Tamper evident system for modification and distribution of secured vehicle operating parameters

Abstract

Systems and methods of securing, distribution and enforcing for-hire vehicle operating parameters are described whereby a first computer system maintaining the parameters generates a data packet that is distributed to a second computer system which acts as a meter (such as a taximeter, limousine meter or shuttle meter) for the for-hire vehicle. The first computer system may secure or encrypt the data packet according to a security protocol associated with the second computer system. Once the second computer system receives the data packet, it may validate and extract the operating parameters contained within it. The second computer system may then store the operating parameters and operate according to the parameters by, for example, calculating fares for passengers that make use of the for-hire vehicle associated with the second computer system. The second computer system may include a secure segment that is attached to the for-hire vehicle and a non-secure segment that may be easily removed to prevent theft or for repairs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A for-hire vehicle computer system comprising:
 a receiver configured for receiving signals from a network-based parameter distribution system;   a first processor;   a tangible first computer-readable-medium storing unique identifier data;   a tamper-evident, tangible, second computer-readable-medium storing:
 decryption protocol data; 
 current for-hire vehicle operating parameter data; 
 first software instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
 access an encrypted data packet comprising one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters; 
 decrypt the encrypted data packet based on a decryption protocol; 
 determine if the for-hire vehicle computer system should operate according to the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters based at least in part on the unique identifier data; 
 extract the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters from the data packet; and, 
 modify the current for-hire vehicle operating parameter data based on the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable, non-tamper evident portion. 
     
     
         3 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 2  wherein the non-tamper evident portion comprises a second processor and a non-transitory, tangible, third computer-readable-medium. 
     
     
         4 . The for-hire vehicle system of  claim 3 , wherein the first processor and the second processor execute a security handshake. 
     
     
         5 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the software instructions further cause the processor to calculate a for-hire vehicle fare based on the modified current for-hire vehicle operating parameter data. 
     
     
         6 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1  wherein the data packet is encrypted using an algorithm specific to the for-hire vehicle computer system. 
     
     
         7 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1  wherein the tamper-evident, tangible, computer-readable-medium comprises a tampering indicator indicating a first state if the tamper evident, tangible, computer-readable-medium has been tampered with, and a second state if the tamper evident, tangible, computer-readable-medium is tamper free. 
     
     
         8 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters indicate a valid time period for the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters. 
     
     
         9 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters indicates a geospatial point based surcharge. 
     
     
         10 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more updated for-hire vehicle operating parameters indicates a variable operational surcharge. 
     
     
         11 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 1  further comprising a USB port. 
     
     
         12 . The for-hire vehicle computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the software instructions further cause the processor to access the encrypted data packet by the USB port. 
     
     
         13 . A method of modifying the operation of a for-hire vehicle computer system, comprising:
 accessing a security protocol associated with a for-hire vehicle computer system;   accessing a plurality of for-hire vehicle operating parameters, the for-hire vehicle operating parameters indicating the rules of operation of the for-hire vehicle computer system;   generating, by a parameter maintenance computer system, a data packet comprising an indication of the for-hire vehicle operating parameters;   securing, by the parameter maintenance computer system, the data packet according to the security protocol thereby creating a secure data packet; and, transferring the secure data packet to the for-hire vehicle computer system.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the security protocol associated with the for-hire vehicle computer system in an encryption protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the security protocol specifies an algorithm for securing the data packet that is unique to the for-hire vehicle computer system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of for-hire vehicle operating parameters comprises a time parameter, the time parameter indicating a period of time for which the for-hire vehicle computer system should operate according to the plurality of for-hire vehicle operating parameters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of for-hire vehicle operating parameters comprises mutually exclusive sets of operating parameters, the mutually exclusive sets of operating parameters each indicating a non-overlapping time period for which the for-hire vehicle computer system should operate according to for-hire vehicle operating parameters of each mutually exclusive set of operating parameters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of for-hire vehicle operating parameters comprises a geospatial point based surcharge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of for-hire vehicle operating parameters comprises a variable operational surcharge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transferring is performed wirelessly. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transferring comprises:
 copying, by the parameter maintenance computer system, the secure data packet to a non-transitory, computer readable medium; and 
 connecting the non-transitory computer readable medium to the for-hire vehicle computer system. 
 
     
     
         22 . A for-hire vehicle computer system comprising:
 means for storing a private encryption key;   means for decrypting data packets encrypted with a public key associated with the for-hire vehicle computer system to determine for-hire vehicle operating parameters;   means for detecting evidence of tampering with the storing means and decrypting means;   means for calculating for-hire vehicle fares based on the for-hire vehicle operating parameters.   
     
     
         23 . The for-hire vehicle of  claim 22  further comprising:
 means for executing a software security handshake.