Method for configuring access control for power supply

Abstract

In order to grant and / or revoke authorization of the power supply of at least one device at the power supply device, a teaching method is used.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention is based on a method of the type according to independent claim 1 .

[0002] This method is needed to inform the power supply device which electrical devices should be powered and not other devices. Background Art

[0003] Publication DE 10 2013 010 823 A1 is based on the general problem that AC power sockets in different parts of the world use different AC voltages and frequencies.

[0004] In order to avoid mis-plugging a device plug having an incompatible power supply into an AC power outlet, a device plug identification tag that may be inserted into the outlet is disclosed. The outlet may output household or industrial high voltage. The electrical power data of the device may be read from the device plug identification tag. The electrical power data may show that the device contains a universal power supply. The controller may compare the obtained data with a list of devices compatible with the existing power supply. Based on the result of the comparison, the power supply of the device may be activated or deactivated.

[0005] On this basis, publication DE 10 2015 009 361 A1 proposes a smart socket, also called a “smart socket”.

[0006] To this end, the publication also discloses that the plug of the electric device to be inserted into the socket unit is equipped with a radio tag, on which data related to the device type of the electric device to be connected to the smart socket is stored. The radio tag can be an RFID transponder or an NFC (Near Field Communication) transponder.

[0007] It is also disclosed that the smart socket is provided with a reading device, which, when a plug is inserted, can realize communication between the radio tag and the reading device as follows, namely, the reading device detects a signal having modeling data about the device type of the electrical device from the radio tag of the electrical device inserted into the socket in a contactless manner, and transmits it to a remote data processing device.

[0008] A disadvantage of these known systems is that there is no sufficiently simple method by which an authorized user can easily grant and also revoke authorization for activation of an electrical device.

[0009] In the priority application for the present application, the German Patent and Trademark Office searched the following prior arts: DE 102015 009 361A1, DE 20 2010 011 660U1, EP 2 234 075 A1 and Alfen ICU BV; EveDouble Pro-line DE, user manual. Summary of the invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to specify a method by which authorization for supplying power to an electrical device can be granted and / or revoked using means that are as simple as possible.

[0011] This object is achieved by a method according to the independent claim.

[0012] The method is the so-called "teach-in" method.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0014] In this context, the term "teaching" method is to be understood as meaning that in one method step, the electrical device is selected, i.e. "identified", and in another method step, the power supply authorization state of the device is manually specified and notified to the power supply device. The authorization state can be referred to as "authorized" or "unauthorized". If the authorization state is "authorized", the electrical device is supplied with electrical energy by the power supply device as long as it is electrically connected to the power supply device. If the authorization state is "unauthorized", the corresponding electrical device is not supplied with electrical energy by the power supply device even if it is electrically connected to the power supply device.

[0015] In one possible embodiment, the device selection of the first-mentioned method step can be performed before the notification of the authorization status of the second-mentioned method step. However, it is not mandatory to adhere to the sequence. In other words, the sequence can also be reversed, so that the authorization status is first notified to the power supply device and then associated with the relevant electrical device.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the electrical device can have a plug connector. The plug connector can be provided with a radio tag with a device ID (“identification”), for example an RFID (“ R adio F requency I dentification (radio frequency identification)”) tags, especially NFC (“ N ear F ield CThe radio tag shall be referred to as an ID radio tag hereinafter according to its function.

[0017] A mating plug connector suitable for the plug connector can include a receiving antenna, for example an RFID reader antenna, in particular an NFC reader antenna. In addition, the power supply, in particular the mating plug connector of the power supply, can have a reading device, for example an RFID reader, in particular an NFC reader. In the power supply, in particular in the reading device, a database can be placed in which the access authorizations for the individual electrical devices are maintained, for example in the form of a table in which the corresponding device ID is associated with the corresponding authorization status ("authorized" / "unauthorized").

