Method and system for vehicle authorization of a service technician

A system for a vehicle authorizing a service technician for performing a service operation on the vehicle, the system comprising:

• a secure device having limited accessibility but being accessible by the service technician and storing a first cryptographic key associated with the service technician;
• a computing unit obtaining from a certification authority a certification that an authentic technician is associated with a second cryptographic key corresponding to the first cryptographic key;
• a cryptographic unit utilizing the cryptographic key in cryptographic communication with the secure device;
• the computing unit determining whether the service technician is the authentic technician based on whether the cryptographic key is successfully utilized in the cryptographic communication, accessing a technician database to determine whether the service technician is indicated as authorized to perform the service operation, and allowing the service technician to perform the service operation if the service technician is indicated as authorized to perform the service operation.

A method for a authorization of a service technician for performing a service operation on a vehicle, the method performed by the vehicle and comprising the steps of:

• authenticating the service technician;
• accessing a technician database to determine whether the service technician is indicated as authorized to perform the service operation;
• and
• allowing the service technician to perform the service operation if the service technician is indicated as authorized to perform the service operation.