Air Conditioner Access Control Using Time-Limited Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners installed in spaces where the user and manager do not coincide, such as hotels or rental rooms, can be improperly controlled by unauthorized individuals using portable communication terminals, posing security concerns.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner includes a specific information storage component, a specific information notification component, a command receiving component, and an actuator drive component, which transmit and receive identification and operable period information, limiting control to authorized users by only executing commands within designated periods and authenticating password information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air conditioner allows operation control via portable communication terminal in spaces where user and manager do not coincide, then convenience for temporary users is improved, but security against unauthorized operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication of the portable communication terminal before allowing operation control. The authentication process verifies the terminal's identity and establishes an authorized relationship in advance, ensuring that only authenticated terminals can control the air conditioner. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized operation while maintaining convenience for legitimate temporary users.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioner introduces an authentication mechanism as an intermediary between the portable communication terminal and the control function. This intermediary verifies the terminal's credentials and mediates the control access, allowing convenient operation for authenticated users while blocking unauthorized access. The authentication system acts as a gatekeeper that enables legitimate use without compromising security.
2Ease of operation
If the air conditioner accepts commands from any portable communication terminal, then ease of operation is improved, but security control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication of the portable communication terminal before allowing operation control. The authentication process verifies the terminal's identity and establishes an authorized relationship in advance, ensuring that only authenticated terminals can control the air conditioner. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized operation while maintaining convenience for legitimate temporary users.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioner introduces an authentication mechanism as an intermediary between the portable communication terminal and the control function. This intermediary verifies the terminal's credentials and mediates the control access, allowing convenient operation for authenticated users while blocking unauthorized access. The authentication system acts as a gatekeeper that enables legitimate use without compromising security.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide an air conditioner with excellent security. An indoor unit (20) has its operating state switched on the basis of a command sent from a terminal (90) that a user has and performs air conditioning of a utilization space (SP), the indoor unit (20) including: a storage component (61) that stores connection information in which identification information is included; a notification component (68) that gives notification of the connection information to the terminal (90); an adapter (37) that receives the command sent from the terminal (90) to which notification of the connection information was given; and an indoor unit control component (21) that executes switching control that switches action of an actuator on the basis of the received command. The connection information includes valid period information that designates a valid period in which it is possible for the operating state to be switched by the terminal (90) to which notification was given. The indoor unit control component (21) does not execute the switching control in response to a command sent from a terminal (90) for which the valid period designated in the valid period information of which notification was given has expired.