Operation Rights Control for Secure Screen Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control systems restrict simultaneous operation, preventing users from switching screens that do not require operation rights, which is inconvenient and limits access to data.

Innovation Solution

A control system with an operation managing unit that stores and shares operation rights between main and portable operation reception devices, allowing secure switching of screens based on necessary operation rights, using communication units to transmit and receive operation rights over a network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If operation rights are restricted to ensure security, then security of the control device is improved, but screen switching convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of control deviceVSAvoidscreen switching convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operation right into two distinct types: execution operation rights (for modifying control device settings) and reference operation rights (for viewing data without modification). This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between operations that require security protection and those that do not, enabling screen switching for reference purposes while maintaining security for execution operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different security restrictions to different screens based on their function. Screens that require execution operations maintain strict operation right restrictions, while screens that only require data reference allow switching with reference operation rights. This local quality approach ensures security is applied only where necessary rather than uniformly across all screens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If simultaneous operation restrictions are applied, then security is improved, but system efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic operation right management where the system automatically allocates and releases operation rights based on real-time needs. When a terminal completes its operation, the operation right is released and can be allocated to another terminal. This dynamic approach improves system efficiency by reducing idle restriction periods while maintaining security during active operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces reference operation rights as a copy or subset of execution operation rights. Reference operation rights allow terminals to access and view data without the full privileges of execution rights, enabling multiple terminals to simultaneously reference screens without conflicting for execution rights. This copying mechanism improves productivity by allowing concurrent read-access while preserving security for write-operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3731045B1Control system, control method, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 OMRON CORP
  • EP3731045B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3731045B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3731045B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation reception device (200) comprising: a display unit (101) for switching between and displaying a plurality of screens; a display control unit (102) for controlling the switching of the screens on the display unit (101) in a prescribed sequence; and a main control unit (103) for controlling the screen switching sequence. When the main control unit (103) receives a switching instruction from a first screen and a screen having an operation permission for changing the setting content of a sequence control device exists, switching to the screen having an operation permission is not carried out; instead, switching to a screen not having an operation permission is carried out.