Method for configuration of access control to power supply

Abstract

In order to grant permission to at least one electrical device to be supplied with power and / or withdraw this authorization from it, according to the invention, a teach-in method is used.

Description

[0001] Title: Procedure for configuring access control to a power supply

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention is based on a method according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0004] Such procedures are needed to tell a power supply facility which electrical devices should be supplied with power and to exclude other devices from the power supply.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] The document DE 10 2013 010 823 A1 is based on the general problem that AC sockets in different regions of the world use different AC voltages and frequencies.

[0007] To prevent mismating appliance plugs with incompatible power supplies into AC outlets, the invention discloses reading an appliance plug identification label that can be inserted into a power outlet. The power outlet may be capable of delivering household or industrial high voltages. The electrical performance data of a device can be read from the appliance plug identification label. The electrical performance data may indicate that the device contains a universal power supply. A controller can compare the obtained data with a list of devices compatible with the existing power supply. The power supply of the device can be activated or deactivated based on the results of the comparison. Based on this, the document DE 10 2015 009 361 A1 proposes an intelligent power outlet, also called a "smart socket."

[0008] This document further discloses that the plug of the electrical device to be plugged into the socket insert is equipped with a radio tag on which data relating to the device type of the electrical 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.

[0009] It is further disclosed that the intelligent socket is provided with a reader which enables communication between the radio tag and the reader when the plug is plugged in, in that the reader contactlessly detects a signal with modeled data regarding the device type of the electrical device plugged into the socket from its radio tag and transmits it to a remote data processing device.

[0010] The disadvantage of these known systems is that there is no sufficiently simple procedure by which an authorized user can grant and revoke authorization to activate electrical devices using simple means.

[0011] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: DE 10 2015, 009 361 A1 , DE 20 2010 011 660 U1 , EP 2 234 075 A1 and Alfen ICU BV; Eve Double Pro-Iine DE, Manual / Handbuch.

[0012] Task

[0013] The object of the invention is to provide a method that allows for granting and / or revoking power supply authorization to electrical devices using the simplest possible means. This object is achieved by a method according to independent claim 1.

[0014] The procedure is a so-called “teach-in” procedure.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0016] The term "teach-in" process in this context means that in one process step an electrical device is selected, i.e. "identified", and in another process step the authorization status of this device for the power supply is manually determined and communicated to the power supply device. This authorization status can be "authorized" or "unauthorized". If the authorization status is "authorized", the electrical device is supplied with electrical energy from the power supply device as soon as it is electrically connected to the power supply device. If the authorization status is "unauthorized", the electrical device in question is not supplied with electrical energy from the power supply device, even if it is electrically connected to the power supply device.

[0017] In one possible embodiment, the device selection in the first-mentioned method step can occur before the authorization status notification in the second-mentioned method step. However, adherence to this sequence is not mandatory. This sequence can also be reversed, so that the authorization status notification is sent to the power supply device first, and only then is the assignment to the relevant electrical device made. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical device can have a connector. The connector can have a radio tag with a device ID ("identification"), e.g., an RFID ("Radio Frequency Identification") tag, in particular an NFC ("Near Field Communication") tag. In keeping with its function, this radio tag will be referred to below as an ID radio tag.

[0018] A mating connector matching the plug connector can have a receiving antenna, e.g., an RFID reader antenna, in particular an NFC reader antenna. Furthermore, the power supply device, in particular the mating connector of the power supply device, can have a reader, e.g., an RFID reader, in particular an NFC reader. A database can be stored in the power supply device, in particular in the reader, in which the access authorization of the individual electrical devices is tracked, e.g., in the form of a table in which the corresponding authorization status ("authorized" or "unauthorized") is assigned to the respective device ID.

[0019] The said selection of the electrical device can thus be done by plugging the connector of the electrical device into the mating connector of the power supply device, because this brings the radio tag of the connector into the reception range of the receiving antenna of the mating connector.

[0020] As already mentioned, the data required for the table can thus be entered into the aforementioned database using the teach-in method. For example, an authorization card with an additional radio tag, e.g., another RFID tag, in particular another NFC tag, can be held by the user to the receiving antenna of the mating connector. This radio tag on the authorization card will be referred to as an authorization radio tag in the future, in accordance with its function. In one possible embodiment, either before or after this time - in both embodiments preferably within a defined period of time - the connector of the respective electrical device, which at this time is still in the "unauthorized" authorization status, is plugged into the aforementioned mating connector. The authorization status of the device is then changed to "authorized" in the database.

[0021] Furthermore, it is also possible to revoke the "authorized" authorization status of an electrical device in the same way. If the authorization card is used in the aforementioned manner with an electrical device that has the "authorized" authorization status, the authorization status will be changed to "unauthorized."

[0022] This is advantageously achieved by reversing the authorization status each time the authorization card is used together with the respective electrical device. For example, if the authorization status stored in the power supply database associated with the device ID is initially set to "unauthorized," the authorization status "authorized" will now be stored in the database as associated with the device ID until further notice.