[0018] The selection of the electrical device can therefore be achieved by plugging the plug connector of the electrical device into a mating plug connector of the power supply device, since the radio tag of the plug connector is thereby brought into the receiving area of ​​the receiving antenna of the mating plug connector.

[0019] As already mentioned, the data necessary for the table can thus be entered into the database in the teaching method. For example, an authorization card with another radio tag, for example another RFID tag, in particular another NFC tag, can be brought close to the receiving antenna of the mating plug connector by the user. The radio tag of the authorization card will be referred to below as the authorization radio tag according to its function.

[0020] In one possible embodiment, before this or after this in another embodiment - preferably within a defined time period in both embodiments - the plug connector of the relevant electrical device, which is still in the authorization state "unauthorized" at this time, is plugged into the mating plug connector. Thereafter, the authorization state of the device is changed to "authorized" in the database.

[0021] In addition, it is also possible to cancel the authorization status "authorized" of the electric device again in the same way. If the authorization card is used in the above-mentioned manner with the electric device having the authorization status "authorized", the authorization status is changed to "unauthorized".

[0022] This is advantageously achieved in that each time the authorization card is used together with the corresponding electrical device, a reversal of the authorization state occurs. For example, if the authorization state stored in the database of the power source in association with the device ID was initially "unauthorized", then the authorization card is now used together with the electrical device and the authorization state "authorized" is temporarily stored in the database as being associated with the device ID. If the authorization state is then "unauthorized", the authorization state can be changed back to "authorized" by continuing to use the authorization card together with the electrical device.

[0023] By identifying the authorization card and—particularly within a predefined time period—then identifying the electrical device, the corresponding authorization status can be associated with the device ID within a database.

[0024] As an alternative thereto, the method can also be modified in that the identification of the electrical device is first read and only then—preferably within a predefined time period—the authorization card is read.

[0025] For the teaching method, it is only necessary that the relationship between the electrical device and its authorization status is recognizable to the database. This can advantageously be achieved in that the two reading processes occur directly one after the other, i.e. the reading device does not perform any other reading processes during this period. In particular, as already mentioned, there can also be a predefined time period between reading the authorization card and identifying the corresponding electrical device. The time period can be limited, for example, to a maximum of 60 seconds, preferably to a maximum of 40 seconds and particularly preferably to less than 20 seconds, in order to avoid or at least reduce erroneous operations and erroneous associations.

[0026] This can be achieved particularly advantageously by identifying the authorization card in close proximity to the receiving antenna, since in this way no further operating elements, i.e. no buttons etc., are required on the plug connector and / or the mating plug connector. This is particularly advantageous since in this way commercially available plug connectors and mating plug connectors can be used in such a way that they are simply provided with only the ID radio tag or the receiving antenna.

[0027] In a preferred design, the method can have the following steps:

[0028] A. directing the authorization radio tag to a receiving antenna of the reading device arranged in a mating plug connector of the power supply device, wherein the mating plug connector is in an unplugged state;

[0029] B. reading the authorization status change authorization of the radio tag of the authorization card by a reading device, and confirming the authorization status change authorization through a database;

[0030] C. plugging the plug connector of the corresponding electrical device into the mating plug connector;

[0031] D. reading the device ID from the ID radio tag of the plug connector by means of a reading device with the aid of its antenna arranged in the mating plug connector;

[0032] E. Reversing the existing authorization status in the database, originally associated with the corresponding device ID, i.e. from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized";

[0033] F. activating or shutting down the supply of electrical energy to the electrical device through the power supply device according to the authorization status associated with the corresponding device ID in method step E;

[0034] The method steps are carried out in the sequence A, B, C, D, E, F or in the sequence C, D, A, B, E, F.

