Vehicle-to-Vehicle Secure Communication Protocol Based on Digital Vehicle Identification Number

Abstract

Establishing secure vehicular communication is essential for the development of autonomous driving capabilities and to make new functionalities possible, such as smart traffic management, or systems aimed at avoiding or mitigating traffic accidents. In this scenario, where the deployment of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) may be difficult, the use of identity-based cryptography is proposed as a good alternative, because this approach simplifies encryption by enabling dynamic key generation and secure communication, without requiring prior key exchanges, making it highly scalable and efficient. In this way, this paper proposes a communication protocol applicable to V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2X (vehicle-to-all) communications, replacing schemes based on PKI with identity-based cryptographic schemes using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) as an unequivocal vehicle identifier. This paper also describes a prototype implementation in a conventional vehicle and the performance metrics of the system. Through a defined proof of concept, we obtained various quantitative results, demonstrating the importance of the processors used for the encryption and decryption operations required. The proposed system provides secure and flexible vehicle identification, with multiple practical applications. It can enables digital authentication, support toll payments without extra hardware, and facilitate V2X communication via the VIN for improved traffic management and safety. Additionally, it can streamline processes in repair workshops and optimize fuel payment and tracking at service stations.