Endoscope Apparatus Authentication and Function Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope systems lack effective security measures to prevent unauthorized use, particularly when stolen, as they can still function even if the endoscope or endoscope apparatus is illicitly acquired.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope apparatus with storage memory for first authentication information and a transmitter/receiver to communicate with the endoscope, which acquires and compares authentication information between the apparatus and the endoscope, limiting functions if they do not match, thereby preventing unauthorized use by ensuring only validly paired devices can operate fully.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authentication information is stored in both the endoscope apparatus and the endoscope for comparison, then security against unauthorized use is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into two parts: the endoscope apparatus stores first authentication information while the endoscope stores second authentication information. This segmentation allows the security function to be distributed across components, improving reliability without requiring one component to bear the full complexity burden alone.
Solution Approach 2:
Authentication information is pre-stored in both the endoscope apparatus and the endoscope before actual use. This preliminary action enables automatic authentication to occur without requiring complex real-time verification procedures, thus improving security while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Reliability
If function limitation is implemented when authentication information does not match, then prevention of illicit use is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication verification function is extracted as a separate, automatic process that occurs independently from the main operational functions. When authentication information matches, full functionality is granted; when it doesn't match, only limited functions are available. This extraction ensures security without requiring users to manually manage authentication, maintaining ease of operation for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-authentication by automatically comparing the first authentication information from the endoscope apparatus with the second authentication information from the endoscope. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual authentication procedures, improving security while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus that includes a storage memory storing first authentication information, a transmitter/receiver that performs communication with an endoscope, and an operational device. The operational device performs a process including acquiring the first authentication information stored in the storage memory and acquiring second authentication information stored in the endoscope connected to the endoscope apparatus from the endoscope. The operational device further performs determining whether the acquired first and second authentication information match each other, and limiting execution of at least some functions among a plurality of functions to be executed in cooperation with the endoscope in response to determining that the first and second authentication information do not match each other.