[0023] If the authorization status is then set to “unauthorized,” it can be changed back to “authorized” by further use of the authorization card with the electrical device.

[0024] By recognizing the authorization card and then recognizing the electrical device—especially within the specified time period—the respective authorization status can be assigned to the device ID within the database. Alternatively, the procedure can be modified so that the identification of the electrical device is read first, and only then—preferably within the specified time period—is the authorization card read.

[0025] For the aforementioned teach-in process, it is only necessary that the database recognizes the relationship between the electrical device and its authorization status. This can be advantageously achieved by having the two reading processes take place directly one after the other, i.e., without the reader performing any other reading process in between. In particular, as already mentioned, a predetermined period of time can also elapse between reading the authorization card and recognizing the respective electrical device. This period can, for example, be limited 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 operating errors and incorrect assignments.

[0026] This can be implemented particularly advantageously by detecting the authorization card held up to the receiving antenna, because this eliminates the need for any additional control elements on the connector and / or mating connector, i.e., no buttons or the like are required. This is particularly advantageous because commercially available connectors and mating connectors can be used simply by attaching the aforementioned ID radio tag or receiving antenna.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the method may comprise the following steps:

[0028] A. Bringing the authorization radio tag to the receiving antenna of the reader, which is arranged in a mating connector of a power supply device, with the mating connector in an unplugged state; B. Reading the authorization status change authorization of the authorization card's radio tag by the reader and confirming the authorization status change authorization with a database;

[0029] C. Plugging the connector of the respective electrical device into the mating connector;

[0030] D. Reading the device ID from a radio ID tag of the connector by the reader with its antenna arranged in the mating connector;

[0031] E. reversal of the existing authorization status initially assigned to the respective device ID in the database, namely either from “authorized” to “unauthorized” or from “unauthorized” to “authorized”;

[0032] F. Activation or deactivation of the electrical power supply for the electrical device by the power supply device depending on the authorization status assigned to the respective device ID in process step E; whereby the process steps can be carried out in the sequence A, B, C, D, E, F or in the sequence C, D, A, B, E, F.

[0033] In another advantageous embodiment, the method may comprise the following steps:

[0034] A'. Bringing the authorization radio tag to the receiving antenna of the reading device arranged in a mating connector of a power supply device, wherein the mating connector is in a state plugged into the connector and a device ID of a radio tag of the connector has already been read by the reading device via its receiving antenna;

[0035] B'. Reading the authorization status change authorization from the authorization card's radio tag by the reader and confirming the authorization status change authorization with a database; C'. Reversing the existing authorization status initially assigned to the respective device ID in the database, namely either from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized";

[0036] D'. Activation or deactivation of the electrical power supply for the electrical device by the power supply device depending on the authorization status assigned to the respective device ID in process step C'.

[0037] When the connector is connected to the mating connector, the current authorization status can be signaled in all of the aforementioned procedures – for example, by a colored light or flashing of the mating connector. This can be achieved, for example, by having the mating connector with different colored LEDs.

[0038] Example

[0039] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show:

[0040] Fig. 1 is a flowchart of a first method;

[0041] Fig.2 a flowchart of a second method.

[0042] Figure 1 shows a first method for granting and / or revoking authorization to supply power to at least one electrical device connected to a power supply device. This method involves a teach-in process.

[0043] In a first method step 1, an authorization card, in the form of an NFC card, with an authorization radio tag is held against the mating connector face of a mating connector belonging to a smart socket, i.e., an intelligent connector system of the power supply device. An NFC antenna of the NFC card is placed within the reception range of an NFC reader of the smart socket of the power supply device.

[0044] In a second step 2, the status of the smart socket is now switched to “learn”, i.e. for a predefined period of time, e.g. 40 seconds, or even just 20 seconds or similar, the system is capable of learning and waits for the receipt of a device ID by the NFC reader.

[0045] Now, in a third step (3), the system checks whether the connector of an electrical device has been plugged into the mating connector. If no device ID has been read within this period, a timeout occurs (4). In the following step (7), the status of the smart socket changes to "normal operation," in which connected authorized electrical devices are supplied with power and unauthorized electrical devices are not supplied with electrical energy, even if they are connected (i.e., their connector is plugged into the mating connector). The process then ends (8).

[0046] However, if the connector of an electrical device was plugged into the mating connector within this aforementioned period, an ID radio tag of the connector can be read by the NFC reader and timeout 4 is no longer required.

