Unlocking Method and System for Air Conditioning Unit

Abstract

The present application provides an unlocking method and system for an air-conditioning unit. Among them, the unlocking system includes: a display device; an input device; a control device in communication with the display device, which is configured to perform the following operations: generate a dynamic graphic according to at least an identification code and an update code; generate an unlocking password according to at least a certificate, an identification code and an update code; receive the unlocking password through the input device; compare the unlocking password received from the input device with the generated unlocking password; and if the obtained unlocking password is consistent with the generated unlocking password, grant corresponding permissions. The unlocking method and system for an air-conditioning unit of the present application have the advantages of simple structure, easy manufacturing, convenient use, etc., and can improve the security of the air-conditioning unit and user login.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of air conditioner unit safety management. More specifically, this application relates to an unlocking method for an air conditioner unit, which is used to provide dynamic and secure user login for the air conditioner unit control system. This application also relates to an unlocking system including the unlocking method for an air conditioner unit. Background Art

[0002] Existing air conditioner units usually provide a fixed password, either permanent or updated regularly, for user login to the control system. The password can be, for example, a four-digit number. However, the fixed password brings potential security risks. For example, unauthorized personnel may obtain the password and log in to the control system for the air conditioner unit. In addition, there are potential risks such as being easily forgotten and easily cracked by brute force for the fixed password.

[0003] Therefore, there is a continuous need for an improved unlocking method and unlocking system. It is desired that the solution can provide dynamic and secure user login. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One object of this application is to provide an unlocking method for an air conditioner unit, which can dynamically provide a password to selectively control user login. Another object of this application is to provide an unlocking system for an air conditioner unit.

[0005] The object of this application is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0006] An unlocking method for an air conditioner unit includes the following steps:

[0007] S1: The control device generates a dynamic graphic according to at least an identification code and an update code and displays it on the display device, and generates an unlocking password according to a certificate, the identification code, and the update code;

[0008] S2: The user terminal device acquires the dynamic graphic and sends it to the server;

[0009] S3: The server decodes the dynamic graphic to obtain at least the identification code and the update code;

[0010] S4: The server obtains the unlocking password according to the certificate, the identification code, and the update code;

[0011] S5: The server sends the unlocking password to the user terminal device;

[0012] S6: The user terminal device displays the unlocking password;

[0013] S7: Input the unlocking password through an input device; and

[0014] S8: The control device compares the generated unlocking password with the input unlocking password to determine whether to grant the corresponding permission.

[0015] In the above unlocking method, optionally, the update code is regenerated according to one of the following conditions: a predetermined time has elapsed, or a manual refresh request is received.

[0016] In the above unlocking method, optionally, the dynamic graphic includes a QR code, a barcode, numbers, letters, or a combination thereof.

[0017] In the above unlocking method, optionally, in step S2, the client device obtains the dynamic graphic through an optical input device or the user's manual input.

[0018] In the above unlocking method, optionally, the update code includes a randomly generated string.

[0019] In the above unlocking method, optionally, the certificate is a shared certificate stored in the server and the control device, and the algorithm for the control device to generate the unlocking password in step S1 is the same as the algorithm for the server to generate the unlocking password in step S5.

[0020] In the above unlocking method, optionally, the algorithm includes an irreversible hash algorithm.

[0021] In the above unlocking method, optionally, a series of identification codes and the certificates corresponding to each identification code are stored in the server, and in step S4, the server looks up the certificate corresponding to the identification code according to the identification code.

[0022] In the above unlocking method, optionally, the identification code includes a MAC address.

[0023] In the above unlocking method, optionally, granting the corresponding permission includes giving the control or commissioning permission of the air-conditioning unit within a predetermined time.

[0024] An unlocking system for an air-conditioning unit, comprising:

[0025] A display device;

[0026] An input device communicating with the display device;

[0027] A control device configured to perform the following operations:

[0028] Generate a dynamic graphic according to at least the identification code and the update code;

[0029] Generate an unlocking password according to at least the certificate, the identification code, and the update code;

[0030] Receive the unlocking password through the input device;

[0031] Compare the unlock password received from the input device with the generated unlock password; and

[0032] If the obtained unlock password is consistent with the generated unlock password, grant the corresponding permission.

[0033] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the control device regenerates the update code according to one of the following conditions: a predetermined time has elapsed, or a manual refresh request is received.

[0034] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the dynamic graphics include two-dimensional codes, barcodes, numbers, letters, or combinations thereof.

