In-vehicle secure wireless personal area network (SWPAN)

During the last several years, the interest in wireless networking has grown significantly due to the availability of many wireless products, such as cell phones, wireless enabled mice, keyboards, modems, and many other products. Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, personal digital assistance (PDAs), and laptops are becoming common. Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) products are growing at a rapid rate. Several companies have already started developing WiMax products. The reason for the rapid growth of wireless technology is that it provides the users with additional convenience over the wired technology. General Motors Corporation introduced a Bluetooth network in its 2003 Saab 9-3 model car. Having a wireless personal area network (WPAN) in a vehicle will allow the driver to control the various operations within the vehicle without taking his hands off the steering wheel. For example, the driver will be able to make a phone call through a Bluetooth-embled headset and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone using voice-activated dialing features. If the Bluetooth network is connected to the vehicle's wired network through an appropriate gateway device, then the driver will be able to control the lights, windshield wipers, air flow, heat, and various other features of the vehicle through,a Bluetooth-enabled headset and voice-activated features. An in-vehicle WPAN will also allow the users to use their PDAs as electronic car keys. Though an in-vehicle WPAN can provide the users with many convenient features, it can also make the vehicle system vulnerable to many types of security attacks unless it is properly designed. In this paper, the authors present a technique for building an in-vehicle secure WPAN (SWPAN). The technique is user friendly and easy to use.