Control Unit License Validation via Removable Media Identification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical control units face challenges in securely managing license information, particularly when removable storage media are accidentally deleted or formatted, leading to potential loss of 'Application Credit'.

Innovation Solution

A method for operating an electrical control unit that involves reading the removable storage medium's identification code and a license file, if present, comparing the license file identification with the medium's identification, and saving this information to non-volatile memory. If no license file is found, a new license file is generated containing the stored identification and information, ensuring continued functionality even if the storage medium is reformatted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If license information is stored only on removable storage medium, then the control unit can access license information, but the license information may be lost if the storage medium is accidentally deleted or formatted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelicense information securityVSAvoidApplication Credit loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing the license file identification and license information in the control unit's internal non-volatile memory before any potential loss occurs on the removable storage medium. This advance preparation ensures that even if the removable medium is deleted or formatted, the critical license data remains preserved and can be used to regenerate the license file.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a copy of the essential license information (license file identification and license data) from the removable storage medium into the control unit's internal non-volatile memory. This copying mechanism ensures redundancy, allowing the system to recover license information even if the original on the removable medium is lost due to accidental deletion or formatting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If the control unit validates license file by comparing identification codes, then authentication security is improved, but the operating procedure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelicense validation securityVSAvoidoperating procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential identification elements (license file identification from the license file and removable storage medium identification from the storage medium) for comparison purposes. By taking out only these critical identifying features rather than validating the entire license file structure, the system maintains high security validation while simplifying the overall procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the control unit stores license information in non-volatile memory, then recovery capability is improved, but the internal memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelicense recovery capabilityVSAvoidinternal memory capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and stores only the essential license data elements (license file identification and license information) in the control unit's non-volatile memory, rather than storing complete license files or redundant copies. This selective extraction approach enables effective license recovery capability while minimizing the memory capacity requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3669291B1Method for operating an electrical control device and electrical control device
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 LENZE AUTOMATION
  • EP3669291B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an electrical control device on the basis of license information, which is stored in a removable memory means, the method comprising the following steps, which are carried out by means of the control device: reading out a removable memory means identification of the removable memory means, reading a license file, which is stored in the removable memory means, extracting a license file identification from the read license file, comparing the license file identification with the removable memory means identification, and if the license file identification matches the removable memory means identification, extracting license information from the license file and operating the control device in accordance with the license information and storing the license file identification and the license information in the control device.