[0035] In another advantageous embodiment, the method can have the following steps:

[0036] A '. directing the authorization radio tag to the receiving antenna provided in the mating plug connector of the reading device, wherein the mating plug connector is in a state of being plugged in with the plug connector, and the device ID of the radio tag of the plug connector has been read by the reading device via its receiving antenna;

[0037] B 'by reading the authorization card's radio tag authorization status change authorization, and confirm the authorization status change authorization through the database;

[0038] C 'will be in the database, initially associated with the corresponding device ID authorization status reversal, ie from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized";

[0039] D'. Activate or shut down the electrical energy supply to the electrical device via the power supply device according to the authorization status associated with the corresponding device ID in method step C'.

[0040] In the plugged state of the plug connector and the mating plug connector, in all the above methods, the current authorization state is signaled, for example, by colored illumination or flashing of the mating plug connector. This can be achieved, for example, by having the mating plug connector have LEDs of different colors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in detail below. The drawings show:

[0042] Figure 1 A flow chart showing a first method;

[0043] Figure 2 A flow chart of the second method is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 A first method for granting and / or revoking authorization for supplying power to at least one electrical device at a power supply device is shown. The method is a teaching method.

[0045] In a first method step 1, an authorization card in the form of an NFC card with an authorization radio tag is held on the plug surface of a mating plug connector, which belongs to a smart socket, i.e., a smart plug connector system of a power supply device. In this process, the NFC antenna of the NFC card enters the receiving area of ​​the NFC reader of the smart socket of the power supply device.

[0046] The state of the smart socket is now switched to “learning” in a second step 2 , ie for a preset time period of, for example, 40 seconds or, for example, only 20 seconds, etc., the system is learning-capable and waits for receiving a device ID via an NFC reader.

[0047] In a third step 3, it is now queried whether the plug connector of the electrical device has been plugged into a mating plug connector. If no device ID is read within the time period, a timeout 4 occurs. The state of the smart socket is changed to "normal operation" in a subsequent method step 7, in which the connected authorized electrical device is supplied with current and the unauthorized electrical device is not supplied with electrical energy, even if it is connected (i.e. its plug connector is plugged into a mating plug connector). The method then ends at 8.

[0048] If, on the other hand, the plug connector of the electrical device is plugged into the mating plug connector during the above-mentioned time period, the ID radio tag of the plug connector is read by the NFC reader and the timeout 4 is canceled.

[0049] The device status of the relevant device, also referred to as the authorization status, is now reversed, for example, in a table of the database of the NFC reader, i.e. an authorization reversal occurs, i.e. from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized". The previous authorization status ("authorized" / "unauthorized") is thus read, reversed (reversed) and written again into the table from the same location.

[0050] In this way, it is possible by simple means to simultaneously verify the authorization of the authorization presetting by means of an NFC card / authorization card and simultaneously select one of the two authorization states, that is, always the one that was not previously selected. If no change is required, then this process becomes superfluous in itself and even the use of an authorization card is not necessary. Advantageously, in this way, a keyboard or any other hardware element for input, etc. is also not required. However, it is advantageous if the display, for example an LED display, has different colors, for example red ("unauthorized"), yellow ("learning") and green ("authorized") or a flashing pattern.

[0051] The new device status, also referred to as the authorization status of the device, can be displayed in a subsequent step 6 using the display and entered into the table.

[0052] The state of the smart socket is changed to the normal operation described in the subsequent method step 7. In the subsequent method step 8, the method ends.

[0053] exist Figure 2 A second method for granting and / or revoking authorization for supplying power to at least one electrical device at a power supply device is described in detail with the aid of a flow chart. The method is also a teaching method.

[0054] I. The plug connector of the electrical device has been plugged into the mating plug connector. The electrical device has been identified, i.e. its device ID has been read by means of the NFC reader;

[0055] II. Displaying the authorization status of the device (referred to herein as "status" with the inscription "allowed" or "prohibited"), for example in the form described above;

[0056] III. The authorized radio tag of the NFC card is brought into contact from the outside with the mounting housing of the mating plug connector so that it is placed in the receiving area of ​​the NFC reader antenna / receiving antenna.

