Light Source Challenge-Response Authentication for Remote Controller Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coded lighting systems face a significant risk of remote controller mixing-up issues, especially in environments with multiple devices, leading to unintended control of light sources by incorrect devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cryptographic key-based challenge-response mechanism between light sources and devices, where the light source generates a challenge using a first cryptographic key and the device responds with a second cryptographic key, ensuring only authorized devices can control the light source, thereby preventing mixing-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple remote controllers are present in the same environment, then the system provides greater versatility and user convenience, but the risk of remote controller mixing-up increases leading to unintended control of light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pairing between remote controllers and light sources before actual control operations. During pairing, a challenge-response authentication mechanism is executed where the light source generates a challenge, the remote controller computes a response using its cryptographic key, and the light source verifies the response. This preliminary authentication ensures that each remote controller is pre-bound to a specific light source, preventing mixing-up during normal operation while allowing multiple controllers to coexist in the same environment.
2Reliability
If cryptographic challenge-response mechanism is implemented, then security and control accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional authentication components
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cryptographic key copying during the pairing process. A cryptographic key is generated for each remote controller and stored in both the remote controller and the paired light source. This copying mechanism allows the challenge-response authentication to be performed using simple key-based computations rather than complex mutual authentication protocols. The light source and remote controller both possess identical cryptographic keys, enabling them to generate and verify challenges using straightforward cryptographic functions, thus reducing implementation complexity while maintaining high security.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents unauthorized control of light sources by ensuring only devices with the correct cryptographic key can interact with specific light sources, enhancing security and reducing the risk of mixing-up in coded lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first communication channel from the light source to the device, wherein the first communication channel is formed by modulating information in the emitted light of the light source
Implementation Method 2
The other device may be pointed to the light source in operation, receives the emitted light on a photosensitive sensor and is capable of extracting the information from the signal generated by the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system (100), a light source (110), a device (150), and a method of authorizing the device (150) by the light source (110) are provided. The lighting system (100) comprises a light source (110) to emit light (116), a device (150) to control the light source(110), a first communication channel from the light source (110) to the device (150), and a second communication channel from the device (150) to the light source (110). The first communication channel is formed by modulating information in the emitted light (116) of the light source (110). The light source (110) comprises a challenge generator (118), a light source transmitter (112), a light source receiver (122) and an authorizing means (120). The challenge generator (118) generates a challenge with a cryptographic function receiving an argument comprising a first cryptographic key. The light source transmitter (112) transmits the challenge via the first communication channel. The light source receiver (122) receives a response from the device via the second communication channel. The authorizing means (120) authorizes the device (150) to control the light source (110) by matching the received response with a reference, and if the received response matches the reference, the device (150) is authorized. The device (150) comprises a device receiver (152), a response generator (154) and a device transmitter (156). The device receiver (152) receives the challenge via the first communication channel. The response generator (154) generates the response with the cryptographic function which receives arguments comprising the received challenge and a second cryptographic key. The device transmitter (156) transmits the response to the light source via the second communication channel.