Method and system for authorizing reconfiguration of a vehicle

A system for authorizing reconfiguration of a vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle system obtaining from a certification authority a certification that an authentic component is associated with a cryptographic key, the vehicle system comprising
• a cryptographic unit utilizing the cryptographic key in cryptographic communication with a prospective component for a reconfiguration function;
• a configuration database storing configuration data indicating whether the reconfiguration function is authorized;
• and
• a computing unit determining whether the prospective component is the authentic component based on whether the cryptographic key is successfully utilized in the cryptographic communication, and accessing the configuration database and allowing the reconfiguration function to be performed upon determining that the reconfiguration function is authorized.

A method for authorizing reconfiguration of a vehicle, the method performed by the vehicle and comprising the steps of:

• authenticating a component for a reconfiguration function;
• accessing a configuration database to determine whether the reconfiguration function is authorized;
• and
• allowing the reconfiguration function to be performed upon determining that the reconfiguration function is authorized.