[0047] The device status, also called authorization status, of the device in question will now be inverted, e.g. in a table in the NFC reader's database. This means that an authorization reversal takes place, namely either from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized." The previous authorization status ("authorized" / "unauthorized") is read, inverted (reversed), and written back into the table from the same point. This makes it possible to easily prove authorization to grant authorization using the NFC card / authorization card and to simultaneously select one of the two authorization statuses, namely the one that was not previously selected. If no change is necessary, this process is unnecessary anyway, and using the authorization card is not necessary at all. Advantageously, this method also eliminates the need for a button or any other hardware element for input, etc.necessary. However, a display, such as an LED display, with different colors, such as red ("unauthorized"), yellow ("learning"), and green ("authorized"), or flashing patterns, is advantageous.

[0048] With this display, the new device status, also called authorization status of the device, can be displayed in the following step 6 and transferred to the aforementioned table.

[0049] The status of the smart socket changes to normal operation in the following step 7. The process is completed in the following step 8.

[0050] Figure 2 illustrates a second method for granting and / or revoking authorization to supply power to at least one electrical device on a power supply device using a flowchart. This method is also a teach-in method.

[0051] I. The electrical device's connector is already mated with the mating connector. The electrical device has been recognized, meaning its device ID has been read by the NFC reader.

[0052] II. The authorization status (here referred to as “status” with the suffix “allow” or “block”) of the device is displayed, for example in the form described above;

[0053] III. The authorization radio tag of an NFC card is held from the outside against a mounting housing of the mating connector and thus brought into the reception range of the NFC reader antenna / receiving antenna.

[0054] IV. The status of the smart socket changes to “Learning”, which means that the authorization status of the device ID of the currently connected electrical device can be changed.

[0055] V. The device status corresponding to the current device ID is read from the database table and inverted. Thus, a status reversal occurs.

[0056] VI. The new device status is displayed and "adopted", ie written into the table as the current authorization status belonging to the current device ID.

[0057] VII. The status of the smart socket changes to the said normal operation.

[0058] VIII. The proceedings are terminated.

[0059] List of reference symbols

[0060] 1 - 8 Process steps 1 -8 of the first process

[0061] I - VIII Process steps l-VIII of the second process

Claims

Claims Method for granting and / or revoking authorization to supply power to at least one electrical device on a power supply device, wherein the method is a teach-in method. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises identifying the respective electrical device (3), changing an authorization status (5) belonging to the device ID within a database of the power supply device, and checking the authorization for the aforementioned authorization status change. Method according to claim 2, wherein checking the authorization for said authorization status change together with said device identification (3) brings about said authorization status change (5).Method according to claim 3, wherein the respective authorization status can assume exactly two states, one of which means authorization to supply power (“authorized”) and the other of which means non-authorization to supply power (“unauthorized”). Method according to claim 4, wherein the authorization status change is an authorization status reversal (5) to the other state (“authorized” to “unauthorized” or “unauthorized” to “authorized”). Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the verification of the authorization for the authorization status change takes place by reading an authorization radio tag (1) and the device identification takes place by reading a device ID of an ID radio tag (3) by means of a reader via a receiving antenna. Method according to claim 6, wherein the two said reading processes (1, 3) follow one another directly, i.e. no further reading process takes place by the reader between these two said reading processes (1, 3). Method according to claim 7, wherein the two said reading processes (1, 3) take place within a predetermined period of time (4).Method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined period (4) is less than or equal to 20 seconds. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the method comprises the following steps:. A. Bringing the authorisation radio tag to the receiving antenna of the reading device (1) arranged in a mating connector of a power supply device, the mating connector being in an unplugged state; B. Reading the authorization status change authorization of the radio tag of the authorization card by the reader and Confirming the authorization to change the authorization status through a database (2); C. Plugging a connector of the respective electrical device into the mating connector (3); D. Reading a device ID from an ID radio tag of the connector by the reader with its antenna (3) arranged in the mating connector; E. reversal of the existing authorization status initially assigned to the respective device ID in the database, namely either from “authorized” to “unauthorized” or from “unauthorized” to “authorized” (5); F. Activation or deactivation of the electrical power supply for the electrical device by the power supply device depending on the authorization status (7) assigned to the respective device ID in method step E; wherein 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. Method according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the method comprises the following steps: A'. Bringing the authorization radio tag (III) to the receiving antenna of the reading device arranged in a mating connector of a power supply device, wherein the mating connector is in a plugged-in state with the connector and a device ID of a radio tag of the connector has already been read by the reading device via its receiving antenna (I); B'. Reading the authorization status change authorization of the radio tag of the authorization card by the reader (III) and confirming the authorization status change authorization by a database; C'. Reversal of the existing authorization status (V) initially assigned to the respective device ID in the database (VI), namely either from "authorized" to "unauthorized" or from "unauthorized" to "authorized"; D'. Activation or deactivation of the electrical power supply for the electrical device by the power supply device depending on the authorization status (VII) assigned to the respective device ID in process step C'.

12. Method according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein in the plugged-in state of the connector with the mating connector the current authorization status is displayed (VI).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the current authorization status is signaled by a colored light or flashing of the mating connector.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the current authorization status is signaled by the mating connector with one or more differently colored LEDs.

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