Appliance LAN Integration via Reference Certificate Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face a lengthy and inconvenient process when integrating new LAN-compatible household appliances into their local area networks, particularly wireless LANs, requiring manual input of access data and lacking secure and efficient methods for authentication and access control.

Innovation Solution

The method involves appliances with communication modules that use appliance reference certificates to establish wired or wireless LAN connections, automatically verifying these certificates against a list stored at an access point, allowing secure and convenient incorporation into the network without user-inputted access data, and enabling restricted access to specific network units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual incorporation methods are used, then user control over network access is maintained, but the incorporation process becomes lengthy and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of appliance incorporationVSAvoidincorporation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The access point pre-stores appliance reference certificates and their corresponding network unit access rights before appliances are incorporated. This preliminary preparation enables automatic authentication and rapid incorporation without manual user input, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and incorporation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The appliance automatically presents its certificate to the access point for authentication, and the access point autonomously verifies the certificate against stored reference certificates and grants appropriate network access. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual user intervention, making the process both convenient and rapid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automatic certificate-based incorporation is implemented, then incorporation speed and convenience improve, but network security requirements become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincorporation efficiencyVSAvoidauthentication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The appliance certificate acts as an intermediary credential that bridges the appliance and the access point's authentication system. The certificate contains or references the appliance's identity and authorized network units, enabling efficient automatic authentication without complex real-time verification processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If appliances are granted broad network access, then usability is improved, but network security and access control are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each appliance certificate is associated with specific network units that the appliance is authorized to access. The access point grants differentiated access rights based on the certificate verification, allowing each appliance to have tailored access permissions. This enables broad yet controlled access, improving usability while maintaining security through appliance-specific access policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The access point continuously monitors appliance certificates and their associated access rights, dynamically controlling network access based on certificate validation. This feedback mechanism ensures that appliances receive appropriate access levels (improving adaptability) while maintaining security through ongoing verification and enforcement of access policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230198976A1Devices and methods for incorporating a device into a local area network

Publication Date: 2023.06.22 BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A method incorporates a device into a LAN, wherein the device has a certificate which was derived from a device reference certificate. The method includes checking whether the certificate of the device matches at least one reference certificate, which is available at a first access point to a first LAN. The method furthermore contains the incorporation of the device into the first LAN when it is determined that the certificate of the device matches at least one reference certificate available at the first access point.