[0035] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the update code includes a randomly generated string.

[0036] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the control device generates the unlock password according to an irreversible hashing algorithm.

[0037] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the identification code includes a MAC address.

[0038] In the above unlocking system, optionally, granting the corresponding permission includes giving the control or commissioning permission of the air conditioner unit within a predetermined time.

[0039] In the above unlocking system, optionally, granting the corresponding permission includes displaying the content and page corresponding to the permission on the display device.

[0040] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the display device includes a touch screen.

[0041] In the above unlocking system, optionally, the input device includes a physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard located on the touch screen.

[0042] The unlocking method and system for the air conditioner unit of the present application have the advantages of simple structure, easy manufacturing, convenient use, etc., and can improve the security of the air conditioner unit and user login. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0043] The present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that these drawings are only drawn for the purpose of explaining the preferred embodiments and should not be used as a limitation to the scope of the present application. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the drawings are only intended to conceptually represent the composition or structure of the described object and may include exaggerated displays, and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0044] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of the unlocking system and method of the present application.

[0045] Figure 2 This is a display screen of an embodiment of the display device of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0046] The preferred embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these descriptions are only descriptive and exemplary, and should not be construed as limiting the protection scope of the present application.

[0047] First of all, it should be noted that the orientation terms such as top, bottom, upward, downward, etc. mentioned in this article are defined relative to the directions in each of the accompanying drawings. They are relative concepts and can therefore change according to their different positions and different practical states. Therefore, these or other orientation terms should not be construed as restrictive terms.

[0048] In addition, it should also be pointed out that for any single technical feature described or implied in the embodiments of this article, or any single technical feature shown or implied in the accompanying drawings, combinations can still be continued between these technical features (or their equivalents) to obtain other embodiments of the present application that are not directly mentioned in this article.

[0049] It should be noted that in different accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or substantially the same components.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of the unlocking system and method of the present application. Among them, an unlocking system 100 for an air-conditioning unit includes: a display device 110, an input device 120, and a control device 130. Among them, the control device 130 is at least electrically connected to the display device 110 and the input device 120, and the input device 120 can communicate with the display device 110.

[0051] The display device 110 can be any suitable display device, including but not limited to televisions, LED displays, LCD displays, electronic ink displays, etc. The input device 120 can be any suitable input device, including an external keyboard, a physical keyboard, a virtual keyboard, a voice input device, etc. In one embodiment, the display device 110 is a touch screen with an input function, and the input device 120 can be a virtual keyboard selectively displayed on the touch screen. The control device 130 can be any suitable processor, such as any suitable data processing device on the air-conditioning unit, including but not limited to a digital signal processor, a single-chip microcomputer, a general-purpose central processing unit, a processor with an ARM architecture, etc. The unlocking system 100 can be arranged in the air-conditioning unit, physically attached to the air-conditioning unit, or configured as a detachable component, or remotely connected to the air-conditioning unit.

[0052] Specifically, the control device 130 is configured to perform the following operations: generate a dynamic graphic based on at least an identification code and an update code; generate an unlocking password based on at least a certificate, an identification code, and an update code; obtain the unlocking password at the input device 120 based on at least the dynamic graphic displayed on the display device 110, in other words, receive the unlocking password through the input device 120; compare the unlocking password received from the input device 120 with the generated unlocking password; and if the obtained unlocking password is consistent with the generated unlocking password, grant the corresponding permission to the user.

[0053] The specific working principle of the unlocking system 100 will be described in detail below in combination with the control method for an air-conditioning unit according to the present application.

[0054] The present application also provides an unlocking method for an air-conditioning unit, which includes the steps described in detail below, where steps S1 to S8 are executed in sequence.

[0055] In step S1, the control device 130 generates a dynamic graphic based on at least an identification code and an update code and displays it on the display device 110. The control device 130 also generates an unlocking password based on a certificate, an identification code, and an update code. The operation of generating the unlocking password can be performed synchronously or at different times with the operation of generating the dynamic graphic, or can be performed after generating the dynamic graphic. For example, the operation of generating the unlocking password can be performed at any time point before the subsequent step S8.

[0056] Specifically, the identification code includes a string for identifying a specific air-conditioning unit. The identification code can be preset and is not modifiable, and can be stored in the control device 130 or can be read by the control device 130. In an embodiment of the present application, the identification code can be the MAC address of the unlocking system 100. In another embodiment of the present application, the identification code can be any string preset in the unlocking system 100 for uniquely representing a specific unlocking system 100.

