Offline License Validation for Building Access Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for validating maintenance unit licenses for accessing passenger transportation/access devices in buildings require online connections, which are not cost-effective, especially for large device bases.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a controller checks the validity of a maintenance unit's license by reading an encrypted license file, comparing the manufacturing time and usage time stored in a secure memory to the license's expiration time, allowing local validation without an online connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If online connection to service center is used for license validation, then license validity can be checked, but cost increases significantly especially for large device bases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs self-validation of the maintenance unit's license by autonomously reading the expiration time from the encrypted license file and comparing it with the current time obtained from its internal clock, eliminating the need for external service center verification and reducing validation costs
Solution Approach 2:
The license expiration time is pre-stored in an encrypted license file within the maintenance unit during license issuance, enabling the controller to perform validation checks locally without requiring real-time connection to a service center
2Ease of operation
If encrypted license file with expiration time is stored in maintenance unit, then offline validation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The essential validation information (expiration time) is copied into an encrypted license file stored in the maintenance unit, allowing the controller to perform validation by reading and comparing this copied data without needing complex cryptographic verification or external communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The validation function is segmented into distinct components: the maintenance unit stores the encrypted license file with expiration time, while the controller reads this data and performs time comparison using its internal clock, separating storage and processing functions to manage complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention allows checking the validity of a license of a maintenance unit (220) for accessing a controller of a passenger transportation/access device (200) of a building, without a need for an online connection to a service center or the like. An expiration time of the license is read from an encrypted license file stored in the maintenance unit (220) in response to detecting the maintenance unit (220) being connected to the controller (210). A manufacturing time and a current usage time of the controller (210), both stored in a secure memory of the controller (210), are read. A total of the manufacturing time and the current usage time of the controller (210) are compared to the expiration time of the license. In response to the total not exceeding the expiration time, the license is determined to be valid.