Controller Access via Proximity Authentication for Secure Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated systems for irrigation, security, and other controllers require manual access for maintenance or repair, which can be inconvenient and insecure, especially when service technicians need to access controllers located in private properties.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that provide electronic access to controllers based on the proximity of an access device to the controller, using a virtual boundary and authentication, allowing secure and automatic access for authorized personnel without the need for cumbersome manual interaction or coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual access coordination is used for controller maintenance, then security is maintained, but access convenience deteriorates and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication and access grant actions before the technician physically arrives at the controller. The controller is pre-configured with authentication credentials, and when a technician presents their device in proximity, access is automatically granted without requiring real-time coordination with the property owner.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller system serves itself by automatically authenticating technicians and managing access permissions without human intervention. The proximity-based authentication system enables the controller to independently verify technician credentials and grant or revoke access based on pre-established rules, eliminating the need for manual coordination.
2Ease of operation
If private network credentials are shared for remote access, then access capability is improved, but security risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the authentication credentials from the private network infrastructure and implements a separate, dedicated proximity-based authentication mechanism. Instead of sharing network credentials, the system uses independent authentication tokens or credentials that are specific to the controller access function, isolating the security risk from the main network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary authentication layer between the technician's device and the controller. This intermediary mechanism verifies technician credentials through proximity detection and mediates the access grant, preventing direct exposure of private network credentials while still enabling secure remote access capability.
3Productivity
If proximity-based automatic access is implemented, then access convenience is improved and time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller system incorporates multiple functions within a single integrated platform: proximity detection, authentication verification, access grant/revoke operations, and communication management. By making the system universal and multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while improving productivity.
4Ease of repair
If service technicians can access controllers remotely, then maintenance capability is improved, but unauthorized access risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication and verification actions before granting remote access to the controller. Technician credentials are verified in advance through proximity-based authentication, and access permissions are pre-configured and validated before the maintenance activity begins, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor and track access events, authentication status, and maintenance activities. This feedback loop provides real-time information about who is accessing the controller and what actions are being performed, enabling immediate detection and response to any unauthorized access attempts while maintaining legitimate maintenance capability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a method of providing electronic access to a controller (e.g., sprinkler or lighting controller) associated with a first user is disclosed. The method includes determining, via a processing element, a proximity of an access device to the controller, wherein the access device is associated with a second user different than the first user; automatically providing, via the processing element, a grant of access for electronic communications between the controller and the access device based, at least in part, on the proximity of the access device to the controller; displaying, on a user interface rendered by a user device associated with the first user, a message indicating the grant of access.