Installment configurations within a vehicle and interoperability of devices configured to implement secure communication lockdowns, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

In some embodiments, the present invention provides for a hardware component that includes at least the following: a logic cell; where the logic cell is configured in a static configuration within the hardware component which cannot be changed during run-time; where the hardware component is an intermediary between a processor of an ECU that is located within a vehicle and a communication network of the vehicle; where the logic cell is configured to solely serve a respective communication network; where the logic cell is configured to verify a portion of each communication against at least one of: a pre-defined approved message dictionary, a finite state machine, and an approved communication schema; and performing one of: executing an administrative action with an unauthorized communication or one of: transmitting an approved communication from the hardware component or modifying the approved communication with a pre-defined change.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one secure communication lockdown device that is located within a vehicle and comprises:   at least one respective processor that is at least programmed to:
 receive each respective electronic message; 
 verify at least one portion of each respective electronic message against:
 i) at least one portion of at least one pre-defined approved message dictionary or 
 ii) at least one portion of at least one finite state machine; 
 
 determine, based on the verification of the at least one portion of each respective electronic message, that each respective electronic message is:
 i) an unauthorized electronic message or 
 ii) an approved electronic message; 
 
 generate at least one respective indication for the at least one respective electronic message, wherein the at least one indication is configured to identify the at least one respective electronic message as being the approved electronic message or the unauthorized electronic message; and
 wherein the at least one other communication lockdown device is dedicated to at least one of: 
 i) at least one physically separate communication network, 
 ii) at least one physically separate external communication entry-exit point, or 
 iii) at least one physically separate ECU. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 installing at least one secure communication lockdown device that is located within a vehicle and comprises:   at least one respective processor that is at least programmed to:
 receive each respective electronic message; 
 verify at least one portion of each respective electronic message against:
 i) at least one portion of at least one pre-defined approved message dictionary or 
 ii) at least one portion of at least one finite state machine; 
 
 determine, based on the verification of the at least one portion of each respective electronic message, that each respective electronic message is:
 i) an unauthorized electronic message or 
 ii) an approved electronic message; 
 
 generate at least one respective indication for the at least one respective electronic message, wherein the at least one indication is configured to identify the at least one respective electronic message as being the approved electronic message or the unauthorized electronic message; and
 wherein the at least one other communication lockdown device is dedicated to at least one of: 
 i) at least one physically separate communication network, 
 ii) at least one physically separate external communication entry-exit point, or 
 iii) at least one physically separate ECU.