Method for preventing the modification or tampering of a water heater and production system applying it

Abstract

This invention discloses a method to prevent water heaters from being modified or altered. The main components of the water heater are equipped with non-removable electronic tags that can be collected by a self-testing system. The method includes the following steps: 1. Generating an original serial number (SN) and a corresponding random QR code for each main component of the water heater. Both the original SN and the corresponding QR code are stored on an external cloud server. Each water heater only has its own corresponding QR code; 2. During installation, each water heater obtains an activation code from the external cloud server based on the random code provided by its internal self-testing program and the corresponding QR code; 3. The external cloud server sends the activation code generated from the original SN based on any pair of QR codes and the corresponding random code. This invention separates the SN code and activation algorithm to different nodes, including multiple random code conversions and a constantly changing unlock code, resulting in high system security and greater reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water heater manufacturing technology, and in particular to a method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered, and a production system using the same. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, to prevent the modification, alteration, or cross-selling of water heaters, an unlocking operation is required during installation. The technical means to achieve this effect are as follows:

[0003] 1. The water heater is equipped with a WIFI module and will automatically unlock after connecting to the Internet.

[0004] 2. Use a fixed unlock code to unlock.

[0005] Among these features, the addition of a WIFI module for online detection increases costs, and a WIFI environment is required for unlocking, meaning it cannot be used offline.

[0006] Using a fixed unlock code for unlocking makes it vulnerable to brute-force attacks, resulting in limited security and making the algorithm easy to crack or leak.

[0007] Therefore, how to solve the problem that existing water heaters are easily modified, altered, or sold in parallel has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered, and a production system for using the same, with the aim of solving the problem that existing water heaters are easily modified, altered, or sold in parallel.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, this invention discloses a method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered. The main components of the water heater are equipped with non-removable electronic tags that can be collected by a self-testing system, and the method includes the following steps:

[0010] Step 1: Generate an original SN code and a corresponding random QR code based on all the main components of each water heater. The original SN code and the corresponding QR code are stored on an external cloud server. Each water heater is only equipped with the corresponding QR code.

[0011] Step 2: When any of the water heaters is installed, an activation code is obtained from the external cloud server based on the random code provided by the self-test program inside the water heater and the corresponding QR code.

[0012] Step 3: The external cloud server sends the activation code generated based on the original SN code according to any pair of the QR codes and the corresponding random code.

[0013] Preferably, step 1 is as follows:

[0014] Step 1.1: After any of the water heaters has completed quality inspection and passed the inspection, the manufacturing anti-modification procedure generates the original SN code after collecting the information of the electronic tags of all the main components of the corresponding water heater.

[0015] Step 1.2: The anti-modification program sends the corresponding original SN code to an external cloud server connected to a public network;

[0016] Step 1.3: After receiving and saving any of the original SN codes, the external cloud server uses a random QR code generation program to generate a corresponding QR code, and feeds back all the QR codes to the corresponding manufacturing-side anti-modification program, saving each original SN code and its corresponding QR code.

[0017] Step 1.4: After receiving the corresponding QR code, any of the manufacturing-side anti-modification programs that send the original SN code to the external cloud server prints and affixes it to the body of the corresponding water heater.

[0018] More preferably, step 2 is as follows:

[0019] When any of the water heaters is installed, the self-test program inside the water heater generates a current SN code based on the information of the electronic tags of all the main components collected. Then, it generates a random code and a corresponding activation password based on the current SN code, and requires the user to send the corresponding random code and the corresponding QR code to the external cloud server to obtain an activation code that matches the corresponding activation password.

[0020] More preferably, step 3 is as follows:

[0021] Step 3.1: After receiving any pair of QR codes and the corresponding random code, the external cloud server queries the matching original SN code based on the corresponding QR code and sends the corresponding original SN code and the corresponding random code to the decoding server that does not provide external services.

[0022] Step 3.2: The decoding server generates the corresponding activation code based on the received original SN code and the corresponding random code, and sends the corresponding activation code to the external cloud server;

[0023] Step 3.3: After receiving the activation code from the decoding server, the external cloud server sends it back to the mobile terminal that sent the corresponding random code and the corresponding QR code.

[0024] More preferably, the main components include an electronic substrate for display and operation, and an electronic substrate for control and drive.

[0025] More preferably, the mobile terminal is a smartphone, tablet computer, or laptop computer.

[0026] The present invention also provides a production system that applies the above-described method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered, including a production line, a self-testing module installed in each of the water heaters, an external cloud server, and a decoding server;

[0027] The production line includes water heater component testing equipment that runs a manufacturing side anti-modification procedure, as well as printing and labeling equipment;

[0028] The water heater component testing equipment is used to collect information from the electronic tags of all major components of each water heater and generate the original SN code;

[0029] The printing and labeling device is used to print and affix the QR code to the corresponding water heater after receiving it;

[0030] Each of the aforementioned self-test modules is used to execute the self-test procedure. Each module generates a current serial number (SN) based on the collected information from the electronic tags of all the major components of the water heater in question. Then, it generates a random code and a corresponding activation password based on the current SN, and provides the random code to the user. The user is then required to obtain the corresponding activation code from the external cloud server using the QR code on the water heater and the corresponding random code.

