Communications relay apparatus

摘要

A communications relay apparatus for relaying communications between an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the apparatus via an in-vehicle local area network (LAN) and an external device connected to the apparatus via a communication path different from the in-vehicle LAN. In the apparatus, a data transfer unit forwards relay data received from the ECU to the communication path and forwards relay data received from the external device to the in-vehicle LAN. But the data transfer unit is inhibited from forwarding reprogramming data for reprogramming the ECU received from the external device to the in-vehicle LAN. An authentication unit authenticates a vehicle user, and when the vehicle user is successfully authenticated, then permits the data transfer unit to forward the reprogramming data to the in-vehicle LAN.

主权项

1. A communications relay apparatus for relaying communications between an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the apparatus via an in-vehicle local area network (LAN) and an external device connected to the apparatus via a communication path different from the in-vehicle LAN, the communications relay apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and an electronic controller including:
a data transfer unit that forwards relay data received from the ECU to the communication path and forwards relay data received from the external device to the in-vehicle LAN, the data transfer unit being inhibited from forwarding reprogramming data for reprogramming the ECU received from the external device to the in-vehicle LAN;a detection unit that detects a sequence of operations performed on a predetermined set of operation units of a vehicle by a vehicle user; andan authentication unit that authenticates the vehicle user by determining whether or not the sequence of operations detected by the detection unit are consistent with a predetermined authentication procedure, and when it is determined that the sequence of operations detected by the detection unit are consistent with the predetermined authentication procedure, the vehicle user is successfully authenticated and the electronic controller permits the data transfer unit to forward the reprogramming data to the in-vehicle LAN, wherein the sequence of operations performed on the predetermined set of operation units of the vehicle include an operation of at least one of a door handle, a window switch, a steering wheel, an acceleration pedal and a brake pedal, an operational button for vehicle-mounted equipment and a door lock switch, and are programmable and are programmed by instructions from the vehicle user.