Method and system for vehicle authentication of a subassembly

Abstract

A vehicle obtains a prospective subassembly for use in the vehicle. The vehicle also obtains from a certification authority a certification that an authentic subassembly is associated with a cryptographic key. The certification certifies that the cryptographic key is bound to information identifying the authentic subassembly. The certification may also include a digital signature of the certification authority. The vehicle utilizes the cryptographic key obtained from the certification authority in cryptographic communication with the prospective subassembly, and determines whether the prospective subassembly is the authentic subassembly based on whether the cryptographic key is successfully utilized in the cryptographic communication. Upon determining the prospective subassembly is the authentic subassembly, the vehicle may allow the prospective subassembly to become operative within the vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.