Method for controlling a vehicle

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for applying control to a vehicle, the computer program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform or control the following steps:

• receiving, using a second control unit of a second vehicle to which control is to be applied, a signal encompassing a message encrypted using a valid symmetrical key of a first control unit of a first vehicle;
• ascertaining, using the second control unit, a decryptability of the encrypted message using:
• (i) a valid symmetrical key of the second control unit or (ii) a symmetrical reserve key of the second control unit ascertained using the second control unit, wherein the ascertaining includes:
• determining whether the encrypted message is decryptable using the valid symmetrical key, and
• in case that the encrypted message is not decryptable using the valid symmetrical key, determining that the encrypted message is decryptable by the symmetrical reserve key;
• decrypting the encrypted message, depending on the ascertained decryptability, using the second control unit, using (i) the valid symmetrical key of the second control unit or (ii) the symmetrical reserve key of the second control unit;
• and
• applying control, based on the decrypted message, to the second vehicle to which control is to be applied.

A control unit configured to apply control to a vehicle, the control unit configured to which unit is configured to:

• receive a signal encompassing a message encrypted using a valid symmetrical key of a first control unit of a first vehicle;
• ascertain a decryptability of the encrypted message using:
• (i) a valid symmetrical key of the control unit, or (ii) a symmetrical reserve key of the control unit ascertained using the control unit, wherein in order to ascertain the decryptability of the encrypted message, the control unit is configured to:
• determine whether the encrypted message is decryptable using the valid symmetrical key, and
• in case that the encrypted message is not decryptable using the valid symmetrical key, determine that the encrypted message is decryptable by the symmetrical reserve key;
• decrypt the encrypted message, depending on the ascertained decryptability, using:
• (i) the valid symmetrical key of the control unit, or (ii) the symmetrical reserve key of the control unit;
• and
• apply control, based on the decrypted message, to a second vehicle to which control is to be applied.

A grouping of control units, comprising:

• at least one first control unit disposed in a first vehicle;
• and
• a second control unit disposed in a second vehicle;
• wherein each respective control unit of the first and second control units is configured to:
• receive a signal encompassing a message encrypted using a valid symmetrical key of a respective other one of the first and second control unit;
• ascertain a decryptability of the encrypted message using:
• (i) a valid symmetrical key of the respective control unit, or (ii) a symmetrical reserve key of the control unit ascertained using the respective control unit, wherein in order to ascertain the decryptability of the encrypted message, each respective control unit is configured to:
• determine whether the encrypted message is decryptable using the valid symmetrical key, and
• in case that the encrypted message is not decryptable using the valid symmetrical key, determine that the encrypted message is decryptable by the symmetrical reserve key;
• decrypt the encrypted message, depending on the ascertained decryptability, using:
• (i) the valid symmetrical key of the respective control unit, or (ii) the symmetrical reserve key of the respective control unit;
• and
• apply control, based on the decrypted message, to a respective one of the first and second vehicles within which the respective control unit is disposed.