Secure Remote Maintenance via Communication Terminal Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing networking of household appliances for remote maintenance poses security risks due to potential misuse of privileged access and uncontrolled changes or data collection, lacking accepted solutions to ensure customer sovereignty and security.
Innovation Solution
A method employing a two-way communication system between household appliances and a central unit, using a first communication relationship for secure remote maintenance and a second communication relationship via a communication terminal, allowing customers to control maintenance functions and data updates, with authentication and encryption measures to secure transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If remote customer service is implemented via communication network, then service efficiency and customer convenience are improved, but security risks and loss of customer control increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication terminal (smartphone, tablet, or PC) as an intermediary device between the household appliance and the remote service provider. This terminal runs a local application that mediates all remote service transactions, ensuring that the appliance itself never directly exposes privileged access interfaces to external networks. The terminal acts as a secure gateway that the customer physically controls, thereby enabling remote service while maintaining security and customer oversight.
2Loss of time
If direct communication between appliance and service provider is established, then maintenance speed is improved, but customer sovereignty and security control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The communication terminal with local application serves as a mediator that enables fast remote service while preserving customer control. The application on the terminal can quickly establish encrypted communication channels and execute maintenance commands without requiring customer intervention for each action, yet the customer maintains oversight through the terminal interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The local application on the communication terminal provides real-time feedback to the customer about ongoing maintenance operations, displayed messages, and system state changes. This feedback mechanism ensures the customer remains informed and in control of the remote service process, while the automated nature of the application maintains efficient service delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If privileged access functions are exposed for remote maintenance, then service capability is improved, but vulnerability to cybercrime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication terminal application acts as a secure intermediary that handles all privileged access operations. The appliance's service interface is never directly exposed to external networks; instead, all remote service requests must route through the customer-controlled terminal, which establishes secure encrypted connections and manages authentication, thereby enabling full service capability while eliminating direct vulnerability to cybercrime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication and encryption setup through the communication terminal before any remote maintenance operations begin. The terminal application establishes secure communication channels, verifies service provider credentials, and sets up encrypted data streams in advance, ensuring that privileged access functions are protected from cyber threats before service delivery commences.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for processing information in a domestic appliance (101 to 103), wherein a message (510) is transmitted from the domestic appliance (103) to a central unit (300) and first information (520, 530) is transmitted from the central unit (300) to the domestic appliance (103) by means of a first communication relationship (500) and second information (520) is transmitted to a communication terminal (150). The second information (520) is transmitted from the communication terminal (150) to the domestic appliance (103) by means of a second communication relationship (700). The first information (520, 530) is checked by the domestic appliance (103) by means of the second information (520).