Encrypted Synchronous Communication for Industrial Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems involving industrial machines capable of synchronous communication, existing systems lack sufficient security as all data is exchanged in plain text, making them vulnerable to malicious third-party interference and snooping.

Innovation Solution

A communication system is designed with a controller and motor control apparatus that implement encrypted communication using a System on Chip (SOC) with an encryption chip, allowing for secure data transmission and reception by determining the need for encryption based on the model, type of data, and communication method, ensuring that only necessary data is encrypted with appropriate cryptographic protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If all data is exchanged in plain text for simplicity, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of data exchangeVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively encrypting only specific data types (command data and response data) rather than all communication data. The encryption is localized to control commands and their responses between master and slave devices, while other data types (event data, alarm data) remain unencrypted. This resolves the contradiction by providing security where needed while maintaining operational simplicity elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If encryption is applied to all data transmissions, then security is improved, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by applying encryption only to necessary data types (command and response data) rather than all communication data. The system identifies and encrypts only the critical control commands and their responses, leaving other data types unencrypted. This reduces the processing load compared to full encryption while maintaining security for the most sensitive communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If cryptographic synchronization patterns are transmitted, then security is improved, but loss of time occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecryptographic synchronizationVSAvoidcommunication delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing cryptographic synchronization in advance through a key exchange process before actual encrypted communication begins. The master device generates encryption keys and transmits them to slave devices beforehand, so that when encrypted command and response data need to be transmitted, the synchronization is already in place. This eliminates the need to transmit synchronization patterns with each encrypted message, reducing communication delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3731044B1Communication system and communication method
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 YASKAWA DENKI KK
  • EP3731044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3731044B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3731044B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a communication system (1) including a plurality of industrial machines (10, 20) configured to perform synchronous communication, an encryption module (103, 201) of the plurality of industrial machines (10, 20) configured to perform communication is configured to encrypt transmission data. A transmission module (104, 202) is configured to transmit the transmission data to another industrial machine. A reception module (105, 203) is configured to receive encrypted reception data from the another industrial machine (10, 20) . A decryption module (106, 204) is configured to decrypt the reception data.