[0057] IV. The state of the smart socket is changed to "learning", that is, the authorization state of the device ID of the currently connected electrical device can be changed.

[0058] V. In the table of the database, the device state belonging to the current device ID is read and reversed. Thus, a state reversal occurs.

[0059] VI. The new device status is displayed and “accepted”, ie written into the table as the current authorization status belonging to the current device ID.

[0060] VII. The state of the smart socket changes to the normal operation described above.

[0061] VIII. The method ends.

[0062] List of reference numerals:

[0063] 1-8 Steps 1-8 of the first method

[0064] I-VIII Method steps I-VIII of the second method

Claims

1. A method for granting and / or revoking authorization for supplying power to at least one electrical device at a power supply device, wherein the method is a teach-in method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: - identifying the corresponding electrical device (3), changing the authorization status (5) belonging to the device ID in the database of the power supply device, and - Check authorization of the aforementioned authorization status change.

3. The method according to claim 2, The authorization of the aforementioned authorization status change is checked together with the device identification (3) to cause the authorization status change (5).

4. The method according to claim 3, The corresponding authorization status can assume exactly two states, wherein one state indicates authorization for the power supply (“authorized”) and the other state indicates non-authorization for the power supply (“unauthorized”).

5. The method according to claim 4, The authorization state change is an authorization state reversal (5) into another corresponding state ("authorized" to "unauthorized" or "unauthorized" to "authorized").

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, The authorization for the change in authorization status is checked by reading the authorization radio tag (1), and the device identification is performed by reading the device ID of the ID radio tag (3) by means of a reading device via a receiving antenna.

7. The method according to claim 6, The two reading operations (1, 3) follow one another, ie no reading operation by the reading device takes place in time between the two reading operations (1, 3).

8. The method according to claim 7, The two reading processes (1, 3) occur within a preset time period (4).

9. The method according to claim 8, The preset time period (4) is less than or equal to 20 seconds.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, The method has the following steps: A. directing the authorization radio tag toward (1) a receiving antenna of the reader device arranged in a mating plug connector of a power supply device, wherein the mating plug connector is in an unplugged state; B. reading (2) the authorization status change authorization of the radio tag of the authorization card by the reading device, and confirming the authorization status change authorization by a database; C. plugging the plug connector of the corresponding electrical device into the mating plug connector (3); D. reading (3) the device ID from the ID radio tag of the plug connector by means of the reading device with the aid of its antenna arranged in the mating plug connector; E. Reversing (5) the existing authorization status in the database, initially associated with the corresponding device ID, i.e. from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized"; F. activating or shutting down (7) the supply of electrical energy to the electrical device through the power supply device according to the authorization status associated with the corresponding device ID in method step E.; The method steps are carried out in the sequence A, B, C, D, E, F or in the sequence C, D, A, B, E, F.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the method comprises the following steps A'. directing the authorization radio tag to (III) a receiving antenna of the reading device provided in a mating plug connector of the power supply device, wherein the mating plug connector is in a state of being plugged into the plug connector, and the device ID of the radio tag of the plug connector has been read by the reading device via its receiving antenna (I); B 'by the reading device reads (III) the authorization card of the radio tag authorization status change authorization, and confirms the authorization status change authorization through the database; C'. Reverse (V) the authorization status existing in the database (VI) and initially associated with the corresponding device ID, ie from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized" D'. Activate or shut down (VII) the electrical energy supply to the electrical device via the power supply device according to the authorization status associated with the corresponding device ID in method step C'.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, In the state where the plug connector is plugged into the mating plug connector, (VI) a current authorization state is displayed.

13. The method according to claim 12, The current authorization status is signaled in this case by colored lighting or flashing of the mating plug connector.

14. The method according to claim 13, The current authorization status is signaled by the mating plug-in connector by means of one or more LEDs of different colors.

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