Method and apparatus for securing access to automotive devices and software services

A car comprising:

• a body;
• a set of wheels attached to the body;
• an engine located within the body, wherein the engine provides power to turn at least one wheel in the set of wheels to move the body;
• a plurality of devices;
• a bus, wherein the bus provides electrical connection to the plurality of devices;
• a computing platform, wherein the computing platform is connected to the bus, the computing platform including:
• a plurality of Java software components, wherein the each of the plurality of Java software components is used to access a device within the plurality of devices;
• and is associated with a authorization level;
• a data structure containing a plurality of user profiles in which each profile within the plurality of user profiles is associated with an authorization level;
• and
• a registry mechanism, wherein the registry mechanism is used to provide access to the plurality of Java software components, wherein the registry mechanism has a plurality of modes of operation including:
• a first mode of operation in which the registry mechanism monitors for a request for a software component;
• a second mode of operation, responsive to receiving a request in the first mode of operation, in which the registry mechanism identifies an authorization level for the request;
• and
• a third mode of operation, for returning a result based on the identified authorization level.

A method in a computing platform located in an automobile for restricting access to a plurality of software components, wherein the plurality of software components are used to interface with a plurality of devices located within the automobile, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from an application for a software component, wherein the request includes a data structure, wherein the software component is a requested software component;
• determining whether the requested software component is present within the plurality of software components;
• determining whether the application is allowed access to the requested software component based on the data structure;
• and
• providing the application access to the requested software component in response to the software component being present and in response the application being allowed access to the requested software component.

A method in a computing platform located in an vehicle for restricting access to a plurality of software components, wherein the plurality of software components are used to interface with a plurality of devices located within the vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from an application for a software component, wherein the request includes a data structure, wherein the software component is a requested software component;
• determining whether the requested software component is present within the plurality of software components;
• identifying an access level for the application;
• and
• returning a result to the application based whether the requested software component is present in the plurality of software components and based on the access level identified for the application.

A data processing system located in an vehicle for restricting access to a plurality of software components, wherein the plurality of software components are used to interface with a plurality of devices located within the vehicle, the data processing system comprising:

• receiving means for receiving a request from an application for a software component, wherein the request includes a data structure, wherein the software component is a requested software component;
• determining means for determining whether the requested software component is present within the plurality of software components;
• identifying means for identifying an access level for the application;
• and
• returning means for returning a result to the application based whether the requested software component is present in the plurality of software components and based on the access level identified for the application.

A data processing system located in an automobile for restricting access to a plurality of software components, wherein the plurality of software components are used to interface with a plurality of devices located within the automobile, the data processing system comprising:

• receiving means for receiving a request from an application for a software component, wherein the request includes a data structure, wherein the software component is a requested software component;
• first determining means for determining whether the requested software component is present within the plurality of software components;
• second determining means for determining whether the application is allowed access to the requested software component based on the data structure;
• and
• providing means for providing the application access to the requested software component in response to the software component being present and in response the application being allowed access to the requested software component.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in an vehicle for restricting access to a plurality of software components, wherein the plurality of software components are used to interface with a plurality of devices located within the vehicle, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for receiving a request from an application for a software component, wherein the request includes a data structure, wherein the software component is a requested software component;
• second instructions for determining whether the requested software component is present within the plurality of software components;
• third instructions for identifying an access level for the application;
• and
• fourth instructions for returning a result to the application based whether the requested software component is present in the plurality of software components and based on the access level identified for the application.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in an automobile for restricting access to a plurality of software components, wherein the plurality of software components are used to interface with a plurality of devices located within the automobile, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for receiving a request from an application for a software component, wherein the request includes a data structure, wherein the software component is a requested software component;
• second instructions for determining whether the requested software component is present within the plurality of software components;
• third instructions for determining whether the application is allowed access to the requested software component based on the data structure;
• and
• fourth instructions for providing the application access to the requested software component in response to the software component being present and in response the application being allowed access to the requested software component.