[0031] The activation code provided by the user is then compared with the corresponding activation password.

[0032] The external cloud server is used to generate the QR code based on the original SN code.

[0033] The system retrieves the corresponding original serial number (SN) based on the received QR code, and sends the original SN corresponding to the random code, along with the corresponding random code, to the decoding server.

[0034] The activation code obtained from the decoding server will then be fed back to the mobile terminal that sent the QR code and the activation code.

[0035] The decoding server is used to calculate the matching activation code based on the original SN code and the corresponding random code.

[0036] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0037] This invention does not use a WIFI module, resulting in lower costs. It separates the SN code and activation algorithm and distributes them to different nodes, preventing production and management personnel from obtaining both the SN code and the algorithm simultaneously. This enhances system security, including multiple random code conversions and a constantly changing unlock code, making it even more secure and reliable.

[0038] The following will further explain the concept, specific structure, and technical effects of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, so as to fully understand the purpose, features, and effects of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 A flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0040] Figure 2 The working process of the self-test module of a water heater in one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Example: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered is characterized by the fact that the main components of the water heater all have non-removable electronic tags that can be collected by a self-testing system, comprising the following steps:

[0042] Step 1: Generate an original SN code and a corresponding random QR code for all major components of each water heater. Both the original SN code and the corresponding QR code are stored on an external cloud server. Each water heater only has a corresponding QR code.

[0043] Step 2: During the installation of any water heater, an activation code is obtained from the external cloud server based on the random code provided by the self-test program inside the water heater and the corresponding QR code.

[0044] Step 3: The external cloud server sends an activation code generated from the original serial number based on any pair of QR codes and the corresponding random code.

[0045] In this invention, the QR code of the water heater when it leaves the factory is randomly generated by an external cloud server based on the original SN code, forming a state of one-to-one correspondence but no logical connection. At the same time, the manufacturing side does not have the ability to generate a valid activation code based on the original SN code and the random code.

[0046] During water heater installation, a random code and corresponding activation password are generated based on the current serial number (SN).

[0047] The current SN code is generated by the water heater's internal self-test program based on information from the electronic tags of all major components collected during installation.

[0048] The activation code for unlocking the activation password is generated by the decoding server based on the original SN code and the corresponding random code;

[0049] If the internal components of the water heater change, and the current SN code does not match the original QR code, the activation code generated by the decoding server corresponding to the original SN code will not be able to unlock the activation password generated by the current SN code.

[0050] In some embodiments, step 1 is specifically as follows:

[0051] Step 1.1: After any water heater has completed quality inspection and passed the inspection, the manufacturing anti-modification procedure generates the original SN code after collecting the information of the electronic tags of all major components of the corresponding water heater.

[0052] Step 1.2: The side-mounted anti-modification program sends the corresponding original serial number to an external cloud server connected to the public network;

[0053] Step 1.3: After receiving and saving any original SN code, the external cloud server uses a random QR code generation program to generate a corresponding QR code, and feeds back all QR codes to the corresponding anti-modification program on the manufacturing side, saving each original SN code and its corresponding QR code.

[0054] Step 1.4: Any manufacturing-side anti-modification program that sends the original SN code to the external cloud server prints and affixes it to the body of the corresponding water heater after receiving the corresponding QR code.

[0055] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, step 2 is specifically as follows:

[0056] When any water heater is installed, its internal self-test program generates a current serial number (SN) based on the information collected from the electronic tags of all major components. Then, it generates a random code and a corresponding activation password based on the current SN. The user is then required to send the random code and the corresponding QR code to the external cloud server to obtain an activation code that matches the activation password.

[0057] In some embodiments, step 3 is specifically as follows:

[0058] Step 3.1: After receiving any pair of QR codes and the corresponding random code, the external cloud server will query the matching original SN code based on the corresponding QR code and send the corresponding original SN code and the corresponding random code to the decoding server that does not provide external services.

[0059] Step 3.2: The decoding server generates a corresponding activation code based on the received original SN code and the corresponding random code, and sends the corresponding activation code to the external cloud server;

[0060] Step 3.3: After receiving the activation code from the decoding server, the external cloud server sends it back to the mobile terminal that sent the corresponding random code and QR code.

[0061] In some embodiments, the main components include an electronic substrate for display and operation, and an electronic substrate for control and drive.

[0062] In some embodiments, the mobile terminal is a smartphone, tablet computer, or laptop computer.

