Biometric Access for Programmable Automation Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for providing secure and efficient access to industrial controllers without specific equipment, allowing authorized users to launch industrial commands in a programmable automation system.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a biometric device to receive and process biometric data, match it with reference patterns to retrieve access rights, and convert the data into commands compliant with industrial standards, enabling secure access and execution of automation applications in industrial control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional access methods using specific equipment are used, then security is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring specific equipment for access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical access methods (physical keys, cards, or devices) with a biometric recognition system that uses physiological or behavioral characteristics (fingerprint, facial recognition, voice, etc.) to authenticate users. This substitution eliminates the need for users to carry specific access equipment while maintaining security through unique biometric identification, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security.
2Ease of operation
If biometric recognition system is implemented, then ease of operation improves by eliminating specific equipment requirements, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional industrial control operations plus biometric recognition and authentication. By integrating the biometric recognition module into the existing controller architecture, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring completely separate systems, thereby reducing overall complexity while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the biometric recognition functionality with the existing controller and HMI screen. The processing unit of the controller handles both traditional control tasks and biometric authentication, while the HMI screen serves dual purposes for displaying control information and presenting biometric verification interfaces. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant components.
3Productivity
If voice or gesture commands are used, then productivity improves by enabling faster command execution, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to potential misinterpretation of commands
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the HMI screen displays the recognized voice or gesture commands to the user for confirmation before execution. This feedback loop allows users to verify that their commands were correctly interpreted, enabling them to correct any misinterpretations. The feedback principle thus maintains high productivity through rapid command recognition while preserving measurement precision through user verification.
Data Source
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AI summary
For providing access to a controller (CT) that is managing a process image and implements a runtime environment to execute an automation application using the process image, the controller (CT) being linked to a set of communication devices including a biometric device (BD), a biometric device (BD) is able to: receive (S1) first biometric data from the user, extract (S2) a biometric pattern from the received first biometric data, retrieve (S3) a profile of access rights associated with a reference pattern, if the biometric pattern matches the reference pattern, retrieve (S4) second biometric data from the user, convert (S5) the second biometric data into a command, compare (S6) the command with process data in a translation table according to the access rights of the profile, if the command matches process data, send (S7) the process data to the controller (CT) to be processed by the automation application.