[0057] The update code includes a randomly generated string, such as a random numeric string generated by a random number generator built into the control device 130, including but not limited to a combination of numbers, uppercase letters, and / or lowercase letters. The function of the update code is that once the update code is regenerated, the finally generated unlock password will change. Therefore, it is possible to redefine the unlock password by changing the update code. In an embodiment of the present application, the update code is regenerated according to one of the following conditions: a predetermined time has elapsed or a manual refresh request is received. The predetermined time can be any suitable time, which can be defined as ranging from several seconds to several months. The length of the predetermined time can be set in advance or manually set by the user. The manual refresh request can be any refresh request received by the control device 130 from the user, such as a key input by the user through the input device 120 or an input on the touch screen, or any instruction sent to the control device 130 through a wired or wireless network.

[0058] The identification code and the update code can have any suitable length, such as several to dozens of characters.

[0059] The dynamic graphic can be any graphic displayed on the display device 110, such as including a QR code, a barcode, numbers, letters, or a combination thereof, etc. The numbers can include, for example, Arabic numerals, and the letters can include, for example, any English uppercase or lowercase letters. The size of the display device 110 is configured to be suitable for displaying one or more of the above graphics, and has sufficient resolution to facilitate subsequent steps. The process of generating the above various graphics according to one or more strings is a technical specification known to those skilled in the art, and the specific details and steps thereof will not be elaborated herein.

[0060] The certificate can be any suitable encryption certificate or decryption certificate, such as a certificate suitable for hash encryption operations and decryption operations. The certificate can be pre-stored inside the unlocking system 100 or the control device 130, and can be selectively read or called by the control device 130.

[0061] The operation of the control device 130 to generate the unlock password may include using an irreversible hash algorithm. The specific content of the hash algorithm is a technical specification known to those skilled in the art, and the details and steps thereof will not be elaborated herein.

[0062] In Figure 1 The step S1 is performed inside the unlocking system 100. Although not shown in Figure 1 it is easy to understand that after the control device 130 generates the dynamic graphic, the dynamic graphic is sent to the display device 110 for display. After the control device 130 generates the unlock password, it will not perform any operations that can be performed in Figure 1The operations shown in , and the generated unlocking password is stored for use in subsequent steps.

[0063] For security reasons, the unlocking system 100 according to the present application does not have a direct communication function with the server 300. The unlocking system 100 according to the present application is completely physically isolated from the server 300 and there is no electrical connection.

[0064] In step S2, the client device 200 obtains the dynamic graphic and sends it to the server 300. The client device 200 can be any suitable device manually operated by the user 400, such as a smart phone including a camera. The process of obtaining the dynamic graphic can be completed by a dedicated software on the client device 200, and the dedicated software can be, for example, a mobile application or APP suitable for cooperating with the unlocking system 100 according to the present application or an air conditioner unit including the unlocking system 100 according to the present application. The process of obtaining the dynamic graphic can also be completed by other means, such as taking a photo through an optical imaging device, sensing through an infrared sensor, or manually inputting by the user 400 into the client device 200 after seeing the dynamic graphic.

[0065] In addition, the client device 200 can include a function of permission management. For example, the client device 200 may require the user 400 to log in before performing the operation of step S2. The permissions of the user 400 can be set in advance or assigned by an administrator.

[0066] The process of sending the dynamic graphic to the server 300 can be completed by any known communication means, including but not limited to cellular data network, Bluetooth, infrared, 4G or 5G network, Zigbee, wired network connection or wireless network connection, etc.

[0067] In step S3, the server 300 decodes the received dynamic graphic to obtain at least an identification code and an update code. The process of decoding the dynamic graphic to obtain one or more characters is a technical specification known to those skilled in the art, and the specific details and steps thereof will not be elaborated herein.

[0068] In step S4, the server 300 obtains the unlocking password based on the certificate, the identification code, and the update code. The server 300 can obtain the same certificate as the one pre-stored in the unlocking system 100 or the control device 130 as described above, and uses the same algorithm as the one used by the unlocking system 100 or the control device 130 as described above to obtain the unlocking password at the server 300. For example, the certificate that the server 300 can obtain and the certificate that the unlocking system 100 can obtain can be pre-set when the air-conditioning unit is manufactured, and it is ensured that the certificates and the algorithm for generating the unlocking password at the unlocking system 100 and the server 300 are consistent. The certificate can be stored inside the server 300 or on a medium that the server 300 can read.

