Intercom Master Device Authentication for Secure Remote Unlocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intercom systems lack sufficient security measures, particularly when unlocking doors from communication terminals over public networks, as they can be compromised by unauthorized access or imitation of genuine terminal information, leading to potential illegal unlocking of entrance doors.

Innovation Solution

An intercom system that includes an electronic lock, an entrance slave device, and an intercom master device, where the unlocking operation from a wireless terminal is approved only if configured as such in the terminal information table, preventing unauthorized unlocking by verifying the terminal's authentication and limiting operations based on predefined approval settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If unlocking operations are allowed from wireless terminals over public networks, then convenience and remote access capability are improved, but security vulnerability increases due to potential unauthorized access or terminal information imitation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote unlocking capabilityVSAvoidsecurity against unauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication of the wireless terminal before allowing unlocking operations. The intercom master device verifies terminal information and authentication credentials in advance, maintaining a list of authorized terminals. This preliminary verification prevents unauthorized access while allowing convenient remote unlocking for authenticated users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The intercom master device acts as an intermediary between the wireless terminal and the electronic lock. It receives unlocking requests from terminals, verifies their authenticity against stored authentication data, and only relays approved requests to the lock. This intermediary role filters out malicious requests while permitting legitimate remote operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If authentication verification is implemented for wireless terminals, then security is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional verification mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidverification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores copies of authorized terminal information and authentication credentials in the intercom master device. Instead of complex real-time verification protocols, it compares incoming terminal data against pre-stored authentication copies. This simplifies the verification process while maintaining security through data matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If terminal information verification is performed, then unauthorized unlocking is prevented, but processing time increases due to additional verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoidunlocking operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Terminal authentication data is verified in advance and authorized terminals are pre-approved for unlocking operations. When an unlocking request arrives from a pre-authenticated terminal, the system can quickly verify against stored approval data without performing complex real-time analysis, reducing processing time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3147872B1Intercom system, intercom master device, and communication method
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3147872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3147872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3147872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an intercom system, when it is detected that a person has come to an entrance door, an entrance slave device transmits a visiting notification to an intercom master device. When receiving the visiting notification, the intercom master device transmits a terminal-destined visiting notification to a wireless terminal. When receiving the terminal-destined visiting notification, the wireless terminal outputs information indicating that a person has come to the entrance door, and when an unlocking instruction operation is performed in the wireless terminal, transmits a terminal's unlocking instruction to the intercom master device. An operation of configuring whether or not to approve an operation of unlocking an electronic lock of an entrance door, which is performed by the wireless terminal, is performed on the intercom master device, and when receiving the terminal's unlocking instruction, the intercom master device unlocks the electronic lock under the condition that approval of the unlocking operation is configured.