the data;

storing the data in a data store;

ensuring security of the data by encrypting the data;

determining whether route instructions have been received;

if route instructions have not been received, requesting route instructions;

verifying route information in the route instructions;

programming an expected route of the autonomous vehicle according to the route instructions from the first location to a second location;

driving the autonomous vehicle according to the expected route from the first location to the second location;

monitoring an actual route of the autonomous vehicle; and

while the autonomous vehicle is in a parked state at the second location, authenticating a receiver of the data;

if the receiver is authenticated, delivering the data to the receiver, wherein the data is delivered in a second data structure different from the first data structure, the second data structure comprising an actual route used to deliver the data to the receiver, a second digital key to authenticate the receiver, and the data; and

if the receiver is not authenticated, not delivering the data to the receiver.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the data is received over a wired connection, and the wired connection comprising one or more signal wires in a charging cable, the charging cable comprising at least another wire for delivering power to the autonomous vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

comparing the actual route with the expected route;

flagging any differences between the actual route and the expected route;

storing the flagged differences in the data store;

monitoring a physical integrity of the data store while the data is stored in the data store; and

monitoring access to the data while the data is stored in the data store.

15. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in communication with the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

while the autonomous vehicle is in a parked state at a first location, receive data from a sender, wherein the data is received in a first encrypted data structure secured by a digital key, the first encrypted data structure comprising a route, a first digital key to authenticate the autonomous vehicle, and the data;

store the data in a data store;

ensure security of the data by encrypting the data;

determine whether route instructions have been received;

if route instructions have not been received, request route instructions;

verify route information in the route instructions;

program an expected route of the autonomous vehicle according to the route instructions from the first location to a second location;

drive the autonomous vehicle according to the expected route from the first location to the second location;

monitor an actual route of the autonomous vehicle;

while the autonomous vehicle is in a parked state at the second location, authenticate a receiver of the data;

if the receiver is authenticated, deliver the data to the receiver, wherein the data is delivered in a second data structure different from the first data structure, the second data structure comprising an actual route used to deliver the data to the receiver, a second digital key to authenticate the receiver, and the data; and

if the receiver is not authenticated, do not deliver the data to the receiver.

16. The autonomous vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the instructions also cause the processor to:

compare the actual route with the expected route;

flag any differences between the actual route and the expected route;

store the flagged differences in the data store;

monitor a physical integrity of the data store while the data is stored in the data store; and

monitor access to the data while the data is stored in the data store.

17. The autonomous vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the instructions also cause the processor to:

continuously monitor and store a route taken by the autonomous vehicle between the sender and the receiver;

continuously monitor a physical integrity of the data store while the data is stored in the data store; and

continuously monitor access to the data while the data is stored in the data store.

18. The autonomous vehicle of claim 17 , wherein instructions also cause the processor to:

flag any delivery of the data while the autonomous vehicle is in motion; and

flag any damage to the data store while the data is stored in the data store.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

continuously monitoring and storing a route taken by the autonomous vehicle between the sender and the receiver;

continuously monitoring a physical integrity of the data store while the data is stored in the data store; and

continuously monitoring access to the data while the data is stored in the data store.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

flagging any delivery of the data while the autonomous vehicle is in motion; and

flagging any damage to the data store while the data is stored in the data store.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (11)