US Patent 9813387 Vehicle communication network security system and method

A vehicle communication network security system) includes one or more processors configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling together along a route. The processors examine one or more characteristics of an incoming data signal received by the processors from a communication device disposed onboard the vehicle system. The processors determine whether the incoming data signal is a secure data signal or an insecure data signal based on the one or more characteristics, communicate the incoming data signal to one or more onboard systems of the vehicle system for use by the one or more onboard systems in controlling operation of the vehicle system responsive to determining that the incoming data signal is the secure data signal, and prevent the incoming data from being communicated to the one or more onboard systems responsive to determining that the incoming data signal is the insecure data signal.