Building Control Unit Access via NFC Key Transfer and QR Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transmitting digital keys in access control systems using smartphone apps lack secure and convenient channels for verifying the recipient and ensuring secure transmission.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a near-field communication (NFC) connection between mobile devices to generate and transmit a machine-readable code, such as a QR code, which is scanned by the recipient to establish a secure connection with the control unit, ensuring physical proximity and cryptographic verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a digital key is transmitted via smartphone operating system functions (hyperlink or access code), then the transmission is convenient, but the security and verification of the recipient cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an NFC connection as an intermediary medium for key transmission. Instead of relying on the smartphone operating system's hyperlink or access code functions, the digital key is transmitted through a dedicated NFC communication channel between the first and second mobile devices. This intermediary mechanism enables both convenient contactless transmission and secure verification of the recipient through cryptographic authentication during the NFC handshake process.
2Device complexity
If the sender uses smartphone operating system functions to transmit the digital key, then the transmission process is simple, but the sender cannot verify the correct recipient or secure channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the NFC communication protocol, which provides automatic verification of the receiving device's identity and authentication status. The system receives confirmation feedback during the NFC handshake process, allowing the sender to verify that the digital key has been transmitted to the correct recipient through a secure channel. This feedback loop eliminates the need for complex manual verification while ensuring transmission security.
3Reliability
If physical proximity is required for NFC connection, then the recipient verification is ensured, but the transmission channel must be established physically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual verification mechanisms with automated cryptographic verification through NFC communication. Instead of requiring physical handover or visual confirmation of the digital key, the system uses NFC's inherent cryptographic authentication to automatically verify the recipient's identity and establish a secure transmission channel. This substitution maintains the security benefits of physical proximity while eliminating the need for complex manual operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for granting access rights to a control unit in a building control system, comprising the steps of: establishing a near-field communication connection between a first mobile device and the control unit; generating a digital access key assigned to the control unit using the first mobile device; generating a machine-readable code indirectly or directly assigned to the digital access key using the first mobile device; displaying the machine-readable code on a display of the first mobile device; optically reading the machine-readable code from the display of the first mobile device using a second mobile device; receiving the digital access key from the second mobile device; and establishing a near-field communication connection between the second mobile device and the control unit using the digital access key.