Hot-Water Supply System Notification for Unauthorized Device Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot-water supply systems lack effective measures to prevent unauthorized remote control by unintended terminal devices, which can lead to inappropriate operation of the hot-water supply device.
Innovation Solution
A hot-water supply system and program that notify associated portable terminal devices of new associations via a server, allowing users to determine if the association is suspicious by comparing the number of devices, thereby preventing unauthorized control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control of hot-water supply device is enabled using portable terminal devices, then ease of operation is improved, but security against unauthorized control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a notification mechanism where the hot-water supply device actively informs associated portable terminal devices about new associations. This feedback loop allows users to verify whether a new device is legitimately accessing their hot-water supply device, thereby maintaining security while enabling remote control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between the hot-water supply device and portable terminal devices. It manages the association relationships and facilitates the notification process, ensuring that remote control operations are authenticated and authorized before being executed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple portable terminal devices are associated with hot-water supply device, then adaptability is improved, but difficulty of detecting unauthorized device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification mechanism provides continuous feedback to all associated portable terminal devices about the current association status. When a new device associates with the hot-water supply device, all existing associated devices receive notification, enabling users to detect unauthorized devices even when multiple devices are legitimately connected.
Data Source
AI summary
A hot-water supply system (1) remotely controls, via a server (50) and using a portable terminal device (30), a hot-water supply device (10) connectable to an external communication network (40). The hot-water supply system (1) is provided with a control unit which performs a notification process for notifying at least another, already-associated portable terminal device (30) that the portable terminal device (30) for performing remote control has been newly associated with the hot-water supply device (10). For example, a control unit of the server (50) performs the notification process as the control unit.