IoT Device Remote Locking via Mobile API
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing ubiquity of IoT devices has raised concerns about their privacy and security, particularly in cases where devices are lost or stolen, allowing unauthorized access and data compromise.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for remotely locking IoT devices using a mobile device, which includes an API for locking and unlocking the device, and a server that transmits commands to inhibit functionality and assign passwords to the IoT device, allowing users to secure their devices without customer care intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users can remotely lock IoT devices without customer care intervention, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for self-service locking mechanisms and password management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service locking where the IoT device automatically locks itself and generates passwords without requiring customer care intervention. The device autonomously manages its security state by receiving commands from remote devices, locking itself, and generating passwords that are transmitted back to the owner, eliminating the need for manual customer service assistance.
2Reliability
If the device automatically locks and generates passwords, then reliability is improved by preventing unauthorized access, but loss of information increases due to potential password transmission issues or device lockout
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the IoT device transmits password information back to the owner's remote device after locking. This feedback loop ensures that the owner receives the necessary information to unlock the device, preventing permanent lockout and information loss while maintaining security through automatic locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary actions by generating and transmitting password information to the owner before the locking becomes problematic. This ensures that the owner has the necessary information readily available, preventing loss of access information while the device maintains its locked security state.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for security of Internet of things (IoT) devices are discussed. A user of a mobile device, such as a customer of a wireless communication network, may remotely lock an IoT device while concomitantly assigning an ad hoc password to the IoT device that can be subsequently used to unlock the device. Alternatively, an IoT device may self-lock and produce a password in response to detecting its motion. The produced password may be provided to the user of a mobile device and used later to unlock the IoT device.