[0069] The operation of the server 300 to generate the unlocking password may include using an irreversible hash algorithm. The specific content of the hash algorithm is a technical specification known to those skilled in the art, and the details and steps thereof will not be elaborated herein.

[0070] In an embodiment of the present application, different air-conditioning units are set in different regions, and the unlocking systems 100 on each air-conditioning unit respectively include a single certificate and an identification code, and the certificates and identification codes on each air-conditioning unit are different from those on other air-conditioning units. For example, when the air-conditioning unit is manufactured, different certificates and identification codes can be added to each unlocking system 100, and at the same time, each certificate and the corresponding identification code are stored in the database, and the database is associated with the server 300. Therefore, when the server 300 obtains the identification code in step S3, it can search for the corresponding certificate in the database according to the identification code, and use the corresponding certificate to generate the unlocking password in step S4.

[0071] If the corresponding certificate cannot be found for the identification code obtained in step S3, the identification code in the unlocking system 100 may have an error, or there may be a possibility of forged identification code. The server 300 will perform corresponding processing according to the known security rules, thereby improving the security of the entire unlocking system.

[0072] Steps S3 and S4 are not shown in Figure 1 It is easy to understand that steps S3 and S4 are performed inside the server 300 and can be executed by any suitable computer system or data processing system at the server 300.

[0073] In step S5, the server 300 sends the unlocking password to the client device 200. Similarly, the sending operation can also be completed by any suitable communication means as described above.

[0074] In step S6, the client device 200 displays the unlocking password. The client device 200 may include a display device capable of displaying the unlocking password, or may display the unlocking password by means of sound, voice, or other means.

[0075] In step S7, the unlocking password is input through the input device 120. The input of the unlocking password can be performed, for example, by the user 400, or by any other suitable means.

[0076] In step S8, the control device 130 compares the generated unlocking password with the input unlocking password to determine whether to grant the corresponding permission. In an embodiment of the present application, granting the corresponding permission includes giving the control or debugging permission of the air conditioner unit within a predetermined time. For example, after granting the permission, a specific control page can be browsed, or specific control and debugging operations can be performed, including displaying the content and page corresponding to the permission on the display device 110.

[0077] Granting the permission may include granting the permission within a predetermined time. The predetermined time can be any suitable preset time length or a time length set by the user, ranging from several seconds to several months. The time length or its countdown can also be displayed on the display device 110 so that the user 400 knows the remaining operation time.

[0078] If the generated unlocking password is inconsistent with the input unlocking password, there is a potential security risk. The reason for the inconsistency may be a potential malicious attack, or data errors or human errors in any of the above steps. When the inconsistency occurs, the control device 130 will perform appropriate operations to prevent potential malicious attacks. For example, in the case where the inconsistency between the generated unlocking password and the input unlocking password occurs continuously for several times, the display device 110 can be locked for a certain period of time, or any operation associated with granting permission can be refused. Therefore, the unlocking system and unlocking method according to the present application have the possibility of at least preventing or reducing the danger brought by malicious attacks to a certain extent.

[0079] Figure 2 It is the display screen of an embodiment of the display device of the present application. Among them, the display device 110 is a known display, such as an LCD display screen provided on the air conditioner unit. The display screen can have the function of touch screen input.

[0080] A display area on the display device 110 shows an exemplary two-dimensional code or QR code, which is generated according to the steps S1 described above and includes at least information of an identification code and an update code. A "Refresh" virtual button is also shown on the display device 110. This button can be manually touched by the user 400 to send a manual refresh request, and after receiving the manual refresh request, a new update code will be generated and the previous update code will be deprecated. That is, whenever the user manually presses the "Refresh" virtual button, the update code will be regenerated. An exemplary number "hsdhshd1234" is also shown on the display device 110. This number is the digital content of the exemplary two-dimensional code or QR code and is used for the user to manually input the above number into the user device 200 when the two-dimensional code or QR code cannot be scanned or photographed by the user device 200 in step S2, so as to continue with subsequent operations.

[0081] It is easy to understand that the above two-dimensional code or QR code is only exemplary, and the exemplary number is also only exemplary, and the numbers in the figure do not necessarily directly correspond to the two-dimensional code shown in the figure.

