Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a method for authentication of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] The current architecture of authentication system for a vehicle comprises a cluster board and a NFC unit as shown in Figure 1. The NFC unit generally comprises a power circuit for power circulation, a microcontroller, a clock, tuning circuits, an NFC chip and an antenna. The NFC unit is costly and requires extensive tuning and testing, which is undesirable. Also, authentication units uses Finger Print Sensors are used for authentication of the vehicle. However, such authentication units are not electrically isolated from the cluster board. As a result, any transient or electrostatic discharge (ESD) from said units will adversely affect the components of the cluster board, which is undesirable.
[003] In view of the foregoing, there is a need-felt to overcome at least the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[004] In one aspect of the present invention, a system for authentication of a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an authentication unit and a cluster board. The authentication unit is disposed in the vehicle and configured to receive a request for authentication. The cluster board is disposed in the vehicle and configured to provide a challenge to the authentication unit to allow or reject the request for authentication. The authentication unit and cluster board are communicatively coupled to each other and electrically isolated from each other.
[005] In an embodiment, the authentication unit comprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder. The SPI decoder is configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip disposed in the cluster board. The request for authentication is received by an NFC tag associated with an NFC card. The challenge is comparison of a first unique code generated by the cluster board with a second unique code requested by the authenticator unit and determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code. The authentication request is allowed upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code. The authentication request is rejected upon determination of non-match between the first unique code and the second unique code exceeding a pre-defined value.
[006] In an embodiment, the authentication unit comprises a Finger Print Sensor and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder. The SPI decoder is configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip disposed in the cluster board. The request for authentication is received when a fingerprint is detected by the Finger Print Sensor. The challenge is comparison of detected fingerprint with one or more registered fingerprints stored in a memory unit of the cluster board and determination of match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints. The authentication request is allowed upon determination of match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints. The authentication request is rejected upon determination of non-match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints.
[007] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for authentication of a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises a step of receiving a request for authentication. The step of receiving a request for authentication is performed by an authentication unit. The method further comprises a step of transmitting an information indicative of receipt of request for authentication to a cluster board. The step of transmitting is performed by the authentication unit. The authentication unit and the cluster board are electrically isolated from each other. The method further comprises a step of providing a challenge to the authentication unit to allow or reject the request for authentication.
[008] In an embodiment, the authentication unit comprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder. The SPI decoder is configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip disposed in the cluster board. In this embodiment, the request for authentication is received from an NFC tag associated with an NFC card. It is to be understood that NFC card is used by a rider of the vehicle for the purpose of authentication. Upon receipt of information indicative of receipt of request for authentication, the method further comprises a step of comparing a first unique code generated by the cluster board with a second unique code received from the NFC tag associated with the NFC card. Upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code, the method comprises a step of allowing the authentication request. Upon determination of non-match between the first unique code and the second unique code exceeding a pre-defined value, the method comprises a step of rejecting the authentication request.
[009] In an embodiment, the authentication unit comprises a Finger Print Sensor and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder. The SPI decoder is configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip disposed in the cluster board. In this embodiment, the request for authentication is received upon a fingerprint being detected by the Finger Print Sensor. The step of receiving the authentication request is performed by the authentication unit. Upon receiving such an authentication request, the method comprises a step of comparing the detected finger print with one or more registered fingerprints stored in a memory unit of the cluster board. The step of comparing is performed by the authentication unit. Upon determination of match between the detected finger print with one of the one or more registered fingerprints, the method comprises a step of allowing the authentication request. Upon determination of non-match between the detected finger print with one of the one or more registered fingerprints exceeding a pre-defined value, the method comprises a step of rejecting the authentication request.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[010] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art system for authentication of a vehicle.
Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system for authentication of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system for authentication of a vehicle, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for authentication of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for authentication of a vehicle, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[011] Various features and embodiments of the present invention here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder.
[012] For the purpose of the present invention, the term “vehicle” comprises any vehicle provided with a cluster board and authentication unit such as, not being limited to, bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, rickshaws, cars, trucks, etc. The term “vehicle” also comprises, not being limited to, conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.
[013] The authentication unit is a unit for authenticating different components of the vehicle such as, not being limited to, doors, engine, infotainment systems etc. of the vehicle. The cluster board is a board for controlling operation of all the components of an instrument cluster provided in the vehicle.
[014] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art system 100 for authentication of a vehicle.
[015] As shown, the system comprises a cluster board and an NFC Unit. The NFC unit comprises power circuit for power circulation, microcontroller, clock, tuning circuits, NFC chip and Antenna. Moreover, the cluster board and the NFC unit are not electrically isolated. Therefore, the components of the cluster board are susceptible to transient and electrostatic discharge from the NFC unit.
[016] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system 200 for authentication of a vehicle 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[017] As shown, the system 200 comprises a cluster board 204 and an authentication unit. The authentication unit 202 is electrically isolated from the cluster board 204. The authentication unit 202 comprises a NFC chip 206 and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder 208. The NFC chip 206 detects a request for authentication received by an NFC tag 212a associated with an NFC card 212.The cluster board 204 comprises a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip 210 which is configured to communicate with SPI decoder 208 of the authentication unit 202. Upon receiving a request for authentication, the same is communicated to the cluster board 204 by the SPI decoder 208. Upon receiving an information indicative of the receipt of authentication request by the cluster board 204, the cluster board 204 is configured to provide a challenge to the authentication unit 202 to allow or reject the request for authentication. In a non-limiting example, the cluster board 204 generates a first unique code and sends it to the authentication unit 202. Upon receipt of the unique code, the authentication unit 202 requests for a second code from the NFC tag 212a associated with the NFC card 212 and compares the first unique code with the second unique code. Upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code, the authentication request is allowed. Upon determination of non-match between the first unique code and the second unique code exceeding a pre-defined value, the authentication request is rejected. In a non-limiting example, the pre-defined value is 3 which means that the authentication unit 202 will match the first unique code and the second unique code three times before rejecting the request for authorization. However, this should not be construed as limiting and other pre-defined values can be set by the manufacturer of the vehicle 10.
[018] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system 300 for authentication of a vehicle 10, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[019] As shown, the system 300 comprises the cluster board 304 and an authentication unit 302. The authentication unit 302 is electrically isolated from the cluster board 304. The authentication unit 302 comprises a Finger Print Sensor 314 and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder 308. The Finger Print Sensor 314 detects a request for authentication when a fingerprint is detected by the Finger Print Sensor 314. The cluster board comprises a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip 310 which is configured to communicate with SPI decoder 308 of the authentication unit 302. Upon receiving a request for authentication, the same is communicated to the cluster board 304 by the SPI decoder 308. Upon receiving an information indicative of the receipt of authentication request by the cluster board 304, the cluster board 304 is configured to provide a challenge to the authentication unit 302 to allow or reject the request for authentication. In a non-limiting example, the challenge is comparison of detected fingerprint with one or more registered fingerprints stored in a memory unit of the cluster board 304 and determination of match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints. Upon determination of match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints, the authentication request is allowed. Upon determination of non-match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints exceeding a pre-defined value, the authentication request is rejected. In a non-limiting example, the pre-defined value is 3 which means that the authentication unit 302 will match the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints three times before rejecting the request for authorization. However, this should not be construed as limiting and other pre-defined values can be set by the manufacturer of the vehicle.
[020] In the present invention, the isolated SPI chip in the cluster enables bidirectional data transmission required for SPI communication between two completely galvanically isolated devices.
[021] In the present invention, isolated serial communication can be A2B (automotive audio bus communication) or an isolated SPI communication configured such that cluster board is a master and authentication unit is the slave.
[022] In the present invention, when the authentication is performed through the fingerprint sensor, upon detection of the finger print by the finger print sensor, the cluster board is awakened by a message through isolated SPI chip.
