Home Appliance Command Authentication via Encoded Adaptor Credentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home appliance manufacturers face the risk of unauthorized use by third-party communication adaptors, as they disclose sensitive information about command specifications and frame formats, potentially leading to unauthorized functions being executed.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with decoding means to authenticate function information from communication adaptors, storing the decoded information and executing commands only if permitted, using encryption and secure storage to prevent unauthorized use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the home appliance manufacturer discloses command specifications and frame format information to third parties, then third-party communication adaptors can be manufactured and sold, but unauthorized functions may be executed by these third-party adaptors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by decoding and verifying function-authentication information from the communication adaptor before allowing any command execution. This preliminary check ensures that only adaptors with valid authentication credentials can access appliance functions, preventing unauthorized use while maintaining compatibility with authorized third-party adaptors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that mediates between the home appliance and communication adaptors. The function-authentication information acts as a credential intermediary, allowing the system to verify adaptor authenticity without exposing sensitive command specifications, thus enabling third-party compatibility while securing against unauthorized access
2Loss of information
If the home appliance manufacturer discloses minimum necessary information to third parties, then genuine adaptors can be distinguished from unauthorized ones, but third parties may still infer undisclosed information and execute unauthorized functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses encrypted function-authentication information that can be copied and distributed to authorized third-party adaptors without revealing the underlying command specifications or frame formats. This allows legitimate copying of authentication credentials while protecting sensitive information from being inferred or reverse-engineered
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of information disclosure by providing encrypted function-authentication information instead of plain-text command specifications. This parameter change allows third-party adaptors to obtain necessary authentication data while making it computationally infeasible to infer undisclosed information, thus protecting security while enabling compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (2) includes a function-authentication information decoder (201) and a command executer (202). The function-authentication information decoder (201) decodes function-authentication information received from a communication adaptor connected via a serial interface, the function-authentication information being information encrypted before being retained by the communication adaptor. The command executer (202) (i) determines, upon receiving a command from the communication adaptor, based on the function-authentication information decoded by the function-authentication information decoder (201), whether a function corresponding to the command is permitted, and (ii) executes processing according to the command only when the function is permitted.