Cloud Credentialing for Service Tool Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current service tools for accessing equipment controllers lack effective credential management, especially in networked/wireless environments, where physical presence is not required, leading to potential unauthorized access and inadequate access control.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based credentialing service that verifies user information through a networked server, providing access credentials with time constraints and customizable access levels, ensuring secure and controlled access to equipment controllers via service tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If networked/wireless service tools are used to replace physically connected service tools, then ease of operation and remote access capability are improved, but security control and access management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A cloud-based credentialing service is introduced as an intermediary between the service tool and the equipment controller. The service tool obtains credentials from the cloud credentialing service, which verifies user information and provides time-constrained access credentials. This mediator enables remote access while maintaining security through centralized credential management and verification.
2Reliability
If pre-programmed certificates are used to verify user credentials, then authentication capability is improved, but flexibility and adaptability to different circumstances deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The credentialing system transitions from static pre-programmed certificates to dynamic credentials generated on-demand by the cloud credentialing service. Credentials are generated based on real-time verification of user information and can be customized with different time constraints, access levels, and scope of access. This dynamic approach maintains strong authentication while adapting to different service scenarios and user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of credential verification by moving from fixed pre-programmed certificates to dynamically generated credentials with variable parameters including time constraints, access levels, and scope limitations. The cloud credentialing service can adjust these parameters based on the specific service situation, user role, and equipment type, providing both strong authentication and flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A service tool credential management system includes a storage medium operable to store a plurality of instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to send a credential request (204) to a networked server to access an equipment controller with a service tool (22). The at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive an access credential (206) responsive to the credential request (204) and utilizing one or more fields of the access credential (206) during interactions with the equipment controller to enable a level of access for the service tool (22) to the equipment controller corresponding to the access credential (206).