NFC Certificate Transfer for Field Device Commissioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field device systems, such as radar level gauge systems, face challenges in facilitating simple installation, service, and maintenance, especially in hazardous environments, due to complex and dangerous procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method for transferring a certificate to a field device using a mobile device with NFC-circuitry, allowing for secure communication by establishing NFC communication, transferring the certificate, and storing it on the field device, thereby reducing commissioning time and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If certificate generation is performed on the field device, then security requirements are met, but commissioning time increases significantly due to resource-intensive operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the certificate generation function from the field device and relocates it to an external commissioning device. This allows the computationally intensive certificate generation to be performed on a device with sufficient resources, while the field device maintains its security requirements without being burdened by the processing load, thus reducing commissioning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary that facilitates certificate transfer between the commissioning device and the field device. This intermediary uses NFC communication to securely transfer the generated certificate, enabling the field device to obtain necessary security credentials without performing resource-intensive generation operations locally.
2Reliability
If certificate generation is performed on the field device, then security requirements are met, but processing circuitry must be optimized for resource-intensive operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the certificate generation function from the field device's processing circuitry and relocates it to an external commissioning device. This allows the field device to have simplified processing circuitry that does not need to handle resource-intensive cryptographic operations, while still meeting security requirements through the transferred certificate.
3Productivity
If operators perform commissioning in hazardous environments, then field device installation and maintenance are completed, but operator safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for operators to physically interact with field devices in hazardous environments with wireless NFC communication. The certificate transfer process can be completed by bringing a mobile device close to the field device without requiring operators to perform manual configuration tasks in dangerous conditions, thus improving safety while maintaining commissioning capability.
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
The method significantly reduces commissioning time by generating certificates on more powerful devices, enhances security through NFC communication, and improves safety by minimizing operator exposure to hazardous environments.
Implementation Method 1
establishing NFC communication between the mobile device and a field device comprising second processing circuitry and second NFC-circuitry
Data Source
AI summary
Method of transferring a certificate to a field device, the method comprising, by a mobile device comprising first processing circuitry and first NFC-circuitry: acquiring a certificate and storing the certificate on the mobile device; establishing NFC communication between the mobile device and a field device comprising second processing circuitry and second NFC-circuitry; transferring the certificate to the field device; storing the certificate on the field device; and closing the NFC communication between the mobile device and the field device.