Portable Device Security Certificate for Aircraft Remote Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for accessing and maintaining transportation vehicle computing systems, such as in-flight entertainment systems, require physical presence of technical experts, which is inefficient and costly, and lacks secure remote access solutions.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a portable device with a security certificate to establish secured connections for remote access to aircraft computing systems, limiting access duration to prevent unauthorized access and ensure security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If technical experts physically travel to the aircraft location to access computing systems, then system security is maintained through direct control, but access efficiency and cost are significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidexpert travel time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A portable device acts as an intermediary between the technical expert and the aircraft computing system. The device stores security certificates and establishes secure connections remotely, eliminating the need for experts to physically travel to the aircraft while maintaining security through certificate-based authentication and encrypted communication channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If remote access is enabled without security certificates, then access efficiency is improved, but system security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote access convenienceVSAvoidsystem security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Security certificates are pre-loaded into the portable device before remote access is needed. The certificates include expiration dates and are automatically validated by the aircraft system, enabling secure remote access without requiring real-time security negotiations. This preliminary preparation maintains both convenience and security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If unlimited remote access is provided, then diagnostic capability is enhanced, but unauthorized access risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic capabilityVSAvoidunauthorized access risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The security certificate includes a time expiration parameter that dynamically limits the duration of remote access. The portable device automatically disconnects when the certificate expires, providing enhanced diagnostic capability during the valid period while automatically preventing unauthorized access after expiration without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10432612B2Methods and systems for remote access to a transporation vehicle system

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 PANASONIC AVIONICS CORP

AI summary

Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. For example, one method includes storing or installing a security certificate in a portable device associated with an aircraft, the security certificate defining a duration for using the portable device for remotely accessing an aircraft computing system; obtaining the security certificate from the portable device, after validating a request from a user console; and providing the security certificate to the user console to access the aircraft computing system via the portable device for no longer than the duration defined by the security certificate.