Secure Parameter Entry for Safety Devices via Encrypted Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for parameterizing safety devices in personal protection are time-consuming and prone to verification errors due to the need for read-back operations, which can lead to confusion and incorrect confirmation of parameter values.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves inputting parameter values in a configuration unit, encrypting them, and displaying them twice for spatial and temporal correlation, allowing for easy verification without the need for read-back, ensuring tamper-proof processing even if the configuration unit is not fail-safe, and enabling secure parameterization without connecting the safety device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If read-back method is used for parameter verification, then reliability of parameter input is improved, but time consumption and complexity of the parameterization process increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter input verificationVSAvoidparameterization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary encryption of the parameter value in the configuration unit before transmission. The encrypted form is stored and later used for verification by decrypting and comparing with the originally entered parameter, eliminating the need for read-back operations and reducing time consumption while maintaining verification reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If read-back operation is performed for parameter verification, then parameter input accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter value verification accuracyVSAvoidparameterization process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification function is extracted from the safety device and moved to the configuration unit. The configuration unit encrypts the parameter before transmission and performs the verification by decrypting and comparing, eliminating the need for the safety device to read back parameters and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Speed

If parameter values are transmitted without encryption, then transmission speed is improved, but security and tamper-proof processing deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter transmission speedVSAvoidtamper-proof processing
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The parameter value is encrypted in advance in the configuration unit before transmission to the safety device. This preliminary encryption action ensures tamper-proof processing during transmission without significantly impacting transmission speed, as the encryption/decryption operations are performed efficiently in the configuration unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2405317B1Method for entering parameters for a security device securely
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 LEUZE ELECTRONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2405317B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2405317B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2405317B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves inputting a parameter value into a configuration unit (1), and displaying the value in a display unit. The value is encrypted in the configuration unit, and a feature resulting from the encryption is stored. The value is displayed in the display unit based on the feature. The values displayed by the display processes are compared by an operator, and a valid parameter value is output when the values correspond to each other. The valid parameter value is transferred from the configuration unit to a safety apparatus. An independent claim is also included for a configuration unit comprising an input/output unit.