A system concept is provided for an electronic registration number (ERN) as one identifier among others in a vehicle. The concept is based on a careful analyses of user needs, including the need to use the ERN for enforcement purposes and the assumption that the holder will not always handle an ERN with due diligence.
A typical characteristic of an ERN is that it will become mandatory. This is an essential difference with most other well-known Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) applications and has serious consequences. One can no longer assume that a car holder will take care of his ERN with due diligence, the resistance against fraud becomes a major issue and so does the protection of the privacy.
The concept is based on a careful analyses of user needs, including the need to use it for enforcement purposes and the assumption that it will not be handled with due diligence. Identified services are peer authentication, location, detection and identification.
The overall system encompasses vehicles, readers and a back office. The on board equipment encompasses at least an Electronic Registration Unit (a smart card), an on board network and a DSRC module. But other components may be added.
The paper at hand reflects the current state of discourse in the Netherlands. It is a technical paper that does not deal with any Dutch policy preferences but provides a generic presentation of the subject.