[0063] The present invention also provides a production system that applies the above-described method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered, including a production line, a self-testing module installed in each water heater, an external cloud server, and a decoding server;

[0064] The production line includes testing equipment for water heater components that runs anti-modification procedures for manufacturing, as well as printing and labeling equipment;

[0065] The water heater component testing equipment is used to collect information from the electronic tags of all major components of each water heater and generate the original SN code;

[0066] The printing and labeling equipment is used to print and affix the received QR code to the corresponding water heater;

[0067] Each self-test module executes a self-test procedure, generating a current serial number (SN) based on the collected information from the electronic tags of all major components of the water heater in question. It then generates a random code and a corresponding activation password based on the current SN, providing the random code to the user. The user is then required to retrieve the corresponding activation code from the external cloud server using the water heater's QR code and the random code.

[0068] The activation code provided by the user is compared with the corresponding activation password.

[0069] The external cloud server is used to generate a QR code based on the original serial number (SN).

[0070] The system retrieves the corresponding original serial number (SN) from the received QR code and sends the original SN along with the random code to the decoding server.

[0071] The activation code obtained from the decoding server will then be sent back to the mobile terminal that sent the QR code and activation code.

[0072] The decoding server is used to calculate the matching activation code based on the original SN code and the corresponding random code.

[0073] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative effort. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation on the basis of existing technology should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered; characterized in that, The main components of the water heater are equipped with non-removable electronic tags that can be collected by the self-testing system, including the following steps: Step 1: Generate an original SN code and a corresponding random QR code based on all the main components of each water heater. The original SN code and the corresponding QR code are stored on an external cloud server. Each water heater is only equipped with the corresponding QR code. Step 2: When any of the water heaters is installed, an activation code is obtained from the external cloud server based on the random code provided by the self-test program inside the water heater and the corresponding QR code. Step 3: The external cloud server sends the activation code generated based on the original SN code according to any pair of the QR codes and the corresponding random code.

2. The method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step 1 is as follows: Step 1.1: After any of the water heaters has completed quality inspection and passed the inspection, the manufacturing anti-modification procedure generates the original SN code after collecting the information of the electronic tags of all the main components of the corresponding water heater. Step 1.2: The anti-modification program sends the corresponding original SN code to an external cloud server connected to a public network; Step 1.3: After receiving and saving any of the original SN codes, the external cloud server uses a random QR code generation program to generate a corresponding QR code, and feeds back all the QR codes to the corresponding manufacturing-side anti-modification program, and saves each original SN code and the corresponding QR code. Step 1.4: After receiving the corresponding QR code, any of the manufacturing-side anti-modification programs that send the original SN code to the external cloud server prints and affixes it to the body of the corresponding water heater.

3. The method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered according to claim 2, characterized in that, Step 2 is as follows: When any of the water heaters is installed, the self-test program inside the water heater generates a current SN code based on the information of the electronic tags of all the main components collected. Then, it generates a random code and a corresponding activation password based on the current SN code, and requires the user to send the corresponding random code and the corresponding QR code to the external cloud server to obtain an activation code that matches the corresponding activation password.

4. The method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered according to claim 3, characterized in that, Step 3 is as follows: Step 3.1: After receiving any pair of QR codes and the corresponding random code, the external cloud server queries the matching original SN code based on the corresponding QR code and sends the corresponding original SN code and the corresponding random code to the decoding server that does not provide external services. Step 3.2: The decoding server generates the corresponding activation code based on the received original SN code and the corresponding random code, and sends the corresponding activation code to the external cloud server; Step 3.3: After receiving the activation code from the decoding server, the external cloud server sends it back to the mobile terminal that sent the corresponding random code and the corresponding QR code.

5. The method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered according to claim 4, characterized in that, The main components include an electronic substrate for display and operation, and an electronic substrate for control and drive.

6. The method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mobile terminal can be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

7. A production system that applies the method for preventing water heaters from being modified or altered as described in claim 4, comprising a production line, a self-testing module installed in each of the water heaters, an external cloud server, and a decoding server; The production line includes water heater component testing equipment that runs a manufacturing side anti-modification procedure, as well as printing and labeling equipment; The water heater component testing equipment is used to collect information from the electronic tags of all major components of each water heater and generate the original SN code; The printing and labeling device is used to print and affix the QR code to the corresponding water heater after receiving it; Each of the aforementioned self-test modules is used to execute the self-test procedure. It generates a current serial number (SN) based on the collected information from the electronic tags of all the major components of the water heater in question. Then, it generates a random code and a corresponding activation password based on the current SN, and provides the random code to the user. The user is then required to obtain the corresponding activation code from the external cloud server using the QR code on the water heater and the corresponding random code. The activation code provided by the user is then compared with the corresponding activation password. The external cloud server is used to generate the QR code based on the original SN code. The system retrieves the corresponding original serial number (SN) based on the received QR code, and sends the original SN corresponding to the random code, along with the corresponding random code, to the decoding server. The activation code obtained from the decoding server will then be fed back to the mobile terminal that sent the QR code and the activation code. The decoding server is used to calculate the matching activation code based on the original SN code and the corresponding random code.

Images