Remote Control System with Time-Constrained Authentication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing threat of malware infections in user information terminals poses a security risk when controlling external devices remotely, as attackers can exploit vulnerabilities to manipulate devices illegitimately.

Innovation Solution

A remote control system that includes a controlled device and a mobile communication terminal, which transmits first data and subsequent response data with a time constraint, ensuring that only legitimate and timely responses execute remote control processes, thereby preventing unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote control is enabled using a mobile communication terminal, then convenience of operation is improved, but security against malware infections and unauthorized operations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risk from malware
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controlled device transmits first data (challenge) before receiving the control command, and verifies the timing of the second data (response) before executing the remote control operation. This preliminary verification ensures that the mobile terminal is legitimate and the communication is timely, preventing malware infections from causing unauthorized operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If authentication process is added to verify mobile terminal legitimacy, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controlled device transmits first data to the mobile terminal and waits for second data within a predetermined time period. This feedback mechanism verifies that the mobile terminal is legitimate and the response is timely, providing simple yet effective authentication without complex verification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If time constraint verification is implemented, then prevention of delayed retransmission attacks is improved, but response time requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattack prevention capabilityVSAvoidresponse time requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controlled device executes the remote control operation only when the second data is received within a predetermined time period after transmitting the first data. This time-constrained verification quickly identifies and rejects delayed or malicious retransmission attempts, preventing attacks while maintaining efficient operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP3905082B1Remote control system
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3905082B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3905082B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3905082B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A delivery box (12) transmits, when accepting remote control, first data to a user terminal (14). The user terminal (14) transmits second data including a detail of remote control to the delivery box (12) in response to the first data. The delivery box (12) performs a process determined by the detail of remote control included in the second data when a time elapsed since the first data is transmitted until the second data is received is less than a threshold value.