Industrial Device Access Locality Check Using Local Passcodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems for industrial devices risk incorrect device access due to the potential for users to connect from anywhere, leading to unintentional damage or remote hacking.
Innovation Solution
A method that ensures the user device and industrial device have the same locality by using a passcode generated by an access system, communicated via local techniques such as electrical, optical, or acoustical means, and verified by the user device to ensure correct device access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication systems (WLAN, GSM) are used to allow controlling industrial devices from anywhere, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of connecting to incorrect devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary locality verification before allowing access to the industrial device. The user device checks whether it is located nearby the industrial device using local communication techniques (NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, infrared, or acoustic communication) before establishing a control connection, preventing remote hacking while maintaining wireless accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary verification mechanism involving a passcode displayed on the industrial device's user interface. The user must visually confirm the passcode matches what is shown on their device, serving as a mediator to ensure they are connecting to the correct industrial device rather than relying solely on automatic wireless connections
2Reliability
If locality verification using local communication techniques is implemented, then reliability is improved by preventing incorrect device access, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple local communication techniques (NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, infrared, acoustic communication) that can serve both as locality verification mechanisms and as general-purpose communication channels. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliability through verification while avoiding the need for entirely separate dedicated verification hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the field of determining a locality of a user device (20) for an access control of the user device (20) to an industrial device (40). The method comprises the steps of: - sending, by the user device (20), a request for an access to the industrial device (40) to the access system (30); - generating a passcode (50) by the access system (30); - sending the passcode (50) from the access system (30) to the industrial device (40); - communicating the passcode (50) from the industrial device (40) to the user device (20) via a local communication technique (45); - sending the passcode (50) from the user device (20) to the access system (30); - granting the access to the industrial device (40) by the access system (30), when the passcode (50) is essentially the same as the passcode (50) generated by the access system (30).