Securing communication requests from a vehicle communication interface to a vehicle

Abstract

Securing communication requests from a vehicle communication interface to a vehicle. In an exemplary aspect, a vehicle communication interface (VCI) device that is configured to be connected to a vehicle communication port is configured to support secure communications with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU), such as in a standalone mode. The VCI device is configured to receive a security feature(s) from a connected diagnostic tool to then have secure access to the vehicle ECU when the diagnostic tool is disconnected from the VCI device. In this manner, the VCI device is configured to mimic secure diagnostic behavior of the diagnostic tool and leverage the pre-existing diagnostic infrastructure to securely communicate with the vehicle ECU. This prevents or mitigates unauthorized VCI-like devices from being able to be connected to a vehicle's communication port and obtain vehicle data or provide vehicle programming in an unauthorized manner.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.