Battery Module ID Verification for Secure Distributed Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable power supplies, such as battery charging modules, often face the challenge of being lost or stolen due to their portability, necessitating a solution to ensure they remain within a designated proximity of a central device.
Innovation Solution
A device charging system comprising a battery module with an identifier and a central charging station that communicates with the module, allowing the station to charge the module only if the identifier is stored in its memory and generating an alert if the module is not recognized, while also providing a virtual boundary to prevent unauthorized removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery module is made portable and removable, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of loss or theft
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by checking the identifier of the battery module against stored authorized identifiers before allowing charging. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized modules from being charged, thereby maintaining security while preserving portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The central charging station provides feedback by generating alerts when unauthorized battery modules attempt to charge. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and notification, enhancing security without compromising the portable nature of the battery modules.
2Reliability
If identifier verification is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The identifier verification functionality is extracted as a separate, dedicated feature within the central charging station. The system isolates the security verification logic from other charging operations, implementing it as a distinct identification and verification module that checks identifiers against stored values before permitting charging.
3Loss of substance
If unauthorized modules are prevented from charging, then loss is reduced, but productivity decreases due to alert generation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial verification action by checking only the identifier of the battery module without requiring full system validation. This selective verification approach provides sufficient security to prevent unauthorized charging while minimizing the overhead and maintaining charging efficiency for authorized modules.
Data Source
AI summary
A device charging system including a battery module and a central charging station. The battery module is configured to supply a type of power to at least one load device. The battery module has an identifier. The central charging station is in communication with the battery module. The central charging station includes an electronic processor configured to: receive the identifier from the battery module, determine if the identifier is stored in a memory of the central charging station, charge the battery module when the battery module is coupled to the central charging station when the identifier is stored in the memory, and generate an alert if the identifier is not stored in memory.