[023] In the present invention, when the authentication is performed through the NFC card, every time the NFC card is found not authentic, an internal counter is incremented till it reaches the pre-defined value. Every time a NFC card is rejected, a message is transmitted to registered mobile number of rider of the vehicle indicating incorrect authentication to prevent theft of the vehicle.
[024] It is to be understood that the authentication unit can have both NFC chip as well as fingerprint sensor can be present in the authentication unit and the rider of the vehicle can choose either a NFC card or Finger Print Sensor to authenticate the vehicle.
[025] In a non-limiting example, the SPI decoder encodes the SPI signals from the cluster board into differential signals with up to 1 Mbps, which are then transmitted through the galvanic isolation barrier and the twisted pair cables. At the opposite end of the cable, the differential signals are received again by an IC and decoded into SPI signals, which are then routed to the slave bus.
[026] In a non-limiting example, by using isolated communication lines and using a protected 5V, the systems are isolated. Thus any transients or ESD from the NFC does not affect the cluster board
[027] In a non-limiting example, the connection of the authentication unit to the main cluster has minimal number of terminals. The connector is to have a minimum of 7 pins to satisfy the functions.
[028] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for authentication of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[029] At step 401, the method 400 comprises receiving a request for authentication from an NFC tag 212a associated with an NFC card 212. The step 401 is performed by an authentication unit 202.
[030] At step 402, the method 400 comprises transmitting an information indicative of receipt of the request for authentication to a cluster board 204. The cluster board 204 and the authentication unit 202 are communicatively coupled to each other and electrically isolated from each other. The step 402 is performed by the authentication unit 202.
[031] At step 403, the method 400 comprises providing a challenge to the authentication unit 202 to allow or reject the request for authentication. The step 403 is performed by the cluster board 204.
[032] At step 404, the method 400 comprises comparing a first unique code generated by the cluster board 204 with a second unique code received from the NFC tag 212a associated with the NFC card 212 and determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code. The second unique code is requested by the authenticator unit 202 upon generation of the first unique code by the cluster board 204. The step 404 is performed by the authentication unit 202. Upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code, the method moves to step 405, else 406.
[033] At step 405, the method comprises a step of allowing the authentication request upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code. The step 405 is performed by the authentication unit 202.
[034] At step 406, the method comprises a step of rejecting the authentication request upon determination of non-match between the first unique code and the second unique code exceeding a pre-defined value. The step 406 is performed by the authentication unit 202.
[035] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method 500 for authentication of a vehicle 10, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[036] At step 501, the method 500 comprises receiving a request for authentication upon a fingerprint being detected by the Finger Print Sensor 314. The step 501 is performed by the authentication unit 302.
[037] At step 502, the method 500 comprises transmitting an information indicative of receipt of the request for authentication to a cluster board 304. The cluster board 304 and the authentication unit 302 are communicatively coupled to each other and electrically isolated from each other. The step 502 is performed by the authentication unit 302.
[038] At step 503, the method 500 comprises providing a challenge to the authentication unit 302 to allow or reject the request for authentication. The step 503 is performed by the cluster board.
[039] At step 504, the method comprises comparing detected finger print sensor with one or more registered fingerprints stored in a memory unit of the cluster board 304 and determination of match between the detected finger print with one of the one or more registered fingerprints. The step 404 is performed by the authentication unit 302. Upon determination of match between the detected finger print with one of the one or more registered fingerprints, the method moves to step 505, else 506.
[040] At step 505, the method 500 comprises a step of allowing the authentication request upon determination of match between the detected finger print with one of the one or more registered fingerprints. The step 505 is performed by the authentication unit 302.
[041] At step 506, the method comprises a step of rejecting the authentication request upon determination of non-match between the detected finger print with one of the one or more registered fingerprints exceeding a pre-defined value. The step 506 is performed by the authentication unit 302.
[042] The claimed features/method steps of the present invention as discussed above are not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the claimed features/steps enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies. Specifically, the technical problem of cluster board being affected by the transient or electrostatic discharge (ESD) from the authentication unit is solved by present invention.
[043] In the present invention, the cluster board and authentication unit are electrically isolated and, therefore, the cluster board is not affected by any of the transient or electrostatic discharge (ESD) generated by the authentication unit.
[044] The number of components in the authentication unit have decreased in the present invention which results in cost effective and compact authentication unit.
[045] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

, Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A system (100) for authentication of a vehicle (10), the system (100) comprising:
- an authentication unit (102), the authentication unit (102) disposed in the vehicle (10) and configured to receive a request for authentication;
- a cluster board (104), the cluster board (104) disposed in the vehicle (10) and configured to provide a challenge to the authentication unit (102) to allow or reject the request for authentication,
- wherein the authentication unit (102) and the cluster board (104) being communicatively coupled to each other and electrically isolated from each other.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the authentication unit (102) comprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip (106) and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder (108), the SPI decoder (108) configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip (110) disposed in the cluster board (104).

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the request for authentication being received by an NFC tag (112a) associated with an NFC card (112).

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the challenge being comparison of a first unique code generated by the cluster board (104) with a second unique code requested by the authenticator unit (102) from the NFC tag (112a) and determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code.

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the authentication request being allowed upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code.

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the authentication request being rejected upon determination of non-match between the first unique code and the second unique code exceeding a pre-defined value.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the authentication unit (102) comprises a Finger Print Sensor (114) and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder (108), the SPI decoder (108) configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip (110) disposed in the cluster board (104).

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the request for authentication being received upon a fingerprint being detected by the Finger Print Sensor (114).

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the challenge being comparison of detected fingerprint with one or more registered fingerprints stored in a memory unit of the cluster board (104) and determination of match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints .

10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the authentication request being allowed upon determination of match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints.

11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the authentication request being rejected upon determination of non-match between the detected fingerprint and one of the one or more registered fingerprints exceeding a pre-defined value.

12. A method for authentication of a vehicle (10), the method comprising:
- receiving, by an authentication unit (102) disposed in the vehicle (10), a request for authentication;
- transmitting, by the authentication unit (102) to a cluster board (104), an information indicative of receipt of the request for authentication, the cluster board (104) and the authentication unit (102) being communicatively coupled to each other and electrically isolated from each other;
- providing, by the cluster board (104), a challenge to the authentication unit (102) to allow or reject the request for authentication.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the authentication unit (102) comprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip (106) and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder (108), the SPI decoder (108) configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip (110) disposed in the cluster board (104).

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, comprising:
- receiving, by the authentication unit (102), a request for authentication from an NFC tag (112a) associated with an NFC card (112).

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, comprising:
- comparing, by the authentication unit (102), a first unique code generated by the cluster board (104) with a second unique code received from the NFC tag (112a) associated with the NFC card (112), the second unique code being requested by the authenticator unit (102) upon generation of the first unique code; and
- allowing, by the authentication unit (102), the authentication request upon determination of match between the first unique code and the second unique code; or
- rejecting, by the authentication unit, the authentication request upon determination of non-match between the first unique code and the second unique code exceeding a pre-defined value.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the authentication unit (102) comprises a Finger Print Sensor (114) and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) decoder (108), the SPI decoder (108) configured to enable communication with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip (110) disposed in the cluster board (104).

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, comprising:
- receiving, by the authentication unit (102), a request for authentication upon a fingerprint being detected by the Finger Print Sensor (114).

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, comprising:
- comparing, by the authentication unit (102), the detected finger print with one or more registered fingerprints stored in a memory unit of the cluster board (104);
- allowing, by the authentication unit (102), the authentication request upon determination of match between the detected finger print with one of the registered fingerprints; or
- rejecting, by the authentication unit (102), the authentication request upon determination of non-match between the detected finger print with one of the registered fingerprints.

Dated this 20th day of March 2024

TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
By their Agent & Attorney

(Nikhil Ranjan)
of Khaitan & Co
Reg No IN/PA-1471