[0082] A password input box is also shown on the display device 110. This password input box is used for the user 400 to manually input an unlock password in step S7. The unlock password can be input through physical buttons (not shown) or through virtual buttons shown on the display device 110.

[0083] Figure 2 The display in [description] is only exemplary and can be different according to actual needs.

[0084] By adopting the above unlocking method and unlocking system, a password can be provided according to actual needs for the unlocking operation of the air conditioner unit, and it can effectively prevent unauthorized users from logging in illegally, reducing the risk of malicious attacks, thereby effectively improving the security of the air conditioner unit.

[0085] This specification discloses the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings and also enables those skilled in the art to implement the present application, including manufacturing and using any device or system, selecting suitable materials, and using any combined methods. The scope of the present application is defined by the claimed technical solutions and includes other instances that occur to those skilled in the art. As long as such other instances include structural elements that are not different from the literal language of the claimed technical solutions, or such other instances include equivalent structural elements that have no substantial difference from the literal language of the claimed technical solutions, then such other instances should be considered to be within the scope of protection determined by the claimed technical solutions of the present application.

Claims

1. An unlocking method for an air-conditioning unit, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: S1: The control device generates a dynamic graphic based on at least an identification code and an update code and displays it on the display device, and generates an unlocking password based on a certificate, the identification code, and the update code; S2: The client device acquires the dynamic graphic and sends it to the server; S3: The server decodes the dynamic graphic to obtain at least the identification code and the update code; S4: The server obtains the unlocking password based on the certificate, the identification code, and the update code; S5: The server sends the unlocking password to the client device; S6: The client device displays the unlocking password; S7: Input the unlocking password through an input device; and S8: The control device compares the generated unlocking password with the input unlocking password to determine whether to grant corresponding permissions, wherein, the update code is regenerated according to one of the following conditions: a predetermined time has elapsed, or a manual refresh request is received.

2. The unlocking method according to claim 1, wherein The dynamic graphic includes a QR code, a barcode, numbers, letters, or a combination thereof.

3. The unlocking method according to claim 1, wherein In step S2, the client device acquires the dynamic graphic through an optical input device or manual input by the user.

4. The unlocking method according to claim 1, wherein The update code includes a randomly generated string.

5. The unlocking method according to claim 1, wherein The certificate is a shared certificate stored in the server and the control device, and the algorithm for the control device to generate the unlocking password in step S1 is the same as the algorithm for the server to generate the unlocking password in step S5.

6. The unlocking method according to claim 5, wherein The algorithm includes an irreversible hashing algorithm.

7. The unlocking method according to claim 5, wherein A series of identification codes and the certificates corresponding to each identification code are stored in the server, and in step S4, the server looks up the certificate corresponding to the identification code according to the identification code.

8. The unlocking method according to claim 1, wherein, The identification code includes a MAC address.

9. The unlocking method according to claim 1, wherein Granting the user corresponding permissions includes giving the control or debugging permissions of the air-conditioning unit within a predetermined time.

10. An unlocking system for an air-conditioning unit, characterized in that, It includes: A display device; An input device communicating with the display device; A control device configured to perform the following operations: Generate a dynamic graphic based on at least an identification code and an update code; Generate an unlocking password based on at least a certificate, the identification code, and the update code; Receive the unlocking password through the input device; Compare the unlocking password received by the input device with the generated unlocking password; and If the received unlocking password is consistent with the generated unlocking password, grant corresponding permissions, wherein, the control device regenerates the update code according to one of the following conditions: a predetermined time has elapsed, or a manual refresh request is received.

11. The unlocking system according to claim 10, wherein The dynamic graphic includes a QR code, a barcode, numbers, letters, or a combination thereof.

12. The unlocking system according to claim 10, wherein The update code includes a randomly generated string.

13. The unlocking system according to claim 10, characterized in that, The control device generates the unlocking password according to an irreversible hashing algorithm.

14. The unlocking system according to claim 10, wherein, The identification code includes a MAC address.

15. The unlocking system according to claim 10, wherein, Granting the user corresponding permissions includes giving the control or debugging permissions of the air-conditioning unit within a predetermined time.

16. The unlocking system according to claim 15, wherein, Granting the user corresponding permissions includes displaying content and pages corresponding to the permissions on the display device.

17. The unlocking system according to claim 10, characterized in that, The display device includes a touch screen.

18. The unlocking system according to claim 17, wherein, The input device includes a physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard on the touch screen.

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