Encrypted Usable Time Management for IoT Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in managing terminal product usable time effectively, particularly in IoT systems, where terminal products may be cheated with fake electronic licenses or misrecognize expired licenses due to temporal disorders, and there is a need for time management without continuous internet connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A terminal product usable time management system comprising a remote server and a local apparatus, using a microprocessor to decrypt and update encrypted usable time, with a product controller disabling functions when time expires, and employing a private semi-ciphertext algorithm to secure time management, ensuring time cannot be extended by modifying the real-time clock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encrypted usable time management is implemented locally without continuous internet access, then system reliability and offline functionality are improved, but device complexity increases due to encryption/decryption operations and local time management mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encryption of the usable time value before storing it in non-volatile memory. This pre-encryption ensures that when the device operates offline, the time data is already secured and ready for verification without requiring real-time internet connection or complex runtime encryption operations, thus improving reliability while managing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism where the microprocessor acts as a mediator between the stored encrypted time data and the product controller. The microprocessor decrypts and validates the time information locally, serving as an intermediary that simplifies the overall system architecture by handling security operations centrally rather than distributing complexity across multiple components
2Reliability
If encrypted usable time is stored and managed locally, then security against fake electronic licenses is improved, but loss of information increases due to potential decryption failures or data corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by storing the encrypted usable time in non-volatile memory with built-in error protection mechanisms. The encryption process itself serves as a cushioning layer that protects the original time information from corruption or unauthorized modification, ensuring that even if the stored data undergoes minor changes, the core time information remains intact and verifiable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the microprocessor continuously monitors and verifies the decrypted time information against the current system state. If decryption fails or the time data appears corrupted, the system can detect this through feedback loops and trigger appropriate error handling procedures, such as requesting re-synchronization with the remote server, thereby minimizing actual information loss
3Productivity
If the product controller disables functions when usable time expires, then productivity and time management are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to automatic function restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling the product controller to automatically monitor the decrypted usable time and disable its own functions when expiration is detected. This eliminates the need for manual intervention or external monitoring systems, improving time management efficiency while the automatic nature of the process maintains ease of operation through transparency and predictability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback loops where the product controller receives continuous information about the remaining usable time from the microprocessor. This feedback mechanism allows the system to provide advance notice to users before function disabling occurs, giving them opportunity to renew or extend the usable time, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving productive time management
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal product usable time management system includes a remote server and a local apparatus. The local apparatus includes a data memory storing an identifier and an encrypted usable time of the terminal product, a microprocessor used to send a start notification of a usable time management process, a product controller used to control a product load, and a wireless networking device used to communicate with the remote server to receive a new expiry date to update the usable time. The usable time management process includes: reading the encrypted usable time stored in the data memory, decrypting the encrypted usable time, decreasing the usable time per time unit, encrypting the decreased usable time, storing the encrypted and decreased usable time into the data memory, and instructing the product controller to disable some or all functions of the terminal product, if the usable time is inaccessible or decreased to zero.