STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to wireless networks for vehicles.

Description of the Related Art

The prior art discusses various techniques for wireless networks for vehicles.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,215,590 for Authentication Using Vehicle Data Pairing discloses the wireless pairing of a portable device with an on-board computer of a vehicle for authenticating a transaction with a third party.

General definitions for terms utilized in the pertinent art are set forth below.

Beacon is a management frame that contains all of the information about a network. In a WLAN, Beacon frames are periodically transmitted to announce the presence of the network.

BLUETOOTH technology is a standard short range radio link that operates in the unlicensed 2.4 gigaHertz band.

Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) is a spread spectrum communication system used in second generation and third generation cellular networks, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307.

FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a protocol for moving files over the Internet from one computer to another.

GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications is a second generation digital cellular network.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) is a set of conventions for controlling the transfer of information via the Internet from a web server computer to a client computer, and also from a client computer to a web server, and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“HTTPS”) is a communications protocol for secure communication via a network from a web server computer to a client computer, and also from a client computer to a web server by at a minimum verifying the authenticity of a web site.

Internet is the worldwide, decentralized totality of server computers and data-transmission paths which can supply information to a connected and browser-equipped client computer, and can receive and forward information entered from the client computer.

Media Access Control (MAC) Address is a unique identifier assigned to the network interface by the manufacturer.

Memory generally includes any type of integrated circuit or storage device configured for storing digital data including without limitation ROM, PROM, EEPROM, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, flash memory, and the like.

Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) is a 24-bit number that uniquely identifies a vendor, manufacturer, or organization on a worldwide basis. The OUI is used to help distinguish both physical devices and software, such as a network protocol, that belong to one entity from those that belong to another.

Probe Request: A frame that contains the advertisement IE for a device that is seeking to establish a connection with a proximate device.

Probe Response: A frame that contains the advertisement IE for a device. The Probe Response is sent in response to a Probe Request.

Processor generally includes all types of processors including without limitation microprocessors, general purpose processors, gate arrays, array processors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and digital signal processors.

SCP (Secure Connection Packet) is used to provide authentication between multiple devices or a local party and remote host to allow for secure communication or the transfer of computer files.

SSID (Service Set Identifier) is a 1 to 32 byte string that uniquely names a wireless local area network.

Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) is a protocol for moving files over the Internet.

URL or Uniform Resource Locator is an address on the World Wide Web.

User Interface or UI is the junction between a user and a computer program. An interface is a set of commands or menus through which a user communicates with a program. A command driven interface is one in which the user enter commands. A menu-driven interface is one in which the user selects command choices from various menus displayed on the screen.

Web-Browser is a complex software program, resident in a client computer, that is capable of loading and displaying text and images and exhibiting behaviors as encoded in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) from the Internet, and also from the client computer's memory. Major browsers include MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, NETSCAPE, APPLE SAFARI, MOZILLA FIREFOX, and OPERA.

Web-Server is a computer able to simultaneously manage many Internet information-exchange processes at the same time. Normally, server computers are more powerful than client computers, and are administratively and/or geographically centralized. An interactive-form information-collection process generally is controlled from a server computer, to which the sponsor of the process has access.

Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”) is an open, global specification that empowers users with mobile wireless communication devices (such as mobile phones) to easily access data and to interact with Websites over the Internet through such mobile wireless communication device. WAP works with most wireless communication networks such as CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, reflex, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, Mobitex and GRPS. WAP can be built on most operating systems including PalmOS, WINDOWS, CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, JavaOS and others.

WAP Push is defined as an encoded WAP content message delivered (pushed) to a mobile communication device which includes a link to a WAP address.

Wireless AP (access point) is a node on the wireless local area network (WLAN) that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, or related standards.

There is a need for securely connecting a device to a single access point in a vehicle, while preventing malicious users from detecting and connecting to a wireless network published on a vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method of securely and accurately connecting mobile devices to wireless networks in vehicles by using encrypted wireless network configurations based on vehicle specific data.

One aspect of the present invention is a method for a secure connection to a wireless network of a vehicle. The method includes generating, at a server, definitions for a SCP for an assigning authority for a vehicle. The method also includes transmitting the definitions for the SCP from the server to a CVD and a mobile device. The method also includes compiling the SCP at the CVD to generate a CVD compiled SCP. The method also includes transmitting the CVD compiled SCP to the server for authorization. The method also includes transmitting authorization for the CVD compiled SCP from the server to the CVD for creation of a validated SCP. The method also includes generating a dataset at the mobile device to compile a mobile device compiled SCP. The method also includes broadcasting at a CVD a wireless network with a hidden and hashed SSID unique to the vehicle, the hidden and hashed SSID generated from the validated SCP. The method also includes generating at the mobile device the hashed SSID and a passphrase from the dataset, which allows the mobile device to connect to the wireless network. The method also includes searching at a mobile device for a vehicle having the CVD broadcasting the wireless network in a hidden mode. The method also includes connecting the mobile device with the CVD. The CVD comprises a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, a memory, and a connector for mating with a connector plug of a vehicle. The mobile device comprises a graphical user interface, a BLUETOOTH radio, a processor, a WiFi radio and a cellular network interface.

Another aspect of the present invention is a system for vehicle to mobile device secure wireless communications. The system comprises a vehicle, a CVD, a mobile device and a passive communication device. The vehicle comprises an on-board computer with a memory having a vehicle identification number (VIN), a connector plug, and an motorized engine. The CVD comprises a processor, a WiFi radio, a BLUETOOTH radio, a memory, and a connector for mating with the connector plug of the vehicle. The mobile device comprises a graphical user interface, a mobile application, a processor, a WiFi radio, and a cellular network interface. The passive communication device operates on a BLUETOOTH communication protocol. The server is configured to generate a plurality of definitions for a SCP for assigning authority for the vehicle. The server is configured to transmit the plurality of definitions for the SCP from the server to the CVD and the mobile device. The CVD is configured to compile the SCP to generate a CVD compiled SCP. The CVD is configured to transmit the CVD compiled SCP to the server for authorization. The server is configured to transmit authorization for the CVD compiled SCP to the CVD for creation of a validated SCP. The mobile device is configured to generating a dataset to compile a mobile device compiled SCP. The CVD is configured to broadcast a wireless network with a hidden and hashed SSID unique to the vehicle, the hidden and hashed SSID generated from the validated SCP. The mobile device is configured to generate the hashed SSID and a passphrase from the dataset, which allows the mobile device to connect to the wireless network. The mobile device is configured to search for a vehicle having the CVD broadcasting the wireless network in a hidden mode. The mobile device is configured to connect to the CVD over the wireless network.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for a secure connection to a wireless network of a vehicle. The method includes transmitting a plurality of definitions for a SCP from a server to a CVD and a mobile device. The method also includes receiving at the server a CVD compiled SCP for authorization. The method also includes transmitting authorization for the CVD compiled SCP from the server to the CVD for creation of a validated SCP. The method also includes generating a dataset at the mobile device to compile a mobile device compiled SCP. The method also includes broadcasting at a CVD a wireless network with a hidden and hashed SSID unique to the vehicle, the hidden and hashed SSID generated from the validated SCP. The method also includes generating at the mobile device the hashed SSID and a passphrase from the dataset, which allows the mobile device to connect to the wireless network. The method also includes connecting the mobile device with the CVD over the wireless network.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

